Billy James Schmidt

Billy James Schmidt, 94, of Mt. Vernon, passed away May 12, 2019, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. He was born Feb. 16, 1925, in Jefferson City, to Otto Henry and Edna Ruth (Rice) Schmidt.
Schmidt was a United States Navy veteran serving during World War II and was the owner and operator of Enterprise Tools in Mt. Vernon. He was a member of the Mt. Vernon First Presbyterian Church and the Men’s Golf League. In 1948, he married Virginia Yenta Murphy in Clayton. She preceded him in death in 2016.
Schmidt is survived by: sons, Eric (Pam) Schmidt of Afton, Okla. and Duane (Robin) Schmidt of Alexander, Ark.; daughter, Ann Marie (Brian) Budzinski of Plymouth, Iowa; sister, Vivian Braun of Arnold; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter. He was preceded in death by: his parents;  his wife; sister, Correll Jensen; and brother, Otto Schmidt.
A graveside service, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon, was held May 17, 2019, at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield. Memorials may be made payable to the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.