MATTHEWS - Billie James Huffstutler, 83, died at 5:25 p.m. Oct. 10, 2005, at his residence.
Born Oct. 27, 1921, in Kennett, son of the late William Morris and Mary Alice Bird Huffstutler, he attended school in Holcomb and graduated from Wardell High School. He farmed in Kennett, Portageville, and mostly in Matthews, where he retired in 1994. He was a World War II Navy veteran, serving on the Destroyer Escort USS Austin. He served as an active member of the New Madrid County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee. He was a member and officer for 28 years of the St. John's Bayou Basin Drainage District Board, and he served on the Matthews School Board of Education for several years.
On Feb. 11, 1946, he married Marjorie Woodham, who survives of the home.
In addition to his wife, survivors include: four sons and three daughters-in-
law; Stephen and Ava Huffstutler of Sikeston, Wayne and Marilyn Huffstutler of LaForge, Bruce and Tana Huffstutler of Matthews and Michael Huffstutler of Fort Collins, Colo.; six daughters and five sons-in-law, Paula and Bruce Depro of Matthews, Anniese and Dale Sexton of Sikeston, Janie and Ron Davis of Sikeston, Connie and John Hooper of Benton, Judy and Joseph Daretta of Hobe Sound, Fla., and Sharon Huffstutler of Memphis, Tenn.; 22 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
On Sept. 19, 2005, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston, where services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday. Dr. Rick Ramsey, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Sikeston, will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Pallbearers will be: Clay Hooper, Tim Moore, Hubert Huffstutler, Brad Kenedy, Dale Sexton and Morris Huffstutler.
Honorary pallbearers will be: Joe Shanks, Wade Freeman, Jack Lemonds, Dale Lemonds, Adam Rafael, Eric Sexton and Onis Brown.
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Memorial contributions
may be made to:
Bloomfield Assistance League
Missouri Veteran Cemetery
17157 Stars & Stripes Way
Bloomfield, MO 63825
or
Stars & Stripes Museum/Library
Tribute Fund
17377 Stars & Stripes Way
Bloomfield, MO 63825