Joe Ross Kyger, age 94, of Ozark, Missouri, passed away October 20, 2025, in Springfield, Missouri. Joe was born in New Bloomfield, Missouri, November 24, 1930. He spent much of his early years on his Murphy grandparents' farm where he was raised by them and his mother. This instilled in him a deep love of farming and the value of his extended family. After graduating from Phillipsburg High School in 1948, Joe went on to attend SMS and MU. During school breaks, he worked highway and bridge construction projects for his stepfather. Joe married in 1950 and had three children. With nothing but his sense of adventure, Joe moved his young family to California hauling two cars and a mobile home. Life was good in San Diego with fulfilling jobs and friends, and weekend trips in their convertible sports car to the nearby beaches, deserts, and mountains. In 1960, the lure of farming, his true passion, brought the family back to a farm near Pleasant Hope, Missouri. During that decade, Joe began a career that spanned twenty-five years with the Missouri Highway Department. He started on the road crews-building US HWY 65 between Branson and Springfield- with his final promotion to Highway Access Inspector. In recognition of his outstanding service, he was honored in a ceremony at the State Capitol, as Missouri Highway Department Employee of the Month (December 1986). Joe was committed to his community and served as the President of the Pleasant Hope School Board and on Advisory Committees for the City of Ozark, MO. Joe was an avid athlete throughout his life, engaging in sports on school and work teams, boating, square dancing, and golf. He loved working on all types of machinery: vehicles, marine, and farm equipment. Religion also played an important role, Joe attended Unity Church and James River Church. He felt a renewed sense of spiritualism in his later years and reaffirmed his faith with a baptism in "dirty waters" when he was 90 years old. At the end, Joe felt peace in his belief he would be in Heaven with Jesus and beloved family members. Almost his last words centered on his profound conviction he would be at Heaven's Gate to welcome and guide us in.

FAMILY OF JOE ROSS KYGER

GREAT GRANDPARENTS

Richard Thomas and Susan Ann (Suggett) Murphy

Blair Walter and Olive Helena (Kinman) Ross

GRANDPARENTS

Luther and Patty Blair (Ross) Murphy

George “Tut” and Mae (Bryan) Kyger

PARENTS

Joseph Elwood Kyger

Susan (Murphy) Kyger Wekerlin [Frank Wekerlin]

CHILDREN

Patricia (Kyger) Nolin [Fredric Noritake]

Joseph Ross Kyger [Joanna Levy]

Elizabeth Jane Kyger

GRANDCHILDREN

Alex Ross Kyger, Asher Elizabeth Kyger, Amy (Kyger) Markerson,

Desiree (Kyger) Dodson, Joseph Levy Kyger

GREAT GRANDCHILDREN

Ganyn Kyger, Cooper Markerson, Bodhi Kyger, Evelyn Henry,

Lucy Markerson, Violet Dodson, Scarlett Dodson

IMPORTANT FAMILY MEMBERS

LIFE PARTNER: Ethelyn Jean Short

SISTER: Susan (Wekerlin) Schuster

NEPHEW: Bruce Schuster

AUNT: Pansy (Murphy) Evans [William Clarence Evans]

AUNT: Olive (Murphy) Burnett [Norman Burnett]

UNCLE: Richard Murphy [Margaret Murphy]

CANINE COMPANIONS

Von Peaches

Lady and Mini Angel

Izzie