Ken Grott, formerly of Chester
Kenneth J. "Ken" Grott, 94, formerly of Sedalia, died Sunday, May 21, 2017, in St. Mary's, Georgia.
Ken was born in Chester, Illinois, on October 9, 1922, the eldest child of Stephen and Helena (Besson) Grott.
He married Mary Ann Elder in Claryville, Missouri on June 9, 1951. Ken and Mary Ann raised four children in Belleville, Illinois, then Sedalia, Missouri, where the couple lived from 1965 to 2014, before moving to St. Mary's to be closer to family.
Ken served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Quartermaster Corps, 561st Railhead Company, in England and France.
After the war, he began a 45-year career in women's shoe manufacturing as a pattern maker at International Shoe in St. Louis, Missouri.
He joined Town & Country Shoes in Sedalia in 1965 as head of the Pattern Department and later as manager of manufacturing until retiring in 1988. 
Ken was actively involved in the community. In 1970, he helped to organize, and was an early president of, the Manufacturers' Association of Pettis County.
He served on the United Way Board and held local, district and council volunteer positions with the Boy Scouts of America.
In retirement, Ken greatly enjoyed crappie fishing with friends at Truman Lake, as well as volunteering for the Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Parish Bazaar, and Sacred Heart School.
He was a member of American Legion Post 642, Lifetime Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3553, and Life Member of the Knights of Columbus Council 831.
Surviving Ken are his wife, Mary Ann; a son, William Grott, and his wife, Angela, of Grant, Florida.
Other survivors are two daughters, Julie Cook, and her husband, Roger, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Cynthia Bohn, and her husband, James, of Atlanta, Ga; a brother, Fidelis (Dale) Grott, of Chester; two sisters, Patricia Schulte, of Chester and Bonita Towers, of Freeburg, Illinois.
Additional survivors include five grandchildren, Adam Grott, and his wife, Anna; Damian Cook, and his wife, Edie; Lauren Bohn, Diana Cook, and Brittany Bohn; and four great;grandchildren.
Ken was preceded in death by a son, James Grott; two brothers, Donald Grott and Lowell Grott; one sister, Emogene Cushman and many great friends.
A memorial mass will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at a future date. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Sacred Heart Foundation, 421 West Third Street, Sedalia, MO 65301, or the charity of your choice.