Bart L. Waggoner

Bartlett Leroy Waggoner, age 77, of Sheldon, passed away Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at St. John’s Regional Health Care Center following a sudden illness.         Bart was born February 10, 1933, on the family farm near Golden City, Missouri, one of the eight children of Harry and Mary (Clark) Waggoner. The love of family, farming, animals and blue grass music was instilled in Bart from an early age and continued throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Preston Waggoner and Lloyd Waggoner; and three sisters, Beaulah Guinn, LeEtta Waggoner and Leona Weinstein.         On July 26, 1953, at the Salem Church south of Jasper, Bart married Barbara Ann Mead and they had made their home and farmed in Jasper and Barton Counties for the past 57 years.  In addition to farming, Bart worked at Thorco Industries for 24 years.  After retiring from Thorco in 1995, Bart’s talent for restoring antique bicycles gave him the opportunity to work and travel for Maple Island for several years.  He also enjoyed gardening; caring for his cattle, and animals of all kinds, especially his border collie.  Country and blue grass music was his life-long passion and he played guitar and dobro at local square dances, county fairs, and blue grass festivals with The Waggoner Family and many other southwest Missouri groups.         Survivors include his wife, Barbara of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Bernie & Valerie Waggoner, Lamar; two daughters, Colleen & husband Campy Benson, Joplin, and Marleen Waggoner, Independence, Missouri; a brother, Beauford Waggoner, Stockton, Missouri; a sister, Beauanna Wood, Pittsburg, Kansas; and four grandchildren, Ashley Benson, Aaron Benson, Jake Waggoner and Jenna Waggoner.         Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 4th at Daniel Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time.  Burial will be in Paradise Cemetery south of Jasper, Missouri.         Memorial contributions are suggested to the Backpack Project in care of Lamar United Methodist Church.