Loren Ray Housworth, 76, of Warrensburg (formerly of Versailles and St. James), died unexpectedly Tuesday, Nov. 29, at his farm south of Warrensburg.

Funeral Service will be 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Williams Funeral Chapel in Warrensburg with Pastor John Phillips of Harmony Baptist Church in Warrensburg officiating. The family will receive friends, one hour prior to the service, Tuesday at the funeral home.

Interment will follow in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Higginsville with Full Military Honors provided by United States Army Honor Guard; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #2513 and American Legion, Post #131.  Pallbearers will be David Sample, Tim Apsher, Blake Wolfe, Colton Hartford, Bill Mills, Jason Cote, Jerry Arwood and Terry Betz.

Memorial Contributions are suggested to Show-Me Christian Youth Home in La Monte.  Alzheimer’s Foundation

Loren was born Sept. 9, 1940 in Kansas City, Missouri the son of Earnest E. and Lorena M. (Smiley) Housworth.  He attended a country school at one time.  He graduated from Versailles High School.  Loren was united in marriage to Betty J. Apsher on June 9, 1963 in Ionia, Missouri.  He attended Central Missouri State University. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War.  Following his discharge from active duty, the couple resided in Warrensburg.  Loren was employed with United Telephone, later known as Sprint.  In 1978, he was transferred to Rolla. During this time, the couple raised their family in St James. They met many great friends and fostered several children. Loren was an active member of First Church of God – Anderson, Indiana Branch, where he served as a youth leaders and was chairman of the board for six years.

In 1991, the couple returned to Warrensburg.  He retired from Sprint in 2005 after 33 years of service.  Shortly after, Loren and Betty purchased a farm south of Warrensburg where they raised numerous animals.  They hosted plant and flower tours, hybridized Day Lilies, raised Hostas and shipped them to several states.  Loren was a member of Harmony Baptist Church in Warrensburg.  When he was in school, Loren played baseball and basketball.  Later, he played softball for many years.

Survivors include his wife, Betty; three children, Kamala Stevens, of Warrensburg; Byron Housworth and wife, Monica Leary, of Overland Park, Kansas, and Stacey Phelps and husband, Brent, of Warrensburg; sister Carolyn Silvey, of Jefferson City, Missouri; six grandchildren, Lauren Stevens and fiancé, Blake Wolfe, Delani Leary, Jaxson Leary, Noah Phelps, Rebecca Phelps and Kindall Phelps and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

 

Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net