CHESTER ALVIN BAUGHER

Chester Baugher

Chester Alvin Baugher, 97, of Macomb died at 2:12 p.m. Sept. 27, 2013, at The Elms Nursing Home in Macomb.

He was born Dec. 8, 1915, in Payson, a son of Albert and Mabel Hibbard Baugher. He married Kathleen Lovell on May 6, 1946. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Deborah K. Baugher Smith of Macomb; one son, Randy A. (and Betty) Baugher of River Falls, Wis.; one sister, Martha Kirchner of Keokuk, Iowa; one brother, Charles (and Nancy) Baugher of Keokuk, Iowa; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by four sisters; and one grandson, Christopher I. Smith in 2001.

He was part of FDR’s CCC program when he was age 16, a World War II USMC veteran who was stationed at the Battle of Midway in the South Pacific.

He was a chef and expert of the culinary arts. He received his initial culinary training from Chef Rene Morse in St. Paul, Minn.

He was a member of Illinois Chapter of Executive Chef Association and was instrumental in forming the local Peoria chapter and American Culinary Federation.

He worked in Peoria at Pierre Marquette and St. Francis Hospital before moving to Wee-Ma-Tuk Country Club in Canton, then back to Peoria to Jumer’s, Creve Coeur Club and Country Club of Peoria. His wife worked alongside him at these establishments. After retiring at the top of his culinary career, he moved to Macomb where he worked part-time at The Macomb Dining Company.

Visitation will be held from 9:30-11 a.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church, 120 N. McArthur St., Macomb. Services will be held at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Dodsworth-Piper-Wallen Funeral Home in Macomb is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Hospice McDonough Hospital or Loaves and Fishes of Macomb.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 10/2/2013