Oct. 17, 1938 – Jan. 15, 2018

 

ADVANCE, Mo. — Services for Fonnie Mearl Welch, 79, of Vidalia, who died Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, will be Friday at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance, Mo.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Mr. Welch was born Oct. 17, 1938, in Parma, Mo., the son of Resper and Pansy Welch.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

A lifelong farmer, he started at age 12 and worked every year through the 2017 harvest season, a stretch of 67 working years. He wouldn’t have had it any other way. He was an excellent provider for his wife, children and grandchildren as well.

Mr. Welch enjoyed hunting and fishing, and in his younger years, enjoyed a good turkey shoot. He also enjoyed buying and selling farm and construction equipment and from time to time, even made a profit. He loved to bake cakes and fry fish and never seemed to miss an opportunity to ask guests if they wanted a honey bun or a Coke.

Mr. Welch was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Patricia Heady Welch; and two brothers, Darell and Michael Welch.

Survivors include one daughter, Rhonda Cooper and husband, Gary, of Advance; three sons, Stephen Welch and wife, Debbie, of Advance, Brad Welch of Vidalia and daughter-in-law, Annie Welch of Natchez, and Bryan Welch and wife, Becky, of Jackson, Mo.; three brothers, Resper Lynn Welch Jr. of Little Rock, Ark., Lonnie Welch of wife, Carol, of Vidalia, and Danny Welch of Natchez; one sister, Patsy Garner and husband, Ronnie, of Cape Girardeau. Mo.; nine grandchildren, Nicole, Galen, Matthew, Jeremy, Christopher, Brandi, Bradley, Ryan and Carly; and seven great-grandchildren, Zebin, Zane, Darcy, Emma, Drew, Braylin and Karson.

Mr. Welch will be missed by all who knew him.