Funeral services for Wesley L. Pike will be 10:30 AM Saturday, January 5, 2013 at the Mullinax Funeral Home in Butler, Missouri (660) 679-0009 with Pastor Ron Dunlap officiating. There will be no visitation. Burial with U.S. Navy Honors in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler. Memorial contributions are suggested to Shriners Hospital or the Wounded Warriors. Messages of condolence may be left atwww.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
Wesley was born April 8, 1927 to John Wesley and Mabel (Spain) Pike in Butler, MO. They later moved to the Double Branch community where he attended grade school and was a member of the Double Branch Christian Church.
Wesley attended Butler High School where he was captain of the football team, President of the Student Body, President of the FFA, and he was the recipient of a Missouri FFA State Farmer’s award.
After high school, he enlisted in the Navy and served on a destroyer as a boiler technician until the end of World War II. When he was discharged from the Navy, he attended college in Springfield, MO (SMS) where he studied drafting and played football.
Wesley returned to Butler where he worked for Standard Oil Co. for several years and married Nelda Carroll in 1949. He worked with Harry Mills and later Leroy Jones building houses, specializing in cabinetry. In the early 70’s, he opened his own woodworking shop, where he built custom cabinets and furniture. Many homes in this area, to this day, display his amazing talent.
In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and being in the outdoors. In addition, he liked coaching and following all local sports. In the late 1950’s Wesley was a guest of Harold Ensley on “The Sportsman’s Friend,” a hunting and fishing show, where he displayed his handmade miniature working guns as well as fishing rods and reels. He enjoyed time with the family, and surprising family members at Christmas with handmade gifts.
Wesley was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of the home, Nelda, his son and two daughters, Randy, Evonne Matthews, and Janet Robinson and one daughter-in-law, Patricia Pike, and two sons-in-law, Fran Matthews and Rocky Robinson. Wesley is also survived by six grandchildren: Dillion Pike (Channing), Michelle Pike, Patrick Matthews (Charlotte), Allison Matthews, Amanda Acree (Daniel), and Harley Robinson, and four great-granddaughters: Isabella Bo and Josephine Harper Pike, Elaina Acree, and Evangeline Matthews, with another on the way.
Gone Fishin’ . . . .
