Roger Allen Schappaugh

Roger A. Schappaugh, age 80, of Palmyra Missouri, died at 6:00 pm on May 26, 2023, in his home at rural Palmyra with his wife Betty at his side.

Roger Allen, the youngest of ten children born to Edward Pryor Schappaugh and Helen Grace (Spaits) Schappaugh, was born March 15, 1943, in the family home at Pekin, Illinois.

Beginning a lifelong career in the trucking business at age 14 by loading and shuttling bread delivery trucks, while driving on a hardship driver’s license, Roger later owned and operated his own trucks, held positions of diesel mechanic, shop foreman, dispatcher, and operational manager at various trucking firms in the area.   He remained interested in the trucking industry, keeping current with changes in vehicles, equipment and regulations through the Internet and “trucking with his son” via cell phone calls.  Roger also operated construction equipment, including dozers and backhoes and especially enjoyed the baby calves born in the spring on their farm.  Restoring antique farm tractors, watching westerns on television and surfing the Web for local, national and world news were some of Roger’s favorite pastimes.

On February 7, 1987, he married the love of his life Betty Rae Murrell at the Palmyra United Methodist Church, Palmyra, Missouri.  She survives of the home.  After retirement Roger and Betty enjoyed traveling with their fifth-wheel camper and spent several winters at Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Other survivors include his son Scott Allen Schappaugh and his fiancé Sarah Mevissen, Hannibal, MO, mother-in-law Martha Murrell of Brookfield, MO, brother-in-law John B. Murrell and wife Susie, Linneus MO, brothers-in-law Paul Ritthaler, Illinois, Lee Roy Lhamon, Arizona and Joe Colson, Florida, and several nieces and nephews.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents and all his siblings, Earl Schappaugh and wife Lorene, Erlene Schappaugh Romans and husband Virgil, Faye Schappaugh Heilman and husband Clarence, Loren Schappaugh and wife LuAnn, Lois Schappaugh Ritthaler, Dorothy Schappaugh Claton and husband Everett, Carol Schappaugh Hillman and husband Curt, Evelyn Schappaugh Lhamon, and Gloria Schappaugh Colson; daughter Marsha Maxine Schappaugh Ziegenbein; and nieces Diana Kay Romans, Linda Faye Heilman Goodman and Holly Colson Killion and nephews Timmy Claton, Ricky Romans and Robyn Schappaugh.

Graveside services conducted by Rev. Rex Leppin will be held Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. at Mt. Olive Cemetery, west of Purdin, MO.  Memorial contributions to Mt. Olive Cemetery may be left at or mailed to Wright Funeral Home, P. O Box 496, Brookfield, MO 64628.

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