DEFOE,USNR CAPTAIN STANSEL

CAPTAIN STANSEL E. DEFOE, USNR (RET), Captain Stansel E. DeFoe, USNR (Ret), 95, of Concordia, MO died on May 16, 2014 at Missouri Western Medical Center in Warrensburg, MO. Stansel was born on January 2, 1919 in Higginsville, MO the son of William B. and Estella (Cain) DeFoe, Jr. He graduated from Smith-Cotton High School, Sedalia, in 1937. He attended Central Missouri State College, Warrensburg, from 1937-1939, and Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois from 1939-1940. Stansel attended the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland and was commissioned an Ensign, USNR in May of 1941. On September 14, 1941 he married Joan Baird, she preceded him in death on August 19, 1998. During World War II he served active duty on several destroyer escorts as part of the Armed Guard in both the Atlantic and Pacific. He earned a Commendation Medal for action during the Murmansk Run to Russia. His active duty ended as a Lieutenant Commander aboard the USS North Carolina in 1945. Following the war he attended Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado and earned his degree in Forestry in 1946. Stansel went back to active duty during the Korean Conflict serving as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Reserve Training Center in Hannibal, Missouri. He continued in the Naval Reserve for a total service time of 32 years, retiring in 1979 as a Captain. Besides his military career, Stan worked as an executive for the Boy Scouts of America for 32 years, serving districts in both Missouri and Kansas. He led the Big Muddy District from 1970 until his retirement. He was a member of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and was known as Medicine Man Silver Sea Eagle. Stan is survived by a daughter, Kathy L. DeFoe and a granddaughter, Shelley Russell and husband Ryan all of Concordia. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter in 1947, his parents, two brothers, Jonathan DeFoe and Ralph McKelvey and a brother and sister in infancy. Visitation from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, May 19 at the Walker-Nadler-Fuller Funeral Home, 1720 South St., Lexington, MO (660)259-2245. Cremation with private burial at a later date.