| Obit For | Bill Hemphill |
|---|---|
| Headline | - |
| Text | #1. Bill Hemphill, 82, of Purdy, died at 3 p.m. yesterday, December 30, at his
home following an apparent heart attack. Mr. Hemphill was born September 23, 1917, in Purdy, the son of Floyd and Chlora L. (Burg) Hemphill. He was a retired law enforcement officer, serving as Barry County sheriff from 1952 to 1968. He organized the Barry County Sheriff Mounted Patrol and was elected president of the Missouri Sheriff Association in 1957 and 1958. He served as president of the National Sheriff Association from 1967 to 1968. He served as juvenile officer for Barry, Lawrence and Stone counties from 1968 to 1980. He was appointed U. S. Deputy Marshal in 1970. He was elected mayor of Purdy in 1974 and served two terms during which time he was instrumental in establishing the Purdy Community Center. He was a 40-year member of the Purdy Lions Club and past member of the Cassville Rotary Club. He was active in the Republican Party and in 1988 served as an elector who cast one of Missouri's electoral votes for President George Bush. He was a lifelong Barry County cattleman and farmer and owned and operated Purdy Farm Center until 1952. He was active with the Barry County Youth Camp and Four State Travel Camper Club, and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Purdy. He married Freddie Akin on July 30, 1936, in Monett. Survivors include two sons, one daughter, two brothers, two sisters, eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bob Hemphill and Ted Hemphill; an infant sister, Betty Sue; and one son-in-law, Dennis Carr. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday, January 3, at the First Baptist Church in Purdy with Rev. Jerry Francisco officiating. Burial will be in Arnhart Cemetery near Purdy under the direction of Buchanan Funeral Home of Monett. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, January 2, at the funeral home. Monett Times #2. Services for Bill Hemphill, 82, of Monett, who died December 30, were held at 10 a.m. yesterday, January 3, at the First Baptist Church in Purdy with Rev. Jerry Francisco and Rev. Tony Martin officiating. Eulogy was given by Emory Melton. Speaker was Sheriff John Pierpoint of the National Sheriff Association. Music was provided by soloist Morris Henderson who sang His Eye Is On The Sparrow and How Great Thou Art. Organist was Mary Robberson and pianist was Barbara Ward. Casketbearers were Greg Carr, Joe Couey, Billy David Hemphill, Wayne Hendrickson, Randall Carr, Mike Hall, Mike Hendrickson, Steve Lillegard, and Glen Woodruff. Honorary casketbearers were Earl Clover, Roscoe Courtney, Charlie Garrison, Jessie Cooper, Wayne Dyer, Bill Kenney, and Cherry Warren. Casket honor guard included Brandon Barrett and Doug Henry of the Barry County Sherriff's Department. Burial was in Arnhart Cemetery near Purdy under the direction of Buchanan Funeral Home of Monett. |
| Newspaper or Funeral Home | Monett Times |
| Date | #1. Dec. 31, 1998 |
| Death Cert Link | - |
| Resource | - |
| Submitted by | Donna Cooper |
Return to Obit Index || Return to 'H' Obit Index