Larry Lee (Butch) Bales
Larry Lee (Butch) Bales
Graveside services for Larry Lee (Butch) Bales, 69, Bakersfield, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at Shady Grove Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Bales passed away at 11:27 a.m., Saturday, October 24, 2020, at Baxter Regional Medical Center, Mountain Home, Arkansas.
He was born October 29, 1950, at West Plains, Missouri, to Joe Bill Bales and Hazel Marie Mullins Bales. On December 30, 1972, he was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Carol Joan Durham. Butch spent years in the sawmill industry. He worked alongside his family in businesses his father established: Bales Sawmill, MOARK Cedar and B & C Quickstop at Bakersfield, Missouri. Butch was also a boilermaker and retired from Boilermaker Local 69. He was a very talented and creative person; he could paint, draw, build things and tell stories. Butch was very generous and gave to his family sacrificially. He was also very loving; he hugged those he loved and always said “I Love You.” He was a loving husband, a great father and a wonderful son, brother and friend. He was very loved by his community. Mr. Bales was a member of the Church of Christ and attended Bakersfield Church of Christ.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Bales, of the family home; two daughters, Jody Bales Bond and husband, Michael and Tracy Bales Collins and husband, Jason, Bakersfield, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Savanna Younger, Grady Bentley and wife, Abby, Nash Bentley and wife, Elle, Westin Edelen, Reece Edelen, Morris Collins and Jett Collins; two bonus grandchildren, Garry Bond and wife, Lindsey and Tiffany Driver and husband, Josh; four great-grandchildren, Rhett Younger, Knox Younger, Case Younger and Forrest Bentley; three bonus great-grandchildren, Maggie Bond, Chloie Bond and Colton Bond; one sister, Patsy Bales Cotter and husband, PeeWee; one brother, Rick Bales and wife, Beverly, Bakersfield, Missouri; mother-in-law, Mary Durham; one brother-in-law, Darrell Durham, Bakersfield, Missouri; three aunts, Della Foster, Carol Schaufler and husband, Jim and Phyllis Arnold and husband, Joe, Bakersfield, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.
His parents, maternal grandparents, Oscar and Dora Mullins, paternal grandparents, Charlie Bales and Pearl Ward, father-in-law, Lester Durham and one brother, Joe M. (Buddy) Bales, preceded him in death.
Visitation services will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Rene Wade
October 26, 2020 @ 8:40 am
Carol, Jody and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. I am sending hugs and prayers for you and your family. I will be making a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Butch’s honor. Love you all.
Rene Wade
David Scott Crawford
October 26, 2020 @ 11:15 am
Carol, Jody, and Tracy I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Butch was a great gentleman and a joy to be around. My family and I have a tremendous respect for him and his family.
David Scott Crawford
Rex and Danita Wolf
October 26, 2020 @ 1:30 pm
Carol, Jody, Tracy , and family, we will truly miss Butch. Our thoughts and players are with all of you, during this time of grieving .
Gaylon Orf
October 26, 2020 @ 12:33 pm
Carol, Jody, and Tracy,
Butch was a wonderful man. He was always pleasant to be around and willing to share laughter with others. In spite of the sadness his passing brings, Butch’s time with us will be celebrated as well.
With Love and Prayers,
Gaylon Orf
Lisa Manion Meade
October 26, 2020 @ 12:50 pm
Carol, Jody & Tracy,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Praying that God will hold you in His hand during this time. Butch was always a very sweet man to me. Lots of love to your family.
Roselea Mullins Payne
October 26, 2020 @ 2:16 pm
Carol, so sorry to hear of the passing of Butch. He was always such a nice & friendly person
every time we got to see him. Last time was at the Bakersfield School Reunion at the picnic
ground. Butch was a 3rd or 4th cousin of ours and we were proud to acknowledge that of both
Butch and Buddy. Our sincere condolence to all.
Roselea Mullins Payne – Austin, TX
Earl Wayne Mullins – The Woodlands, TX
Joe Ray Mullins – Ozark Mo
Dena Yeager
October 26, 2020 @ 2:36 pm
Carol, Jody, Tracy and family,
My heart aches for you and there are no words to express how deeply saddened I am. Butch was truly one of a kind. You always knew by the look on his face he was going to have something funny to say to you. He has touched so many people with his big heart. I am praying for you all.
James and Anita Collins
October 26, 2020 @ 2:50 pm
Carol, Jody and family, Tracy and family I am so sorry for your loss, prayers for peace and comfort! Love you all!
Amber(Cozort)Redburn
October 26, 2020 @ 5:37 pm
Carol, Jody/Michael, Tracy/Jason, and entire Bales Families,
We want to extend our deepest sympathy to all of you on Butch’s passing. All of you are in our daily prayers/thoughts. During this difficult time may God be with each one of you comforting, supporting, strengthening, and giving you peace. May God bless all of you.
In Christian Love,
Norris/Ivene Cozort
Tim, Amber, and Corby Redburn
Lana (Orf) Krohne
October 26, 2020 @ 6:57 pm
Carol, Jody and Tracy,
My heart aches for you all. Butch made a lasting impression to anyone that met him and he was always so kind, funny and welcoming to all of his kids’ friends that would come over. He will be greatly missed by the whole community. Love you all.
Joe and Suzi Colbert
October 26, 2020 @ 7:14 pm
Sending love and prayers in your time of grief. So sorry we can’t be with you now. Hope to see you soon.
Diane simons
October 26, 2020 @ 7:24 pm
Carol so sorry to hear about Butch. You and your family will be very much in our thoughts and prayers for you. Love you very much dear cousin. Mom ( Geneva) and Darrell are sending prayers for your family.
David and Donna Canady
October 26, 2020 @ 9:25 pm
R.I.P. Butch
Keeping all the families and friends in our thoughts and prayers.
I am proud to have know him and worked with him. He was a really genuine good person. He will be missed .
Shannon and Shawn Bentley
October 26, 2020 @ 9:33 pm
Carol, Jody, Tracy, and grands:
Please know that we hold you all close in our prayers and thoughts. We pray that you all find peace and comfort.
Kathy Beaty
October 27, 2020 @ 12:32 pm
To Rose Ann Bales and the Bales family,
So sorry for your loss.
May he rest in peace.
Cherish his memories.
You’re in my prayers.
Kathy (Bray) Beaty
Susan Sasseen
October 27, 2020 @ 2:46 pm
I just cannot believe Butch is gone. I am speechless. And heartbroken. Susan Sasseen
George, Liz and Sarah Colbert
October 27, 2020 @ 6:04 pm
Holding you and your family close in our thoughts and prayers. So sorry for your loss.
Carter
October 27, 2020 @ 6:21 pm
Carol Jody Tracy and family. So sorry for your loss Butch was an awesome man I sure loved him and love you all. Prayers for you
With love always The Carter’s. Kevin Melinda and girls
Joan
October 28, 2020 @ 12:55 pm
Carol, Jody, and Tracy …. Richard and I are sadden of Butch’s passing.. Please know that “God’s Grace” will give you all comfort at this time of sorrow.. Richard & Joan Bonham
joe Smith
October 28, 2020 @ 6:16 pm
Carol, Weston, and the rest of the Bales family. Butch was one of those people who would come out to help even in the middle of the night. He reminded me so much of his dad, Joe. When uncle Woodrow’s house burned, Joe organized the people to come to his sawmill the following saturday to use his own logs to cut out Woodrow a new house. Butch was exactly like that. Joe and Linda Smith
Louise and James
October 29, 2020 @ 1:53 am
Keep this family in our prayers. You are like family to us .
Stephanie Dihel-Lindsey and Marjie Dihel
October 31, 2020 @ 11:09 am
Keeping your whole family in my prayers. And sending Hugs for all. Butch was a great person who would help anyone he could. Prayers and condolences. Sorry for too many losses in the family this year.
Darrel and Margaret Stafford
December 4, 2020 @ 6:02 pm
Carol, Tracy, Jody and family, we are so sorry at the loss of Butch, he was a great guy and a good friend, and he will certainly be missed. Our prayers are with all of you.