Billy Merl Tuter of Deepwater, Missouri was born on June 4, 1938 to Henry Everett Tuter and Zella Viola Ware. He passed away on February 21, 2010 at the Sac-Osage Hospital in Osceola.
Billy grew up on a farm near Iconium, Missouri in an area called Harris Bend. He had attended a one room school house there, the first eight years and often talked about having to walk the 1 1/2 miles in “deep snow” and horrible rains to get there! He often talked about his teachers there, and the other kids he went to school with. He said it was a really great bunch of people. His favorite teacher was Dorothy Feaster.
Billy’s closest friends were Douglas Clark, Richard Clark, Darwood Eager, Clarence and Arthur Bedford, and definitely his younger brother Kenny! As young guys, you rarely saw one without the other and they’ve always remained close. Several of these men worked with him in a logging camp in Colorado one summer.
Bill worked as a home builder in this area for several years, then went to work for Andes and Robert’s home builders in Independence, Missouri. He then did a “stint” in the army and was stationed in Ft. Riley, Kansas for awhile, then in Germany and stated it sure was a lot different than the USA. They camped out in tents in –40 degree weather at one time! He made many friends in the Army, several have written yearly to up-date their families “happenings”. Bill loved Christmas time and all those letters. When he came back from the service, he was soon hired at Lake City Army Ammunitions plant, where he continued to work for 20+ years
When he retired from “Lake City”, he still kept very busy. He took pride in his yard and garden and still kept the “Harris Bend” cemetery mowed, something he had done for 40+ years.. He often did his own repair work and was always there if the neighbors needed something done.
His greatest joy was his children, grandchildren and great grand children. The family has very few pictures of him that doesn’t show him playing or playing with one of them. He loved his wife, and often when asked how they were doing Billy would say, “Well, we haven’t killed each other yet so I think we’re doing ok. One of his favorite sayings was ,“Think of only the good things, and let the rest go.”
Billy was preceded in death by his parents; Henry Everett Tuter and Zella Viola (Ware) Tuter; one sister, Katherine Lee Tuter, Two brothers, Earl Dee Tuter and Kenneth Olen Tuter.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Ruth, of the home. One son, Fred Tuter, of the home, and one daughter, Karla Horner and husband Brett of Osceola, Missouri; three step-sons; Thomas Courtney and wife Diane, of Marshfield, Missouri; Christopher Courtney and wife Diana, of Warrensburg, Missouri; Bryan Courtney ad wife Jamie of Springfield, Missouri; one step-daughter, Janice Dills and husband Richard, of Independence, Missouri. He is also survived by one brother, Wilson Tuter and wife, Betty Jean of Tulsa, Oklahoma; three sisters; Opal Myers, and husband Ted, of Deepwater, Missouri; his twin sister, Marie Campbell, of Springfield, Missouri and Kathleen Shoemaker and husband, Gaylen of Kansas City, Missouri along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Bill if there’s grass in heaven, I’m sure you’ll be seen on a John Deere, out there doing your favorite thing.
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