Mangum, Gregory August 18, 1959 - October 21, 2023

Gregory Scott Mangum was born on August 18, 1959, to Joseph and Janet (Lane) Mangum, in Independence, MO.  Some of his childhood years were spent in Independence, and some in Osceola.  He graduated from OHS in 1977.  He worked part time during high school with Frankie Davis at the courthouse, and as we all know, Greg never forgot Frankie’s famous sayings.  Later he managed the town pool hall.  Next he was hired by CL Foote to help haul trash.  He also did carpentry with Claude Sims and others.  Over the years Greg worked as a pipe-liner, tree trimmer, and later as a supervisor for Chem-trol.

On December 21, 1996, Greg married the love of his life, Marrion, and became a second father to her three children, Will, Alana, and Adam.  In 2005, the family added two more sons, Brandon and Jacob Stewart.

Greg was an avid fisherman, hunter, and trapper.  He was an expert at skinning wild game of all kinds, and supported his hobby by selling furs.  He could process deer and clean fish with the best of them.

At the age of nine, Greg accepted Christ as his Savior at Gerster Baptist Church, and was baptized by Pastor Jack Kiefer in the Weaubleau Creek.

When Brother Jack and Leda began restoring the old building that would become the Osceola Community Church, Greg was a faithful and dedicated partner in the work.  He helped clean, haul off, scrub, paint, etc.  When the church opened in 1977, Greg was there teaching a Sunday School class.  In later years, when Brother Jack’s health failed, Greg and others took turns preaching.

In 1992, Greg was ordained and became the official pastor of OCC.  He put his heart and soul into shepherding God’s people until the Lord took him home.  During his pastorate, Greg was bi-vocational, raising beef cattle and baling hay along with church duties, weddings, and funerals.

Greg served on both the Food Banc Board and the Ministerial Alliance for more than 20 years.  He also served as a volunteer fire fighter and a board member for the Osceola Fire Department.  He was honored as the American Legion’s Osceola Citizen of the Year in 2009.

Greg was preceded in death by his father, Joseph E. Mangum III, his step-father, Donald Boyle, and his brother-in-law, Perry Witt.

He is survived by his wife, Marrion, of the home, his mother Janet Lee Boyle, of Osceola, his brother, Joe Mangum IV (Wendy), Springfield, MO, and his sister, Julie Witt, Rockville, MO.  Also children: Will Allfree of Clinton, MO, Alana Smith (Gene) of Chaplin, KY, Adam Allfree (Shawna) of KC, KS, Brandon Stewart (Shayna) of Olathe, KS, and Jacob Stewart (Brittany) of Republic, MO.  Also eight grandsons, eight granddaughters, two aunts, one uncle, and many cousins, nephews, nieces, and a host of loving friends.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 13:35