Vesta Merle Peebles was born the daughter of Dempsey Burrow and Maude (Arwood) Burrow on August 15, 1922, in Fulton County, Arkansas, and departed this life January 25, 2015, at Shady Oaks Healthcare in Thayer, Missouri, at the age of 92 years.
She was united in marriage on August 25, 1938 at Salem, Arkansas to Robert R. Peebles, who preceded her in death on February 13, 1990.
She is survived by her two sons, Robert G. (Bobby) Peebles and Jimmy Peebles and wife, Sherry, all of Thayer, Missouri; two stepdaughters, Diane Hill Farrell and Shirley Hill Brooks; half brother, Dugan Burrow; numerous nieces and nephews, including Dempsey Flynn, Gene Flynn and wife, Ester Mae, Dell Flynn, Howard Flynn and wife, Frances, all of the Mammoth Spring community. Other nieces and nephews include, Betty Peebles Montiel, Jerry Peebles, Emma Burrow Smith, Clara Burrow Johnson, Noble D. Burrow and Wanda Burrow Watkins; other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; four brothers, Farrell Jack Burrow, Noble Burrow, Clete Burrow, and Freeman Bill Burrow; one sister, Velma Burrow Flynn; stepson, Randall Hill; and nephews, Charles Peebles, Gerald Burrow and Lloyd Burrow.
Merle lived in the Thayer and Mammoth Spring communities most of her life. She was the last owner and manager of the Culp Hotel in Mammoth Spring from 1955 to 1960. She operated the Colonial Hotel in Thayer from the late 1960’s until the late 1980’s.
She was an excellent cook and entertaining story teller, but may best be remembered for her devotion to her family and friends, and her love of animals.
Mrs. Peebles was a member of the Thayer First Baptist Church and the State Line Pentecostal Church of Thayer.
She will truly be missed by her relatives and many friends
Funeral Services will be Thursday, January 29, 2015, at 2:00 PM at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer, Missouri.
The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, January 28th from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at the funeral home chapel in Thayer.
Burial will be in the Thayer Cemetery at Thayer, Missouri with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer.