Wilbur Newell "Bud" Abbott, age 95, a former longtime Liberty resident, died Monday, November 4, 2013. For the past seven years, Bud lived in his own home, near family, in Enumclaw, WA. Bud was the eldest of three children born to H.D. and Mabel (Rippey) Abbott. He served in the United States Navy during WWII as a Metal Smith second-class at Pearl Harbor. After the war, he started his own business, a Ford tractor and implement repair and supply, in Conesville, Iowa. After moving to Liberty, MO, in 1958, he worked for Kirk-Wicklund Welding and Gas Supply until his retirement in 1984. Following retirement, Bud spent many hours in his blacksmith shop, hand forging knives and many other items from iron and steel. He also built muzzle-loading rifles, and his passion was attending rendezvous re-encatments of the mountain man fur trade era. He was well-known to many as "Mossback". Bud was a member of the Liberty Masonic Lodge and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4043. Along with his parents and siblings, Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Tenora Abbott, and a son, Richard Wayne Abbott. Survivors include his sons, Dean Ray and his wife, Donna Sue Abbott of Enumclaw, WA and Dale Lynn Abbott of Camdenton, MO; grandchildren, Carl Ray Abbott and Shiloh Zipp Abbott of Seattle, WA, Becca Ann Cook of Kent, WA and Nicole Marie and Shawn Shaffer of Gilbert, AZ; great grandchildren, Madeleine Ray Abbott of Seattle, WA and Zachary Dean Shaffer of Gilbert, AZ. Visitation will be held from 7-8 pm ursday, November 14, and from 1-2 pm Friday, November 15, at the Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I-35 at State Route 291, Liberty. His funeral, including Masonic rites by members of the Liberty Masonic Lodge, will be held at 2:00 pm Friday at the chapel. Wilbur will be laid to rest next to his wife, Ruby, with full military honors by the U.S. Navy, at Glenridge Cemetery. You may send a message to the family or sign an on-line guest book via www.parklawnfunerals.com. Thursday, November 14, and from 1- 2 pm Friday, November 15, at the Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I-35 at State Route 291, Liberty. His funeral, including Masonic rites by members of the Liberty Masonic Lodge, will be held at 2:00 pm Friday at the chapel. Wilbur will be laid to rest next to his wife, Ruby, with full military honors by the U.S. Navy, at Glenridge Cemetery. You may send a message to the family or sign an on-line guest book via www.parklawnfunerals.com. Arrangements: Park Lawn Northland Chapel (816) 781-8228. Chapel (816) 781-8228.

Published in Kansas City Star on Nov. 10, 2013

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Mike Phillips #46915372