Billie Joe Ott

Billie Joe Ott passed away April 27, 2023 with his wife Linda by his side.

Bill was born on July 4, 1936 to Martin and Opal Ott.

He attended Cherryvale schools where he graduated in 1954,

While in school he played the trombone for the band and was a for the

“Fighting Cherries” football team. While on the team they had the most wins records

for the school. He also was a pitcher for the Independence and Neodesha Legion Baseball

teams.

After graduation from high school, Bill attended Coffeyville Community College where he was a member of the

“Red Raven” football team. In 1956 while playing college football, the Red

Ravens went to California to play in the National JUCO Championship, where as one of the captains, the team

brought home the National Title.

After graduation Bill accepted a job as part of the management team for the Keokuk, Iowa YMCA and furthered his

education getting his Bachelor's in Physical Education.

While working at the YMCA he fell head over heels for this beautiful curly haired blonde named Linda Murphy.

Bill and Linda were married on August 24, 1958.

After getting married and graduating from college they moved to Mason City, Iowa where he had accepted a job on

the management team for the YMCA there. He worked there advancing his knowledge in the YMCA, and after a

couple of years there he was offered the Executive Director’s position at the Boone County YMCA, in Boone,

Iowa. While there he was involved in building a new building that had a large gym and an inside pool. In 1983,

after developing programs and implementing programs improving and adding so much for families and the community, he and

Linda moved back to his home town of Cherryvale, Kansas where he became Vice President of PPI Corp out of

Billings, Montana. Where he raised millions of dollars for several medical and private institutes

Bill loved playing golf, sitting on the porch waiving at every car that would go over the overpass, working at the

Cherryvale Food Bank, being very active with the Cherryvale Alumni Association, traveling with Linda, spending winters on

South Padre Island, Texas. Watching sports and spending time with his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife Linda, of 64 years. Son Bob (Donn) Ott, Daughters Terry Ott, and Teena (John)

Dannels.

Grand Children, Linsey (Zack) Ackerman, Arthur Thompson, Jonathon Thompson, Natasha (

Jeff) Kelly, Christian ( Mariah) Ott, Kelsey ( Tim) Nelson, Kira Dagit ( Mike Shulk), Kylie ( Mark)

Cates, Jeremy Godfrey, Benjamin Godfrey, Andrew Godfrey, and Zachary Minyard.

14 great grandchildren, His brother Bob E Ott, Aunt Maxine Stacy, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Martin and Opal Ott, son in law AJ Thompson, great grandson Joey

Thompson, sister in law Dianne Ott.

Celebration of Life Services will be held 10:30 A,M., Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at Wickham Family Funeral Home, 216 East 4th, Cherryvale, Kansas.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., Monday, May 1, 2023 at the funeral home.

Memorial remembrances are suggested to the Cherryvale Alumni Association or the Cherryvale Food Ban.k and may be left at the funeral home