NEW MADRID, Mo. -- William "Bill" French, 81, passed away Dec. 21, 2016, at the Golden Living Center in New Madrid.
He was born Nov. 16, 1935, in Charleston, to the late Willis French and Viola Stallings French. He was in the National Guard, he was a 33rd degree Mason, elder of the First Presbyterian Church in New Madrid, past president of the New Madrid Chamber of Commerce, New Madrid Man of the Year in 2006, member of the Kiwanis club, a member of the VFW, member of the New Madrid County Club, member and past commander of the American Legion Post 595 and a board member of the New Madrid Historical Museum. He was also the owner/operator of Bill's Auto Parts.
On June 7, 1959, at the First Presbyterian Church in New Madrid, he married Velma Jean Cokenour, who survives of New Madrid.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by: one brother, Gene (Lucille) French of Germantown, Tenn.; two sisters-in-law, Donna DeLaney Cokenour of New Madrid and Earline (Jim) Lawrence of Campbell; nieces, Melanie (Sam) Duncan of New Madrid, Deidre DeLaney of Lilbourn and Karen (Stephen) Eftink of Portageville; nephew, Kevin (Nikki) Lawrence of Gideon; and a host of many other relatives and friends.
Services were conducted Tuesday at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid with the Rev. Travis Lambert officiating.
Burial followed at Evergreen Cemetery in New Madrid.
Pallbearers were: Glen Medlin, Bobby Simpson, Dewayne Nowlin, Baz King, Reagan Baird and Lawrence Galemore.