Audrey Early

WREN – Audrey Smith Early, 94, died Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009, at her home. She was born April 8, 1915, in Amory to the late Ida Koonce and Alexander Daniel “A.D.” Smith. Known for her quiet smile and gracious ways, she enjoyed both vegetable and flower gardening, planting her last garden on Good Friday, June 18, 1993. Her favorite roses were Rio Samba, Gold Medal, Moon Shadow, Taboo, Mr. Lincoln and Tropicana. She married French Early on May 23, 1932, and celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary May 23, 1982.

Her motto was: Kindness and fairness – a virtue more important than wisdom. When a family member was ill, her tomato juice and soup provided the best cure. A member of the Central Grove Baptist Church, she taught church training classes for many years. She enjoyed reading and working crossword puzzles.

A stateroom service was 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, at the E.E. Pickle Funeral Home in Amory with Bro. Dennis Smithey officiating. Burial was in the Wren Cemetery.

Survivors include one daughter, Sylvia Anderson and her husband, Vincent “Andy,” of Fort Worth, Texas; favorite cat, Rex; nephews, Dan Shepherd of Smithville, Billy Shepherd of Battleboro, N.C., and Dan Wiygul of Raymond; nieces, Nelle Sullivan of Madison, Juanita Lang of Denton, Texas, and Dale Spradling of Pensacola, Fla.; caregivers, Nancy Baker, Jean Pickle, Barbara Malone, Linda Knight and Gail Pierce; and hospice caregivers, Terri Phillips, Patricia Kerley, Deb Sloan, Pam Thompson, Kristin Burdette and Kayla Humble.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers, E.D., Charles and Julius Smith; and five sisters, Minnie Watts, Mamie Towery, Lula Bunch, Lettie Shepherd and Laura Coker.

Pallbearers were Dan Shepherd and the deacons of Central Grove Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to the Amory Humane Society, P.O. Box 218, Amory, MS 38821.

James Doster

SIKESTON, Mo. – James “Jim” Doster, 76, of Sikeston, Mo., passed away Friday, October 2, 2009, at Saint John’s Hospital in Saint Louis, Mo. He was born May 16, 1933, in Amory, to the late Chester L. and Bertie Lann Doster. He was an Army veteran during the Korean War; graduated from Officers Candidate School as a 1st Lieutenant; held a BS degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1958; taught Economics and Sociology at Sikeston High School; land owner and farmer for 25 years; was awarded the Jaycee’s Young Farmer of the Year; Missouri AG Development Director under Governor Joe Teasdale; an IFR airplane pilot; vice-chairman of MTD Inc., and retired in 1985.

Survivors include one sister, Jean Doster of Tupelo; three children, Gary Doster and wife, Teresa, of Rio Frio, Texas, Scott Doster and wife, Toni of Columbia, Mo., Cathy Fair and husband, Jon of Wildwood, Mo.; one sister-in-law, Judy Doster of Tupelo; five grandchildren, two nieces and two great-nieces.

He was preceded in death by his brother, John Doster of Tupelo.

The family requests in lieu of flowers and to honor Jim’s life that donations be sent to the American Heart Association www.americanheart.org or American Heart Association National Center, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75231.

Louise Jones

AMORY – Mary Louise Jones, 94, died Monday, Oct.12, 2009, at the Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center in Amory. She was born July 23, 1915, in Troy to William and Mary Etta Bean Lloyd. She married Trible D. Jones in 1932; he died in 1975. A resident of Amory since 1955, she had lived in Prairie. A member of the St. Andrews United Methodist Church, she was a homemaker and enjoyed taking care of the ones she loved. She will be dearly missed.

Graveside services were 3 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Masonic Cemetery in Amory with Rev. Glyn Wiygul officiating. E.E. Pickle Funeral Home of Amory was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include one daughter, Connie Jones Wiygul of Amory; two grandchildren, Lisa Wiygul Gray (Keith) and Johnny M. “Trip” Wiygul III (Tammy); and four great-grandchildren, Kady Gray, Johnna Leigh Gray, Connor Wiygul and Evan Wiygul.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sisters; and one brother.

Pallbearers were Milton Jones, Rex Coker, Dr. Randy Nicholson, Glenn Bingham, Curt Tubb and Dr. Edward L. Jones. Honorary pallbearers were members of First Friends.

Memorials may be made to First Friends, P.O. Box 540, Amory, MS 38821.

Sis Word

OKOLONA – Frances Dean “Sis” Word, 81, died Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, at her residence in Okolona. She was born Aug. 4, 1928, at home, the daughter of the late Robert Allen Dean and Francis Corrine Chandler Dean. She lived all her life in Okolona. She attended the Okolona public schools and was drum major at Okolona High School. She played basketball at Hinds Junior College and later at Delta State University. She married Herbert Maxwell Word on Sept. 5, 1949, a marriage of 56 years until his death on Sept. 6, 2005. She first taught kindergarten for two years with Mrs. Stone. She later worked at Howard’s Department Store and then entered the family insurance business, Dean Insurance, on Main Street. She worked briefly at its successor, Minniece Insurance in Okolona and retired from Cole Insurance Co. in Amory. She was a local institution teaching area swimmers in Amory, Aberdeen and Okolona for over 30 years. She was a longtime member of the Lanier Club. She and her husband, Max, were charter members of Flabsack’s Supper Cub. She was an active member of the local bridge club and a Sweetheart of Sigma Chi. She was very active in S.O.S (Save Okolona Society). She was a Baptist but had attended the Okolona Presbyterian Church for over 50 year. She was one of Okolona’s beloved dames, always supporting her large family and all things Okolona. Her contagious personality and attitude will be sorely missed by a grateful family and community.

Services were at 2 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Okolona Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Sandra Sisson officiating. Burial followed in the Dean/Word family plot at Oddfellows Cemetery. Holland Funeral Directors-Okolona Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include her children, Herbert M. Word Jr. (Joanie) of Okolona, Dena Doss (Roy Adams) of Okolona, Frances Borromeo (Vic) of Madison and Jane Allen Thompson (Jack) of Pelham, Ala.; nine grandchildren, Scott (Ellie), Trey (Julie), Kathryn (Bo), Mary Frances (Anthony), Maggie, Gennie (Jay), Corinne, Blair (Joe) and Brooke; 18 great-grandchildren, Alex, Terry, Sam, Morgan, Anna Kate, Chloe Jane, Max, Callie, Jacob, Layne, Cave, Alice, Knox, Ava, Zach, Megan, Jackson and Dossan; a sister-in-law, Cherry Word of Okolona; and seven nieces and nephews; and three cousins, Walter Chandler, Mary Knox Middleton and Tootsie Ogden.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Max; and her sister, Barbara Dean.

Pallbearers were Curt Bell, Wilkes Bryan, Clay Cain, Larry Gann, Sam Mitchell, Matt Word, Thomas Word and William Word. Honorary pallbearers were Bert Hollingsworth, Rodney Hollingsworth, Tom Hollingsworth, W.L. Sanders and David Turner.

Memorials may be made to Okolona Presbyterian Church, 326 West Main, Okolona, MS. 38860; or the Save Okolona Society, P.O. Box 334, Okolona, MS 38860.

Ricky Hancock

SHERMAN – Ricky Arnold Hancock, 61, died Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, at his residence in Sherman. He was born March 12, 1948, in Union County to Sanford Audrey Hancock and Margarette Modene Hancock. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He was an employee of the City of Sherman. He had been previously employed by the Natchez Trace Inn, the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Mississippi Department of Transportation. He was a member of the Macedonia Baptist Church. He was loved by all who knew him.

Services were at 2 p.m. Oct. 14 at the United Funeral Service Chapel in New Albany with Dr. Forrest Sheffield officiating. Burial will be in the Macedonia Cemetery.

He is survived by two daughters, Krystal Whitaker of Tupelo and Erika Thomas of Nashville, Tenn.; two sons, Brad Hancock of Corinth and Jason Whitaker (Emily) of Nettleton; a sister, Audine Cooper (Joe) of Potts Camp; a sister-in-law, Vernel Hancock of Tupelo; six grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, S.A. Hancock Jr.

Pallbearers were Jason Whitaker, Brad Hancock, Earl Reece, David Newcomb, Harry McAnally, Danny Ryan, Sterling Woodruff and Alan Woodruff. Honorary pallbearers were the employees of the City of Sherman.

Richard Shaw

AMORY – Richard Earl Shaw, 57, died Saturday, Oct. 19, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center. He was born Feb. 28, 1952, in Amory to Hershell and Earline Shaw. He was a lifelong resident of Amory and a 1970 graduate of Amory High School. He attended Itawamba Community College in Fulton. After graduating from ICC, he joined the U.S. Army and earned numerous awards. He was an employee of the Wax Company.

Services were at 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at St. James United Methodist Church in Amory with the Rev. Donald Arrington officiating. Burial was in the Masonic Cemetery. Jackson Mortuary of Aberdeen was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include a son, Jarus (Ashley) Garth of Aberdeen; one sister, Grace (Rev. Donald) Arrington of Amory; three brothers, John E. Shaw of Amory, Wayne (Dorothy) Shaw of Wren and Bennie (Latanya) Shaw of Amory; three grandchildren, Jardyn Garth, and Jaelyn and Taylor Mosley of Aberdeen; one nephew, Tywan Arrington; two nieces, Ladonna Arrington and Candance Shaw; one great-niece, Gabriella Arrington; a host of aunt, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Robert Earl Shaw.

David Monteith

NETTLETON – David Wayne Monteith, 50, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009, at his home in Nettleton. He was born Oct. 29, 1958, in Belleville, Ill., to Dale Thomas Sr. and Joan Mary Maher Monteith. He lived most of his life in Pensacola, Fla., but had lived in Nettleton for the past four years. He was a former air medic in the U.S. Army and a registered nurse. He graduated with honors from the R.N. nursing program at Pensacola Junior College. He enjoyed reading and going fishing.

Memorial services with military honors were at 11 a.m. Oct. 17 at the Chapel of Tisdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home in Nettleton with the Rev. Tommy Ray Dabbs officiating.

Survivors include his mother, Joan Mary Maher Monteith of Nettleton; two daughters, Candice Lynn Frei and Alisha Monteith, both of Kenosha, Wis.; one son, Dale Henry Monteith of Pensacola, Fla.; two sisters, Cathy Riley (Jerry) and Connie Phillips (David), all of Nettleton; one brother, Dale “Cookie” Monteith (Chris) of Nettleton; two grandchildren, Kelsey Lynn Frei and David Frei; five nieces, five nephews and one great-niece.

He was preceded in death by his father; two brothers, Eddie and Johnny Monteith; and a nephew, Jordan Monteith Riley.

Earl C. Scott Jr.

NETTLETON – Earl C. Scott Jr., 79, died Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at his residence. He was born in Belden on Dec. 19, 1929, to Earl and Mollie Scott. He was a personnel officer in the United States Navy, earning the rank of lieutenant and retiring Oct. 1, 1973. He served 25 1/2 years and was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Nettleton. He was married to his dearest wife, Mollie, for 54 years. He enjoyed fishing, rod and reel repair, hunting and music.

Services were at 2 p.m. Oct. 19 at Lee Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Donald Pounders officiating. Burial was in Lee Memorial Park with military honors.

Survivors include two daughters, Karen Amon and her husband, George, and Deborah Lopez Olivera; two sisters, Linda Hall and Sharon Rae and her husband, Randy; three grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and two brothers, Roy Scott and Johnny Scott.

Emily Conner

ABERDEEN – Emily Conner, 93, died Oct. 12, 2009, in Aberdeen. She was born Aug. 1, 1916, in Millport, Ala., to Marion Claud and Florence Hackleman McAdams. She was a school teacher in Millport and Vernon, Ala. She also worked as a secretary for Millport Gin Compnay. She taught Sunday School at Propst Memorial United Methoidst Church, where she was a member until moving to Tuscaloosa, and she joined Lake United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold L. Conner Sr.

Services were at 11 a.m. Oct. 14 at Dowdle Funeral Home Chapel in Millport, Ala., with Rev. James Crutcher officiating and Bro. Matt Miller assisting. Burial was in Millport City Cemetery in Millport, Ala.

Survivors include two daughters, Linda McCrary of Hamilton, Ala., and Shirley McLemore of Vernon, Ala.; two sons, Lane Conner of Aberdeen and Claud Mack Conner of Atmore, Ala.; two sisters, Claudine Spurlock of Bogalusa, La., and Vernell Young; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Jerry McAdams, George McAdams, Steve Spurlock, Shawn McLemore, Mark Prater and David Newman.