Billy “Jack” Lindley

Billy “Jack” Lindley, age 90, a resident of Chillicothe, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, October 25, at The Baptist Home, Chillicothe, Mo.

Jack was born, the son of Frank Lee and Alpha Faye (Pyle) Lindley, on May 30, 1927, in Stockton, Mo. He was a 1945 graduate of Stockton High School. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, as a cook. On April 22, 1949, he married Dorothy Lou Kohler in Harrisonville, Mo. She survives of the home. He graduated from St. Louis College of Mortuary Science and received his Missouri Funeral Director and Embalmers license in 1951. Jack worked for the Runninberger Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Mo., from 1949 to 1951; and later the Langsford Funeral Home in Lee’s Summit, Mo., in 1951 through 1955. While living in Nevada, from 1955 through 1959, he worked at the Ferry Funeral Home. On June 1, 1959, Mrs. Earl Keeney sold her funeral business in Chillicothe, Mo., to Jack and Dorothy, where they made their home in the upstairs apartment of the funeral home for seventeen years. In expanding the funeral business, Jack and Dorothy acquired Robertson Funeral Homes at Laredo and Chula, Mo., in 1965 and the Austin Funeral Homes at Hale and Tina, Mo., in 1968. Jack also served his community as the Livingston County Sheriff Deputy from 1961 to 1974, and as the Chillicothe Police Court Judge during the mid-1960’s. Jack was a member of the First Christian Church, Chillicothe, Mo., since 1959. He was also a member of the Livingston County Men’s Democratic Club, Pendleton Fund Board Member, Chillicothe Lions Club for over 50 years, past member of the Chillicothe Elks Lodge No. 656, Chillicothe Country Club Member where he served as president and a member of the board, Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce member and past president, the Chillicothe Masonic Friendship Lodge No. 89 AF & AM for over 50 years, the Chillicothe Shrine Club, MOILA Shrine Club of St. Joseph, Mo., and the Vern R. Glick American Legion Post #25.

Jack was an avid golfer and spent his life and career in service to the families and communities of north Missouri.

Jack is survived by his wife, Dorothy; one daughter, Rebecca Ransdell, of Trenton, Mo.; three sons, J. Scott Lindley and wife Deborah, of Chillicothe, Mo., Bruce Lindley and wife Susan, of Chillicothe, Mo., and Timothy Lindley and wife Toni, of Kansas City, Mo.; ten grandchildren, Michael Ransdell and wife Melissa, of Kansas City, Mo., Christopher Lindley, of Dallas, Texas, Candace Lindley, of Prairie Village, Kan., Carter Lindley, of Dallas, Texas, Connor Lindley, of Kansas City, Mo., Mathew Lindley and wife Jennifer, of Kansas City, Mo., Jonathan Lindley, of St. Louis, Mo., Kate Reeve and husband Sam, of Lafayette, Ind., Taylor Lindley and Trent Lindley, both of Kansas City, Mo.; three great-grandchildren, Scarlett Lindley, of Kansas City, Mo., and Codi and Britton Ransdell, of Kansas City, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Jeff, Buck and Jim Lindley; three sisters, Gemma, Trula and Mary; one infant sister; and one infant brother.

Funeral services will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Mo., on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 11 a.m. A scheduled visitation will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home on Friday, Oct. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home on Friday, Oct. 27, from noon until 8 p.m. Burial will be held at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Chillicothe, Mo. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Mo., 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com.