Billy Gerald Hornback

Billy Gerald Hornback (Bill aka Lucky), age 83, of Alton, Missouri passed away October 14, 2023, at Baxter Regional in Mountain Home, Arkansas from an unexpected heart complication. Bill was born July 3, 1940, to Mattie and Filas Hornback in Anson County, North Carolina.

Bill attended Polkton School until 7th grade then changed to Peachland where he met his future sweetheart and love of his life. Bill married Frances Newton Hornback on December 3, 1961. They were just a few months short of being married 62 years. They were blessed with 3 children Susan Marie Hornback & Trancito (Jesse) Alvarenga, Billy Hornback Jr, Todd & Jacqui Hornback and 4 grandchildren, Savannah (Fiancé Colter Bean), Cheyenne, Kyle and Casey. In addition to the family Ronnie & Catherine Medlin and their 3 children Annabelle, Lane, and Wyatt.

Bill had a very colorful life, as a young boy he “traded” bridles, pocket knives, then horses and everything else. He was baptized as a young boy in a muddy farm pond. Bill enjoyed Sunday dinner with his family, hunting, listening to the dog runs, riding horses, listening to Elvis Presley on the loudest volume but most of all “trading”. He was the happiest if he was telling us all what to do (even though we already knew) and most of all if he could “make a trade”. Bill was a man of many trades; he worked several different jobs including, Hargett Electric Co, Pipe Co, Yale Lock & Key, and Gaye Chevrolet as a young man. Bill owned several businesses in NC Bonanza Meats, Bonanza Neck over Trailers, Bonanza Auto Sales, Bonanza Store, Marshville Auction Barn, Hornback Farms, H&H Bucking Stock, Auctioneer in NC, SC, and MO: In MO - Hornback Cattle, Summersville Stockyard, Oregon County Public Waste, and Hornback Land Co.

At age 66, Bill and his family traveled to Missouri in 2002 in search of the Farm they would later move to in 2006. Never lived anywhere but NC, they took a leap of faith and chased his dream. He always said if he was a young man, he’d take off walking to Missouri. Bill never met a stranger and had many friends. No matter if he met you in passing, at the Restaurant or just got your socks traded off, everyone loved him dearly. Bill had the knack of being the best trader you’d ever meet, he could sell anything. The joke has always been he could sell a man a dead horse and convince you it was coming back to life. He was a very healthy and full of life man, always in a hurry and always working even when he was sleeping. He was not one to take medicine and has only been in the hospital a total of 12 days in his whole life. The day before going into the hospital he bought 14 head of horses but never got to see them and the day before he passed, he was talking about buying another business. He definitely was a go-getter and abundant provider. There will never be another Bill Hornback and he will forever be missed by many.

He was survived by his wife, 3 sons, 1 son in law, 2 daughters-in-law, 7 grandchildren, 2 sisters (Betty Edwards and Brenda Tarczynski), numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws and a daughter Susan Marie Alvarenga.

Pallbearers: Jim Scott, Jack Howell, Keith Simpson, Daniel Hughes, Julius Rosen, Francisco Aguilar, Colter Bean and Lane Medlin

Honorary: Tom Young, Gary Simpson, Arnold Jerette, Bob Wright, Doug Couick, and Winston Tucker

Music by: Jeff & Michelle Holman, Russell Harrington, and Holly Hart

Last Horse Drawn Ride by: Enos Gingerich, and Sammie Swatzentruber

Services will be 1:00pm Friday, October 20, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Alton with Bro Bob Wiggs officiating and Burial at Bailey Freewill Baptist Church following, where he’ll take his last ride around the farmhouse in a horse drawn wagon. Visitation will be Thursday evening 6-8pm at the First Baptist Church of Alton. Conducted by Clary Funeral Home.

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