From June 17, 2010
Fastpitch lost a friend as Kevin O’Malley of Nokomis passed away from a heart malady that occured suddenly while attending the games in Kelso this past weekend. Kevin retired from the game about 5 years ago and has many friends and acquaintances in the fastpitch community. Keep his family in your thoughts.
-Jeffrey Profitt
Some friends’ posts at the Illinois forum at FPW:
The fastpitch world in Illinois is a sadder place today following Kevin’s unexpected death and the loss of Noel Schott. Knew them both—Noel better than Kevin. We’ve lost two of the good guys.
Please extend prayers to their respective families. Totally shocked about Kevin. We chatted briefly at Kelso Saturday morning. Mr. Schott, I last spoke with a few years back.
Kevin played high school basketball at Nokomis. My good friend, former coach and one-time radio broadcasting partner Roger Craft (who left Nokomis to coach Du Quoin in 1979) was one of his coaches. Roger still speaks fondly of the “Nokomis gang” and how tough those “kids from Fillmore were.”
To me, Noel was always Mr. Eager Beaver. A trip to SouthSide wasn’t complete without seeing him,
From the Belleville News Democrat—
BELLEVILLE- Noel P. Schott, 79, of Belleville, Ill., born Nov. 24, 1930, in Belleville, Ill., died Monday, June 14, 2010, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Belleville, Ill.
Mr. Schott was a retired gas fitter for Illinois Power Company, where he had worked for 32 years. He was a former member of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Belleville, Ill. Noel played softball with the Eager Beavers softball team for more than 50 years. He was also a fast-pitch softball umpire for 31 years; a member of the ASA (Amateur Softball Association); and a member of the Illinois State Softball Hall of Fame.
Mr. Schott was also a published author. He wrote the book “Military Arms”. He was a member of the National Rifle Association, the St. Louis Arms Association, and the Missouri Arms Collectors Association. Noel was a U.S. Navy veteran.
He was preceded in death by two daughters, Robby Schott and Stephanie Schott; and his parents, Adolph Web and Esther, nee Christman, Schott.
Surviving are his wife, Carol A., nee Mount, Schott, whom he married on Nov. 20, 1999; a daughter, Lisa (Jim) Rhodes of Freeburg, Ill.; three stepdaughters, Anna (Brian) Fischer of Maryland Heights, Mo., Lisa (Dion) Franklund of Memphis, Tenn., and Christina (Jack) London of Phoenix, Ariz.; a grandson, Eric Smith of Dupo, Ill.; and a brother, Webster (Naoma) Schott of Lake Quivira, Kan.
Memorials may be made to the Belleville Area Humane Society. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 18, 2010, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, Ill. A walk-through by the Eager Beaver Softball Team will be held at 7:15 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Funeral: A service of remembrance will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 18, 2010, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, Ill. Private family burial will be held Saturday, June 19, 2010, at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, Ill.
From the State Journal-Register—
NOKOMIS – Kevin F. O’Malley, 53, of Nokomis died Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
He was born Oct. 21, 1956, in Hillsboro, the son of Ernest F. and Dorothy (Woodhouse) O’Malley. He married Sarina Ruffing on Oct. 5, 1991, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Nokomis.
He was preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by his wife; three children, Mackenzie M. and Dolan F. O’Malley, both at home and Jaime (Steve) Eisenbarth; three grandchildren; in-laws Barb and Hank Ruffing of Nokomis; a sister, Denise (Neil) Alexander; sister-in-law, Jessica (Michael) Martin; and several nieces and nephews.
Kevin was employed as postmaster in Fillmore. He was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church in Nokomis.