William W. Pettet

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- William "Bill" Warren Pettet, 82, passed on to his eternal home Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, surrounded by his family and clergy.

Bill, son of the late John W. and Mildred F. (Murphy) Pettet, was born Dec. 18, 1932, in Caruthersville, Missouri.

He was a lifelong resident of Poplar Bluff, where he proudly served the city as city clerk for more than 20 years.

Bill was an accomplished musician playing with his band at area supper clubs in the 1960s and early 1970s. He passed down his gifts of playing guitar, banjo and stand-up bass to his grandsons.

Bill proudly served in the U.S. Army with the 11th Airborne, 511th Regiment during the Korean War.

Bill was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He also was past president of the Poplar Bluff Rotary Club, where he was awarded the "Paul Harris fellow" award for his outstanding civic dedication and service.

Bill also served as manager of the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport for several years.

In his earlier years, Bill enjoyed playing golf, amateur photography and wood working.

During his illness, when asked what he considered the greatest thing he had ever seen or had done, he was not hesitant to say "the day I married my little sweetie." Over 61 years ago, on Aug. 14, 1954, he married Dorthy Marie Kessler, and she survives.

Also surviving are three children, Jack (Tammi) Pettet of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Mark (Lori) Pettet of Cape Girardeau and MaryAnn (Wayne) Newman of Poplar Bluff; and a sister, Mildred Pettet Schierman of Atlanta.

He was also the very proud grandfather of 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Two brothers, Jack Pettet and Owen Pettet, preceded Bill in death.

A visitation will be from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Monday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel.

A Mass of Christian burial will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with Father William Hodgson officiating and the Rev. Annette Joseph assisting. Burial with full military honors will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000 Memphis, TN, 38101, or Sacred Heart Catholic Church charities, 123 N. 8th St., Poplar Bluff, MO, 63901.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotrellfuneralchapel.com.