BILLY BOB CASS

LIBERAL- A Celebration of Life will be held at Oakton Church in Lamar on Saturday, Jan. 7, 11:30 a.m., for Billy Bob Cass, 81, Liberal, formerly of Joplin, who completed his battle with cancer and won the victory of eternal life.

Survivors include his grandchildren, Kaleb and Cassie Rake and Jonathan Cass; his sister, Maryetta Wilke and husband Gerald; son-in-law, James Ortega and wife Paula and daughter-in-law, Kim Cass-Vaught and husband Joel. He is also survived by his wife Kay and her family and many loved relatives in the Cass and Phipps families.

He was preceded in death by both of his children, Brad Cass and Amy Cass Ortega and his wife, Nancy.

Mr. Cass was born 1941 in Vernon County, to Harold and Helen (Borghardt) Cass. He attended rural Barton County schools and graduated from Lamar High School in 1960. His farming career began when he was eight years old and his dad bought him his own tractor and plow.

He married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Phipps in 1961 and together they raised their two children, Brad and Amy. They later moved to Joplin and he worked at numerous jobs, learning many useful skills. He used these skills in his Christian ministry, as well as being able to help his children in their businesses. He and Nancy helped in various churches in the Joplin area for many years.

In 2021 he married Kay Rose and eventually moved to rural Liberal. He greatly enjoyed working with Kay and her family at their hunting lodge.