Words that best describe William include loyal, dedicated, strong, loving and adventurous. William was born on December 23, 1952 in Honolulu, HI. The youngest son of a military family, his father, Douglas R. Busby Sr., a United States Air Force Colonel and mother, Phyllis Anne West, moved every two years around the country before settling in Warrensburg, MO. While there, William attended College High School, where he played football and earned two state track championships as a successful high hurdler. He later went on to graduate from Central Missouri State University as a dual major in geography and geology. And, it was while at CMSU he met his wife of 41 years, Marilyn Rae Nissen of Butler, MO.
After graduation, William and Marilyn went on and built several homes throughout the Johnson County Kansas area. They had a daughter, Angelea Renee and then a son, Nicholas William. William’s children were one of his many passions. Attending numerous dance recitals, tracks meets, football games, band concerts, and even walking his daughter on-stage at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, NJ; William never missed an event or special occasion.
To support his family, William was a Master Craftsman. He spent his career working in both the residential and commercial construction industries. Along side his brother, James Gordan Busby, they built custom homes, several for themselves, as Busby Brothers Construction. He later moved into building some of the most prominent towers that define Kansas City’s landscape and ultimately specializing in the ground-up construction of multi-million-dollar hospitals, working for both J.E. Dunn and McCown Gordan. His project resume is extensive and his experience unsurpassed.
If William wasn’t at work or sitting on hard bleachers cheering on his kids, he loved to play golf, was an excellent marksman and firearm collector, enjoyed cooking, scuba diving, skiing, camping, hiking and float trips.
William will be greatly missed. His survivors include: his loving wife, Marilyn Busby; children, Angelea Busby of Denver, CO and Nicholas Busby (wife Emily Laura) of Overland Park, KS; his twin brother, James Busby (wife Laura Dee) of Overland Park, KS; two sisters, Candace Titus of Grand Rapids, MI and Susan Busby of Jefferson City, MO; his mother-in-law, Esther Nissen of Butler, MO; a brother-in-law, Ron Nissen (wife Gay) of Butler, MO; a sister-in-law, Judith Busby of Jefferson City, MO; his grandson, Samson Robert Busby; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dr. Douglas R. Busby, Jr.; and his brother-in-law, Peter Titus.
Visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 14, 2018.
A memorial service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 14, 2018 in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Judy Slimmer officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens.
Bill loved flowers so those desiring may send flowers to his service or directly to his family.
