Anna Vails

DEXTER, Mo. -- Anna Laura Vails, 85, of Dexter died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, at Missouri Southern Healthcare.

She was born May 27, 1922, in Corinth, Miss., daughter of David and Lydia Newman Cox. She and Harley E. Vails Sr. were married Feb. 24, 1940. He died Oct. 17, 2002.

Vails was formerly of Essex, Mo., and had lived in Dexter since 1986. She attended Vinson General Baptist Church near Essex.

Survivors include five daughters, B.J. Vails of Cape Girardeau, Peggy Rehkopf of St. Charles, Mo., Shirley Blair of Columbia, Mo., Kemberly Neppl of Naperville, Ill., Sheila Vails of Dexter; three sons, Darrell Vails of Jackson, Tenn., Junior Vails of Dexter, Michael Vails of Morehouse, Mo.; two brothers, Fred Cox of Danville, Va., Travis Cox of Sikeston, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by five brothers.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Doyle Corlew officiating. Burial will be in Dexter Cemetery.