Edward Bevell

Edward Bevell, 86, of Columbia, formerly of Mexico, died at 4:10 a.m., Thursday, June 24, 2010, at Boone Hospital.

Funeral services will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at Pickering Funeral Home with Rev. David Nash officiating. Visitation will be Sunday from 1 p.m. until service time. Burial with Military Honors will be at East Lawn Memorial Park.

Mr. Bevell was born May 10, 1924, in Stoutsville, Mo., a son of Edward Sr. and Mary Beatrice (Pierceall) Bevell. On October 20, 1946 in Mexico he married Thelma A. Miller who survives at the home.

Edward graduated from Stoutsville High School and the University of Alabama, and became a veteran of WWII, serving in the U.S. Army with the 207th Combat Engineers at Utah Beach in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes, earning five battle stars.

In 1984, he retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company with 37 ½ years service as a switchman in Mexico. He and his wife were long-time local business owners of The Highlander Center and NuTone Cleaners.

He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers, Mexico Golden K Kiwanis, TPA, Gateway Piasas Travel Club, Gateway Chapter of Veterans of Battle of Bulge, First Christian Church, life member of VFW Post 3772, and a committee member of Boy Scout Troop 58 in Mexico.

In addition to his wife, Thelma, he is survived by two sons, Wayne A. Bevell and wife Barbara, Kirksville; Samuel D. Bevell and wife Mary, Imperial; one daughter, Gilaine Link and husband Alan, Kerrville, Tex.; one sister, Wanda Adams, Hallsville; and 7 grandchildren, Scott and Brian Link, David, Jennifer, Alan, and Max Bevell, and Dakota Grishom.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one brother, David Bevell and twin sisters who died as infants.

Memorials may be given to the First Christian Church, Mexico Golden K Kiwanis or to Central Missouri Honor Flight. They may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, MO 65265.