Billy Joe Lovelace

Funeral services for Billy Joe Lovelace, 86, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, with Reverend Ron Blanks officiating, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.

He was born the son of the late James F. Lovelace and Nellie Hurner Lovelace, on December 23, 1925 in Thayer, Missouri and died November 9, 2012 in West Plains, Missouri.

He was united in marriage June 21, 1945 in Alton, Missouri to Faith Fraley.

He is survived by his wife, Faith Fraley Lovelace, of the home, West Plains, Missouri; two children, Joe D. Lovelace and wife, Vicki, West Plains, Missouri, and Carolyn Smith and husband, Dale, West Plains; one brother, Bob Lovelace and wife, Betty, Rogers, Arkansas; one sister, Ann Bunn, Irving, Texas; six grandchildren, Greg Smith and wife, Kim, Ozark, Missouri, Melissa Wiehe and husband, Kurt, West Plains, Missouri, Garach Smith and wife, Kristen, Republic, Missouri, Adriane Wooderson and husband, Jake, Peace Valley, Missouri, Erin Lovelace, West Plains, Missouri, and Darren Lovelace, West Plains, Missouri; eleven great grandchildren, Layton, Daylen, Caysen, and Zach Smith, Micaela, Madison, Nathan, Natalie, and Melia Wiehe, Kennedi and Cade Wooderson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, James Lovelace and one sister, Mildred McCormack; two grandchildren, Angel and Richard Lovelace, and one great grandson, Brady Smith.

He attended the First Freewill Baptist Church in West Plains, Missouri for several years. He organized and sang with the Revelation Quartet for many years. He served his country in the United States Army. He was a decorated veteran of WWII with the 28th Infantry Division. He also served in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a receiver of the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Infantrymen Badge, WWII Victory Medal, Africian-Asian-European Campaign Ribbon with two battle stars. He was a member of the VFW, the American Legion, and the Disabled American Veterans. He served on the board for the IDC, was active in the Chamber of Commerce when he owned and operated Link Motor Supply for over thirty-one years, and later in life, was a farmer. He had a deep love for his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Freewill Baptist Church Building Fund and can be left at the funeral home.

Visitation will be held Monday, November 12, 2012 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains.

Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery, West Plains, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains. Military rites will be performed by the local VFW and the Missouri Funeral Honors Program.