Billie Joe Naylor

Billie Joe "Bill" Naylor, age 92, died June 9, 2024 at his home in Lee’s Summit, MO. Bill was born to Ernest T. "ET" Naylor and Josephine "Babe" (Chambers) Naylor on his mother’s birthday, September 15, 1931 in Tucumcari, NM.

As a child, Bill lived in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Nebraska and was a 1949 graduate of Amarillo (TX) High School, Bill briefly attended Amarillo College before enlisting in the US Air Force in February, 1951. He spent his military career at bases in Texas, Virginia, Colorado, and Maine repairing radar systems for Korean War bombers and was honorably discharged in February, 1955. 

Bill earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas in 1958, when he moved to Kansas City, MO to work for what is now HNTB. In 1959, he joined Butler Manufacturing Company, retiring as a Vice President in the Buildings Division in December 1994. Bill met wife Sandra M. "Sandy" Oliver at Butler; they were married April 13, 1963, in Independence, MO.

During Bill’s Butler career, the family called Independence, MO; Ballwin, MO; Charlotte, NC and Littleton, CO home, before settling again in Independence, MO in 1982. In 2022, Bill, Sandy and son Steve moved to Lee's Summit, MO. 

Bill served as an ordained minister in the Community of Christ, serving as a priest, elder, and high priest. Both he and Sandy most recently attended the Gudgell Park congregation in Independence and were involved in various church leadership roles throughout their lives. Bill was a docent at the Harry S Truman Presidential Library from 1996 through 2017, escorting approximately 15,000 guests on tours through nearly 2,300 hours of volunteer service. He often served as personal tour guide of the Truman family when they visited the library.

Bill is predeceased by his parents, brother James “Jimmy” Naylor, and sister-in-law Grace (Spivey) Naylor. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sandy; sons Jeff, Annandale, VA and Steve of the home; grandchildren Karlynn (Nick) Terreri, Eureka, MO, and Erik Naylor, Lawrence, KS; his older brother, Al Naylor of Austin, TX; sister-in-law Karen Hancock, Lee's Summit, MO; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Texas. Kansas and Colorado. 

The family expresses its profound gratitude to the staff of The Princeton Senior Living and Monarch Hospice for their care and compassion for Bill and the family during his illness.

Those who wish to honor Bill are encouraged to donate in his memory to the Community of Christ Temple Endowment, ATTN: Fiscal Services, 1001 W. Walnut, Independence, MO 64050 or The Harry S Truman Presidential Library (https://12130.thankyou4caring.org/pages/mobile-donation-form).