William "Bill" Wayne Roberts

William “Bill” Wayne Roberts, age 80, of Columbia, MO, went home to the Lord on Sunday, July 13, 2025, while at home.

Bill was born on July 1, 1945, in Moberly, MO, to William “Tiny” and Berniece Roberts. He graduated from High School at Moberly Junior College in 1963. Bill was united in marriage to Cheryl Bledsoe on April 4, 1964, in Moberly, MO. They raised their two daughters, Joyce Kathleen and Cynthia "Cindy" May, on 20 acres at Cairo, MO, which they gave the farm the name of "William's Mountain." During those years several animals were raised that gave them all lots of memories to treasure, along with the phrase, "from here to the chicken house."

He was a carman with Norfolk Southern Railways for 33 years; however, he also enjoyed doing machinist work and owned Hill Top Machine Shop. He even had his daughters help out with small jobs in the summer.

He was a founding member of the Rocky Fork Fellowship in Hallsville, MO. He was a socially active man who was deeply involved in the church. He enjoyed being a 4-H Club Leader, square dancing, feeding the birds and deer in his yard, reading presidential biographies, traveling to Colorado, live country music shows and was an avid sports fan, especially of Mizzou, St. Louis Cardinals, KC Royals, and KC Chiefs. His family and friends will always remember him as someone who lived joyfully, treated no one as a stranger, and loved others with the heart of Christ. His playful spirit will be missed by all who knew him.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William and Berniece Roberts; in-laws, Laurence Bledsoe and Merlene Bledsoe-Gray; brother, Jackie and sister-in-law, Pat Roberts; brother-in-law, George Palmatory; infant daughter, Rebecca Coleen Roberts; and grandson, Joseph “Joey” William Bryant.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Roberts, of Columbia, MO; his sister, Martha Sue Palmatory, of Moberly, MO; daughter, Joyce (Tom) Yost, of Sturgeon, MO; daughter, Cindy (Kent) Bryant, of Kirksville, MO; granddaughters, Becky (Charles) Rosenboom, of Columbia, MO, Stephanie Brumage, of Land O Lakes, FL, and Kayla (Ryan) Smith, of Kansas City, MO; grandson, Cody Bryant, of St. Louis, MO; great grandchildren, Baine Helm, Brynlee Brumage, Blake Brumage, Jr., and Bentley Brumage; step great-grandchildren, Shawn, Kiara, and Jonathan Rosenboom; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Show-Me Christian Youth Home, 24302 Mahin Rd., PO Box 6, LaMonte, MO 65337.

A funeral service celebrating Bill’s life has been scheduled for Friday, July 18, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. at Pathway Millard Family Funeral Chapel in Moberly, MO, with Internment to follow at Oakland Cemetery in Moberly. Visitation will be held Thursday, July 17, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Pathway Millard Family Funeral Chapel.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Pathway-Millard Family Funeral Chapel, 411 Union Avenue, Moberly, MO 65270 (660)263-7284. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.pathwaymemorial.com.