NEW MADRID - Ben H. Ashley, 77, died April 25, 2006, at the Missouri Veteran's Home in Cape Girardeau.
Born July 5, 1928, near Morrilton, Ark., son of the late William Thad and Lucille McCoole Ashley, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a charter member of the Brown-Twitty Post 595 of the American Legion and VFW Post 7183 in Lilbourn. A member, past master and past treasurer of New Madrid Lodge 429 AF&AM, he was also a member of the New Madrid Housing Authority Board, the Scottish Rite of St. Louis and a committee member of the Missouri Bar Association and of the Missouri Title Association. The manager of Security Abstract Co. from 1961 to 2001, he served as the New Madrid County recorder of deeds from 1982 to 2002.
On Feb. 16, 1952, he married Vera Lee Carroll who preceded him in death on March 20, 1996.
Also he was preceded in death by one sister, Luthada King, and one brother, John I. Ashley.
Surviving are: one daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Joe Vann of New Madrid; one son and daughter-in-law, Ben David and Christi Ashley of New Madrid; two brothers, Leonard Ashley of Merced, Calif., and Ron Ashley of Leavenworth, Kan.; one sister, Birdie Smart of Hastings, Fla.; and three grandchildren, Jodi Vann of St. Louis, Ashley Vann of St. Ann and Joseph Benjamin Ashley of Cape Girardeau.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Richard's Funeral Home where Masonic rites are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery with full military rites.
Pallbearers will be: Charlie Ice, Charles Baker, Billy Wayne King, John M. Ashley, Joe Lynn King, Bob Pulliam and Charles Spitler.
Honorary pallbearers will be: Fred E. "Gene" Copeland, Fred W. Copeland, J.H. Workman, Jay Blankenship, Fred Glover, W.A. "Dub" Scobey, Charles Hatley, Leon Saalwaechter, Harold Sloas, H.H. Townsend, N.J. Nowell, Alton "Whacker" Jackson, Clarence "Doc" Poore, Tom Dirnberger and the members of the New Madrid Brown-Twitty Post 595 Color Guard.
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Memorial contributions
may be made to:
the Missouri Veterans Home
2400 Veterans Memorial Dr.
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.