Obituary

William (Bill) Lyle Applegate, 80, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2025, surrounded by his loving family in his residence at Princeton Senior Living. He was born on November 12, 1944, in Kansas City, Missouri to Maurine and Willard Applegate.

Bill was a member of the UAW Local #31 and retired after a lifelong career with General Motors. Bill spent most of this career at the Leeds Plant in Kansas City, MO. Bill finished his last years of work with General Motors working on locomotives in Jacksonville, Florida where he thoroughly enjoyed the warm weather year around and being in the thick of Nascar Country. He was an avid Nascar fan and rarely missed a race. Upon retirement, Bill returned to the area and resided for many years in Blue Springs, MO where he was fortunate to have wonderful neighbors. In his early years, Bill enjoyed time spent camping at Pomme de Terre State Park with family and friends. He also enjoyed his time in the area lakes and rivers fishing with those that loved fishing as much as he did. Many tales could be told about his time at the lake and his fishing expeditions by many of his friends and family. Bill was known for his ever-growing gardens and his beautiful yards that he enjoyed spending time tending to it, he had quite a green thumb. Bill was also an avid reader and enjoyed sitting on his back porch or in his favorite recliner reading the day away. Bill enjoyed many years of supporting his son, and many of his son’s friends, in their BMX endeavors. He spent many weekends taking his son and his friends to those events all around the country and even was a member of the Berm Busters that built and managed a local BMX track. Bill enjoyed spending time with his family, kids, grandkids and great-grandkids at family events, time spent playing cards and pool, camping, fishing, at the local racetracks, to sporting and robotic events with his grandkids and great-grandkids.

William was preceded in death by his parents Maurine and Willard Applegate, his sister Aletta Miller (Dan) and his sister Janet Staten (Terry). Survivors include his son Tim Applegate, his daughter Shelley Sawyer (Tony), stepchildren Duane and Lisa Case, his sister Carol Hartford (Bob), his brother Curtis (Rita), his grandchildren Tyler Sawyer (Ashley), Cole Sawyer and Andrew Sawyer, his great grandchildren Maddux and Kinslee Sawyer, his four-legged companion Tanner and many loved family members.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 8, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Langsford Funeral Home 115 S.W. 3rd Street Lee’s Summit, MO 64063.