Tornado flattens iconic Missouri gas station owner helped his father build 56 years ago

The tornado that ripped through West-central Missouri Wednesday morning destroyed in seconds things that had been rooted in the area for decades.

Moundville resident Craig Bott learned just how swiftly mother nature’s fury can act.

The tornado’s roar lasted only five seconds, but that was enough to demolish Bott’s service station, a family business and a Moundville, Missouri, landmark, leaving Bott in shock and with a feeling of uncertainty.

“It couldn’t have lasted more than five seconds, and it just roared and things were slamming and banging,” Bott, owner of Moundville Service Station, said. He rode out the storm in his house which is near the station. Bott recounted the scene as he was trying to get to the basement with his two cats. “I looked out my garage door window and I could see that [automobile] lift in there and I’m like oh, man, it’s gone.”

His wife, Patti, was safe at work in Nevada. His house still stood. But the station, the place where he’d worked since he was 14, the place his father had built, was in ruins. Moundville is about 10 miles southwest of Nevada which also saw severe damage from a tornado.

For Bott, it wasn’t just the station, wiped out by Wednesday’s tornado, it was his legacy, a place he’d worked all his life, a business his father built, brick by brick.

“This block building,” Bott said, recalling how he’d hauled blocks as an 11-year-old boy to help his dad, Lyman Bott build it in 1969, “It was pretty strong... This building was pretty tough, it had been through a lot of storms.”

Lyman Bott purchased an old Phillips 66 gas station in the late 1950s and built a thriving business. When Highway 43, which once ran through the middle of town, was rerouted, Lyman relocated the service station to its current location at 239 N. Broadway, along Highway 43.

Bott said he still provided full-service at his two-pump station which carried diesel and unleaded fuel for his customers. He only accepted cash or checks, no credit cards. “I still pump your gas, wash your windshield, check your oil, well, I did it all,” said Bott. “I had customers, a lot of old ladies, too, that would come from Nevada because they couldn’t get that service anywhere no more.”

Shortly after the tornado hit, neighbors, friends, even strangers, arrived to help. Bott said some arrived with tears in their eyes, others arrived with trucks, trailers, chainsaws, and skid loaders to help salvage what they could from the service station.

“You know, it was actually overwhelming” Bott said. “There was several [people] that I didn’t even know who they were.”

Austin Potthast was one of those who showed up to help despite not knowing Bott. “I heard what happened so I just loaded up my skid loader and came to help,” said Potthast of Liberal, Missouri, about 20 miles south of Moundville, a town of about 100 people.

“Yes, they’ve been wonderful, neighbors, friends, customers,” Bott said. “It’s been incredible.”

Bott said college students from nearby Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, and Cottey College in Nevada came to town to help others also impacted by the early-morning tornado. The storm also heavily damaged a cabinetry shop, some homes and took the roofs off of several buildings, including the town’s post office.

The outpouring of support for Bott lasted until dark as volunteers recovered auto supplies, tools and other items. They also dug out three cars from the collapsed service station, including a classic dark blue 1965 Chevrolet Bel Air that Bott said was ready for the owner to pick up. Two vintage, 1970s-era Honda motorcycles were also recovered.

Now he does not know what comes next. “It’s been my life since I was born,” said Bott.

As the community rallied, Bott, 65, grapples with an uncertain future. The station wasn’t just a business; it was his life, his identity. He’d always envisioned following his father’s path, working there until his final days, just as his father had until a stroke claimed him in 2019.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I just thought I’d be here like my dad,” he said. “My dad was here working every day until he’s 92, when he suddenly had a stroke and died. And, he was working the day before he had a stroke,” he added. “And I kind of planned on doing the same thing. That’s all I’ve ever known to do.”

“He’s not sure right now, but I know him, he can’t sit still,” said Patti Bott. “He can’t, you know. He could theoretically retire, but he never would,” she added. “So I foresee it [the station] coming back.”

This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 4:58 PM.