JOPLIN, MO —
Charles Robert "Bob" Kersey passed from this life Jan. 7, 2013, at 12:12 a.m. after a seven month battle with small cell lung cancer.
Bob was born Nov. 21, 1931, in Chitwood, Mo., to Boyd and Juanita Clopton Kersey. His interest in carpentry came from working with his father in construction and his passion for gardening and flowers came from his mother. Bob always had a project in the planning or in various stages of construction and a garden with ripe strawberries in the spring and perfect slicing tomatoes in the summer.
Bob graduated from Carl Junction High School in 1950. A highlight of his high school years was being part of the football team who won the state championship in 1947! Bob always attended his high school reunions and remained close to his classmates.
Bob met his wife, Levita, at Central City Christian Church and they wed at the church on Dec. 31, 1950. Bob owned his own construction company and when he retired continued to work on the upkeep of his rental properties.
Bob served 16 years in the Missouri National Guard. His interests included fishing for crappie at Lake Fork, Texas, where he and Levita met many dear lifelong friends, golfing when weather permitted with his buddies and always searching for a bargain. He was the original American Picker.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Levita Sill Kersey; sister, Helen Ruth Kersey, of Joplin; brother, Raymond Kersey, of Evergreen, Colo.; his aunt, Barbara Yaryan, of Tulsa, Okla.; nephews, Mark Kersey, of Joplin, and Mike Kersey, of Springfield; nieces, Dana Kersey and Janet Kersey; sister-in-law, Linda Kersey, all of Springfield; and numerous family members who will love and miss him. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Garland Kersey.
Donations may be made to the Central City Christian Church Building Fund or the charity of one's choice. The family would like to thank all the volunteers who assisted after the May 2011 tornado and a heartfelt thank you to the members of the Central City Christian Church family for the food and moral support the past seven months.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Parker Chapel with Johnie Adkins, minister, officiating. Interment will follow in Ozark Memorial Park with Mark Kersey, David Ross, Joe Phillips, Dale Ward, Dale Sill and Mike Kersey serving as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Sid Lorah and Roy "Nub" Stephens. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary.
Online condolences may be made at www.parkermortuary.com
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