Lee Fansler

Tuesday, February 8, 2005

SIKESTON - Orla Lee Fansler, 79, died Feb. 5, 2005, at his home.

Born July 21, 1925, in Sikeston to the late Orla and Jennettia Fansler, he owned and operated a cookie distributorship from 1946 to 1976. A 1944 graduate of Sikeston High School, he was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II and became a Southern Baptist minister in 1964. He served at the First Baptist Church in Bertrand and the First Baptist Church in Blodgett and was interim pastor at the Sikeston Community Church at the time of his death.

On Sept. 6, 1947, he married Sylvia Cox who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Deanna Fansler of Sikeston and Jeffery and Teresa Fansler of Wappapello; two sisters, Verral Powell of Bertrand and Darlene Moore of Bryson City, N.C.; four grandchildren, Mandy Watkins of Pacific, Amy Heaton of Bloomfield and Callie Fansler and Johnny Powell of Sikeston; and three great-grandchildren, Trey Watkins and Connor Watkins of Pacific and Parker Heaton of Bloomfield.

Services were conducted at 10 a.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home. The Rev. Kelley Grubbs officiated, assisted by the Revs. Dolan Rogers and Jack Bishop.

Burial followed in Memorial Park Cemetery at Sikeston.

Pallbearers were: Danny Naile, Cecil Owens, Don Culbertson, Barry Grissom, Mac Davis and Jackie James.

Honorary pallbearers were: Clarence Hilterbrand, Sonny Bickford, Ray Cook, Don Swilley, Junior Peters and Bill Forgey.

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Memorials may be made to:

Visiting Nurse Association

1218 Linn St.

Sikeston, MO 63801

Paid obituary