Curtis Weldon Ware, owner of Billy’s Pilot Cars in Lordsburg, New Mexico, died in his Lordsburg home January 20, 2017 of natural causes. He was 73. He is survived by his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Hatfield of Rogers, Arkansas; son Curtis Weldon Ware II of Cassville, Missouri; sister Marjorie Janet Ware Wollard of Hardin, Missouri; brother J.C. Ware III and sister-in-law Julia Ware of Maryville, Missouri; sister Phyllis Ware Dannar and brother-in-law Curtis Dannar of Oregon, Missouri; grandchildren Chelsea Elizabeth Ware, Chaylea Grace Ware, Kobhe Easton Ware and Greycynn Kennadi Ware; and fiancée AnnaLee Heemsbergen of Lordsburg.

Ware was born March 25, 1943 at St. Francis Hospital, Maryville, Missouri to James C. Ware II and Marjorie C. Hackett Ware. He spent his childhood on the family’s farm in Nodaway County, Missouri, located between the towns of Maryville and Pickering. He graduated from North Nodaway High School in nearby Hopkins. After graduation, he attended college at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville while working at LMP Steel. Ware moved to Chicago to work at Transworld Production, then returned to Nodaway County to farm. While there, he also ran a coffee shop and convenience store in Pickering and sold snowmobiles as well. Next, he became a distributor for Spray Right and subsequently moved to Helena, Arkansas, to work in their sales department. He then relocated to Tucson, Arizona, where he established B&C Mobile Homes Transport. Then, in 2008, he moved to Lordsburg where he bought and ran Billy’s Pilot Cars.

He attended First Baptist Church in Lordsburg. He loved his family and his work family. Ware was a collector of antique Farmall tractors and enjoyed restoring them. He also enjoyed playing cards with family and friends.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 25 at Lordsburg First Baptist Church presided by Pastor Will Lakey and the deceased’s son, Curtis Ware II.

Burial and graveside services for family only will be held at Ohio Cemetery, Burlington Junction, Missouri, at a later date.