‘Silver Bells’ Scratchers ticket at Taylor business turns out to be $100,000 prize winner

TAYLOR, Mo. — A Missouri Lottery player’s bad day turned out to be a blessing in disguise when it led to the purchase of a “Silver Bells” Scratchers ticket that contained one of the game’s top prizes. 

“My car wasn’t working, and I was really upset about it,” said the winner, who was not named in a press release from the Missouri Lottery. “I had to call one of my adult grandkids to drive me around.”

One of the stops they made was to Smoker Friendly, 8434 Highway 24 in Taylor, where she decided to grab a Scratchers ticket to take her mind off the rough start to her day.

“We scratched it off, and my granddaughter about died,” she joked, recalling the moment she uncovered the $100,000 prize.

They rushed to share the news with her daughter, who would accompany her to Lottery headquarters to claim her prize. 

“I took a look at it and was like, ‘You suck!’” her daughter laughed, later admitting she was happy for her mother’s win.

“Silver Bells” players have won more than $4.9 million in prizes. More than $7.7 million in unclaimed prizes remain, including two more top prizes of $100,000 and three $20,000 prizes. 

In Fiscal Year 2024, players in Marion County won more than $6.9 million in Missouri Lottery prizes, retailers received more than $705,000 in commissions and bonuses, and more than $832,000 in Lottery proceeds went to education programs in the county.