Billy Lloyd Tallant

Billy Lloyd Tallant was born on June 2, 1934 at the home of his late grandparents Lee and Vera Marlow in El Darado, Oklahoma. Billy was the sixth child born to Katy Myrtle (Marlow) Tallant and John Douglas Tallant, a sharecropper. At the age of 9 days old, Billy and his mother returned to their home outside the community of O’Dell, Texas, just across the river from El Darado. In 1939, due to the sandstorms, Billy’s father lost his crops and was not able to replant the cotton fields, so in the late fall of 1939, the family packed up in a two-wheel trailer loaded to the brim, along with John, Myrtle, and six kids and moved to Young, Arizona (Pleasant Valley). Billy’s dad became employed with the national forest fire service and the children began school in Pleasant Valley. In 1941, the family was blessed with another child, Bethane. Billy’s parents knew the importance of having their children in church, so they would walk about 2 ½ - 3 miles every Sunday. In 1941, after a wonderful week of Vacation Bible School, the church held a revival meeting that lasted for two weeks. On the last night of the revival meeting, Billy was saved along with four other boys, and they were baptized in the Cherry Creek by Pastor S.S. Bussell. In 1944, Billy’s mother became ill, and the family moved to Central Hights, Arizona which was located between Globe and Miami, Arizona. Billy entered the Washington Junior High and Middle School in Globe, Arizona. In 1947, the family moved again, and they left Arizona to head to Eugene, Oregon where Billy’s dad began working for Weyerhauser Timber Company working in construction of the company’s expansion in the milling business. During their time in Oregon, Billy’s parents were church planters and they helped start the first Southern Baptist Church in Eugene and North Bend. Years later Bill and Lilley Dudley came to pastor the North Bend Church. In 1953, Billy, his mother, dad and sister Bethane moved to Salem, Missouri and two months later moved to Licking, Missouri where Billy graduated from Licking High School with the Class of 1953. In June, Billy entered the United States Navy and went to boot camp in Bainbridge, Maryland for 11 weeks. At the end of his training, he was sent to Yokosuka, Japan aboard the U.S.S. Sproston DDE 577 where he served alongside his brother, Dale for two years before Dale was honorably discharged in 1955. Billy was later honorably discharged in 1957 at which time he came home to Licking, Missouri and went to work in the family business…auto sales, tractor sales, service station and according to Billy “whatever a person could make a living at honestly.” Billy’s father became the pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Montauk, and this is where Billy met his future bride, Bonnie Jean Wofford. In October of 1957, they were married in their church with Billy’s dad officiating and in 1958, they moved to Salem, Missouri. Billy worked with his brother Leasle hauling pine post and poles from the Arthur Mathis Post and Poles to East St. Louis and Waukegan, Illinois. In June 1959, Billy and Bonnie were blessed with a daughter, Cheryl Ann. In the early fall of 1959, Billy and his little family moved to Potosi, Missouri along with his brother Leasle to work in a pine post and pole business that they owned and in 1960 they moved to Waynesville, and they worked in the family mobile home business, furniture business and the Hickory Hills Mobile Home Park. Billy and his entire family: dad, mother, Lewis, Leasle, Dale, and Beth, was instrumental in starting the Hickory Hills Baptist Church in St. Robert and they always considered that their home church. In June 1962, Billy and Bonnie were blessed with a son, William Mark Tallant. In the fall of 1962, the family moved to Hemet, California to help Billy’s brother, Lewis in the mobile home business. They lived there until the early spring of 1965 at which time they moved back to Missouri settling in Imperial, Missouri where they operated a family mobile home sales lot. They became members of the Southern Baptist Church in Pevely, Missouri where they stayed until the early fall of 1966 when they moved back to Waynesville. They returned to the family business working in the mobile home park, furniture store and the cattle business. In 1973, Billy began working as an insurance agent with Farm Bureau Insurance and worked with them until 1990 when he resigned On February 18, 1979, Billy surrendered to the call to preach which was a bittersweet day for Billy as his father passed away that same day. Billy was called to be the pastor of Center Point Baptist Church and he served there for 16 ½ years. Billy was diagnosed with prostrate cancer and due to having an operation, he did not serve as a pastor for a while and he and Bonnie joined the Deerlick Southern Baptist Church where he served as Sunday School teacher. On July 1, 2001, Billy became pastor of the Cedar Bluff Baptist Church and served there until early 2008. A few months later, he was called to pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church and served there until early 2014. After leaving Bethlehem, he became the pastor of Elm Grove Baptist Church of Laclede County. After resigning from the insurance company in 1990, Billy and the family sold the Hickory Hills Mobile Home Park and about three years later they sold the furniture store to their nephew and his partner. In 1994, they sold their cattle operation to Circle A Angus Ranch and after that Billy worked as postal carrier sub for Waynesville and Fort Leonard Wood. Billy and Bonnie sold their home in Waynesville and moved to Lebanon, Missouri. Bonnie passed away on November 4, 2016. Billy went home to be with his Lord and be reunited with Bonnie on Friday, October 14, 2022, in the Mercy Hospital of Lebanon, Missouri having attained the age of 88 years. He will be sadly missed, but fondly remembered by all those that knew and loved him. Billy leaves to cherish his memory and carry on his legacy, his two children: Cheryl Wilson (Michael) of Lebanon, MO and Mark Tallant (Lisa) of Richland, MO; four grandchildren: Joshua Wilson (Brandie) of Springfield, MO, Heather Lenard (Lenny) of Big Rapids, MI, Courtney Toler (Sheldon) of Bolivar, MO, and Aaron Tallant (Rachel) of Bolivar, MO; great grandchildren: Craig Wilson, Norah Wilson, Madison Knipp, Layton Lenard, Jackson Toler, Isaac Toler, Bennett Tallant, and Baby Carrott on the way; one sister: Bethane Mokhtar of Lebanon, MO; sister-in-law: Pat Tallant of St. Robert, MO; several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Billy was preceded in death by his parents: Katy Myrtle (Marlow) Tallant and John Douglas Tallant; his brothers: Lewis Darrell Tallant, Leasle Carnez Tallant, and Charles Dale Tallant: sisters: Mary Phloreen Carter and Joyce Lee Carter; brother-in-law: Ahmed Mokhtar; and two sisters-in-law: Shirley D. Freeze and Lucille Tallant. Billy left a legacy for all of us to continue …. a personal and close relationship with the Lord. As he stated in his own life history, “we are still enjoying God’s blessings every day even though our health is waning. Praise His holy name.” We can praise the Lord that Billy is finally at home with his Lord and Savior and can rejoice that we will be reunited with him one day soon. Services were held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 21, 2022 in the Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville/St. Robert. Billy's dear friend, Rev. Bill Dudley read the obituary and recalled his wonderful memories of Billy and Billy's son, Rev. Mark Tallant delivered the eulogy and sermon for his father. Billy's daughter Cheryl Wilson read a beautiful poem written about Billy. Becky Lercher led the congregation in singing "Victory in Jesus" and "Love Lifted Me" and serving as escorts were Brian Tallant, Adam Tallant, Estell Becker, DW DeMott, Jeremy Mashburn, and Bob Ogle. Serving as honorary escorts were Rick Tallant, Alden William Tallant, Wesley Ellzey, and Roy Perrine. Burial with military honors followed in the Waynesville Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors provided by the Missouri Honors Teams. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Billy Tallant to the American Lung Association and may be left at Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville/St. Robert.

Billy Lloyd Tallant

June 2, 1934 - October 14, 2022