Benny Lee Neighbors

Benny Neighbors, 91, of Unionville, MO, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, August 9, 2016.

Benny Lee Neighbors was born in Pollock, MO, on October 9, 1924, the son of George Allen and Margaret Jane (Schnelle) Neighbors, who preceded him in death. He was reared in the Pollock area and attended the Gilbert School before graduating from Lemons High School in 1940 at the age of 16. He joined the Army Air Corp in August of 1945 and served his country for two years. Benny married Barbara Jo Bowman in Pollock on April 10, 1949 and she survives at home.

Benny and Barbara ran Neighbors Mill in Lemons from 1948-1964 as Benny ground and sold feed for area farmers. He closed that business and began a long career as a carpenter, building houses, working on churches, and building furniture. Even while owning the Mill and engaging in carpentry, Benny maintained a small farm in Lemons. He milked cows, fed hogs, built fence, and all the other assorted chores associated with farm life. He and Barbara sold the farm and moved to Unionville in 2010.

Music was an important part of Benny’s life from childhood. He played the guitar, mandolin, and banjo. He and Barbara played at area fairs, dances, and churches. They also enjoyed playing at Nursing homes in Milan, Trenton, and Unionville. They were an integral part of the music jams at Lemons over the years. Benny was a member of the Lemons American Legion and of the First Christian Church in Unionville.

In addition to his wife, Benny is survived by a son, Clinton Neighbors of Unionville, MO; and four daughters, Jerri Neighbors of Florence, AZ, Janette Neighbors of Springfield, MO, Janice Berndt and husband Darrell of Fergus Falls, MN, and Brenda Crawford and husband Roger of Unionville, MO. Other survivors are grandchildren: Martine (Clyde) Bondy; Chrystal (Dave) Perkins; Carl (Angela) Neighbors; Carol (Matt) Sublett; Wendy (Johnny) Carter; Jonathan (Jennifer) Neighbors; Marc Baltz; Seth (Katrina) Baltz; Andrea (Bill) Morris; Melanie Sears; Rochelle (Bob) Wood; Ben (Molly) Crawford; Elizabeth (Troy) Couchman; Breanna (Ty) Couchman; Jacob, Joshua, Isaac, and Ethan Crawford; great grandchildren: Tanner, Tony, and Vanessa Bondy; Kaisee, Austin, and Blaine Perkins; Allen (Lexie) Neighbors; Quincy, Lucas, and Whitney Neighbors; Damien Calhoun; Nicholas, Zachary, and Christopher Carter; Remington and Arah Neighbors; Adam Highfill and Michael Chavez; Riley Morris; Sebastian Sears; Sophia Wood; Asher, Ember, and Greyson Crawford; Eden Couchman; Bowen Couchman; two brothers, Willard Neighbors of Missoula, MT, and Bonny Neighbors and his wife Janette of Ravana, MO; and a sister-in-law, Frances Neighbors of Denver, CO.

Benny was preceded in death by brothers, Orval, Keith, Delbert, and Jim Neighbors, and by sisters Holice Baugher and Vonna Jean Neighbors, who died in childhood. He was also preceded by a great grandson, Sean Calhoun.

Funeral services for Benny Neighbors will be at Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home

In Unionville, MO, at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 13, 2016. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Unionville Cemetery, Unionville, MO.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of North Missouri or First Christian Church and may be entrusted with Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.