Richard Otis Zebert, 89, Wyandotte, Okla., passed into eternal rest at 3:07 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at the Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville, Okla., after an illness. Otis was born Feb. 19, 1920, the son of Tony and Dora "Hagedorn" Zebert on the family farm near Wyandotte, where he lived all his life until entering a nursing home 2008. He was a 1938 graduate of the Wyandotte High School where he played football and basketball and was chosen as the captain of the District All-Star football team his senior year. Otis was an Army Veteran serving in World War II in the Philippians and Pacific Islands. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Seneca, a member and past president of the Parrish Council, Knights of Columbus Council 3167 in Miami, Okla., member and past president of the Ottawa County Chapter of the National Farmers Organization, member and past president of the Wyandotte School Board, chosen as Outstanding Alumni of Wyandotte High School in 2000, and a past member of the VFW. Otis married Joyce Eloise Rollins Bussey, Aug. 1, 1960, in Seneca, Mo. She survives. Additional survivors include one daughter, Karen Gormley and husband, Mark, Bartlesville; one stepson, Don Bussey and wife, Debbie, Wyandotte; one brother, Harold Zebert, Bothell, Wash.; three sisters, Zelma Zebert, Joplin, Bernice Healy, Baton Rouge, La., and Nadine Woodall, Harlington, Texas; six grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. Otis was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Leonard Zebert and Donald Zebert. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 6, at St. Mary Catholic Church with Rev. Gregg Elliott officiating. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Claremore, Okla., with Dan Zebert, Jim Woodall, Don Woodall, Jim Campbell, Charlie Hoff, Mark Gormley and Tim Elbert serving as pallbearers. Rosary services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Campbell-Biddlecome Funeral Home with visitation following.
Published in The Joplin Globe from 3/4/2009 - 3/5/2009