William L. Painter, 74, of Pilot Grove, Mo., died Wednesday, December 3, 2003 at the Lakeview Care Center in Boonvile, MO. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 6, 2003, at the Meisenheimer Funeral Chapel in Pilot Grove. Rev. Mary Harris-Koth will officiate the service.

Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, December 5 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Boonville.

Pallbearers will be Bill Geiger, Tim Kueckelhan, Alvin French, Virgil Chamberlain, Dr. John Fortman, and Jim Painter. Honorary pallbearers will be Milford Haller, Bill Bryan, Danny Painter, Bob Todd, Steve Shaw, Clay Baslee and Ed Stegner.

Mr. Painter was born August 24, 1929, in Speed, Mo., the son of James L. and Cordelia Solomon Painter. He married Alice Haller April 20, 1953 in Boonville. He attended elementary school in Bell Air, Mo., and Speed, Mo., graduating from Pilot Grove High School in 1948. He lived on and operated the family farm his entire life. He was baptized at Bell Air Methodist Church and later became a member of the St. John’s United Church of Christ in Billingsville, Mo. He served on the Cooper County Youth Fair Board and the Cooper County Extension Council. He enjoyed hunting, trapping, and fish frys with his family and neighbors. He was a great-great-grandson of Hannah Cole.

He is survived by his wife; two sons, Gene Painter of Pilot Grove, Bob Painter of Boonville ; one sister, Marie Fortman of Pilot Grove; one brother, Edgar “Red” Painter of Boonville; three grandsons; one granddaughter, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Robert L. Painter.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Hannah Cole Cemetery Fund in care of Meisenheimer Funeral Home, PO Box 35, Pilot Grove, MO 65276.