My Dad's Obituary

Earl Fleetwood

DRURY, Mo. -- Earl Fleetwood, 79, son of the late William Mack and Lola Pearl (Rackley) Fleetwood, was born on April 6, 1931, in Ozark County, Mo., and departed this life on Feb. 4, 2011, in the St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield, Mo.

Earl grew up and attended school in Douglas County and was united in marriage to Doris Riley on Nov. 15, 1955, in Buckhart, Mo. Nine children were born to this union. The family moved to New Bavaria, Ohio, where Earl was employed by the Campbell Soup Company as a Double A maintenance/mechanic for over 33 years. He and Doris moved back to Douglas County in 1993, following his retirement.

Earl enjoyed being outdoors, especially when tending to his cattle, fishing and gardening. He also liked to watch sports on TV, play the fiddle and visit with his many friends and neighbors.

He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. He will be truly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three sons-in-law, Archie Burns, Nick Contreras and Thomas Spence; five brothers, Jim, Walt, John, Mack and Fred; and two sisters, Verna and Beulah.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Doris Fleetwood of their home; five sons, John Fleetwood and his wife, Bonnie, of Holgate, Ohio, Joe Fleetwood of Mountain Grove, Lonnie Fleetwood and his wife, Jessica, of Defiance, Ohio, Jim Fleetwood of Drury, Mo., and Randy Fleetwood and his wife, Tracey, of Norwood, Mo.; four daughters, Eva Peabody and her husband, Darrell, of Sherwood, Ohio, Lola Mathieu and her husband, John, of Willow Springs, Mo., Lila Spence of Mountain Grove and Tammy Moody and her husband, Steve, also of Mountain Grove; one brother, Bill Fleetwood, of Bedford, Iowa; two sisters, Hazel Moss of Brixey, Mo., and Julia Glenn and her husband, Jack, of Wellington, Kan.; 22 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Services were held Feb. 8 at Craig-Hurtt Chapel in Mountain Grove, Mo.

Condolences may be sent to Doris Fleetwood, HC 73 Box 53, Drury, Mo. 65638.

In Loving Memory of my Dad

I have often heard the old saying, “Adversity is what introduces a man to himself. “ And my Dad was no exception to the rule. He had many amazing qualities. Most of which could be found in his work ethics. He worked hard for everything he had and he never complained. He took pride in a job well-done and he taught us all to have pride in ourselves. He often said,” It doesn’t matter what you do, just do your best and no one can ask any more of you.” His logic was plain, and simple, yet honest and true. He was a self-made man, who learned early on, life was not for the faint-hearted, or the weary. One had to be a willing participant and one had to be quick on his feet in order to survive. While he never had the same advantages many people take for granted, he was mindful and resourceful with all he had and he had great admiration and respect for others who did the same. He was wistful, knowledgeable, noble, and wise.
But his most redeeming qualities did not stop there. He loved spending time with his family and friends. Life’s many struggles taught my Dad to abide by the Golden Rule. And that was a lesson he taught us all. He wanted us to treat others the way we’d like to be treated and he led by example. My Dad never knew a stranger. He befriended many people in his lifetime. A trip to the grocery store, the catfish pond, a bluegrass festival, or a picnic, was merely an opportunity to visit with friends or meet new people. And my Dad found value in all those he met. He knew sometimes you had to look beyond the surface to find the worth of a man. I remember a story my Dad once told me about an old man who passed on the gentle knowledge that if a man’s wealth could be judged by his love for his family, then he’d be considered one of the richest men alive. And that was a philosophy my Dad respected, often recalled, and adopted himself. He loved each one of us unconditionally. And he was always in our corner. If we had a problem, we knew he would be the first one to help in any way he could. He was kind, caring, considerate, and compassionate. He shared many stories, many jokes, and a lifetime of laughter and love. He touched us all with his unique wit and sincerity. He was our friend, our rock, and our hero. And we know there will never be another quite like him. He was one of the best parts in all of us and he’ll be missed more than words can ever say.