Edith Batson

WEST PLAINS - Edith Christine Batson, 82, died April 1, 2003, in West Plains.

Born June 4, 1920, in St. Francis, daughter of the late Charles Acie and Cecil Mae Pettus Phares, she was a resident of Granite City, Ill., and Lawton, Okla., before moving to West Plains in 1997. She retired as a cook for Illinois School District No. 9 and was a soldier of the Salvation Army.

On July 28, 1945, she married George Shisko who preceded her in death on Nov. 10, 1960. She and John H. Batson were married Feb. 22, 1973, in Granite City, and he died Feb. 5, 1998.

Survivors include: three daughters, Mary Margaret Smith, Naomi Greenlee and Ruth Mitchell of West Plains; two sons, John David Batson of Waukesha, Wis., and Larry Batson of Viburnum; two brothers, Marvin Phares of Desloge and Robert Ray Phares of Florida; one sister, Hilda Stricklin of Desloge; and 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Also preceding her in death were one son, Gregory Phillip Shisko on July 24, 1993; one sister, Charlene Smart; and one brother, Leroy Phares.

Visitation begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

Graveside services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter, with retired Major Herb Dahl of West Plains, officiating.