William “Bill” Lee Finney, 85, passed away on September 21, 2026. He was born on September 8, 1941, in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Homer and Mary Finney and grew up in Faucett, Missouri.After graduating from high school, Bill proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1963 to 1969. Following his military service, he continued his education and earned an associate degree before beginning a long career with the Internal Revenue Service. It was at the IRS that Bill met Janie Longfellow, and the two were married on April 25, 1970. Bill worked as a revenue officer for 29 years before retiring at the age of 55. Never one to remain idle for too long, he later worked for an overnight package delivery service and with The Salvation Army.Bill and Janie shared 30 years of marriage before her passing in October 2000. Together, they built a life centered around family and faith. They were longtime members of Antioch Bible Baptist Church, where Bill was actively involved for approximately 35 years. His strong Christian faith was evident not only in what he believed, but in the way he served others. Over the years, he devoted his time to Awana, served as a deacon and church treasurer, and was involved with the Lions Club. After returning to Faucett for about 10 years, he attended Faucett Baptist Church.While Bill was often reserved by nature, there were a few subjects that could quickly get him talking. He was passionate about patriotism, politics, and especially good food. He also had a talent for gardening and took great pride in tending to his flowers. Above all, Bill treasured his family. One of the traditions he especially enjoyed was planning the family’s summer vacations each year, creating many wonderful lasting memories. Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Janie Finney; his parents, Homer and Mary Finney; three siblings who died in infancy; his sister, Mary Ellen Spaight; and his brother, John Finney. He will be lovingly remembered by his children, Melissa (Tim) Jones, Robin (Tim) Webb, and Allison (Nick) Wright ; grandchildren, Janilyn Mills (Adam), Josie (Dakota) Jones, Logan Wright, and Cody Wright; great-granddaughter, Willow Freeman-Born; sister, Dorothy (Eddy) Woodward; brother-in-law, Johnnie (Beth) Longfellow; nieces and nephews, Tonya (Steve) Barry, Brian Longfellow, Joe Woodward, and Andrea (Chris) Veatch; great-nieces and nephews, Cameron Barry, Clancy Woodward, Barrett Veatch, and Blaine Veatch; along with extended family and friends. A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Terrace Park Funeral Home & Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Terrace Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association https://donorservices.alz.org 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 or Faucett Lion’s Club 708 SE Grand Dd Hwy
Faucett, MO 64448