James Earl Compton

James Earl Compton, 96, of Camdenton, Mo., departed this life on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at Lake Regional Health System, Osage Beach, Mo. He was born Jan. 8, 1915, in Vernon County, Mo., the son of Frank Matthew and Anna (Boswell) Compton.

Earl was united in marriage on May 29, 1937, in Mt. Vernon, Mo., to Willa Mae Ray and together they had shared the past 74 years of marriage until his death.

Earl spent several years in the farming industry having worked with both livestock and agriculture. He then worked as a maintenance supervisor for the Nevada State Hospital in Nevada, Mo., for more than 20 years. Earl enjoyed visiting Lake of the Ozarks, where he purchased property in 1963 and retired full-time in 1978. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting deer. Earl also enjoyed playing card games and in particular enjoyed playing pitch. Earl loved his family dearly and especially loved his granddaughters and enjoyed time spent with them.

Earl was a member of the Community Christian Church of Camdenton.

Earl is survived by his loving wife, Willa Mae, of the home; one son, Wayne Earl Compton and wife, Kathleen, of Camdenton; two granddaughters, Hilary Gremminger and husband, John, of Wichita, Kan., and Cecily Compton of Springfield, Mo.; one great-grandson, Robert James Gremminger; as well as several other relatives and friends.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Orville S. Compton.

Visitation will be held Friday, Nov. 11, from 4-6 p.m., at Hedges-Scott Funeral Home in Camdenton. Graveside services will be Saturday, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m., at Newton Burial Park in Nevada.

Memorial donations are suggested to the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society and may be left at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family at www.hedgesscottfuneralhomes.com

Arrangements have been placed under the care of the Hedges-Scott Funeral Home, Camdenton.