Larry (Butch) Bales

Graveside services for Larry Lee (Butch) Bales, 69, Bakersfield, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at Shady Grove Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. 

 

Mr. Bales passed away at 11:27 a.m., Saturday, October 24, 2020, at Baxter Regional Medical Center, Mountain Home, Arkansas. 

 

He was born October 29, 1950, at West Plains, Missouri, to Joe Bill Bales and Hazel Marie Mullins Bales.  On December 30, 1972, he was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Carol Joan Durham.  Butch spent years in the sawmill industry.  He worked alongside his family in businesses his father established:  Bales Sawmill, MOARK Cedar and B & C Quickstop at Bakersfield, Missouri.  Butch was also a boilermaker and retired from Boilermaker Local 69.  He was a very talented and creative person; he could paint, draw, build things and tell stories.  Butch was very generous and gave to his family sacrificially.  He was also very loving; he hugged those he loved and always said "I Love You."  He was a loving husband, a great father and a wonderful son, brother and friend.  He was very loved by his community.  Mr. Bales was a member of the Church of Christ and attended Bakersfield Church of Christ.   

 

He is survived by his wife, Carol Bales, of the family home; two daughters, Jody Bales Bond and husband, Michael and Tracy Bales Collins and husband, Jason, Bakersfield, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Savanna Younger, Grady Bentley and wife, Abby, Nash Bentley and wife, Elle, Westin Edelen, Reece Edelen, Morris Collins and Jett Collins; two bonus grandchildren, Garry Bond and wife, Lindsey and Tiffany Driver and husband, Josh; four great-grandchildren, Rhett Younger, Knox Younger, Case Younger and Forrest Bentley; three bonus great-grandchildren, Maggie Bond, Chloie Bond and Colton Bond; one sister, Patsy Bales Cotter and husband, PeeWee; one brother, Rick Bales and wife, Beverly, Bakersfield, Missouri; mother-in-law, Mary Durham; one brother-in-law, Darrell Durham, Bakersfield, Missouri; three aunts, Della Foster, Carol Schaufler and husband, Jim and Phyllis Arnold and husband, Joe, Bakersfield, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews. 

 

His parents, maternal grandparents, Oscar and Dora Mullins, paternal grandparents, Charlie Bales and Pearl Ward, father-in-law, Lester Durham and one brother, Joe M. (Buddy) Bales, preceded him in death. 

 

Visitation services were from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775. Online condolences may be expressed at www.robertsondrago.com.