Missouri Revised Statutes Title XXXI. Trusts and Estates of Decedents and Persons Under Disability § 473.110. Persons entitled to letters

(1) To the husband or wife;

(2) To one or more of those who are entitled to distribution of the estate, who the court shall believe will best manage and preserve the estate. A conservator of a distributee is not entitled to preference;

(3) If the court believes no one of the persons entitled to administer is a competent and suitable person, or if any such person fails to apply for letters when directed by the court, some other person may be appointed;

(4) A person entitled to letters of administration under subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection, or who would be entitled thereto but for section 473.117, may, if he has attained the age of eighteen years and has sufficient mental capacity for the purpose, nominate a qualified person to act as personal representative. Any such person may renounce his right to nominate or to be appointed by an appropriate writing filed with the court. When two or more persons share a priority, those of them who do not renounce must concur in nominating another to act for them or in applying for appointment.