Lionel Lear

LIONEL EDWARD LEAR Lionel Edward Lear went to heaven to celebrate his birthday. Lionel was born on March 11, 1932 at his home near Flemington, MO to Royal and Gettie Lear. He passed away at 11:20 PM on March 10, 2008 at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. The family moved to Pipestone, Minnesota when he was two years old. He went to school in Ihlen, Minnesota through the 5th grade. Then Lionel and his brother Stanley came to live with their aunt and uncle, Leonard and Ethel Floyd in Flemington, Missouri where he finished grade school at Union. Lionel did not have the opportunity to go to high school. His education came from working for his Uncle Leonard on the farm, learning so much from him about horses and cattle and how to know a good one when he saw one. This encouraged him to purchase his own farm later in life in Humansville which provided him years of enjoyment and relaxation. At the age of 18, Lionel went to work for Ford Motor Company in Kansas City, Missouri. He met Arlene Dull through a mutual acquaintance, Charles Winfiel. They enjoyed going to movies and church where Arlene played the piano. In 1954, Lionel was saved in a revival at New Hope Baptist Church in Independence, Missouri. He is a member of the First Baptist Church in Humansville, Missouri. On May 29, 1955, Lionel was married to Arlene Dull and they lived in Kansas City for 11 years while he worked for the factory during the day and a used car dealer in the evening. Lionel and Arlene purchased the Ford agency in 1964 in Bolivar, Missouri. Uncle Leonard was so proud of Lionel when he bought the agency. Uncle Leonard loved to come and visit at the agency each Saturday. They operated it until 1970 when he built the B & L Farm Store in Humansville. In 1973, he and his brother Stan built the Cattlemen Auction Company on the same property as the farm store. They attended auctioneer school and ran the auction until 1979. In addition to the auction company, he and Arlene owned and operated Lear Insurance and L & L Quick Shop in Humansville and Lakewood Estates Mobile Home Park in Bolivar. They purchased the George Dimmitt Memorial Hospital and renovated it into an alcohol and rehabilitation center and later changed it to Lakeshores Residential Care Center. In 1991, they started the Bolivar Gun and Pawn and Humansville Gun and Pawn, which are both still in operation today along with the insurance agencies in Humansville and Bolivar. He was a Humansville School board member for 12 years, a current board member of the Polk County Mutual Insurance Company in Bolivar, Missouri and the treasurer of the Polk County Republican Central Committee. He has continued to stay active in the Cattlemen's Association. Lionel was an avid hunter. He loved to hunt quail and pheasant. Another hobby was the walking horses that he mostly trained himself. He had the top point amateur walking horse for Missouri in 1967. He won both the Sedalia State Fair and the American Royal. He showed his horse "Big Red" 33 times and won 32 blue ribbons and 1 red ribbon. He was always proud of that accomplishment. He loved the horses and when all the relatives would come on Sunday afternoons, he always let them ride for pleasure. The pride of his life was when Justin and Shanda came into their lives. Justin and Shanda have given him six grandchildren that he loved so very much. He always thought they were the smartest and prettiest grandchildren of all. Lionel was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2002 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Joseph Furst was his family doctor who diagnosed him and was so good about keeping in touch to see how he was progressing and we owe him so much for that extra care. Not only was he Lionel's family doctor, but he became a good friend. Dr. Furst sent him to the best specialist for the disease who was Dr. Morie Gertz the oncologist. He was also cared for by Dr. Alex Pfueger the urologist. When he was first diagnosed, they told him he would have about three years. By doing exactly as the doctors advised and the outstanding care he was given by the Mayo Clinic doctors, it added over three years to his life. Surviving is his wife Arlene Lear of the home. His son, Justin and Kenya of Ellinwood, KS; Grandchildren Talene, Austin,, Damon and Jalyn; his daughter, Shanda and Phil of Humansville, MO; Grandchildren Tyler and Sydney; His mother, Mrs. Gettie Lear of Humansville, MO; two brothers, Stanley and Velma Lear of Humansville, MO and Marshall Lear of Salt Lake City, UT; five sisters, Ramona and Duane Weinkauf of Jasper, MN; Shirley and Dr. Evan Mangelson of Lehi, UT; Andrey and David Paulson of Orem, UT; Bettie and Roger Wright of Weaubleau, MO; and Mary and George Mecham of Santaquin, UT. Lionel was preceded in death by his father, Royal Lear Sr., and brother Royal Lear Jr., and a sister Barbara Bryner. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 1:30 PM in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Charles D. Good officiating. Musical soloist will be Paul Baldwin with Claudia Williams as the Pianist. Musical selections will be "I'm Already There", "Daddy's Hands", and "The Lord's Prayer". Casketbearers will be Austin Lear, Tyler Lear, Damon Fisk, Phil Hubbard, Gayle Dull, Larry Denton, Steve Lear, Garry Floyd, Les Morris and James Taylor. Honorary casketbearers will be all of his friends at Gina's Trading Post, Nifty Cafe, and Baker's A-Frame Cafe. Also some special people to be mention are Wendell Burchett, Charles Floyd and Roger Wright. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions be sent in Lionels memory to the Humansville Senior Center Building Fund, 125 S. Ohio, Humansville, MO 65674. Friends may sign the guest book or send private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com PDF Printable Version

Lionel Lear

March 11, 1932 - March 10, 2008