Burrell, Billy Ralph "Papa Bill"

former Baxter Springs Kansas resident, died Sep 26, 2000, age 74, in Phoenix Arizona, from complications following emergency surgery. Son of Leora Crosby Burrell and Roy Moore, Mr. Burrell was born Feb 2, 1926, at his grandmother's home in Anderson Missouri. Mr. Burrell was a retired warehouse foreman with the McKesson Corporation. Before moving to Phoenix in 1958, he was a hard rock lead and zinc miner for Eagle-Picher Mill in Cardin Oklahoma, and a production worker at B. F. Goodrich in Miami. He was a veteran, serving with the 33rd Seabees in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and his decorations include the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism. He was part of the invasion of Green Island, the Solomon Islands, and the Sep 15, 1944 D-Day invasion of Pe1eliu. Papa Bill was an active volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, the former Jennie Naomi Cassell of Columbus Kansas; two daughters, Shelley Elizabeth Mosley of Glendale Arizona, and Vicki Gail Cole, who lives near Toronto Canada; a grandson, Andrew Scott Mosley, 22, of Tempe Arizona; a granddaughter, Jessica Rae Mosley, 19, of Glendale; and numerous relatives in the Tri-State area. Burial Oct 7, 2000 with private graveside services will be held at 11:00 at Greenlawn cemetery in Cherokee County Kansas, northwest of Picher Oklahoma and Treece Kansas. Military honors will be conducted by N.E.O. Veterans Burial Detail.