April 5, 1921- July 22, 2015
Harold Hutchason "Hot Shot" Springs, 94, of Sikeston went to live with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at 8:36 p.m. He was a resident at
the Sikeston Convalescent Center for the past 7 months.
Harold was a devoted husband, loving father, and a loyal friend to everyone he met. In fact, it seems Harold knew everybody and everybody knew him.
Born April 5, 1921, in Clines Island, Missouri to the late Ernest Sr., and Arminta Jane (Hutchason) Springs, he was the youngest of five children.
In 1940, Harold walked into a neighborhood grocery store where, in his words, he saw the prettiest girl on the face of the earth, Miss Mary Alice Stanley. They quickly fell in love and married on November 1, 1941, in Charleston, Missouri.
Harold supported his beloved wife through farming various crops and dairy cattle. They welcomed their first daughter Kathryn Jane on March 8, 1943, and their second, Donna Sue on April 4, 1944.
On January 8, 1945, Harold reported for induction into the United States Army for WWII. Far away from the farmland of Missouri, he was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to undergo basic training. A small man in stature, he measured five feet, four inches and weighed 126 pounds. Because of his small size, his official military occupational speciality was listed as a cook in the 'A' 221 Field Artillery Battalion. Harold, along with and his fellow soldiers, boarded the ship Marshall Victory in San Francisco, California and was sent to the Far East, headed for the Philippine island of Leyte to gather the troops for an invasion of Japan. Before they reached the island an announcement came on overhead that the war was over, but his tour of duty did not end there. Eventually he and the other soldiers made it to Tokyo, Japan where he stayed for one year doing various peacekeeping missions.
Upon returning to the United States of America, he filed discharge papers and was honorably discharged from the United States Army on August, 3, 1946.
Harold was reunited with his loving wife and they welcomed two more daughters into the world. Ruth Ann was born September 26, 1947, and Brenda Christine "Christy" on May 23, 1953.
Harold continued farming and later sold farm equipment for Nailings International Harvester, Cooney Equipment, and the local John Deere dealership.
He later worked at Britt's selling men's apparel at the Kingsway Plaza Mall and also at Buckner Ragsdale.
In 1983, Mr. Gene Nunnelee of Nunnelee's Funeral Chapel convinced Harold to bring his personality to their funeral home. He worked at Nunnelee's for 30 years until his retirement at the age of 92. He was a familiar face for all who entered and gave those mourning an encouraging hug and a comforting handshake.
Harold and Mary Alice became active members of Tanner Street Church of God after receiving an invitation from Mrs. Loretta Alsup in the early 1950s. Harold volunteered in many capacities where he co-taught children's Sunday School classes, served on the hospitality team, and worked as an usher.
Harold and his bride had a love story like no other, and were married just shy of 65 years until Mary Alice's death on June 7, 2005. Family and friends attest that Harold knew how to treat a lady, and his wife and girls meant the world to him.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Cosette Robinson, Ernest Jr. "Buddy" Springs, Albert "Preach" Springs, and C.D. "Cotton" Springs.
He is survived by his four daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy and Ken Shields of Sikeston, Donna and Bill Wilkison of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, Ruth Ann and Les Fields of Bloomfield, and Christy and Eddie McDowell of Sikeston; 10 grandchildren: Megan McGill-Knight, Mauri McGill Austria, Amy McGill Mueller, Tami Shields Brown, Shari Shields Wallace, Laura Wilkison Parsons, Susan Wilkison Marsh, Scott Northcutt, Jennifer McDowell Hodgkiss, Merideth McDowell Pobst; 23 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. Also surviving is his lifelong friend Ms. Loretta Crenshaw, and two special aides at the Convalescent Center, Cherrie and Shunita, as well a special group of friends at the Center who refer to themselves as the "Liars Club."
Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, August 2, 2015, at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel.
Celebration of Life services will be conducted at 2:00 pm Monday, August 3, 2015, at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel with Rev. John Neeley, pastor of Tanner Street Church of God, and Rev. William Marshall, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Sikeston, officiating.
Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors.
Pallbearers will be Chris Hodgkiss, Justin Pobst, Scott Northcutt, Spencer Bogad, Mark Meuller, and Mark McMillion.
Honorary Pallbearers will be friends Tom Nunnelee, Charlie Campbell, nephews Charles David Springs, Jim Springs, DaleSprings, and cousin Joe Hutchason.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tanner Street Church
of God, 619 Tanner Street, Sikeston, MO 63801.
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