HARTLEY L. TASCO, JR.

by Rita Cox

Hartley (Button) L. Tasco, 71, of La Grange, Mo., died July 3, 2015 at University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.

He was born September 21, 1943 in La Grange, Mo., a son of Hartley L. Tasco Sr. and Mabel Allen Tasco. He married Norma Jean Clay on December 3, 1966 in La Grange. She died on December 10, 2006.

Hartley was of the Baptist faith and member of Green Chapel Baptist Church in La Grange. He attended Fairview Black School in La Grange. He was employed by the La Grange Coal Yard and Pepsi Cola as a truck driver, and was owner and operator of a scrap metal recycling business. He was a former member of the La Grange Lions Club. His hobbies included a love of tractors and playing his guitar. His grandchildren were his favorite pastime.

Survivors include his special companion Verna Shoop; four sons, Tony (Connie) Tasco of La Grange, Todd Tasco and Melissa James also of La Grange, Greg Clay of Columbia, MO and Jason (Heather) Riley of Quincy, IL; step-daughter, Greta Lewis of La Grange, daughters Tyla (Roger) Renfro of Canton, Gail Tasco and Russ McMullen Jr. of Liberty, IL and Althea (Keith) Stroud of Canton; two brothers, Paul and Homer Tasco of La Grange, MO; and one sister, Oma Smith of Denver, CO; eighteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren as well as other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, infant daughter Dawn, two sisters, Clarissa Campbell and Geraldine Hendrick, and two brothers, Orville Tasco and Fred Tasco.

There will be a visitation for family and friends on July 8, 2015 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Davis Funeral Home in La Grange, Mo.

The family suggests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society.