James Earl Gold

James Earl Gold, 85, of Billings, departed from this earth to his eternal home on Friday, May 10, 2019, surrounded by his loving family. He was born April 5, 1934, in Union City, the son of Lon
and Vesta Jewel (Melton) Gold. Gold was proud of working as a police officer in Crane, and also, for Sheriff Tommy Walker in the Stone County Sheriff’s Department, as the last of the mounted patrol. He later was employed as a machine mechanic at the old Lily Tulip Plant in Springfield, and it was during this time he met the love of his life,
Betty Lea Brigance. They were wed on June 20, 1969. James was a member of the Hurley Community Baptist Church, Hurley, Missouri.
He loved coyote and bird hunting; traveling; swap meets; trail rides. Gold was known as a quiet gentle man. Gold was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Betty, on Aug. 21, 2015; a son, Earl Gold; a stepson, Gary Walton; a step grandson, Jason Gale Walton;
and his parents. Gold is survived by four children and their spouses,
Steve and Donna Gold, Kathy Gold and Charlie Ayres, Kelly and Wayne Berry; and Kimberly and Arlynn Tucker; two stepsons and their spouses, Gale and Rhoda Walton, and Greg and Rosanne Walton; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren, and a host of many other family members and friends.
A visitation was from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, May 13, 2019, in Meadors Funeral Home, Clever. Funeral services were at 2 p.m., on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in the Hurley Community Baptist Church, with Pas- tor Lloyd Hart, and Kevin Baker and Mark Stephens officiating, under the direction of Meadors Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Wright Cemetery, south of Clever. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hurley Community Baptist Church, where he was a member, or to Wright Cemetery. Fam- ily and friends may share online condolences at www. meadorsfuneralhome.com.