Lee Fansler

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Orla Lee Fansler, 79, of Sikeston died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005, at his home.

He was born July 21, 1925, in Sikeston, son of Orla and Jennettia Fansler. He and Sylvia Cox were married Sept. 6, 1947.

Fansler was a 1944 graduate of Sikeston High School. He owned and operated a cookie distributorship from 1946 to 1976. He became a Southern Baptist minister in 1964 and served First Baptist Churches in Bertrand and Blodgett, Mo., and was currently interim pastor at Sikeston Community Church.

He was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Michael Fansler of Sikeston, Jeffery Fansler of Wappapello, Mo.; two sisters, Verral Powell of Bertrand, Darlene Moore of Bryson City, N.C.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston, with the Revs. Kelly Grubbs, Dolan Rogers and Jack Bishop officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.