Abraham (Abie) H. Showalter

Abie went to his heavenly home on Thursday, October 15, 2009, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota, after a courageous three and a half year battle with Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy, at the age of 73 years. Abie was born prematurely weighing only three and a half pounds on January 7, 1936, at the Methodist Hospital, St. Joseph, Missouri, and was lovingly taken care of by his nurse, Louise Cordonier, who survives him. His parents were Abraham H. Showalter, Sr., and Muriel (Atkins) Showalter, Craig, Missouri.

At an early age of nine years old, Abie gave his heart to the Lord in a tent meeting in the city park at Craig. His entire life has been spent serving in church as a Sunday school teacher, church board member, building committee chairman and song leader. He was currently a member of the First Christian Church in Mound City, Missouri.

Abie attended Brush College (a one room country school) and was a 1953 graduate of Craig High School. He was Craig’s first State FFA Farmer under the direction of Mr. Richard Barrett, who survives him.

Abie played center for the Craig football team with Mr. Gene Ceglenski as his coach, who survives him. He played football until he contracted Polio in 1951. After having Polio, Abie realized he had to have another occupation. He considered two options for his life, becoming a pastor or an auctioneer. Although he was just 17 years of age, he felt God was leading him into the auction business. Abie applied and was accepted to Reisch American School of Auctioneering, Mason City, Iowa, graduating August 15, 1953.

On August 27, 1961, Abie married Mary Ann Guy, Forest City, Missouri. On March 1, 1968, God blessed them with a son, Jonathan Abraham.

It was a miracle that he was able to start an auction business, because he didn’t have any family involved. A well-known auctioneer, Jesse McIntyre, Shenandoah, Iowa, who survives him, took him under his wing and taught him how to run a successful business. Then, with God’s help, the Showalter Auction and Realty business grew. Abie sold auctions of all kinds over the four-state area. His early motto was “Large or small, we appreciate them all!” In 1962, Abie received his license to be a real estate broker and although he was a broker, his favorite method of selling farmland was by public auction.

Even though Abie was in a wheelchair for three and a half years, he stayed very active in his business. Abie was passionate about the auction business as he felt it enabled him to serve people. He sold registered Galloway cattle sales in several western states, as well as in the Oregon Sale Barn, Oregon, Missouri; the Fall City Sale Barn, Fall City, Nebraska; and the Shenandoah Livestock Barn. Abie and Carl McIntyre owned the Tarkio, Missouri, Sale Barn early in Abie’s career.

Abie also farmed and had a large herd of registered Galloway cattle that he showed at the Denver National Western, American Royal, Kansas City, Missouri, Nebraska State Fair, Missouri State Fair, Iowa State Fair and Kentucky State Fair. He enjoyed running a cow calf operation and feeding his cattle in the feed lot. Abie was a student of herd genetics and spent hours studying breeding catalog’s looking to incorporate the top performers into his bloodlines. He was a former member of the National Auctioneers Association, Missouri Auctioneers Association and Board of Directors of the American Galloway Cattle Association.

Abie was always willing to donate his time and talent to many organizations. He sold benefit auctions for the Mid-America Nazarene College, Olathe, Kansas; First Christian Church, Mound City; Westboro United Methodist Church, Westboro, Missouri; Community Hospital-Fairfax, Missouri; Atchison County, Missouri 4-H Sale; and many other various fundraisers throughout the area. He developed some very special friendships in the Amish community in Jamesport, Missouri, and was thrilled to assist with the Amish school auction.

Abie was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Gabriel Abraham Showalter; sister, Mary Muffly; two half brothers, David Showalter and Ralph Showalter; and two half sisters, Emma Holland and Naomi Miller.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 48 years, Mary Ann; his son, Jonathan, who he was so proud of, and his gifted daughter-in-law, Julie; his three granddaughters who he loved so much, Victoria Ann, Morgan Elizabeth, and Sophie Claire; his nephew, Ronnie Flint, who was like a second son, his wife, Shelly, who was so helpful to him, and their children, Richelle, Colton and Brandon, who were like his own grandchildren; numerous other nieces and nephews; and so many friends.

Funeral services:
2:00 pm, Wednesday, October 21, 2009, Christian Fellowship Church, Mound City.
Interment: Tharp Cemetery, Craig.
The family will receive friends from 4:00 – 6:00 pm, Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.
In lieu of flowers, Abie would like memorials directed to the First Christian Church Building Fund, Mound City or the Atchison County 4-H Clubs, Rock Port, Missouri.
Services under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.