It is with deepest regret and sorrow to report the line-of-duty death of Fire Fighter/Paramedic Ryan A. Hummert of IAFF Local 2665 - Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri. Brother Hummert, 22, died on Monday, July 21, 2008 as a result of wounds received after being shot by a gunman while responding to a car fire.

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Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2008 from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Jay B. Smith Funeral Home, 7456 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri 63143, (314) 781-1115. Casket vigil will take place from 2pm to 8pm. Uniformed members wishing to stand casket vigil should contact Harriett Vaucher at 314-541-8701. A firefighters walk through will conclude the services and are scheduled to begin at 8pm.

Due to limited space, shuttle service will be available from 1430-2130 to the funeral home from the Deer Creek Shopping Plaza located at 3200 Laclede Station Road, Maplewood, Missouri. The funeral will be held on Friday, July 25, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church of Maplewood, 2934 Marshall Avenue, Maplewood, Missouri 63143, (314) 645-3307. Procession will follow to place of Sunset Cemetery, Gravois and Laclede Station Road, Affton Missouri. Parking for persons NOT going to the cemetery should be at Deer Creek Shopping Plaza, 3200 Laclede Station Road, Maplewood. Shuttle service will be available. This will also be overflow parking from the church. The procession will travel from the church on Marshall, proceed west on Manchester Road processing past Maplewood Fire Department, continuing to Hanley / Laclede Station road turning south on Laclede Station to the cemetery. Memorials have been established to The Backstoppers 10411 Clayton Road Suite 5 St. Louis, Mo. 63131.

Any out of town IAFF member needing assistance with accommodations, transportation, or other information can contact IAFF Local 2665 Representatives Mark Woolbright at 314.393.9755 This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or Mark Habbas at 314.393.9757 This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it Honor guards are requested to assist with visitation and funeral services. Interested honor guards should contact Bud Marchlewski 636-485-0417. Any bagpipe-drum units/individuals interested in participating should contact Jason Hildebrandt at 314-852-0651. Agencies wishing to provide apparatus for the funeral procession should contact Kate Moore at 636-262-3868 to assist us with staging. Apparatus should precede Northbound on Big Bend Blvd exit ramp to right just before railroad crossing bridge, to top of hill to Greenwood Avenue, turn Left on Cantebury then merge onto Marshall Avenue to stage your apparatus for the procession.

Persons traveling and in need of housing – a block of rooms has been secured for IAFF members on Wednesday and Thursday at a rate of $49 per night at the Crowne Plaza, 7750 Carondelet Ave, Clayton, MO, 63105. Call them at 314-726-5400 and tell them the intent of your stay. The Crowne Plaza has a shuttle service available to and from the airport and will be providing transportation to and from the visitation on Thursday and to the church on Friday. A luncheon will follow the committal services at the IAFF Local 73 Union Hall located at 4271 Delor, St. Louis, Missouri 63116.