Bethany, MO: James Billy King, 89, Bethany, MO passed away September 15, 2019 at his daughter’s home in Eagleville, MO.
Bill was born October 16, 1929, at his grandparents’ home in Bethany, MO, the son of William Ira and Eva Marie King.
Bill lived his entire life in Bethany, MO. He married Wanda Pearl Raymond of Stanberry, MO. They were married at Wanda’s parent’s farm home outside of Stanberry on January 4, 1952 during a snow storm. To this union, three daughters were born, Vikki (Gary) Nible, Bethany, MO, Tammy (Bill) Lenhart, Bethany, MO and Verna (Ralph) Osborn, Eagleville MO. They were blessed with 7 grandchildren, Billy (Robyn Novak) Kessinger, Beth (Chris Butterfield) Nible, Johnathan (Tommie) Lenhart, Creed (Ashley) Lenhart, Aaron (Jennifer) Barker, Joshua (Autumn) Barker, and Jessica (Christopher) McCauley; 17 great grandchildren, Dylon Kessinger, Christian Green, Sebastian Kessinger, Sadie Butterfield, Darbie Butterfield, Grayson Lenhart, Graham Lenhart, Griffin Lenhart, Cole Lenhart, Ian Lenhart, Eli Lenhart, Cayden McCauley, Kennedy McCauley, Brittany (Jacob) Henry, Brooke Barker, Aliza Barker and John Barker.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William Ira and Eva Marie (Wilson) King; his wife, Wanda Pearl Raymond King; brother-in-law, Cecil Raymond, and wife Velma; sister-in-law, Arlene Linderman, and his maternal and paternal grandparents
He is survived by his sisters, Betty Jean (Jim) Thomas, Little Rock AR, and Sherrie (Bill) Stanley, Eagleville MO; brothers-in-law, Donald and wife, Ann Raymond, Stanberry, Mo, Thomas and wife Joann Raymond, Napoleon MO; and his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his close friend and companion these last 12 years, Beverly Merritt.
Bill worked for several years as a typesetter for the Bethany Republican Clipper, and later Bill and Wanda started their own business, King Upholstery, where they reupholstered furniture, and Bill repaired and refinished furniture and antiques. Bill loved to work with his hands. He was a very gifted woodworker and refinished many antique furniture pieces for their home. He also loved to collect Indian artifacts. He had a very extensive arrow head collection which he and his wife and daughters spent many hours walking recently plowed fields along creek bottoms looking for. He also had an extensive gun collection, some dating back to Civil War times. Some of the guns Bill owned were guns he made himself, some he restored, and some were passed down to him from family members. He also enjoyed collecting old and rare coins. Sadly, all these collections were lost when his home burned in 2013.
Bill attended church as a child at the Methodist Church in Bethany, and recently reaffirmed his faith in Jesus with his daughter while staying at her home. Bill was very well known in his home town. During his married life, he enjoyed taking his wife and daughters to Bull Shoals Lake for fishing trips and vacations every summer. He loved working with wood and refinished antique furniture for his wife and daughters, and made hand crafted items for his grandchildren. After losing his wife of 52 years, he became reacquainted with his high school friend, Beverly Merritt, and they enjoyed trying out different restaurants each day, going to auctions, and visiting family and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 20 at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Burial will follow in the Oakland Cemetery, Bethany, MO. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Oakland Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com