Leonard W. Ehlers

Leonard W. Ehlers, 95, of Columbia, Missouri, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and a retired Official Court Reporter of the 36th Judicial Circuit of the State of Missouri, went to be with his Lord on Friday, March 27, 2015. He passed away at Slater Place, Lenoir Woods, in Columbia, Missouri.

Leonard W. Ehlers was born in Sedalia, Missouri, on June 1, 1919, and he married Doris Marie McClintock on May 29, 1941 in Jefferson City, Missouri. They were wonderful parents to two daughters, Janis and Donna.

Leonard attended Smith-Cotton High School and Central Business College in Sedalia and LaSalle College of Court Reporting in Jefferson City. He was first employed by the State of Missouri with the Unemployment Compensation Commission as a Commission Reporter, followed by the Division of Workmen's Compensation until entering the Army in 1942. During World War II, he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas and served as Chief Reporter of the 7th Service Command. He came to Poplar Bluff in 1945 as the Official Court Reporter, a position he held for forty years. He retired in 1984.

He held many titles in the Court Reporting profession, and was one of the founding fellows in the Academy of Professional Reporters. He served eleven years including three years as president, on the Executive Committee of the Missouri Shorthand Reporters Association Board. He served five years on the Board of Directors of the National Court Reporters Association including serving as its president from 1965 to 1966. He was appointed by the Supreme Court of the State of Missouri to the original Board of Directors of the Certified Court Reporter Examiners in 1974 and served on this board until his retirement.

Additionally, Leonard served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Missouri Savings Bank and Trust (now Southern Bank) almost forty years before retiring on December 31, 1999, and served as Chairman of the Board for seven years prior to his retirement.

He was a past president of the Lions Club and a member of the Board of Directors of the United Gospel Rescue Mission. He was a life-long member of Zion Lutheran Church and while living at Lenoir Woods continued celebrating his faith by attending Bible study and chapel.

He and his wife Doris loved to travel, go square dancing, and enjoyed their monthly "Steak Club" with their friends. He eagerly anticipated the beginning of quail season each year as he was an avid quail hunter and loved his bird dogs. His whole family remembers the wonderful holiday celebrations in their basement including young and old doing the "chicken dance." Everyone who knew him, even in later years, knew he liked to tease and always had a big smile on his face and a cup of coffee in his hand.

At age 88, he wrote and published a book of his memoirs titled Forty Years Under the Bench, which chronicled many of his personal and professional experiences. In 2008, he moved to Lenoir Woods in Columbia, Missouri.

Leonard was preceded in death by his wife, Doris, his daughter, Donna Shackelford, and his great-grandson, Jeffry Lane Shackelford. Survivors include a daughter, Janis Tate of Columbia, MO, and sons-in-law, Larry Tate, of Columbia, MO and Butch Shackelford, of Poplar Bluff, MO and a sister-in-law, JoAnn McClintock of St. Louis, MO. He was "Paw Paw" to his four grandchildren: Brian Tate, of Columbia, MO, Cindy Tate Burke (Kevin), of San Antonio, TX, J-Jaye Shackelford Hurley (Ryan) of Atlanta, GA, and Jeff Shackelford (Rebecca) of Little Rock, AR and his six great-grandchildren: Ella Burke, Jackson Hurley, Reese Donna Hurley, Madalyn Shackelford, Josie Shackelford and Sofiah Shackelford.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the most loving and caring staff at both Bradford Manor and Slater Place at Lenoir Woods. Special thanks also to Hospice Compassus of Columbia, Missouri, for all their special care. Memorials may be made to the United Gospel Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 924, Poplar Bluff, Missouri 63902 or to the Lenoir Woods Chapel Special Projects, 3710 S. Lenoir, Columbia, Missouri 65201.

Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 1st, with the funeral service following at 2 p.m. at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. The Rev. Jerry Riggert will officiate. Burial will be in the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cotrellfuneralservice.com.