Beloved Papa, Father, Brother, Friend, and Soul Mate Troy Edward Maples went home to Heaven October 12, 2014 surrounded by loved ones. He was 84 years young.
Troy was born at the beginning of the Depression Era on April 30, 1930, to Rev. Allen and Thelma Maples (deceased). He was proud of the fact that he began earning his own money working at Gambles Gardens 10 hours a day during the summer that he was 7 years old. Troy lived up to the ‘Ornery Preacher’s Kid’ title in those days, running loose in Springfield, exploring the train depot, going to late night cowboy movies downtown, slipping into horse shows and skinny-dipping in the old rock quarry until his Mom found out one day and swatted him all the way home.
Troy bought his first horse with his own money at age 9, cutting grass in neighborhood fields for horse feed, knowing his Dad didn’t have the resources for another hungry mouth. Starting in his early teens he broke horses for spending money, winning his first Blue Ribbon at a horse show riding for Mr. Chester Brashears on the gelding ‘Golddust’ at age 14.
Troy enjoyed the trips South at his first job out of high school, delivering towels through Arkansas and Louisiana; but quickly tired of working for someone else, knowing his future would be best shaped with his own hands. One day he ran out of gas. Two Springfield service stations were on opposite corners. He decided to head to the Skelly Service Station on the left. After chatting to the owner while filling his tank the fellow mentioned he’d like to sell that Gas Station, did Troy know anyone who might want to buy it? Troy said “I’ll buy it.” He always used this story to teach his children ‘it makes all the difference in life if you turn left or turn right’. One day he ended up with a used car left on the Station lot as part of a bill payment. By the end of that day Troy had flipped that car for a profit of $350, which in the early 1950’s got his attention. It wasn’t long until he stopped fixing 50 cent flats, and created Westport Auto Salvage. It was at Westport where Troy really began giving back to the community through his business.
Perhaps the clearest example of Troy’s spirit is when a young kid from back East, fresh out of the Army, was headed to California and wrecked a few miles from Westport on the newly opened I-44. Troy came upon the wreck and took the young, friendless kid to the hospital. A few days later the kid called Troy saying he had no money and no car to keep going west, could Troy help him? Troy brought him back to the Salvage Yard and said, “Show me what you can sell”. 18 years later that young man, Curt Harrison (deceased), had become like a son to Troy, and bought Westport Auto Salvage when Troy was ready to spend more time with his family. Troy then, semi-retired at age 50, contentedly spent the next 30 plus ‘winters’ reaping the reward of all those years of hard work on South Padre Island, Texas.
Troy’s generosity was tangible. He supported nearly 60 souls by offering work to men needing a hand up during his time at Westport; he let an older gentlemen ‘Pops’ live in a trailer in the Westport parking lot in exchange for ‘keeping an eye on the place’; he offered summer work to drifters and loans to men coming out of prison who were without hope. He always had a ready dollar for the homeless, and took his children and grandchildren to the rougher parts of town to teach them humility and grace. Through decades of putting his faith into action, Troy earned the fierce loyalty of many whose lives would be forever changes because he took a chance on them.
No one met Troy without feeling his genuine love of life and of others. That love – and his orneriness – kept doctors amazed the last few years as his Will to Live to pour that love into his grandchildren kept him going long past every expectation they gave. His greatest pride was in watching the grandkids grow; in teaching them, filling them with his wisdom and joy and laughter, and showing them their potential to be and do anything they set their minds to. A day did not pass without him telling them so. He was always himself around his grandkids – singing silly songs, telling legendary bedtime stories, making up fun games to play, and never ever being too serious.
Troy always loved the land. A self-proclaimed Country Boy who grew up in the city, his farm and cabin were his quiet refuge the past few decades. He worked hard to keep his farm “looking like a golf course” and enjoyed countless hours out working and sitting in the screened-in porch of his cabin.
Troy’s talent with – and love of – horses is well-known, and he continued to ride, show and judge from his early teens into his 80s. He was breaking a sorrel horse ‘Gus Patron’ just a few weeks before his passing that reminded him of his favorite sorrel horse ‘Red Fox’; whose celebrated obituary in the Foxtrotting Report hung in Troy and Vicki’s kitchen for 30 years. There are far too many stories to tell, but his best friend and business associate for over 60 years, Lester Wilkerson (deceased), is waiting at Heaven’s gate with ‘Red Fox’ saddled and ready for one long Celebration.
Troy is survived by his sister Mahala and her husband Ben, daughters Shannon and Ashley, and grandchildren Kassidy, Savannah, Ashton, Solana, and Harrison. He is also survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, best friend, business partner and soul mate, Vicki. Troy would proudly admit that he had found his match in Vicki. True partners in every way, they completed and complemented each other step-for-step, and created a loving home in which their daughters and grandchildren – and oftentimes friends and neighbors – would come for open arms, open hearts and a place of comfort and acceptance. Their Hillside was a sanctuary.
Troy was a lifetime member of the Masons Grand Lodge #5. He was a member and Judge for the Missouri Fox Trotters Association, the Heart of America Walking Horse Association, and the Midwest Walking Horse Trainers Association.
A celebration of Troy’s life will be held on Thursday, October 16th, at Greenlawn North. Visitation will be from 5:00pm, with services starting at 6:00pm. No burial is planned. Troy will keep an eye on the Hillside from the fireplace mantle until Vicki is called to join him.
In lieu of flowers the family requests written stories about Troy to pass on to the grandchildren, or a donation to Seasons Hospice 1831 W. Melville Rd, Springfield, MO 65803.
A special thanks to Dr. Zubair for all the years of service and to the staff of Seasons who have been a Blessing.