Gail H. Novinger

Gail Harvey Novinger, age 90, of rural Kirksville passed away peacefully on July 2, 2019 at his home northwest of Kirksville.

Gail was born February 7, 1929 on Eitel Ridge in western Adair County, the youngest of Isaac M. and Fannie J. (Eitel) Novinger's 10 children. On December 20, 1953 in Chariton County, MO he was united in marriage to Mary Frances Johnson, who survives.

Gail is survived by two sons, James (Lanna) and Mark (Marla) both of rural Kirksville and one daughter, Jane Ann, (Lindall) Perry of Columbia, MO. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren-- Austin, Andrew (Amanda), Alan (Hannah), Kyle and Laura Perry, Brooke and Grant Novinger, along with one great -granddaughter, Leah Perry.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Carolyn Novinger, his parents, 7 brothers--Willie, Johnnie, Frankie, Roy, Harry, Raymond and Murl and two sisters, Lela Waddill and Reta Walker.

Growing up in the Willow Branch School community at the beginning of the Depression, along with surviving the droughts of 1934 & 36, would have an everlasting effect on the way Gail would live and value the rest of his life. For several years March 1st meant moving to a different farm hoping that this year would be a little better than the last and eventually took his family to the Brashear, Gibbs, Wilson and later the LaPlata communities.

Gail graduated from LaPlata High School in 1947, and attended Northeast Missouri State University, but his two older brothers, Raymond and Murl, along with his love of farming wooed him away. The three of them were energetic, innovative and always looking for new opportunities. Established businessmen like Ruby Green, WO Mackey and Lee Greenly Sr. took an interest and gave the young brothers opportunities to establish their own farming operation.

Gail started raising his family in the Chariton River Bottom east of Ethel Missouri and in 1967 moved northwest of Kirksville where he farmed the rest of his life. Farming was always his first love much like the 8 generations of Novingers that preceded him. He was grateful and respecting of his ancestors that moved to Pennsylvania in the early 1700's from Germany. This respect lead to Gail wanting to travel with his family extensively, state capitals and historic sites were always at the top of the list in the US. Trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Western Europe were enjoyable but always educational.

Other than farming, Gail always had a keen interest in community and served on many local and governmental program committees. He served in leadership roles on the R-3 School Board, University of Missouri Extension Council, Adair County Soil and Water District and eventually served as Adair County's Presiding Commissioner. He served as District 2 State Representative and took pride in working across the aisle with other rural legislators to make progress in things that needed fixed or simplified.

As a community servant some of his most gratifying accomplishments were being instrumental in establishing the Vo Tech Building and programs on Kirksville R-3's campus. Developing a road rebuilding program to help improve the conditions of Adair county roads. Most rewarding was working with other community leaders like Dr. Jack Magruder, Dr. Jim Shaddy, Orin Mock, Harriet Beard and others to prevent BFI from developing a Hazardous Waste Landfill where Hazel Creek Lake now exists.

Gail's later life was full of family activities, machinery auctions and making improvements to the farm usually with a dozer and a track hoe. He loved making decisions and found it to be a fault with those who couldn't. Even to the end his philosophy was, you have to make a decision quickly and decisively, you won't always be right, but it's better than sitting on the fence, if it's wrong readjust and fix it.
Gail was a member of the First Christian Church of Kirksville.

Each of the 33,017 days of his life on earth were important, and accomplishing something each of those days was his goal, and usually he got the job done. His desire was to instill that philosophy with others and lead by example. His family will be forever grateful for that.

Pall Bearers will be his grandchildren Austin, Andrew, Alan, Kyle and Laura Perry, as well as Brooke and Grant Novinger.

Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, July 6, 2019 at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be at the Funeral Home at 2:00 p,m. Sunday, July 7, 2019, with Rev David Massey-Brown officiating. Burial will be in Park View Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to First Christian Church or Ringo Point Cemetery.