Vera Athleen Marler Knapp, 93, of St. Louis County died Sept. 6, 2023. Mrs. Knapp worked at Rexall Drug as a quality control supervisor, then went to McDonnell Douglas, where she finished her career as a quality assurance representative. She loved Jesus and believed in the power of prayer. She was a talented cook and a masterful green thumb who enjoyed cuddling with her kitties, watching University of Connecticut basketball and attending Broadway shows. Born, March 1, 1930, in Arkansas, she was the daughter of the late D and Zella Naomi McMillen. She was preceded in death by her first husband: Kenneth Laverne Marler, with whom she raised a family and who died in 1987; and her second husband: Richmond L. “Bud” Knapp, who died in 2017.
She is survived by a son: Kenneth Michael (Christine) Marler; a daughter: Carolyn Sue (Jim) Sheppard; a daughter-in-law Denise (Stephen) Marler; five grandchildren: Becky (Josh) Pemberton, Joe (Jamie) Marler, Zachary Bekemeier, Emily (Andrew) McFarland and Kaitlyn Sheppard; six great-granddaughters: Evie, Lola, Penelope, Ava, Lucy and Violet; two stepchildren: Martha (Bill) Leonard and Richmond Knapp; her caretaker: Nicole Pride; and many other family members and friends.
She was also preceded in death by a son: Stephen Lee Marler; a sister: Polly Lewis; a brother: Jackie MacMillan; two stepsons: Toby and Timothy Knapp; a stepdaughter-in-law: Cheryl Knapp; a step-grandson: Richmond L. Knapp III; as well as a number of nieces and nephews.
Visitation is scheduled from 10 a.m. until a funeral service at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11, at Heiligtag-Lang-Fendler Funeral Home, 1081 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold. Burial will follow in the Shepherd Hills Cemetery, 1925 Old State Road M, in Barnhart. Arrangements are under the direction of Heiligtag-Lang- Fendler Funeral Home.