Billy Lee Eshelbrenner

Billy Lee Eshelbrenner

Billy Lee Eshelbrenner, age 86, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, at the Fort Scott Medicalodge with his family by his side. He was born Dec. 18, 1928, in Fort Scott, the son of Carl W. Eshelbrenner, Sr. and Sophie Leitz Eshelbrenner. Billy was a member Fort Scott High School Class of 1948. He later served with the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Billy had been employed by the Fort Scott Meat Packing Company and later for Mid-Western Distribution. He also operated his own lawn mowing business and butcher shop. He owned and operated Hope's Grill and later, Bill's Barbeque where he operated his smoker, Sue Pig No. 2. Bill was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Olson Frary Burkhart Post No. 1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Rising Sun Lodge No. 8 A.F.&A.M. and the Scottish Rite Consistory. He enjoyed dancing, making homemade wine and living life to the fullest.

Survivors include two daughters, Debra Leigh Isaac, of Fort Scott and Carol Jean Mooney, of Independence, Kan.; five grandchildren, Amanda Aikin and husband, Keith, Ashleigh Marquardt, Blake Marquardt and wife, Kortni, Spencer Fahler and Jaxson Morgan; and three great-grandchildren, Zane and Charlie Aikin and Dyson Fahler with one more on the way. Also surviving are two sisters, Helen Harper and husband, Floyd, of Uniontown, Kan., and Joan Mills of Sterling, Colo.; two brothers, Albert Eshelbrenner, of Frontenac, Kan., and Bob Eshelbrenner and wife, Barbara, of Derby, Kan, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Carl Eshelbrenner and Jack Eshelbrenner; and three sisters, Esther Hoskins, Betty Scott and Mary Sue O'Keefe.

Rev. Jared Witt will conduct a memorial service at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U.S. National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post No. 1165 V.F.W. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Medicalodge Activity Fund or Paw's and Claw's Animal Shelter and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.