Rites For Well Known Dyer Countian Will Be Thursday Afternoon

Liston A. Bedwell, Route 2, Friendship, Bonicord community, prominent and well known long-time Dyer countian, died unexpectedly at his home at five o'clock Tuesday afternoon.

Reports said that Bedwell was mowing his lawn when stricken ill, and died apparently following a heart attack. News of his death came as a shock to a wide circle of friends and associates.

Born in Crockett county, Bedwell was the son of the late John and Mattie Johns Bedwell. He was the husband of Mrs. Eunice Miller Bedwell, and they would have celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in December of this year. He was 61.

Bedwell had lived at Bonicord for the past 28 years, or since 1940. He was a former Farm Bureau insurance agent, retiring in January 1968. Through his outstanding work in Farm Bureau and his active participation in the civic, cultural and religious life of his community and area, he became well known to many who held him in highest esteem.

Bedwell was a vocalist of note and wide acclaim, singing for church and other functions throughout the area for 50 years. He had been song leader and a devout member of Miller's Chapel Church of Christ as long as he had lived at Bonicord.

Bedwell's body is at the Curry Funeral Home here until time for the final rites. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, Thursday, at Miller's Chapel. Oscar Bruce, Church of Christ minister, will officiate and burial will be in Fairview Cemetery here in Dyersburg.

Serving as pallbearers will be James Putman, Mack Bell, Bobby Bell, John Allen Miller, Joe Neal and Max Nash. Directors of the Dyer County Farm Bureau will serve as honorary pallbearers. J.W. Curry and Son will have charge of the arrangements.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, George Bedwell, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Joe Bedwell, Pascagoula, Mississippi; two half-brothers, J.D. Cogburn, Dyersburg, and Lee Cogburn, Memphis; and four grandchildren.

From the memory book of Mrs. Gladys Hassell, a cousin to Liston Bedwell.