Operated the Corner Store for over 30 years Basil Vernon Spurlock passed away on Jan. 4, 2008, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield from a sudden illness. Basil was born on Nov. 12, 1919 in Ava, in the white house across from the public library (2nd house on the right).
In the early 1940s Basil married Elma Anderson, of Ava, and they are survived by one son, Michael Vernon Spurlock, of San Antonio, Texas.
Also surviving are grandson, Michael II, and great-granddaughter, Ava Marie, also of San Antonio. From Mike Sr.’s marriage to wife, Barbara, are Teresa, Patty, Glenda and Janice.
After Elma passed away on July 24, 1976, Basil married longtime friend, Betty House, on April 24, 1993, 17 years later. The family got bigger with Betty’s kids, Heather Dunn, of Denver Colo., and Bob House, of Joplin; also Heather’s two children, Matt and Regan.
Except for a 2-year stint in Oregon and California working in the shipping yards during the depression, Basil worked at Norman Rexall Drug, the MFA, Ava Lumber Company, and opened the Corner Store which he owned and operated for over 30 years. He then worked clerking sales for Billy Joe Evans until his complete retirement.
Basil then settled into full retirement down at Squires with Betty, following sports and playing golf with “the 12:30 Bunch”
Survivors include Betty, of the home, and all those kids and grandkids that loved him so much and will forever.
