| Billy Dean McKown, of Gay, West Virginia, a hard working, life-long farmer and retired school bus driver, who loved farming, cows and kids dearly, died peacefully at 83 years of age in his home on the farm Saturday, March 2, 2019 after a brief illness.
He loved his family, especially his mom, fiercely; never knew a stranger; had a giving heart and a willingness to help others; and always had something to talk about.
He was born in Beech, West Virginia on February 17, 1936 to the late Lee and Vada Hall McKown of Gandeeville. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle Gandee McKown; and four brothers, Junior (Marie) McKown of Arnoldsburg, West Virginia, Gene (Gay) McKown of Norton, Ohio, Glen (Gatha) McKown of Gandeeville, and Brice McKown of Spencer; one sister, Ivy (Buster) Hoskins of Arnoldsburg; and five infant siblings. He was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Russ Romine of Spencer; step-daughter, Reva (Charlie) Johnson of Cross Lanes, West Virginia; step-daughter-in-law, Nancy Romine of Looneyville; and Mark Freshour, whom he treated like family.
Along with his long-time companion, Marion Snyder Sloan of Gay, Bill is survived by four sisters, Sue Romine of Spencer, Bonnie Hockman of Hohenwald, Tennessee, Phyllis (Gary) Spurlock of Gandeeville, and Barbara (Kenny) Miller of Liberty, West Virginia. He is also survived by his step-children, Ruby (Paul) Simpson of Nitro, West Virginia and Carroll Romine of Looneyville, West Virginia; seven step-grandchildren, Becky Simpson Godfrey, Linda Simpson Parsons, David Simpson, Chuck and Douglass Johnson, Diane Johnson Wells, and Rodney Romine; and several step-great-grandchildren; as well as nieces and nephews.
Along with his family his four bonus children, Christopher (Lisa) Sloan of Gay, Brandy (Terry) Brabham of Gay, Jeremy (Pamela) Sloan of Mineral Wells, West Virginia, and Adam (Tasha) Sloan of Newton, West Virginia mourn his passing with his nine bonus grandchildren, Amber, Joshua, Haylee, Austin, Kinley, Garrett, Wyatt, Winter and Winston.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, March 8, 2019 at the TAYLOR-VANDALE FUNERAL HOME, Spencer, with Roane County Clerk Charlie White officiating. Burial will be in the Clover Cemetery. Visiting hours are three hours prior to the service Friday at the funeral home. Friends are invited to join the family for fellowship at the conclusion of the burial at the Clover Church Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Roane County Scholarship Foundation at 805 Summit Street, Spencer WV 25276 for a farm-based youth scholarship in Bill's memory. |
