Friday morning, June 20th , the 2 1/2 year battle with Bulbar ALS was finished and George William (Bill) Hart arose victorious.

Born December 20, 1946 to the late Mary Miller Hart Savage and late Earl Francis Hart, Bill grew up in Savanna, IL and graduated from Savanna High in 1966 where he played football and basketball.  He then began his college studies first in Clinton, Iowa at the Community College completing his Associate of Arts degree.  He then attended Wisconsin State in Platteville, WI studying engineering. He graduated from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL in 1970 with a Bachelors degree of Marketing and Business.  He joined the Army and earned Expert Marksman (Rifle) M-14 and was an Armor Reconnaissance Specialist stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  He completed the remaining service obligation six year in the Air National Guard in Illinois where he was a helicopter crew chief.

He accepted a sales position with home furnishings manufacturer Canterbury House as an independent representative and traveled Ohio and parts of West Virginia.  A few years later, specialty upholstery company Mayfair offered him a new territory which led to Bill joining its sister company Berkline as the sales representative in Iowa/Nebraska for 19 years.  During that time Bill's life was enriched by the birth of his son Ben and becoming Dad. Years later he would cherish the title "Papa" to granddaughters Daisy and Sidney.

In 1993, while participating and completing his Certified HomeFurnishings Representative (CHR) degree through the International Home Furnishings Representative Association (IHFRA), Bill met his future bride and love of his life, Kelly Crisco whom he wed on March 27, 1999 in High Point, NC.   In 1996, he had the opportunity to become the La-Z-Boy representative for SW Missouri and parts of Kansas.  This move brought him to Springfield, MO.  Eventually he relocated Kelly from High Point and they developed a dynamic furniture business partnership as she oversaw his home office and assisted him at market.  For over 23 years, they worked and traveled together embracing adventure along the way and their feline furballs racked up many miles as they journeyed with them.

As the home furnishings industry evolved, Bill had the opportunity to work with a start up motion furniture company Southern Motion pioneering a very large territory.  In 2005 he took on another adventure with an import company Lifestyle Enterprises where he remained until his retirement April 2022 after an astounding 50 years "on the road" often driving more than 50,000 miles annually.

Bill worked hard and earned Salesman of the Year by each company he represented.  He loved life.  He loved the outdoors and was a natural athlete.  In the summer he could be found racing his crazy fast Scarab on the Lake of the Ozarks until Kelly won the boating discussion and he switched to cruising Table Rock Lake in a Regency TriToon, He finally admitted the Tritoon was like having a floating patio and reluctantly confessed he loved it.  An accomplished skier, he looked forward to downhill skiing each year in Vail/Beavercreek.  Many of his December 20th birthdays were celebrated there.  He held a world dive card and pursued his love of scuba diving often only with the Dive Master.  Night diving, deep water dives, caves, Caribbean blue waters, ship wrecks…all appealed to him.  He enjoyed an occasional round of golf with friends and hiking in the desert of southern California.

He had a green thumb and could be found outside planting and pruning shrubs, especially his favorite Knock Out roses.  He enjoyed everything related to home including extensive house renovations that he and Kelly tackled together.  In 2022, without the foreknowledge of the upcoming diagnosis, they sold their home and purchased a lot and began the exciting adventure of designing and building their dream home.  The diagnosis did not sway Bill from continuing what he felt had been placed in his heart sometime earlier during the 2022 Stronger Men's Conference:  build Kelly a home with all new things which would be best for her in the future.  Working with builder Michael Strange, a Springfield newcomer, the home was beautifully completed.  Even from a hospital bed, Bill thanked God for the opportunity to enjoy albeit briefly the fruit of countless hours planning, designing, and working with Mike to see the plans on paper become a reality.

As the Bulbar ALS progressed, Bill lost his ability to speak and communicate by voice,  If you knew Bill, then you knew he loved talking and being with people.  Friends, family, neighbors, strangers. He embraced Text To Talk technology to keep communicating in person and by text to stay in touch.

ALS altered his life but with each blow God gave him the ability to continue on and not fall into despair.  He could only do this because of his decision to fully give his life to Christ and be baptized on December 3, 2000.  He was active in Hospitality volunteer ministry and his Life Group with his church family at James River Church.  He found purpose serving and greeting especially during special events the Church held.  Bill was living life to the fullest when a series of events led to the diagnosis of Bulbar ALS in February 2023 and confirmed by Mayo in October 2023.  Throughout every phase of the terrible disease, Bill never wavered in his faith and trust that God would restore to him everything the disease had taken.  He, like the Apostle Paul, understood his life here even the most rewarding and wonderful seasons was nothing compared to Heaven.

"7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day…" 2 Timothy 4:7-8

All who knew Bill, would agree there was only one Bill Hart.  The void he leaves is tremendous in so many ways. A faithful man, a hard worker, a generous spirit, a best friend, and the best husband God could ever gift to his "Gracy".  Until we meet again…

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his eldest sister Judi and husband Jerry Risinger and brother-in-law Ron Fossett.  Survivors include his beloved wife of 26 years, Kelly; his son Ben and wife Samantha, granddaughters Daisy and Sidney (West Des Moines, IA); sister Kathy Fossett (Mt. Carroll, IL);  sister-in-law Deborah Campbell (Scott) (Charlotte, NC); sister-in-law Melody Pace (Donnie) (Belmont, NC); nephew Michael Risinger (Tammy) (Moorhead, MN); niece Becky Miller Cassens (Chris) (Oskaloosa, IA), nephew Andy Miller (Hanover, IL); Scott Miller ( Elizabeth, IL); and great nieces and nephews and many cousins.

Funeral details are under the care of Gorman-Scharpf. A Celebration of Life will be held at James River Church, Clark Chapel on Friday, June 27 at 11:00 am.   Pastor and friend John Lindell will officiate. Ryan Beams, Kristian LaCour Madsen, Andy Miller, Donnie Pace, Michael Risinger, and Rex Rogers are serving as Pallbearers.  Pastor John Lindell/Pastor David Lindell will officiate the 2:00 pm graveside service with full Military Honors. Interment will be at Rivermonte Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorials and contributions be made to medical missionaries Dr. Logan and Julie Banks care of James River Church, 6100 North 19th Street, Ozark, Missouri 65721