Leonard G. 'Shorty' Trower

Leonard G. ?Shorty? Trower, 72, Walker, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2004, at his home following a lengthy illness. He was born May 25, 1931, in Walker, Mo., to John Henry Trower and Emma Saathoff Trower. He married Betty A. Ogle on May 25, 1951, in Walker, Mo., and she survives of the home.

?Shorty? was a graduate of Walker High School in 1950. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954 in Korea. He was a member of the Berea Christian Church and a former member of the Odd Fellows in Walker, Mo. He served for many years as a reserve for the Vernon County Sheriff?s Department. He was a licensed real estate agent and worked for a number of years selling real estate for Glen Rawlings and later for Noel Realty. He worked for Continental Airlines, Guy?s Foods as route salesman for 19 years, also farmed, and was a self-employed heavy equipment operator for many years, retiring in 2001.

In addition to his wife Betty, of the home, survivors include two sons, Ricky Eugene Trower, Nevada, Mo., and Michael Dean Trower, Springfield, Mo.; two daughters, Connie Lynn Shepley, Nevada, Mo., and Linda Joan Pearson, El Dorado Springs, Mo.; eight grandchildren; one brother, Charles F. Trower, Longview, Texas; one sister, Daisy Ritchie, Clinton, Mo., and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one sister, Elnora Bartley Reddick.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 16, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, Mo., with the Rev. Bill Ritchie officiating. Interment will follow in Harwood Cemetery, Harwood, Mo. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to Nevada Hospice in care of Nevada Regional Medical Center, 800 S. Ash, Nevada, MO 64772.