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Obituaries

Harold Mayberry Served Family, Community With Loyalty, Dependability

The Brentwood father and retired police lieutenant died on March 31, but will always be remembered for lending a helping hand.

Harold Mayberry was Rob Nisbet's neighbor and inspiration for 34 years.

Nisbet, a retired fire captain for the Shrewsbury Fire Protection District, said Mayberry was the reason for many things he does, even in day-to-day activities. 

"After it snowed, and the weather had warmed up to about 36 degrees, I would see Harold out there washing his car to get the salt off it," he said. "I do it to this day."

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Mayberry, a lifetime member, also motivated Nisbet to join the organization. Nisbet since has become club's secretary. 

Upon reflection, Nisbet realized how such a seemingly small, yet good deed can affect someone's life in a big way.

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"You know, I saw Harold serve the Lion's Club for 39 years," Nisbet said. "I look at that and think, maybe I will, too."

Harold Mayberry died of cancer on March 31. He was 84.

He worked for the  for 20 years, ending his career as a lieutenant. Nisbet said having a cop in the neighborhood made fellow residents on Rankin Avenue in Brentwood feel a lot safer.

"Everyone depended on Harold," Nisbet said. "If there was a problem in the neighborhood, they went to him even before going to the police."

He added that Mayberry was dependable and "a great friend to everybody."

Brentwood Police Chief Steve Disbennett remembers being a young police officer and having Harold as his boss. 

"When I started, he was very protective of the younger officers," Disbennett said. "He always gave good advice. " 

Disbennett describes Mayberry's characteristics as wholesome. "That's what he was about," Disbennett said. "He was that person who was always honest with you. And fair. He could be stern at times, but always in a fair way. "

Mayberry always kept busy, and was an avid reader. His favorite books were westerns, which he never stopped reading even when he was sick.

"He read up until his dying day," Nisbet said. "Even when he went into the hospital, they hooked up a visual aid for him to read with."

Nisbet said Harold was in very good spirits and very articulate when Nisbet visited him in the hospital.

Harold Mayberry is survived by his daughter, Barbara Almquist, a retired manager with United Health Care, and his grandchildren Michael and Jennifer. 

Born in 1926 in Poplar Bluff, MO, Mayberry grew up during the Great Depression. He and his siblings dropped out of school in eighth grade to work and help support his family, which was a course of events Almquist said made him a hard worker.

Despite a tough childhood, Almquist said her father was taught to always be respectful and polite.

"I never saw my dad get angry," she said. "He never said a bad word about anybody, even if he didn't like them."

Almquist said that even in the hospital: "He was saying 'Yes Ma'am' to everyone, even the young nurses." 

Mayberry moved to Brentwood and met Gloria, his wife of 60 years, at a downtown dance during World War II. He worked at Joy Manufacturing Co. while she worked at Brown Shoe Co. The two lived with Harold's father and took the trolleycar to work everyday.

"He was just a really good, decent man," Almquist said. "He always took care of his family. He will be greatly missed. He and my mom were both very special people."

Mayberry also lived in Kirkwood for five years, then in St. Peters near his daughter.

A visitation service was held at Stygar Mid Rivers Funeral Home on April 3, followed by a funeral service April 4 at Grace Presbyterian Church in St. Charles.

The Almquist family has requested memorial donations be made to:
The American Cancer Society
4207 Lindell Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63108

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