Obituaries for Thurs., Nov. 10, 2016

Published 10:02 am Thursday, November 10, 2016

Billy Wayne Marsh

Mr. Billy Wayne Marsh, 82, of Opp passed away Wed., Nov. 9, 2016, in Mizell Memorial Hospital. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Fri., Nov. 11, 2016, from Wyatt Funeral Home Chapel. The family will be receiving friends one hour prior to the service.

Mr. Marsh is survived by his wife, Charlotte Rowell Marsh; daughters and sons-in-law, Benny Jo and Dennis Cockrell and Billie and Steven Thompson; brothers, Tim Marsh and Roger Marsh; grandchildren, Stephanie Denmark and Adam, Amanda Sasser, Steven Sasser and Jessica, Sarah Thompson and Jabe Thompson; and great-grandchildren, Anderson Vaughn Sasser, Abraham Sasser Denmark and Samuel Sasser Denmark. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie J. Marsh and Leila Driggers.

Billy was a graduate of the Alabama School for the Deaf in Talladega and a member of the First Baptist Church in Andalusia. His hobbies included hunting, fishing and Alabama football. Over the years he wore many hats, as a loom fixer in the Opp Cotton Mill, barbering, semi-pro wrestler in the 1960s and 16-plus years with Hardee’s.

Quote from an acceptance speech given by Mr. Billy W. Marsh: “All my life I wanted hearing people to look at me and think I’m like them, but I just can’t hear.”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Alabama School for the Deaf, AIDB Foundation, P.O. Box 698, Talladega, Al 35160 or online www.aidb.org you can follow the directions under the “contact us” tab.

Rex Arnold Bowers

Rex Arnold Bowers was born Nov. 26, 1920, in Dozier, Ala. His parents were Charlie and Ruby (Jones) Bowers. He would have been 96 the 26th of this month. He departed this life early Monday morning on Nov. 7, 2016, at home.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Sat., Nov. 12, 2016, at Dozier Baptist Church with Brother Roger Lee and Brother Jerry Hogwood officiating the service. Interment will follow in Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at Dozier Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Carolyn B. Soltes; her husband, Tony; and their son, Bruce.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Yvonne, his three sons, Andrew and wife Sara of New Orleans, James of Tucson, Ariz., Daniel of Dozier, and daughter, Linda, of Dozier. He is also survived by his brother, Kent, and his wife, Glenda, of Milton, Fla.; their children, Beth Campbell, Caroline New, Charlie Bowers, Alice White, Molly Holmes, and their families; as well as the daughters of his sister Carolyn, Sharon Hamilton and Toni Lynn Pickford; and also his niece, Lynn Pederson, and nephew, Steve Straughn.

He served his country in the navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict for 7 ½ years.

He loved and served his Lord to the best of his ability all of his life.

He loved his Lord, his family, his country, and his neighbor, who was anyone.

We will miss him greatly but know that he is in that Perfect Place and not hurting anymore.

The family wishes to thank Gentiva Home Health Care of Andalusia and Comfort Care Hospice of Greenville. Those two fine groups made it possible for Rex to remain at home where he wanted to be.

Should anyone wish to give a memorial donation instead of flowers, the family suggests that such donations be made either to the Dozier Baptist Church in Dozier, Alabama or to the Alabama Baptist’s Children’s Homes of which were very important to Rex.

Family and friends unable to attend may sign an online registry at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.

Rev. Melvin Eugene Smith, Sr.

The Rev. Melvin Eugene Smith, Sr., age 82, of Andalusia, passed away Tues., Nov. 8, 2016, at his residence. Funeral Services for Mr. Smith will be held on Sat., Nov. 12, 2016, at 2 p.m. from Hopewell Baptist Church with the Rev. Jay Driver and John Stewart officiating. Interment will follow in Thomasson Cemetery.

Survivors include his daughters and son-in-law, June Smith and Libby and Roger Knox, all of Andalusia; sons and daughter-in-law, Gene and JoAnne Smith of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Danny Smith of Andalusia; sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Jack Sansom of Andalusia; and brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Judy Smith of Andalusia.

He is preceded in death by his sons, Mark Smith and Sammy Smith, and wife, Louise Smith. A visitation will be held on Fri., Nov. 11, 2016, from 5:30-8 p.m. at Foreman Funeral Home.

Family and friends unable to attend may sign an online registry at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.

Ruth Jackson Butler

Mrs. Ruth Jackson Butler, age 83, of Andalusia, passed away Mon., Nov. 7, 2016, at the Andalusia Manor. Funeral services for Mrs. Butler will be held on Thurs., Nov. 10, 2016, at 11 a.m. from Southside Baptist Church with the Rev. Gary Miller and the Rev. Mike Flowers officiating. Interment will follow in Harmony Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30-11 a.m. at the church. Survivors include her husband, Levie Butler of Andalusia; son and daughter-in-law, Devoughn “Von” and Ella Butler of Andalusia; step-daughter, Regina LeVay Henry of Pasadena, Texas; step-grandchild, Sarah Henry of Oklahoma City, Okla.; sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Gerald Brook of Andalusia; brothers and sister-in-law, Henry Junior Jackson of Old Town, Fla., and Bobby Gene and Cynthia Jackson of Andalusia; and a number of nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her first husband, Wade Butler; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Jackson; a brother, Raymond Jackson; and a sister, Mary Evelyn Carter. Family and friends unable to attend may sign an online registry at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.