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Soon, a day-long benefit will be held to help a local family with medical and funeral expenses.
VFW Post 4142 will host the Jimmy Bryant Benefit Auction and Chili Feed on Saturday, Jan. 31. The event begins at noon with the chili feed and will end at midnight, with various events in between.
“About noon, they are going to start a chili feed and a silent auction,” said Darin Oxford, organizer and nephew of the late Jimmy Bryant. “Several area businesses have donated different items to be auctioned off during that time. About 5 o’clock in the evening, they are going to start a live auction. They are going to do mostly baked goods during the live auction part of it. We are going to try to wrap up the whole auction, live and silent auction, by 6. Then everything kind of calms down. At 8 o’clock at night, the Borderline Band starts and we will play until midnight. We play country and classic rock, a basic combination.”
Bryant worked at Ozark Engineering in Joplin for several years until it closed down and then he worked for the last 20 plus years at Jarden (Sunbeam) in Neosho. He retired from there.
“He passed away (on Dec. 20, at the age of 65) of a heart attack suddenly,” Oxford said. “He had just retired from Jarden in March.”
During his employment years, Bryant had a nickname.
“Some people knew him as ‘Papa Smurf,’ that was kind of his nickname,” said Oxford. “Well, I really don’t know (how he got the nickname). He is a short man in stature and he kind of reminds you of Papa Smurf. He has the beard and everything, and I assume that is where it came from.”
Oxford misses his uncle and was close to him.
“Just after high school, some of my family, cousins and stuff, we got together and had a softball team. Jimmy was the coach,” said Oxford. “Just the way he handled all of us, he kind of kept us in line. It was really impressive to me. He was a good guy that just really gave up his time and really loved kids. He was always happy, always had a smile on his face. He was a very, very good-hearted man. He taught me to catch my first spoonbill.”
Prices for the chili are $5 for adults and $3 for children. Admission for the band is free, and drink specials will be available. There is also a 50/50 drawing sometime during the event. Also, no children after 8 p.m.
Items for the silent auction include lamps, motorcycle helmet, gift cards and other items.
“We will accept any donations,” Oxford added. “Also, Community Bank & Trust locations have set up a Jimmy Bryant Memorial Fund (if anyone wants to donate).”
Any area business that would like to donate items to be auctioned will receive recognition throughout the event and will have their names listed in local newspapers and on Borderline’s Web site. For more information, contact 438-3398 or 592-4896.
Soon, a day-long benefit will be held to help a local family with medical and funeral expenses.
VFW Post 4142 will host the Jimmy Bryant Benefit Auction and Chili Feed on Saturday, Jan. 31. The event begins at noon with the chili feed and will end at midnight, with various events in between.
“About noon, they are going to start a chili feed and a silent auction,” said Darin Oxford, organizer and nephew of the late Jimmy Bryant. “Several area businesses have donated different items to be auctioned off during that time. About 5 o’clock in the evening, they are going to start a live auction. They are going to do mostly baked goods during the live auction part of it. We are going to try to wrap up the whole auction, live and silent auction, by 6. Then everything kind of calms down. At 8 o’clock at night, the Borderline Band starts and we will play until midnight. We play country and classic rock, a basic combination.”
Bryant worked at Ozark Engineering in Joplin for several years until it closed down and then he worked for the last 20 plus years at Jarden (Sunbeam) in Neosho. He retired from there.
“He passed away (on Dec. 20, at the age of 65) of a heart attack suddenly,” Oxford said. “He had just retired from Jarden in March.”
During his employment years, Bryant had a nickname.
“Some people knew him as ‘Papa Smurf,’ that was kind of his nickname,” said Oxford. “Well, I really don’t know (how he got the nickname). He is a short man in stature and he kind of reminds you of Papa Smurf. He has the beard and everything, and I assume that is where it came from.”
Oxford misses his uncle and was close to him.
“Just after high school, some of my family, cousins and stuff, we got together and had a softball team. Jimmy was the coach,” said Oxford. “Just the way he handled all of us, he kind of kept us in line. It was really impressive to me. He was a good guy that just really gave up his time and really loved kids. He was always happy, always had a smile on his face. He was a very, very good-hearted man. He taught me to catch my first spoonbill.”
Prices for the chili are $5 for adults and $3 for children. Admission for the band is free, and drink specials will be available. There is also a 50/50 drawing sometime during the event. Also, no children after 8 p.m.
Items for the silent auction include lamps, motorcycle helmet, gift cards and other items.
“We will accept any donations,” Oxford added. “Also, Community Bank & Trust locations have set up a Jimmy Bryant Memorial Fund (if anyone wants to donate).”
Any area business that would like to donate items to be auctioned will receive recognition throughout the event and will have their names listed in local newspapers and on Borderline’s Web site. For more information, contact 438-3398 or 592-4896.
