William Henry Fanning

William Henry Fanning, 77, Nevada, passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, at Landmark Hospital, Joplin, Mo., following an illness of several months. He was born on Sept. 23, 1933, in Lamar, Mo., to Troy Harvey Fanning and Nellie Pearl Taylor Fanning. He married Phyllis Harper on Sept. 25, 1957.

William grew up in the Milford, Mo., area. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955 in Japan and also served in the Army Reserves for six years until 1961. William lived in Carthage, Mo., for a time until coming to Nevada in 1960. He enjoyed eating, the fellowship, and exercising at the Nevada Senior Center.

Survivors include his three children, Patty Fanning, Jeannie Beeman and her husband, Doug, and Russ Fanning and his wife, Linda, all of Nevada; grandchildren, Ashley and Zachary Beeman, and Tori, Kelsie and Keagan Fanning, all of Nevada; five stepgrandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; two brothers, Raymond Fanning, Grandview, Mo., and Carl Fanning, Independence, Mo.; one sister, Ruth Sharp, Fort Scott, Kan.; and ex-wife and life-long friend, Phyllis Fanning, Nevada. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters; and four brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, March 12, at the Church of The Nazarene, Nevada, with the Rev. Mike Satterlee officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in Newton Burial Park, Nevada. Friends may call now and until 1 p.m., Saturday, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. The family will receive friends from 7:30-8:30 p.m., Friday, March 11, at the funeral home.

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