Garth Mease was born on September 16, 1948 in Christian county at Ozark Missouri to his parents, Jim and Mary Mease. At the age of 73, on August 5, 2022 he chose the path he wanted to take by leaving this world to be with God and his precious family and friends that had gone before him. He left this life on his own terms leaving behind his grieving family and many friends. Our time with him was much too brief but we knew he was going to a better place and though very hard, we had to let him go.

Garth considered he had a wonderful upbringing getting to camp along the rivers and creeks and fished our lakes with his many friends. Loving the great outdoors, he walked miles over these hills and hollows to get to the nearest waterhole for a quick swim and spent long hours through the years searching along their myriad shorelines hunting for Indian artifacts. As he hunted for whitetail deer and wild turkey he relished in the outdoors that God had created. He often said he ' was born 100 years too late' wishing the life he experienced could have stayed the same. His fondness for birds and animals was formed at an early age and many times he came to the rescue of discarded animals taking them in giving them love and kindness.

Shortly after his graduation from the Reeds Spring High School in 1966, Garth enlisted in the United States Navy where he was placed on active duty. Later, he was released from the active duty and transferred to the Naval Reserve. He served out his time aboard the USS Enterprise off the shores of California and received the National Defense Service Medal. He was proud of his service to our country.

Garths work years were mostly spent in Springfield Missouri working as a union laborer doing commercial construction. As a loyal employee he arose each day at the crack of dawn to earn a living for his family. He worked over 22 years for L & N Construction and was considered ' their best employee' . It was said he could do the work of 3 men on any given day . He was much admired for his dedication and work skills. After the owners of L & N retired, he worked for a brief time for Bill Blount, a local business owner and then the Springfield Regional Stockyards where he was head of Maintenance. They were bought out by the Joplin Regional Stockyards and his last job with them was to head up a work crew that took down old barns in the surrounding area for the reclaiming of the lumber.

Garth said he had a wonderful life and deeply loved his parents and family. He was survived by his wife Susan Gail (Atchison) after 44 years of marriage; his daughter Mary Beth and her husband Justin Wilkerson and their three sons, Willie, Jimmy and Grant; a son Clint Wayne Mease and his wife Heather (Howell): his only sister, Linda Gail Bilyeu and her children; Gayla, Kent, Lori and Keith and their families. He had lost his most beloved parents earlier.

The family would like to thank the Doctors and Nurses and all who attended Garth at CoxHealth-Branson for their quality care and kindness and the wonderful people of Integrity Hospice care for being on call 24/7 in their time of need. Both are wonderful organizations and are highly recommended.

Graveside services will be Thursday, August 11, 2022 at 10:30 AM in Yocum Pond Cemetery, Reeds Spring under the care of Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home, Springfield.  No set visitation is planned however; Garth will be available for viewing Wednesday from 3-6 pm at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Integrity Hospice, 1515 E. Cleveland Avenue, Monett, Missouri 65708.

Garth's Memorial Slideshow can be viewed here .