Obituary – Elvin Sapp
Thursday, July 9, 2020

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Elvin Emery Sapp passed away on July 5th, 2020 at his home in Columbia, Missouri surrounded by his family.  He was born on June 24, 1936 in Boone County. Elvin and his family enjoyed training and showing Tennessee Walking horses together. Elvin, Geri, and Shannon Sapp traveled many miles to compete throughout Missouri and surrounding states. Their efforts were rewarded with several top ties at the Celebration including two world championships and multiple reserve world championships. Showing horses with family members and life long friends created treasured memories for Elvin and his family.

Elvin enjoyed a lifelong career as a respected and well known homebuilder and land developer. He and his father, Emery Sapp built homes together in the late ‘50’s through the mid ‘70’s. In the early ‘60’s he expanded the business to include the development of several residential subdivisions. Elvin had a gift for looking at a piece of raw ground and visualizing it’s potential. That gift enabled him to develop some of Columbia’s premier residential developments throughout his life, Bluff Creek, Thornbrook and Bristol Lake being some of the most recent. Elvin enjoyed his work and liked sharing his vision and expertise with family. In the early 90’s he furthered his legacy by mentoring his son Shannon into the homebuilding business and later brought both Shannon and his grandson Justin into the development side of the business. He also encouraged his daughter Valerie to represent them as a real estate agent. Elvin with his brother Billy and other family investors were founding members of Columbia Ready Mix and Emery Sapp and Sons, Inc. He served on the Board of Directors of Century State Bank in Columbia and was a past Secretary of the Homebuilders Association.

Elvin married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Mary Geraldine (Geri) Murray, and she survives. True to their vows taken 64 years ago, their devotion to each other has been an inspiration to many. He is survived by their daughter, Valerie Barnes (Alan), son, Shannon Sapp (Diane), six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, He is also survived by a sister Norma Bennett (Marvin) and a brother, Billy Sapp (Glenda) and several nieces and nephews.

If asked, Elvin would always say he enjoyed getting up and going to work, to him, it was not a job. He loved finding land, picturing it in his head and then developing it. He liked a good Pitch card game and “calling” square dances with family. 
 
Elvin will be remembered for his devotion to his family and for his great work ethic. He was an honorable and respected man.  In lieu of flowers the family requests donation be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of choice in care of the funeral home.  (Alzheimer’s Association -  c/o Memorial Funeral Home 1217 Business Loop 70 W., Columbia, MO 65202)

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