William "Sonny" Van Ness

William Nathan “Sonny” Van Ness, son of George and Bonnie (Looper) Van Ness, was born March 12, 1941, in Seymour, Missouri, and passed away October 3, 2022, due to a sudden stroke. He was 81 years, 6 months, and 22 days of age.

Sonny married Annie Bell Napier, the love of his life, on October 26, 1963, in Seymour, Missouri, and to this union one daughter was born, Vicki Lynn.

Sonny was born and raised in Seymour, Missouri. He graduated from Seymour High School in 1959. Prior to retirement Sonny owned and operated Van’s Plumbing and Heating in Seymour for many years. He also helped his dad with Van Ness Plumbing and Heating until his dad passed away in 1971.

Sonny loved his classic cars; Model A’s, Model T’s, and the 1957 Pontiac, but he especially loved spending time with his family and many friends. He enjoyed working on old cars and fixing things. He had amazing talents for fixing anything that could be fixed. And he had a vast knowledge of many things. He loved working on his farm. He was very proud of his farm. He loved going to the plumbing shop and visiting with many friends that would stop by. Sonny loved telling stories from his childhood about delivering newspapers on his bike around Seymour, and he also once mentioned that when he was young that he was a Missouri State Yo-yo champion.

Sonny loved his community, and his community loved him back. He never felt the need to live anywhere else. He was well respected and when he spoke everyone listened. The knowledge he had of Seymour’s history was profound.

He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, Jess, Bascomb, Vernon “Jack”, Ben, Vincent, and Rollins “Cotton” Van Ness, and a sister, Lorene Philpott.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Annie, of Seymour, Missouri, a daughter, Vicki Wood and husband, Dennis, of Seymour, Missouri, two grandsons, David and Dustin Wood of Seymour, Missouri, a great-grandson, Liam Wood, many sisters and brothers in law, nieces, nephews, many other relatives, and friends. Sonny was special to a lot of people. He was kind, eager to help and had a great sense of humor. He will be missed greatly by all who knew him.