Billy Joe Cumpton, 67 of Adrian, Missouri
passed away unexpectedly Sunday, March 24, 2024 at his home in Adrian. A
Celebration of Life service will be held 5:00 pm Friday, April 26, 2024 at the
Adrian Optimist Building in Adrian, Missouri. Services under the direction
of Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Memorial contributions
may be made to the Adrian Optimist Club or the Altona Baptist Church.
Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
Billy Joe Cumpton, 67 of
Adrian, Missouri passed away unexpectedly on March 24, 2024, at his home. Billy was born July 24, 1956, in Butler,
Missouri, to Harold Kenneth and Martha June (Vogeler) Cumpton.
Billy spent his school years
at Ballard graduating in 1974. He formed lifelong friendships during these
years. Billy and his family attended 4-H
horse shows and won several trophies.
Buddy the horse was instrumental in helping Billy and his family win
those awards. Billy worked on the family
farm in the Ballard community. His
family went hunting for deer, coons, squirrels and enjoyed fishing and hunting
for mushrooms.
As a young adult Billy
accepted Jesus as his Savior, was baptized in a neighbor’s pond and became a
member of Altona Baptist Church in rural Adrian.
After high school graduation
Billy made two trips to California. One
to visit his brother, Harold who was stationed in Santa Ana, California, in the
U.S. Marine Corp and one included a friend.
Billy often talked about these trips as one of the highlights of his
life. He made a return trip to California after his retirement to visit someone
he met in those early days. Over the
years, Billy worked at various jobs, including construction, Yellow Freight and
as a real estate agent in Texas.
During a deer hunting trip in
November, 1982, Billy fell from his tree stand and broke his back. Although that accident confined him to a
wheelchair, Billy led a full life. He participated
in wheel chair racing, basketball and baseball. One of his favorite experiences
was traveling to Japan with the Kansas City Pioneers to play basketball.
While participating in wheelchair sports he
met his future boss. Billy was hired to
work in the management systems division and had several job titles in the 29+
years he worked for the federal government. He received multiple promotions and
retired as IT Regional Director of Region 7 for HUD. Once again Billy formed lasting friendships
during these years that remained after he retired.
On June 29, 1996, Billy was
united in marriage to Cheryl (Wix) Morrow. Billy and Cheryl went on many trips
scuba diving and attending wheelchair sports activities. They built a new home in 2005 on family land
in rural Adrian in the Ballard community where they liked to feed and watch the
wildlife and fish. Billy and Cheryl
spent time gardening, watching grandchildren in sports activities, as well as
cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and playing cards with family and
friends. He enjoyed planning and attending
reunions for the Cumpton cousins and the Vogeler family. Billy’s family was very important to him, and
he also had a countless number of friends all across the nation. He helped to plan the reunions for the
Ballard High School Class of 1974 and was looking forward to the 50 year
reunion. One friend, who has only known
Billy for a few years, made this comment about him: “Believe me when I tell you
this man was the definition of if there is a will, there is a way. Billy was a
true inspiration to me. There was no
quit in him! He never let his disability
slow him down. He always found a way to
enjoy life to the fullest.”
Billy never let the wheelchair
keep him from adventure; he continued to hunt wildlife and mushrooms, fish and
go camping with family and friends, target shooting, flying his drone and
looking for wildlife with his thermal imaging scope. The week before his passing he went on a
spoonbill fishing trip with friends. His
latest passion was metal detecting, which was a hobby he’s dabbled in before
his accident but had recently picked back up.
Billy was so excited when he found his first silver quarter.
Billy joined the Adrian
Optimists, served as an officer and received several awards including New
Member of the Year and Optimist of the Year.
He could often be seen helping with the gun shows and bingo. Billy studied the Masonic degrees and passed
to become a Master Mason in the Crescent Hill Lodge No. 368 AF & AM in
Adrian, Missouri.
Billy was preceded in death by
his grandparents, father Kenneth, aunts, uncles, cousins and
father-in-law. Surviving are his wife
Cheryl; mother June Cumpton; sister Martha (Jim) Stocklaufer; brothers Harold
(Sharon), Roger, Mikel (Patsy) and Dale (Leann); stepmother-in-law Linda Wix;
stepdaughters, Kristen (Justin) Feola, Jill (Rod) Berry and stepson Bryan
(Sheila) Morrow; grandchildren Tyler (Mikaela), Sydney, Collin, Chelsi and Josi
Berry, Isabelle and Jocelyn Feola and great grandson Beckham; nephews and
nieces, Steven (Brenda) Doody, Melissa (Anthony) Heider, Holly Ruth, Kyla
(Tommy) Hackler, Jessica (Rusty) Campbell, Travis (Dana) Cumpton, Jamie (Zach)
Skaggs, Melanie (Kevin) Branson, Ethan, Wyatt (Carly) and Wade (Katrina)
Cumpton, numerous great nieces and nephews, cousins, aunt Bonnie Wilson and
best friend Robert Hogue.
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