Alva Ray Cahill, 67, passed away with family by his side Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, in St. Elizabeth, after a four year battle with ALS and Right Frontotemporal Dementia.
He was born Oct. 1, 1953, to Audra and Dorothy Edna (Jackson) Cahill, in Owensville.
He was united in marriage to Madelyn O’Dell, Oct. 28, 1972, at the Assembly of God Church in Owensville.
Alva was a 1972 graduate of Owensville High School and later earned his certificate as an electrician from East Central College in Union. He worked at Brown Shoe Company before receiving his first job as an electrician for James Electric Company in Cuba. He returned to Owensville to work for the Power and Light Plant. Later he owned AC Electric Company while working as an independent contractor at the St. Louis Post Dispatch where he retired in 2014. He enjoyed helping his community and spent a lot of his time doing odd jobs for his neighbors or maintaining his lawn and garden. He served on the City Council in Bland and the Board of Directors at Whispering Oaks Estates. He worked many hours on projects to better both the city and the estates.
In 2016 Alva was struck by illness that rapidly progressed in June 2017. His last years he relied upon the kindness of staff at St. Elizabeth Care Center to help him with his daily needs. While in St. Elizabeth Alva looked forward to family visits and chocolate shakes. His retirement did not go the way he had planned but he was loved very much and well cared for.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Danny and Benny Cahill.
He is survived by the mother of his children, Madelyn Pettus of Linn; daughter, Kari Fisher of Linn; son, Kris Cahill and wife Marcy of Bothell, Wash; grandchildren, Ethan, Liam and Teagan Cahill and Layton Fisher; sister, Ramona Henderson and husband Rayford of Ft. Payne, Ala.; sister-in-law, Linda Cahill of Owensville; and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held Friday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. at Countryside Memorial Gardens in Owensville with Pastor Les Dority officiating. The funeral home requests attendees follow covid restrictions. Memorials are requested to ALS Organization or St. Elizabeth Care Center. Arrangements entrusted to Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville.
