Harley Vails

DEXTER - Harley E. Vails Sr., 87, died Oct. 17, 2002, at Cypress Point Health Care in Dexter.

Born May 7, 1915, in Holcomb, son of the late William E. and Virgie A. Mounce Vails, he lived in Essex for many years, where he was engaged in farming, and moved to Dexter 16 years ago. He attended the Vinson General Baptist Church near Essex.

On Feb. 24, 1940, at Catron, he married Anna Laura Cox who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: three sons, Darrell Vails of Jackson, Tenn., Junior Vails of Dexter and Michael Vails of Essex; five daughters, Peggy Rehkop of St. Charles, Shirley Blair of Columbia, B.J. Vails of Cape Girardeau, Kimberly Neppl of Naperville, Ill., and Sheila Vails of Dexter; four brothers, George Vails of Puxico, Charles Vails of Dexter, Frank Vails of Campbell and Roy Vails of Ocala, Fla.; five sisters, Armada Valentine and Gerline Gregory of Dexter, Ulah Owens of Bernie, Lola Thomas of Stuarts Draft, Va., and Nadine Donalson of Rockford, Ill.; and 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Two sisters, Maxine Lester and Joyce Arnold, preceded him in death.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday. The Rev. Doyle Corlew of Dexter will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.