Billie James Huffstutler, 83, died at 5:25 p.m., October 10, 2005 at his residence in Matthews, Mo.

Born October 27, 1921, in Kennett, son of the late William Morris and Mary Alice Bird Huffstutler, he attended school in Holcomb and graduated from Wardell High School. He was a retired farmer and a World War II Navy veteran. He served as an active member of the New Madrid County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee. He was a member and officer for 28 years of the St. John's Bayou Basin Drainage District Board, and also served on the Matthews School Board of Education for several years.

On February 11, 1946, he married Marjorie Woodham, who survives.

Survivors also include four sons, Stephen Huffstutler, and wife, Ava, of Sikeston, Wayne Huffstutler and wife, Marilyn, of LaForge, Bruce Huffstutler and wife, of Matthews, and Michael Huffstutler of Fort Collins, Colo.; six daughters, Paula Depro and husband, Bruce, of Matthews, Anniese Sexton and husband, Dale, and Janie Davis and husband, Ron of Sikeston, Connie Hooper and husband, John of Benton, Judy Daretta and husband, Joseph, of Hobe Sound, Fla. and Sharon Huffstutler of Memphis, Tenn.; 22 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Geneva Lemonds Luther, and two brothers, Eugene Huffstutler and Adolph Huffstutler.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 13, at Ponder Funeral Home Chapel in Sikeston with Dr. Rick Ramsey officiating.

Burial, with full military honors, will be in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield, Mo.