John Ezell Jr.

ARNOLD - John Ezell Jr., 76, died Feb. 22, 2003, at his home in Arnold.

Born May 27, 1926, in Galesburg, Ill., to the late John Delbert Sr. and Nellie June Kutchin, he moved to Dexter in 1940 and in 1950 moved to St. Louis, where he retired from the American Can Co. as a machinist. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of the American Legion.

On Aug. 26, 1946, in Dexter he married Bonnie Jean Smothers, who preceded him in death on June 15, 1988.

Surviving are: two sons, John Thomas Ezell of St. Louis and Clinton Eric Ezell of Eureka; one daughter, Malinda "June" Cole of Piedmont; four brothers, William Charles Ezell of Perry, Kan., Bobby Ezell of Las Vegas, Ray Ezell of Dexter and Teddy Ezell of Jacksonville, Ark.; five sisters, Bonita Lewis of Maricopa, Calif., Doris Bosse of Bakersfield, Calif., Joyce Griffin of Potosi, Linda Beck of Holts Summit and Shirley Smith of Sullivan; and nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a special friend, Toni O'Conell of Arnold.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Elbert J. Ezell and Jerry Lynn Ezell, and one sister, Betty Smothers.

Visitation is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter where services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday. The Rev. Miles G. Meadows of Dudley will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Hagy Cemetery at Dexter with full military honors provided by the SEMO Veterans Honor Guard of Poplar Bluff.