Robert Boyers

Robert James Boyers, 94, a lifelong resident of Butler County, MO passed away peacefully Sunday morning, June 7, 2015 at the John J Pershing Medical Center in Poplar Bluff.

Mr. Boyers was born April 26, 1921 to Chester and Grace Sparkman Boyers. He was baptized at age 14 in Cane Creek and attended Bay Springs Church as a child. He was of the Baptist faith.

Mr. Boyers attended rural Butler County Schools, then Poplar Bluff High School. He was a talented baseball player known as Rag Arm and was scouted by Saint Louis to pitch. However, he chose to remain in Butler County to assist his father on the family farm. He was later drafted and served in the United States Army during World War II.

He traveled to Michigan to work as a welder during the height of the automobile industry. There he met his wife Mary Helen Sierawski. They married on August 3, 1953. They returned to rural Poplar Bluff where they purchased a farm and began a family. He also worked in construction and assisted with numerous building projects, including Poplar Bluff's Twin Towers, Cotrell Funeral Home, Poplar Bluff Bowling Alley, Highway 67 and the historic brick streets of Poplar Bluff.

Mr. Boyers passion was raising livestock, especially Charolais cattle, sheep and hogs. He was a master gardener and also enjoyed fox hunting since a young boy. He was also a Butler County historian and always eager to share his extraordinary stories.

He is survived by his daughters, Mary Nella and husband, Wayne Willcut, and Grace Smith Armor; 5 grandchildren, Amanda Smith (West Plains), Marissa Day, Kate Fanning (Grand Rapids, MI), David Smith and Michael Willcut; 9 great-grandchildren, Connor, Chloe and Carly Smith, Morgan, Makynli and Blake Day, Addison and Caroline Smith, and Ruby Grace Fanning, a brother, Herschel Boyers of Windsor, VA and a sister, Joan Richardson of Poplar Bluff

Mr. Boyers was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Mary Helen Boyers, an infant son, Robert James Boyers, sisters, Bess Miller, Alma Harloff, Ruth Thurman, Kate Epps VanAnda, Hildagard Boyers, LaNelle Kumpe, and Imojean Taylor.

Visitation will be 6pm Thursday June 11 at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home, 844 Cedar Street Poplar Bluff, MO Funeral service will be 11am Friday, June 12 in the funeral home chapel with Richard Epps officiating. He will be laid to rest at Memorial Gardens in Poplar Bluff.

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