Thomas William “Bill” Ketchum , 56, of rural Memphis, Missouri passed away on January 14, 2010 at Scotland County Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Missouri.

The son of Leland Roy and Mary Carol Holton Ketchum, was born on June 24,1953 in Kirksville, Missouri.

He grew up on the family farm where he was residing at the time of his death and started to school in a one-room schoolhouse, the Middle Fabius. He continued his education in Scotland County R-I Schools, except for two years in Downing. He graduated from Scotland County in 1971.

On August 28, 1980 he married Kelley Kay McClamroch at the home of Honorable Judge Webber and to this union two children were born.

For many years, Bill worked for E.R and Dick Webber on the Webber Family Farm, beginning his career in agriculture. Bill was later a plant manager for Morgan Fertilizer, which is now known as Helena Chemical CO. At the time of his death he was a Chemical Sales Representative for Helena, where he could “sell a snowball to an Eskimo.”

Bill was always more worried about other people than for himself. He loved his family dearly. Family and friends agree that Bill always showed his “contagious smile.”

He was an avid outdoorsman for all of his life. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and just being outside. In his spare time he enjoyed “shooting the breeze” with anyone who was willing to share in the conversation.

Preceding him in death was his father, Leland Ketchum; father-in-law and his wife, Denver and Jody McClamroch.

He is survived by his wife, Kelley, of rural Scotland County, MO; two sons, Jesse Ketchum (Jenna), Jason Ketchum and fiancé Brittany McBee, all of rural Scotland Co.; one very special granddaughter, Zada Rae Ketchum; mother, Mary Ketchum of Kirksville, Missouri; two brothers, Clifford Ketchum (Linda) of Downing, MO and Arron Ketchum (Kim) of Oolagah, OK; a sister, Jane Thompson (Jack) of Kirksville, MO; mother-in-law Kay Eggleston (Kenneth) of rural Arbela, MO; two brothers-in-law, Mark McClamroch (Patty) and Wyatt McClamroch all of rural Bucklin, MO, one sister-in-law Kristy Eggleston-Wood of rural Arbela, MO, several neices and nephews, cousins, and a host of friends and loved ones.

Memorials are suggested to the Wallace W. Gillespie V.F.W. Post # 4958 of Memphis, MO or to the Downing Fire Association in Downing, MO and can be left at or mailed to the Payne Funeral Chapel, 202 E. Madison St., Memphis, Missouri 63555.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Jan. 18, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at the Payne Funeral Chapel in Memphis. Brother Mike Wilson officiated the service and interment followed in the Downing Cemetery at Downing, MO

Gary Wild provided the music singing The Old Rugged Cross.

Pallbearers were John Huff, Tim Crook, Gail Farley, Curtis Huff, Lester Clark and Kevin Hastings.

Honorary Pallbearers were Chuck Sabin, Tom Sangster, Tommie Redding, Arthur Huff, Lester Clark and Hardin Harrington. Special Friends were Laddie Briscoe, Carl Trueblood, Chuck Tallman and E. Richard Webber.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Payne Funeral Chapel in Memphis.