Eureka City Clerk Ralph M. Lindsey Jr. will be remembered for his smile and personality, those who knew him say. Mr. Lindsey, 69, who had worked for Eureka City government for more than four decades, died of a heart attack June 4, 2019, at his Eureka home.
“I think probably what I'll miss most is just his upbeat personality,” said Derek Lindsey, 35, of Eureka, Mr. Lindsey’s son. “He was just never in a bad mood.”
Other people agreed with Derek.
“He was always smiling and upbeat. He had a deep enjoyment of life,” former Eureka Mayor Kevin Coffey said. “He was a character. He sat next to me at meetings, and he would always have something funny to say and would brighten meetings for me.”
City Administrator Craig Sabo described Mr. Lindsey as kindhearted.
Bob Berry, former mayor and current Ward 1 alderman, said Mr. Lindsey’s personality was unbelievable.
“That’s what we’re (the city) going to miss the most is that bubbly personality that had the ability to smile and get along with many different people,” he said.
Mr. Lindsey started working for the city of Eureka in 1978, and over his long career, he made many connections.
“It was really nice to see how many friendships he actually created over the years,” Derek said. “Not just business relationships or co-workers, but real friendships.”
People made it a point to come by City Hall just to see Mr. Lindsey, Coffey said.
“He would always brighten the day. People would stop in City Hall; they would find an excuse to drop off a bill or anything, just to see Ralph,” Coffey said. “They would come in and talk to him for a few minutes. He was a big part of what is the heart of the Eureka community.”
Mr. Lindsey served with six mayors and was witness to much of Eureka’s growth.
“He saw Eureka grow,” Coffey said. “He saw things change, and he was always growing with it. His job duties changed and evolved over the years, and he did it in stride and did us proud. His job was always done well. He was a good part of our community and a great part of our staff. He was a great friend.”
Before working for the city of Eureka, Derek said his dad worked for a company called Moore Business Forms, but ended up taking an unusual sabbatical.
Before their three children were born, Mr. Lindsey and his wife, Patricia, both quit their jobs to travel for three months, “all over the United States into the Rocky Mountains,” Derek said.
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Derek said that adventure in Mr. Lindsey’s youth might be a surprising piece of information for people who knew his dad. He said his mother, who died in 2009, talked Mr. Lindsey into doing it.
The couple returned home without a set plan for the future, but that was when Mr. Lindsey found a job with Eureka as treasurer and assistant to the mayor.
Derek said when his father wasn’t working he loved the outdoors. His parents bought a place on Indian Hill Lake in Cuba, Missouri about 15 years ago.
“He loved going out on a pontoon boat,” Derek said. “Really just anything outdoors and outside he loved. He loved exercising.”
Derek said his dad never minded yardwork because he got to be outside.
His joy of the outdoors extended into sports.
“Growing up, I remember he was always coaching our Little League baseball, our soccer teams, T-ball, softball,” Derek said.
Derek also said his father enjoyed fishing and hunting.
“He taught me to fish at a young age,” he said. “ I think that's where I developed a love for fishing that I have today.”
Many people said Mr. Lindsey was proud of Eureka, but he was even prouder of his family.
“He was very proud of his kids and grandkids. He loved spending time with them,” Coffey said. “After I retired (as mayor in April), I would stop in City Hall. We would talk about family and grandkids and boats and just general family talk.”
Eureka Police Captain David Wilson said Mr. Lindsey was always talking about his family.
“I know he was a good father and grandfather,” Wilson said. “Every time I went into his office, he would have a new picture of a grandkid. When we were younger, we would talk about his kids and what sports they were playing, and then it became the grandkids.”
Derek said Mr. Lindsey was born in south St. Louis. In addition to Derek, he is survived by a son, Jason Lindsey, 38, of Fenton; a daughter, Erin Huebner, 32, of Denton, Texas; and seven grandchildren, ages 2 weeks to 5 years.
Life Story focuses on one individual’s impact on his or her community.