Obituary of William James Irwin, III

Funeral Services for William James “Billy” Irwin, III of Foley, MO will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home near Winfield, MO. Rev. Mike Ryan of Moscow Mills, MO, and Rev. Dr. Keith Martin of Hickory Grove, SC, will officiate. Serving as pallbearers will be Jimmy Irwin, Patrick Hecker, Adam Hecker, Phillip Irwin, Keith Martin, Andrew Twellman and Zac Cowan; and Honorary Pallbearers will be Cameron Hecker, Max Roper, David Meyers and Dave Meyers, Jr. Billy, 59, passed away early Friday morning, November 14, 2025 at Mercy Hospital Lincoln in Troy, MO. Born October 22, 1966 in Troy, MO, he was the son of William James, Jr. and Nancy Jean Jupina Irwin. Raised in the Foley/Winfield area, Billy attended Winfield Schools. He was employed as a mechanic for B&B Towing & Repair for over 30 years, retiring in 2017. Billy was united in marriage on April 28, 2001 in Winfield to Lesia Darlene Martin. Their home was blessed with seven children, Anna Hecker, Patrick Hecker, Adam Hecker, Christina Irwin, Cameron Hecker, Jimmy Irwin and Natalie Irwin. Billy was a model car collector, and enjoyed collecting and tinkering on antique tractors. He was rarely seen without his favorite cat, Blackie Panther Irwin. Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Nancy Irwin, Jr.; his mother-in-law, Earlyne Martin; his brother-in-law, Brian Stanley; one granddaughter, Kenidi Hecker; and his three best friends: Randy Colbert, Scott Colbert and Danny Broyles. Survivors include his beloved wife of 24 years, Lesia Irwin of Foley; seven children: Anna Twillman and her husband, Andrew, of O’Fallon, MO, Patrick Hecker and his wife, Raven, of Troy, Adam Hecker and his wife, Chelsea, of Winfield, Christina Cowan and her husband, Zac, of St. Charles, MO, Cameron Hecker and his wife, Sierra, of Las Vegas, NV, Jimmy Irwin and his wife, Cierra, of Foley, and Natalie Irwin and her significant other, Max Roper, of Foley; fourteen grandchildren (with one more soon to be born) and two great-grandchildren. Billy also leaves one brother, Phillip Irwin and his wife, Barb, of Foley; two sisters: Chris Robison and her husband, Tom, of Winfield, and Roma Stanley of Winfield; his father-in-law, Wallace Martin of Hickory Grove, SC; several cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 17, 2025 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home near Winfield. Memorials may be made to the Family of Billy Irwin in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 3838 East Highway 47, P.O. Box 253, Winfield, MO 63389. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.