Tony Bears, 71, of Unionville, Missouri, passed away at the Putnam County Hospital in Unionville, Missouri, on Monday, January 25, 2021, from the effects of Covid-19.
Anthony Cecil Bears was born in Harrison County, Missouri, on June 25, 1949, the son of Lyman H. and Mildred (McBee) Bears, who preceded him in death. Tony graduated from Princeton High School in Princeton, Missouri, and soon after began a life-long career as a truck driver. He married Claudia Klinginsmith on February 2, 1974, and she survives at home.
Tony and Claudia moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1979, and established Bears, Inc, operating a fleet of cross-country trucks. They dissolved the company in 2007 and moved back to Unionville. Tony continued to drive for ten years for LLL Transport, driving tank trucks and carrying ethanol. Tony loved his work and trucking was in his blood. He had horses before moving to St. Louis. Tony was a baptized member of the Wentzville Christian Church in Wentzville, Missouri.
Tony is survived by a son, TJ Bears, of Unionville; a stepson, Bryan (Cheryl) Ryals of Unionville, Missouri; and two daughters, Tonya Bears and Shandra Cox; as well as several grand and great grandchildren, brother & sister-in-law Donnie & Linda Klinginsmith and Rick & Marci Erdeli, and several nieces and nephews.
Tony was preceded in death by two brothers, Jimmy King and Bobby Bears, and two sisters, Lois Booth and Cathy Farmers, as well as father & mother-in-law Don and Frances Klinginsmith and brother-in-law Karl Klinginsmith.
Tony chose to be cremated. Memorial services will be held at the Playle & Collins Family Funeral Home in Unionville at 2 pm on Saturday June 26th, 2021. Memorials are suggested to the PC Café and Resource Center and may be entrusted with Playle & Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th, Unionville, MO, 63565.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO.