BILLY JOE STOCKSTILL
Billy Joe Stockstill, Springfield, Missouri, born on June 3, 1936, only child born to Clive (Toby) Stockstill and Ruby (Pope) Stockstill, passed away on Thursday, January 12, 2017, after battling complications of prostate cancer since 1995.
Billy was born in a small three-room house east of Hurley, Missouri. Billy started first grade at Henry School (a one-room country school) east of Hurley but did not finish the first year because he could not walk to school in the deep snow. The family then moved to a share-crop farm south of Hurley where he started first grade at Hurley. The following year they moved back to the original homestead where he finished second and third grade at Henry School. The family then moved to Elsey, Missouri, in 1944, where Billy attended fourth through eighth grade at Elsey School. Billy attended freshman year at Crane High School transferring to Galena the next year graduating in 1953. He attained First State Farmer’s Degree in FFA at Galena. Although Bill and his Dad were best of friends, they were also very competitive when quail hunting, fishing, pitching horseshoes, croquet or one-on-one basketball, but Billy would never play checkers with his Dad because he could never win.
Billy was saved at approximately 12 years of age and was baptized along with his parents in the James River by the Rev. Pete Wells. He was a member of the Elsey Baptist Church, later moving his membership to the First Baptist Church of Crane. He thoroughly enjoyed Cottage Prayer Meetings.
On April 9, 1956, he married Peggy Evans. To this union six children were raised. Bill and Peggy were in partnership in the dairy business with Bill’s parents, in which they purchased full control in 1968. Bill was dedicated to his children and milked the dairy cows at noon and midnight in order to attend church activities and ball games with family. In October 1987, Bill and Peggy left the family dairy farm and moved to Crane where Bill was employed by Crane R-III Schools as maintenance supervisor and bus driver for 23 years, retiring in June 2010. Bill served six years on the Crane R-III School Board serving as President of the Board at various times.
In 1998, Bill met Joyce Holdway and they married in August 2000. Bill and Joyce spent many years loving and enjoying one another. They enjoyed attending auctions, country music concerts in Branson and occasional casino trips. In 2004 they sold their home in Crane and built a beautiful lake-front home on Lake Taneycomo in Hollister, Missouri, where they enjoyed their pontoon boat and fishing on Lake Taneycomo. After nine years and two floods, they sold their lake home and purchased a home on 5-acres in the Brookline area where they enjoyed their flowers and working in their huge garden. In addition to canning and freezing vegetables, many friends, family and neighbors enjoyed the bounty of their harvest. Due to Bill’s failing health, they had a downsizing auction, sold the Brookline property in 2015 and purchased a home in the Quail Creek Subdivision in Springfield.
One of Bill’s favorite memories is with his children and grandchildren, where he purchased Casey’s pizzas and everyone enjoyed an afternoon after church, fishing at Mountain Spring Trout Farm, Tory, Missouri, which became an annual event. Bill and Joyce were members of the SW Missouri Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Assoc.-Branch 16, Republic, Missouri. Bill enjoyed showing his 1953 Ford Golden Jubilee and 1950 Case SC tractor at tractor shows and participating in tractor rides around local communities.
Bill is survived by his wife Joyce of the home; daughters Brenda Henry (Tim); Linda Grubbs (Mike); Sandra Metcalf (Larry), all of Marionville, Missouri; Wendy Metcalf (Brent), Crane, Missouri; Tobi Kosh (Joe), Orlando, Florida; one son Clive Stockstill (Yvonne) 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Bill’s name to First Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 414, Crane, Missouri 65633, or in care of the funeral home.
Visitation will be from 12 PM to 2 PM, Saturday, January 21, 2017, at First Baptist Church, 30 Hallelujah Drive, Crane, Missouri. Memorial services following visitation at 2 PM, Saturday, January 21, 2017, at First Baptist Church, 30 Hallelujah Drive, Crane, Missouri, with Rev. Patrick Ward and Rev. Max Edmondson officiating; burial following in Crane Community Cemetery under the direction of Westrip Funeral Home, Crane, Missouri.
Billy Joe Stockstill, Springfield, Missouri, born on June 3, 1936, only child born to Clive (Toby) Stockstill and Ruby (Pope) Stockstill, passed away on Thursday, January 12, 2017, after battling complications of prostate cancer since 1995.
Billy was born in a small three-room house east of Hurley, Missouri. Billy started first grade at Henry School (a one-room country school) east of Hurley but did not finish the first year because he could not walk to school in the deep snow. The family then moved to a share-crop farm south of Hurley where he started first grade at Hurley. The following year they moved back to the original homestead where he finished second and third grade at Henry School. The family then moved to Elsey, Missouri, in 1944, where Billy attended fourth through eighth grade at Elsey School. Billy attended freshman year at Crane High School transferring to Galena the next year graduating in 1953. He attained First State Farmer’s Degree in FFA at Galena. Although Bill and his Dad were best of friends, they were also very competitive when quail hunting, fishing, pitching horseshoes, croquet or one-on-one basketball, but Billy would never play checkers with his Dad because he could never win.
Billy was saved at approximately 12 years of age and was baptized along with his parents in the James River by the Rev. Pete Wells. He was a member of the Elsey Baptist Church, later moving his membership to the First Baptist Church of Crane. He thoroughly enjoyed Cottage Prayer Meetings.
On April 9, 1956, he married Peggy Evans. To this union six children were raised. Bill and Peggy were in partnership in the dairy business with Bill’s parents, in which they purchased full control in 1968. Bill was dedicated to his children and milked the dairy cows at noon and midnight in order to attend church activities and ball games with family. In October 1987, Bill and Peggy left the family dairy farm and moved to Crane where Bill was employed by Crane R-III Schools as maintenance supervisor and bus driver for 23 years, retiring in June 2010. Bill served six years on the Crane R-III School Board serving as President of the Board at various times.
In 1998, Bill met Joyce Holdway and they married in August 2000. Bill and Joyce spent many years loving and enjoying one another. They enjoyed attending auctions, country music concerts in Branson and occasional casino trips. In 2004 they sold their home in Crane and built a beautiful lake-front home on Lake Taneycomo in Hollister, Missouri, where they enjoyed their pontoon boat and fishing on Lake Taneycomo. After nine years and two floods, they sold their lake home and purchased a home on 5-acres in the Brookline area where they enjoyed their flowers and working in their huge garden. In addition to canning and freezing vegetables, many friends, family and neighbors enjoyed the bounty of their harvest. Due to Bill’s failing health, they had a downsizing auction, sold the Brookline property in 2015 and purchased a home in the Quail Creek Subdivision in Springfield.
One of Bill’s favorite memories is with his children and grandchildren, where he purchased Casey’s pizzas and everyone enjoyed an afternoon after church, fishing at Mountain Spring Trout Farm, Tory, Missouri, which became an annual event. Bill and Joyce were members of the SW Missouri Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Assoc.-Branch 16, Republic, Missouri. Bill enjoyed showing his 1953 Ford Golden Jubilee and 1950 Case SC tractor at tractor shows and participating in tractor rides around local communities.
Bill is survived by his wife Joyce of the home; daughters Brenda Henry (Tim); Linda Grubbs (Mike); Sandra Metcalf (Larry), all of Marionville, Missouri; Wendy Metcalf (Brent), Crane, Missouri; Tobi Kosh (Joe), Orlando, Florida; one son Clive Stockstill (Yvonne) 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Bill’s name to First Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 414, Crane, Missouri 65633, or in care of the funeral home.
Visitation will be from 12 PM to 2 PM, Saturday, January 21, 2017, at First Baptist Church, 30 Hallelujah Drive, Crane, Missouri. Memorial services following visitation at 2 PM, Saturday, January 21, 2017, at First Baptist Church, 30 Hallelujah Drive, Crane, Missouri, with Rev. Patrick Ward and Rev. Max Edmondson officiating; burial following in Crane Community Cemetery under the direction of Westrip Funeral Home, Crane, Missouri.
