WILLIAM “BILL” JAY SCHMITT

William “Bill” Jay Schmitt, 63, Golden City, passed away January 21, 2025, at his home in Golden City. He had been in the great care of Compassus Hospice Care for eight months.

Bill was born on May 12, 1960, in Washington, Mo., to Ralph Lawrence Schmitt and Carol Faye (Baker) Schmitt. On September 10, 1996, he married Brenda Bratton in Eurkea Springs, Ark.

He was a recovery specialist in the United States Army. He then went to work for O’Sullivan Industries for 22 years. Following this he worked as a truck driver for 13 years at Hub Group Trucking and for the last year he was working for Lew Thompson & Sons out of Carthage, Mo.

He loved and enjoyed his dogs, shooting bows, skydiving, flying drones and helicopters – anything with a remote control, fishing or anything outdoors and working puzzles.

Survivors include his wife Brenda; a son Jeremy Schmitt, Falan, Nevada; a brother, Lawrence Dean (Hui Cha) Schmitt, Joplin, Mo.; five sisters, Carol (Jim) Dill, Lamar, Mo., Mary Ballard, Webb City, Mo., Norma Newsome, Lamar, Mo., Lucy Braun, Phoenix, Ariz. and Nancy Hatfield, Lamar, Mo.; his father-in-law, Robert Bratton, Lamar; sisters-in-law, Debbie Ivey (Tim), Lamar, Mo. and Glenda Braun (David) Shell Knob, Mo. and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews and a brother-in-law, Kerry Blanchard, Lamar, Mo.

Preceding Bill in death were his parents and two sisters, Donna Schmitt and Patricia Blanchard and a nephew, Kenny Blanchard and his mother-in-law, Jean Bratton.

Services will be held at Daniel Funeral Home on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2 p.m., with burial in Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Chaplain Johnie Adkins will officiate.

Online condolences may be left at www.dfhlamar.com.