Ovillia DePriest

Mrs. Ovillia DePriest, age 95, of Bolivar, departed this life Wednesday morning, October 15, 2014 at Bolivar General Hospital.

The widow of Elysses L. (Arkie) DePriest, who died on November 23, 1983, after over 40 years of marriage, she worked in food service with Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She had also worked for McDonnell Douglas in St .Louis, MO and was the manager of the Goodwill Store in Poplar Bluff. She was born in Paragould, Arkansas on March 23, 1919, daughter of the late Edd and Minnie Carlee Owens Powers and moved to this area over 30 years ago from Poplar Bluff. Her family states that she was a very hard worker, having picked cotton 3 rows at a time, enjoyed flowers, and loved her family and grandchildren. She was an avid sports fan, supporting the St. Louis Cardinals and was very outspoken. Mrs. DePriest was a member of Highland Drive Church of Christ in Poplar Bluff.

Survivors include two daughters, Susan English of Hickory Valley and Faye (Kenneth) Bradshaw of Cape Girardeau, MO; a brother, John Vernon Powers of Paragould, AR; seven grandhildren, Jerri Lynn Thomas, Chris Bradshaw, Kim Henson, Kenneth Bradshaw, Rachel English, Jennifer English and Carly Benishin; 13 great grandchildren, Paige Reyes, Mark Thomas, Jr., Kelli Thomas, Will and Sam Bradshaw, Austin Mitchell, Shelby Parker, Landen Grantham, Taylor Sinclair, Levi Benishin, John, Logan and Sabrina Henson; and two great great grandchildren, Wyatt Reyes and Presley Thomas. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by five sisters, Dorothy Simpson, Mae Apadoca, Josephine Ryan, Verda Futrell and an infant sister, Velma Irene Powers. The family requests memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate.