Lawrence L. "Bus" Harless

Published in the News-Leader on July 19, 2010

Lawrence L. "Bus" Harless ,age 87, of Springfield died early Saturday July 17, 2010, from injuries sustained in an auto accident on US 160 at CC Highway.

Bus was born September 17, 1922, in Birmingham, Ala., to Lawrence L. and Martha Laura Harless, the second oldest of four children. As a youngster his family relocated to the Willard area. He graduated from Willard High School in 1941. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps serving with Ground Crew 40 in New Guinea and later in Iwo Jima. After the war Bus played professional baseball in the minor leagues for several years. He was married to Frances Anne McCarty on February 14, 1946 celebrating their 64th anniversary earlier this year.

Bus was well known in AAA Fastpitch as both a player and manager with several Missouri Champion and National Tournament teams in the 1950's through the 1970's. After working in sales for several years at Marx Clothing, Bus opened Bus's Casuals, a men's clothing store in 1964 on St. Louis Street just west of the Colonial Hotel. Vic Tillett joined Bus several years later after Bus had become a partner in Har-Bell Athletic Goods. After selling his interest in Har-Bell, Bus and Vic opened Bus's on the Plaza in 1975 concentrating on athletic goods and sports and team apparel. They just recently closed the store after 35 years, so both could retire. Bus was inducted into the Springfield Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame in 1977. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church.

Bus was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Laura Lee Lynott, Ruth Anna Young and her husband Earnie and nephew, Kenny Evans.

Survivors include his wife, Frances; sister, Jacqueline (Jack) Evans; nephews, Russ Evans, Jeff (Judy) Young, Todd (Nancy) Young, all of the Springfield area, Jerry (Rusty) McCarty, of Florida, Dr. Rhett McCarty, of Lake of the Ozarks and niece, Jo Jean (Art) Brewer, of Arlington, Texas.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 20, in Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel, with Dr. Rhett McCarty and Reverend Carol Ann Chilton officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Comfort Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul UMC, 413 E. Walnut, Springfield, MO 65806.