John Vernier, a 62 year old Registered Nurse at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis died of COVID-19 on January 12, 2021.
John was retired from the US Navy where he served for 21 years on submarines and served during Operation Desert Storm. After retiring from the military, John went back to school for his RN degree, and took a few classes with his daughter Christine who was also in nursing school. John had a true helper’s heart and was always there at any time for his family, friends, and coworkers.He had three daughters with his wife of 37 years, and LOVED being a grandpa. John was looking forward to retiring from his second career and enjoying more family time.
John Vernier is missed deeply by his wife, his father and step-mother, his three daughters, grandkids, coworkers at Mercy South Hospital, and everyone whose lives he ever helped make brighter.
Jason Moss died from complications of COVID-19 on January 20, 2021 at the age of 52. His body had cleared the coronavirus, but could not recover from the devastating effects of the disease. It was up and down for a long time, with 49 days on ECMO and almost two months on a ventilator. He fought hard but suffered from two strokes in his brain, and his body shut down for the last time.
Jason grew up in Collinsville IL, traveled the world in the Navy, then came back to St. Louis and graduated from St. Louis University with a bachelor’s degree. He most recently worked administration and analysis for a local hospital. His pride and joy of his life was his three sons, triplets, born in 2005. He was a Boy Scout Leader and poured his heart into being the best father in the world.
Jason Moss is missed deeply by his teenage sons, his wife, parents, family and everyone fortunate enough to know him.
This memorial is unedited, as written by her family: Angela Renee Jones, 53, passed on May 9, 2020 after contracting COVID-19.
Angela Renee Jones was born on January 26, 1967 in Saint Louis, Missouri. Angela belongs to a large family and an even bigger blended family. Angela was affectionately known as “Cookie” and also later as “Cook Book” and “Auntie Cookie”.
Angela was a proud graduate of Soldan High School. She kept in close contact with her fellow classmates and she loved to attend alumni events. After graduating from Soldan in 1985, Angela attended Southeast Missouri State University where she studied Accounting. She also attended Saint Louis Community College where she studied nursing. Angela earned her certification in Phlebotomy and she worked for the Saint Louis Red Cross for over 10 years. Angela always did her part to help serve others. Angela had a rare blood type and she regularly donated her blood.
Angela later worked for United Health Care Group for 13 years until she contracted COVID-19.
Angela always made the time to volunteer and serve in her community. She would often thank others for giving her the opportunity to serve.
Angela had a very full life and she was an avid traveler. Not only did Angela travel all over the United States, she traveled all over the world. Just to name a few places, she traveled to Jamaica, Belize, Dominican Republic and Cancun. She was so fearless. She never missed an opportunity to experience and travel. She was such an inspiration to so many people.
Cookie was a staple at family functions. She was always ready to help organize and put on a family function. Cookie was always there…. Graduations, Birthday Parties, Barbecues, The annual Fish Fry… Cookie was the glue to our family.
Angela never had any children of her own, however, she was a mother to so many of the children in our family. It takes a village and she certainly did her part to help raise, love and support so many kids. She sacrificed her life to others and gave selflessly. She touched so many lives. We thank God for the gift He gave to us in the person of Angela “Cookie” Jones.
Angela is dearly missed by her family, friends and loved ones. She was so special to us. Not a day goes by where we don’t have a memory of Cookie. We are so thankful for the time we did get to spend with her and all of the memories that we made with her.
Thank you for allowing us to share the life, memory and the legacy of our loved one!!
Sources:
contact from relative/close friend (niece)
In Loving Memory of a Beautiful Soul – by her loving sister
Angela R. Jones Affectionately known as Cookie was a beautiful soul that is Deeply missed!!
Angela was a Loving Daughter, Sister, Friend and Auntie.
She was witty… She had a quirky sense of humor… She had a smart mouth… She loved to travel all over the world… She loved concerts & plays She loved her family and they loved her back She had no kids, but was a mother to many and took care of her many many nieces & nephews, great nieces & nephews and so many other kids who needed anything… She had a heart of gold… She was fun…
She’s gone but most certainly always in my heart and surely will never be forgotten!!
Angel Marie Dampier died of COVID-19 on June 10, 2020 at the age of 40.
She was a direct care worker for over 13 years at South County Habilitation Center in Mehlville MO and leaves behind a young son and husband. Angel is remembered by her friends as being a loving and dedicated mother, and she always had something to smile about.
Angel is missed very deeply by her 8 year old son, her husband, mother, entire family and extended family, the residents she cared for and coworkers she commiserated and laughed with at South County Habilitation Center.
Dr. Edward P. Rose died of COVID-19 on September 20, 2020 at the age of 74. He was a practicing rheumatologist in Belleville IL until contracting coronavirus, refusing to abandon his patients even though retirement was suggested in March.
A polio survivor, Ed devoted his life to his family, science, and service. He attended Washington University Medical School and completed his residency at Barnes, cumulating with completing a fellowship at Royal Victoria Hospital/McGill University in Montreal in 1976. He served his community for 45 years as a board-certified rheumatologist and internist, as president of the Medical Society of St. Clair County, a chess club coach, and as an appointed member of the Illinois State Medical Licensing Board for nearly 20 years.
Ed is remembered as being quiet and unwaveringly stable, although he loved a noisy home with children running around playing. He loved hosting raucous dinner parties with plenty of wine and comfort food, passionate disagreements, laughter, and story-telling. Ed taught his kids to play chess, water ski, follow through on commitments and the values of philanthropy, travel, and enjoying simple pleasures.
Dr. Edward P. Rose is deeply missed by his wife of 47 years, 7 kids, 20 grandchildren, extended family, the many friends he made in life, and his patients.
Dr. Ruth Louise Beckmann Murray, Ed.D, MSN, RN, CS, N-NAP, DAPA, passed from complications of COVID-19 and pneumonia on June 25, 2020 at the age of 84. Ruth continued her education throughout her life, starting with her nursing degree in 1957 from Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, getting her Masters Degree from Washington University in 1967 in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing – Focus on individual and group counseling & crisis training, and finally her EdD from Southern Illinois University in 1983. Her 40 year career in the nursing department at St. Louis University included roles as a Program Coordinator, Psychiatric-Mental Health Professor for Undergraduate & Graduate Nursing Education, and textbook author (including authoring many versions of Health Promotion Strategies Through the Life Span).
Ruth gave tirelessly to the St. Louis community. Her volunteer work included, according to her obituary: St. Patrick Center where she served as a Member, Board of Trustees and numerous committee roles. She was a member of the Board of Directors for HOPE in 1999-2000, a St Louis Transition Hope House volunteer, American Red Cross volunteer and served with the crisis intervention team in St. Louis Missouri.
Dr. Ruth Louise Beckmann Murray inspired and guided thousands of nursing students in their professional paths as Nurses, helped thousands more in her various other helping roles, and reached countless through her publications and community advocacy. She mentored and profoundly touched many lives personally, as the memories posted on her obituary describe. Her vibrancy, kindness, and love are missed far beyond her immediate and extended family.
PS- I’m including her in the “Healthcare Workers” category, because she remained active in her vocation of nursing long after retiring.
Brenda Susan Schaeg (nee St. Onge) died of COVID-19 on April 28 at the age of 69. She worked as a receptionist at Bethesda Meadow Skilled Nursing Facility in Ellisville, MO. She was known for making extra time to visit with the residents, considered them her friends, and often socialized with them when she was not on the clock. Her coworkers looked forward to coming to work on the shifts that Brenda was scheduled.
Brenda is missed by her children, grandchildren, her work family at Betheseda Meadow, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Jenniffer Anderson-Davis was a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) living in Hazelwood and working at the Meramec Bluffs Senior Living Center in Ballwin (St. Louis County). She tested positive on April 9 and died of COVID-19 at home five days later on April 14th. She was only 44 years old.
Jeniffer worked hard as a single mom to three kids and gave them everything she could. She loved the residents that she cared for, her family, her friends and her church. She is missed very much by all of them.
Cythia Whitfield of Jennings worked as a Certified Medical Technician for Grand Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation, a skilled nursing and rehab home just north of Grand Center in North St. Louis when she started feeling ill with body aches and shortness of breath. Several workers and residents of the facility had already tested positive for COVID-19.
While she was waiting for her COVID-19 test results to come back, Whitfield asked her employer for more paid sick leave and was denied. She went to work feeling sick and worked up until the day before she was admitted to the hospital.
St. Mary’s hospital admitted Cynthia on April 15th and her condition rapidly deteriorated. Within a day she was on a ventilator. April 21st she was transferred to Barnes Jewish Hospital, put on an ECMO machine, and died. She was 58 years old.
Cynthia’s mother, Beverly Raybon, was admitted to the hospital on April 14th with symptoms of severe COVID. She didn’t even know her daughter had died. Beverly Raybon passed away on May 16, and it’s unclear to me if she also died of Covid but all signs point to that.
Cynthia Whitfield leaves behind four children, her husband of over 40 years Richard Jones Spencer, her father, brother, extended family, friends, as well as leaving behind her underpaid coworkers, and a fucked up system.
Perinatal nurse specialist Judy Wilson-Griffon advocated for better health outcomes for at-risk mothers. She was the first person in St. Louis confirmed to die of COVID-19. She was 63 years old.
Judy’s grandmother was a midwife in Alabama, and Judy took up the tradition through her work at BJC from 1981 to 2007 (where she established Missouri’s first maternal transport team for high-risk pregnant mothers), and most recently at St. Mary’s Hospital. She also served overseas in the Gulf War with the U.S. Navy Reserve Nurse Corps.
In 2019 Judy was honored as the March of Dimes Missouri Chapter Nurse of the Year in Women’s Health and Obstetrics.
Judy Wilson-Griffin leaves behind a step-daughter Valerie Griffin, a step-son Tyrone Griffin Jr., and numerous grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Tyrone Griffin Sr… and countless friends still miss her.
Judy Wilson-Griffin died of COVID-19 on a ventilator and in the thoughts of many at age 63 on March 20, the day that her proposal for creating a maternal triage acuity index for pregnant women was scheduled to be approved.
She is buried next to her late husband at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
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Sources and links to more about Nurse Judy Wilson-Griffin’s life are:
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