William George Mares, Jr

William George Mares Jr., was born July 8, 1933, in the middle of the Great Depression, to William George and Elizabeth (Tourek) Mares in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up and married the love of his life, Patricia Leonard. They had five children together and in 1967, the family relocated to their farm in Summersville, Missouri.

Bill was an outstanding mechanic. He owned and operated two gas stations in the Chicago area before taking the position of Service Manager at Honeycutt Chevrolet in Houston, Missouri. He was very successful for many years, providing excellent customer service to his customers thus receiving many awards, accolades, and even a trip to Hawaii. His dedication, excellent work ethic, and always standing behind his word are just a few assets that we think of when we think of Bill.

After most of his children had married and moved away, Bill Decided to go back to school and began working as an Auto Mechanics Instructor in Mountain Grove, Missouri. He truly enjoyed teaching and all his students looked up to him. He was like everyone’s dad.

After retiring from teaching, Bill took a position traveling around to different high schools in the southeastern United States, teaching continuing education. This was a great job for Bill because he absolutely loved to travel.

His one great love, other than Pat and his family, was TRAINS! Old steam engines were always on his radar. Bill grew up in a time when trains were the backbone of this country. In addition to trains, Bill loved to garden, rebuild old cars, fish, hunt, and spend time with his family. Bill will be sorely missed as he was loved by many.

Besides his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a daughter, Cynthia Ann (Mares) Bashor, a grandson, Ralph Benjamin Bashor, and his sisters, Margaret, Lucille, Virginia “Jeannie”, and Elizabeth “Betty”.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Patricia Mares of Licking, Missouri, a son, William George Mares III “Bill” and his wife, Beth, of Licking, Missouri, three daughters, Pat Simmons and her husband, Richard, of Wellington, Florida, Joan Morton and her husband, Kevin, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, and Pam Turner and her husband, Steven, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, eight grandchildren, Nathaniel Mares, Shawna Morton, Adam Bashor, Amanda Goetter, David Mares, Cortney Brock, Kelly Simmons, and Dalton Turner, six great-grandchildren, Collin Bashor, Jade Bashor, William Mares, Owen Bashor, Aidan Mares, and Ellie Goetter.