Billy Bollinger

(From Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home)

Billy Dale Bollinger, age 74, of Jenkins, Missouri, passed away at 12:35 a.m. on Friday, October 29, 2021, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was born September 14, 1947, in Aurora, Missouri, the son of Joe Dale and Maxine (Rickman) Bollinger.

Billy was a 1965 graduate of Aurora High School in Aurora, Missouri and he served in the United State Air Force during the Vietnam Era. Billy worked for Tysons for 19 years and was promoted to plant manager in Alabama from where he retired. He worked for the Dairy Farmers of American in Monett for 10 years and for Justin Factory Outlet in Monett. He was a member of the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church and loved to coach his kids in sports.

On July 29, 1989, he married Mary Jane Bunch, in Mellow Valley, Alabama.

Billy is survived by his wife of 32 years, Mary; eight children, Denise Read and husband, Tom, of Deltona, Florida, Clint Bollinger of Springfield, Missouri, Walker Bollinger and his wife, Heather, of Washburn, Missouri, Monica Jones and her husband, Kevin, of Blue Eye, Arkansas, Buddy Bunch, of Jenkins, Missouri, Dennis Whitaker, of Green Forest, Arkansas, and Pete and Blieu Bunch, of the home in Jenkins; one sister, Marilyn Rogers and her husband, Leon, of Mt. Vernon, Missouri; two brothers, Kenneth Bollinger of Columbia, Tennessee and James Bollinger of Sarcoxie, Missouri; 14 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and a host of friends, church family and sports family.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Maxine and one grandson, Baby Trey.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 4, 2021, at the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, Missouri.

Bud Munch

(From Parker Mortuary)

Roy Niel Munch “Bud”, age 83, of Duenweg, Missouri, passed away Saturday, October 30, 2021 surrounded by his family.

Bud was born October 6, 1938 in Nevada, Missouri to the late union of Vernon and Pearl (James) Munch. Bud enlisted in the Air Force in 1955. 

He married the love of his life, Dixie Lee Updegraff on April 22, 1961 in Oklahoma. Together they shared 39 beloved years before her passing on June 10, 2000. They had four amazing children; Mary, Buddy, Brenda, and Marshall.

Raising his kids was what he considered to be the best part of his life. He worked for Bagcraft for over 40 years before retiring. He loved playing and listening to country music. One of his favorite country singers was Hank Williams. If he wasn’t playing or listening to country music, then he was watching his favorite cowboys Hopalong Cassidy and John Wayne. 

Bud even had a life size cut out of John Wayne. His passion though was playing his guitar and riding horses. People mostly remember him picking his guitar on the swing in the back yard. Every time Bud played that guitar too you could look around the room and see smiling faces. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather and will be deeply missed.

Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Dixie.

Bud is lovingly survived by his four children, Mary Parrish and husband, Troy, Buddy Munch and wife, Courtney, Brenda Olds and husband, Rusty, Marshall Munch and wife, Allyson; two sisters, Geri and Billye; seven grandchildren, Megan, Miranda, Morgan, Haley, Nolan, Peyton, and Carter; seven great-grandchildren; as well as a host of extended family and friends.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Parker Mortuary Chapel with Alan McCamey officiating. Interment will follow at Osborne Memorial Cemetery.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary.

Memorial contributions are requested to be made out to the American Cancer Society.

Butch Sparks

(From Parker Mortuary)

Olin Ray Sparks Sr. "Butch", age 73, passed away Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Freeman Hospital in Joplin.

Butch was born August 9, 1948 in Nodaway County in Missouri to the late union of Frank and Valora “Betty” (Lewis) Sparks. He was previously married and had four boys and one girl. Later in 1974 Butch married Judith Williams in Saint Joseph, Missouri, where he acquired two more boys.

 

Butch worked any different jobs in his life starting with the family farm, factories but his true love was driving a truck round this wonderful country. He also enjoyed many more things such as working on cars, just to see if he could get them to go faster, to being with his boys, around the rivers and lakes, swimming or just throwing a line in the water. In the fall you could always stop by and you would find him watching the Kansas City Chiefs with his animals.

Butch is survived by his life partner, Judy Williams of Granby, MO; five children, Olin Ray Sparks Jr. and wife Cristy of New Mexico, James Ray Sparks of Des Moines, Iowa, Jerry Lee Sparks of Tabor, Iowa, Krista Lynn Jacquard of Omaha, NE, and Robert Virgil Sparks of Seattle, WA; two step-children, John Davis of Granby, MO and Christopher Davis of El Dorado, MO; one brother, Bill Sparks of Louisville, TX; 15 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Cremation arrangements are under the care of Parker Mortuary.

Fred Potts

(From Parker Mortuary)

Mr. Fred Eugene Potts, 91, of Joplin, Missouri, departed this life on Saturday afternoon, October 30, 2021, at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, Missouri.

Fred entered this life on August 11, 1930, in Alfalfa, Oklahoma, born to the union of the late Floyd and Vada (Parsons) Potts. He was raised and graduated high school in Douglass, Kansas. 

 

He was employed by Boeing in Wichita, Kansas for thirty-three years, retiring in 1993. Following retirement, he and his wife, Lois, moved to Joplin, Missouri, in 2000. He enjoyed watching the deer run on his property and shooting pool. Fred was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Joplin and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Michael Potts; and two sisters, Jean Potts and Joan Pruitt.

Fred is survived by his wife, Lois Potts of the home; a son, Eugene Potts and wife, Staci, of Douglas, Kansas; two grandchildren, Michael and Alex Potts; as well as a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services are 1:00 p.m. Thursday, November 4, 2021 at Faith Baptist Church in Joplin, Missouri, with Pastors Brian Wagahoff and Thomas Armstrong officiating. Burial will take place at High Prairie Cemetery in Douglass, Kansas. Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri.

Roy Mitchell

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Roy Clifton Mitchell was born May 21, 1925 in Boulder City, Missouri, one of two children to Chester L. and Mary Ellen (Messer) Mitchell. He entered into rest on October 31, 2021 in the comfort of his home at the age of 96. 

Roy was a lifelong area resident and a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in WW II. He worked as a dump truck driver and assisted in the building of I-44 of the Will Rogers Turnpike. He then worked at Neosho Concrete as manager until his retirement. 

He loved working in his yard and spending time with his niece, great nephews and great great nieces and nephews. He was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church. 

Roy married Maxine Hurn, who preceded him in death on January 23, 2006. He is survived by a niece, Nancy Amos of Sulpher Springs, Arkansas; nephews, Jeff Amos and wife, Abbey, Brad Amos and wife, Jennifer, Jim Hurn, Jhan Hurn and Ashley Hurn; great-great nieces and nephews, Kelsi Amos, Jaylea Amos, Brooklyn Carte, Kylee Poulter, Remington Amos, Colby Amos and Kiana Kershner. 

In addition to his wife and parents, he is preceded in death by a sister, Lois Kruse and nephew, Marc Hurn. 

Graveside services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021 at 2:30 pm at the Neosho IOOF Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Keith Lindquist, Kurt McDonald, Barry Mitchell and Jarvey Harris. The family will receive friends prior to the service at the funeral home from 1:00 pm until 2:00 p.m. 

Contributions in memory of Roy may be made to the Restoration Life Center, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66; Neosho, Missouri 64850.

Franky Wilson

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Franky Carl Wilson, age 70, passed away at 8 am, Saturday, October 30, 2021 following an illness.

Mr Wilson was born January 20, 1951 in Columbus, KS. His parents were Leo Carl and Cleora Marie (Cavin) Wilson. He was a lifetime resident of Columbus.

He worked for the City of Columbus for 30 years before his retirement. He attended the House of Prayer, Riverton, KS. Franky enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting.

Franky was married to Deborah Lee Spencer on October 16, 1970 in Columbus. She survives.

Additional survivors include one daughter, Angela Best, Columbus, KS; one brother, Ricky Wilson, Columbus; three sisters, Patsy Jones, Carl Junction, MO, Kay Gary, Columbus, and Linda Ray (Edgar), Galena, KS; one half-brother, Jimmy Wilson, Miami, OK; 4 grandchildren, Cassie Hollis, Fairview, OK, Jacob Brown, Columbus, Roxanne Glebus, Ardmore, OK, and Breanna Harughty, Chetopa, KS; and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Bobby Wilson and Billy Wilson; two sisters, Shirley Kinman and Margaret Ann Miller; one half-brother, Francis Wilson; and two half-sisters, Henrietta Maxton and Betty Stice.

Franky was entrusted to Derfelt Funeral Home, Columbus, KS for cremation.

Daniel Burda

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

With great sorrow, we regret to announce the passing of Daniel Arthur Burda, age 79, of Joplin, MO, who passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on October 26, 2021. He will be forever loved and dearly missed for his quick wit and charming personality.

He is predeceased in death by his parents John Joseph Burda of Durango, CO and Zeneda Ruth (McDonald) Burda of Woodstock, IL. He has one surviving brother, Robert A. Burda.

Daniel is survived by his beloved family; His caring wife of 57 years Mary Jacqueline (Meehan) Burda, his three children, Amie M. Burda of Joplin, MO, John P. Burda and his wife, Maddy, of Honolulu, HI, and Elizabeth K. Huthsing and her husband, Jon C. Huthsing and their two children, J. Hunter Huthsing and Kate E. Huthsing of Joplin, MO.

He was a veteran who served in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged on September 22, 1965.

A young Daniel graduated from New-Way Barber College in 1964 and soon after opened his own barber shop in Chicago, IL. After ten years in the city, he and his family relocated to Woodstock, IL. He then worked at Arnold Engineering in Marengo, IL and ended his working career as an employee of the City of Woodstock. He retired in 2006 to be closer to his grandchildren.

He was a history buff, loved old movies and collecting antiques. He was an animal lover and they adored him.

Daniel was a life-long, passionate antique car enthusiast. He spent most of his retirement tooling around town in his 1930 Ford Roadster. He owned and enjoyed rebuilding many old cars throughout his lifetime. Henry Ford was his hero.

A private service and reception to honor and celebrate his unique life and memory will be held at a future date, to be determined.