Bent Agee, 89, passed away December 9, 2010 following a short hospitalization in St. John's Regional Hospital in Springfield. A native Springfieldian, he was a successful merchant and businessman with a long history of community service. For over 40 years, Bent spent his professional life at Heer's Department Store, retiring as Senior Vice-President. Following retirement, Bent stayed active for many years as a successful real estate investor. He was a treasure trove of Springfield history, and specifically downtown Springfield. Bent began life during the Depression, which involved hand me down clothing, shared beds with multiple siblings, long walks to school, and receiving the kindness of teachers who would share milk and lunch with him when he had no money or food for himself. Despite these challenges, he graduated from Senior High School and attended both Southwest Missouri State and Northwest Missouri State. Bent achieved success throughout his life by relying on core values of honesty, integrity, hard work, setting priorities of family first, and then work and community. After retirement, he found time for his other joys, such as traveling and fishing, and most importantly, spending time with his grandkids and other family. Bent also looked forward to sharing time with his special "coffee group" of friends, and Friday night dinners at the Elk's Lodge. In addition to his career, Bent was very active in the Springfield community. Among service with many other civic committees and non-profit organizations, Bent was a charter member for and served as an officer of the Springfield Personnel Association, a member of the Springfield Transportation Association, a board member of Sunshine Acres Nursing Home, a member of the Springfield Special Parking District, a charter member and officer of Greene Hills Country Club, Treasurer of the Springfield United Fund, a member of the board of directors of the Ozark Empire Fair, foreman of the Greene County Grand Jury, a member of the Metro Club, and a prior member of Springfield Downtown Rotary. Bent was recently featured in both the Springfield Business Journal and in the Dickerson Park Zoo Wild Times for his service as President of the Metro Club, when in 1954 he chaired the fundraising efforts for and purchase of "Ole CC", Springfield's first elephant. Bent was a World War II veteran, having voluntarily and honorably served in the US Coast Guard, with tours of duty in the South Pacific aboard the USS Arthur Middleton which provided transport of invasion troops in areas such as the Philippines. Bent was very appreciative of the Honor Flight program and the efforts of KY-3 for sponsoring this special program for World War II veterans. Bent was born on July 20, 1921, to Claude B. and Ethel (Dickens) Agee, each of whom, along with six other brothers and sisters, predeceased him. On June 28, 1944, he was married to Virginia Elaine Nordyke, who after a long battle with cancer predeceased him on March 6, 1970. Bent is survived by his sons, John M. Agee, and his wife, Kelley (Tolar, Texas), and David C. Agee, and his wife, Susan (Springfield), and by his grandchildren, Ben, Jeff, John David and Virginia. Bent is also survived by one sister, Pauline Letterman, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and by Evalyn Agee, a very special person in his life and for whom the family has much love and appreciation. The family would like to express appreciation to Dr. Dominic Meldi, who provided Dad such special medical care, kindness and attention for a number of years; and our appreciation to a number of St. John's staff; many of whom would declare Dad to be the most charming gentleman, and take extra efforts to assure he was comfortable during his many "visits" through the years. Visitation will be in the Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel in Springfield, Missouri from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Monday, December 13, 2010, with funeral services to be held in the same location at 10 a.m, Tuesday, December 14, 2010. Burial will be in Eastlawn Cemetery immediately following the service. Online condolences may be left at www.gormanscharpf.com Arthur "Bent" Agee