Tony Bussey

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Tony Malcolm Bussey was born August 30, 1948, in San Angelo, Texas to Everet Ernest, Sr. and Thelma May (Johnson) Bussey. He entered into rest on April 10, 2023, in Joplin, Missouri at the age of 74. 

Tony attended elementary school in Stella, Missouri, and then at Neosho High School, graduating in 1966. He played four years of basketball at Neosho, and his team won the 1966 Neosho Christmas Tournament. 

Upon graduation, Tony attended and graduated from Crowder College in 1968 and played two years for the Crowder College Roughrider baseball team. In 1996, he was inducted into the Crowder College Baseball Hall of Fame. Tony continued his education at Pittsburg State University, from 1968-1971, earning a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Physical Education. 

Tony began his thirty-two-year teaching career in 1972 at North Junior High in Joplin, Missouri. In 1977, he moved to Neosho and began teaching at Neosho High School. He taught health and physical education and coached football, basketball, and golf for 26 years. His golf team won four conference championships and twelve teams qualified for state. The 1983 basketball team won the Carthage Tournament, the Neosho Christmas Tournament, and the Class 4 District Championship in Springfield, Missouri. He was always proud of the fact that he won the Neosho Christmas Tournament as both a player and a coach. He retired from teaching in 2004. 

Tony was an avid hunter and fisherman. He and his friends went on countless bird-hunting trips, and he also made annual fishing trips to Canada. He was a member of Quail Unlimited for 25 years and helped to start the Hunter Education Program at Neosho High School, which he taught for 25 years. But mostly, Tony loved his farm. 

He loved raising and caring for the cattle. The annual 'Deer Camp' to mark the beginning of hunting season was always a much-anticipated event. He loved the outdoors and the beauty of God’s creation. In retirement, Tony enjoyed daily trips to the YMCA with his 'Y' buddies and eating at the Crowder College cafeteria with his 'Lunch Buddies'. Tony loved Neosho, all his many friends, and especially all the Neosho students he taught and coached over his teaching career. As he once said, 'I have always loved being a Wildcat'. Tony was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and is currently a member of the Rocketdyne Road congregation. 

Tony is survived by his wife, Diedra; two sons, Nick Bussey (Amy Chaney) and Tony Ryan Bussey; two grandsons, Bentlee Farley and Dylan Bussey; three brothers, Everet (Jan) Bussey, Ervin (Shirley) Bussey and Bill (Charlena) Andrews, all of Neosho. 

Additional survivors include Diedra’s family, her son, Ben (Veronica) Michel, sister, Sandra (Amir) Pambechy; niece, Andrea (Jason) Quenneville and great-niece, Gibson. Children of Amy Chaney, Layla Hall, Makayla Hall, and Bryce Hall. 

Memorial visitation will be held on Friday, April 14th at the Clark Funeral Home, Neosho, from 5:30 – 7 pm. Memorial services will be at 10:00 am Saturday, April 15th at Rocketdyne Road Church of Christ. Contributions in memory of Tony may be made to the Fair Haven Children’s Home, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66; Neosho, MO 64850.