Fred Hansford

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Fred Burton ‘Freddie’ Hansford, age 84, of Granby, Missouri, passed away Sunday morning, January 14, 2024, at his home. 

Fred was born on July 10, 1939, in Diamond, Missouri, the son of the late Frank Emery and Frances Irene (Grieb) Hansford. He graduated from Diamond High School in 1957. 

 After deciding the classroom wasn’t for him, he traveled the Dakotas shearing sheep. He crop farmed with his father on the family farm, farming hundreds of acres. 

His interest in auctions lead him to Worldwide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa, where he graduated as an auctioneer. 

 He met and married his wife, Donna Sue (Greer) Hansford on February 20, 1960, at the home of the Church of Christ minister in Miami, Oklahoma. It was his grandfather-in-law, that asked the question that became their lifetime adventure on the outer banks of Shoal Creek. Fred accepted the request to assume the farming operation and for the next sixty-three years, he did what he loved…farming. 

Most weekends were filled with auctioneering farm sales in the area along with numerous charities and FFA fundraisers. With all of his commitments, he always found time to attend his children’s sporting events and was their biggest fan. 

Fred was an avid reader and enjoyed going to basketball games, auctioneering and going to the stockyards. He was a member of the Church of Christ. 

Fred is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Donna Sue; two children, Doug Hansford of Granby and Teresa Welke and husband, Brian of Eustis, Florida; three grandchildren, Christopher Welke and wife, Emry of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Shane Austin Hansford of Neosho and Alexander Welke and wife, Victoria of Mt. Dora, Florida and one brother, Gary Hansford and wife, Michelle of Carthage, Missouri. 

He is preceded in death by a son, Thad Jason Hansford, his parents and a brother, Russell Hansford. 

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 2 pm at the Clark Funeral Home Chapel of Memories. Interment will follow in the Diamond Cemetery, Diamond, Missouri. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 6:30 at the Clark Funeral Home, Neosho. 

Contributions in memory of Fred may be made to Hospice Compassas, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66; Neosho, MO 64850.