William ‘Willie’ Dale Graham

William “Willie” Dale Graham, 62, Lamar, Mo., died Sept. 27, 2021.

Willie was born Oct. 23, 1958, to Jim and Dorothy (Clinton) Graham in Scott City and grew up in the neighboring community of Shallow Water.

He spent his life working in the trucking industry, including roles of driving, dispatching and company ownership. During the past 21 years, he has been the Northern Regional Sales Manager for Polar Tank Trailers.

Willie was a car enthusiast that would span his entire life. He loved working on cars; going to races of winged and nonwinged cars; and hot rod car shows. He was an active organizer of the Lamar Cruise Nights.

Willie had an adventurous spirit, loved life and made everyone laugh. Though he was passionate about community involvement, his relationships with family and friends were his highest priority. He will be dearly missed and always remembered.

Survivors include his daughter, Amber Ming, Corpus Christi, Tex.; his sons, Brad Graham, Strafford, Mo., and Chris Crawford and wife, Wendy, St. Louis, Mo.; three grandchildren, Kaylin, Kaysen and Keizer; a brother, Richard Graham, Shell Knob, Mo.; sisters, Eva Smith, Reading Calif., Sara Ann Graham, Minnesota, and Ada Turley, Salida, Colo., and Edith Todd, Lamar, Mo.

Willie was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Melody; brothers Dan, Preston and Carl Graham; and sisters Glenda Sue Massey, Marlene Bilson, Doris Graham, Rosie Elliot, Jo Mary Schaffer and Janie Benish.

A Celebration of Life will be held October 23, 2021, at 11:00 a.m., at the Thiebaud Auditorium in Lamar, Mo. Lunch will be served following the ceremony.

A car show honoring Willie’s love of cars will be held from 12:00–3:00 p.m. at Thiebaud Auditorium.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Barton County Memorial Park, c/o Joe Davis, 100 Gulf, Lamar, Mo. 64759, or a local charity of your choice.