THOMAS WILLIAM TRAVIS DENNEY

SHELDON- Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Sheldon Christian Church for Thomas William Travis Denney, 44, who died in his hometown of Sheldon on Saturday, July 30, 2022, following a long illness. Interment will follow in Sheldon Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada, Mo.

Memorials are suggested to his children’s scholarship, in care of the funeral home.

The obituary may be viewed and condolences may be sent online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.

Survivors include his wife Gretchen and children, Linleigh and Max; his mother, Linda Elderton; his brother, Troy Denney; stepbrother, Roy Harper and wife Rhonda; stepsisters Sheila Harper Jones and Kimberly Gibson and husband Chris; aunts and uncles; many cousins and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, John Denney; his stepfather, Ken Harper; his grandparents, Bud and Susie Denney and Boyd and Lela Hornecker; his aunt, Sue Denney and his cousin, Jason Hornecker.

Mr. Denney was born June 26, 1978, in Lamar, to John and Linda Denney. He attended school in Sheldon and was part of the Sheldon High School graduating class of 1996 and received a Bachelor’s degree from Missouri Southern State University. He married Gretchen Simpson in October of 2004 and the two became parents to a daughter and son. For many years he worked as a Special Education teacher and also coached many teams, both within the school districts he worked and for his own children. It suited his heart.

Mr. Denney loved baseball, the Royals, the Chiefs, succulents, music and people. Most friends have fond memories of him with a guitar in his hands or of him sharing the latest song he enjoyed. He was an exceptional athlete and continued playing softball for many years. He loved attending area youth sporting events, particularly those of his three nephews and his children. He was especially good at talking to everyone and proud of his stint as mayor of Sheldon. He thoroughly enjoyed spending time at the lake with his family and camping buddies. He was a member of Sheldon Masonic Lodge and Nevada Elks.