Harold L. Axtell, 81, of Climax Springs, Mo., formerly of Altamont, died at 7:25 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009, at Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach, Mo.

He was born July 7, 1927, at Altamont to Lee and Golda (Brown) Axtell. He grew up in Altamont and graduated from Labette County Community High School in 1945.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1947 in Italy. He lived in Wichita, where he worked as a mechanic for a Ford dealership there. He also worked for Boeing Aircraft in Wichita, Ryan Aviation in California and Aerosmith Aviation in Salt Lake City. He retired from Murdock Inc. in Compton, Calif., in 1982.

Following his retirement, he moved to the Lake of the Ozarks and had lived there since. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and helping his neighbors and friends. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge in his early years.

Survivors include a sister, Carol Salsbery and her husband, Kenneth, of Parsons; several nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother and two sisters.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont. Friends may call at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons after 11 a.m. Monday.

Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association and may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.