Billy Joe Hart, son of Everett George and Ila Ellen (Ader) Hart, was born in Mercer County, Missouri, near Cainsville, on June 25, 1933, and passed away on April 10, 2016, at the University Hospital in Columbia, Missouri, at the age of 82 years.
Billy Joe was raised in Mercer County where he graduated from Princeton High School. After high school, he attended the University of Missouri at Columbia where he studied Agriculture. He then served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper before returning to Mercer County as a farmer. He later sold the farm to begin a new career as a truck driver from which he was retired. In retirement, he enjoyed treasure hunting, studying the Bible, and spending time with friends and family. He was a member of the Princeton First Baptist Church.
Billy Joe was united in marriage to Mary Belle Thompson on May 9, 1952. He is survived by his two sons, John Hart (and daughter-in-law, Kathy) of Wichita, Kansas, and Ed Hart of Laredo, Missouri; his three daughters, Carolyn Shoger (and son-in-law, Gordon) of Wimberly, Texas, Sally Ganey (and son-in-law, Bob) of Newnan, Georgia, and Barbara Mullins (and son-in-law, Shawn) of Fulton, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Jon Ganey, Andrew Shoger, Connor Mullins, Jenny, John, Christy, Izak, and Ian Hart; and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his former wife; his three brothers, Truman, Jim, and George Hart; and by his sister, Martha Hinkle.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at 2:00 P.M., at the Zion Baptist Church, near Cainsville, with Pastor Tim Wilson officiating, under the direction of the Greenlee-Middleton Funeral Service of Princeton. Burial will be in the Zoar Cemetery in Cainsville.
Open visitation and viewing will begin at 8:30 A.M., Friday, at the Greenlee-Middleton Funeral Chapel in Princeton, where the family visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 P.M. Friday evening.
The family requests memorial contributions to the Zion Baptist Church in lieu of flowers. Contributions may be mailed to the funeral home at P.O. Box 316, Princeton, MO 64673.