William "Bill" Harper

William 'Bill' Harper, age 69, of Camdenton, Missouri, passed away on Monday, March 10, 2008, at his residence, after a six-month battle with brain cancer. He was born June 18, 1938, in Kansas City, Mo., a son to William Ralph and Cora Myrtle (Day) Harper. On July 6, 1958 in Kansas City, Kan., he was united in marriage to Ruth Crews. Bill attended Shawnee Mission North High School until his senior year. He then attended and graduated from Rosedale High School, Kansas City, in 1957. Bill worked several years for the United States Post Office and later worked for Rigby Printing in Lenexa, Kan. He was the national sales manager for G & H Decoy from 1971 to 1979 in Henryetta, Okla. From 1979-1989, Bill owned and operated Lohman Bill Harper Manufacturing and Game Call Company in Neosho, Mo. He hosted two television series programs: 'Sarita Safaris' and 'Outdoor Hunting and Cooking with Bill Harper' in Texas and Missouri. He also owned the Cookshack BBQ in Neosho, Mo. Bill and Ruth moved to Camdenton in 1983 and opened Bill Harper's BBQ restaurant. The last project Bill was involved in was manufacturing custom game calls with business partner Matt Bentz. He hosted the annual Bill Harper Youth Turkey Hunt and regularly held seminars on hunting and game calling. He was a life-member of the National Wild Turkey Federation, a member of the NRA, Ducks Unlimited and Custom Call Makers Association of America. Bill loved hunting, fishing and the outdoors. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Surviving are his wife, Ruth, of the home; three daughters: Tami Freeman and husband Billy of Camdenton, Mo., Sherry Pogue and husband Grover of Neosho, Mo., and Debbie Rolando and husband Tim of Kansas City, Mo.; eight grandchildren: Michael Freeman, Emily Freeman McGuire and husband Ryan, Billy Freeman, Stephanie Pogue, Ethan Pogue, Drew Pogue and wife Angela, Gabriella Rolando and Lilly Rolando, and two great grandchildren, Carter Pogue and Colten Pogue along with several nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters: DeAnn Claiborne and Charlotte Faught. Memorial services were held on Saturday, March 15, 2008, at 2 p.m., at the Hedges-Scott Funeral Home, Camdenton, Mo. The family received friends from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. prior to service time at the funeral home. Memorials to honor Bill's life are left to the discretion of the donor. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hedges-Scott Funeral Home, Camdenton, Mo.