William Paul Spaur

William Paul Spaur, 64, of Nevada, Mo., died April 27, 2015. Bill was born on Oct. 3, 1950, in Fort Scott, Kan. He was married to Deborah Lynn Williamson, of Joplin, Mo., on Dec. 26, 1969. They have three children, Darren Spaur and his wife, Megan, of Waukegan, Ill., Brandon Spaur and his wife, Heather, of Pittsburg, Kan., and Kristen Schroer and her husband, Charles, of Nevada. Bill has three grandchildren, Anna, Sadie and Madison Spaur, and numerous nieces and a nephew. William was preceded in death by his parents, John and Maxine Spaur, and his grandparents, John and Sadie Spaur, and Noah and Mary Jane Gump.

Bill graduated from Nevada High School in 1968 and from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics. He also held a graduate degree in banking from the Southwestern graduate school of banking at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Bill was a banker and farmer by occupation. Most recently he was employed by the First National Bank in Nevada, Mo., where he has worked for the last 15 years.

Bill was active in the community serving on many committees and a member of numerous local organizations some of which were Vernon County Youth Fair Board, the Optimist Club and the Elks Club. His passion was his family and farming. He, along with his dad, won the Nevada Chamber of Commerce Agri-business pace setter award in 1986. As a youth, Bill was active in both 4-H and FFA. He received numerous awards including the Ralston Purina Youth of the Year award in 1967. Bill also loved cars from the favorite car of his youth, a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T, to his recent collection of classic muscle cars.

Bill's service will be held on Saturday, May 2, at Ferry Funeral Home, at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Bill Platt officiating. His visitation will be held Friday, May 1, from 6:30 until 8 p.m., at Ferry Funeral Home.

Memorials in his memory may be made to the Vernon County Youth Fair Organization or to the local Nevada R-5 FFA Chapter.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.