Bill Blevins

Bill Blevins died Wednesday, April 23, 2008 in Mountain Home at the age of 68. He was born Thursday, March 7, 1940 in Oxford, Arkansas, the son of Leonard and Audean Helm Blevins. Bill lived in Mountain Home since 1964 moving from Oxford, Arkansas. He graduated from Arkansas States Teachers College with a degree in Biology. He earned his Master's Degree in Chemistry at the University of Alabama, his Master's Degree in Biology at Arkansas State University - Jonesboro and an Education Specialist Degree at University of Iowa. He began his teaching career in 1964, teaching Biology & Chemistry at the Mountain Home High School. He also was Mountain Home Junior High School Principal, Cotter School District Superintendent, a former Mountain Home City Council member, and a Corps of Engineers summer Park Ranger for 19 years. He formerly owned and operated Ozark Mills and Buggy Wheel businesses. He was an accomplished writer with 24 published books beginning with The Blevins Ancestry and including several books on Ozark History (The Wolf House, The Man and the Mansion) (Baxter County Chronicles), (Rush, The Ghost Town), and (Rupert). All of his books are archived in the Special Collection at the University of Arkansas and with the Arkansas History Commission. His books can be found in over 400 Public Schools and Libraries in the Ozarks. Survivors: Bill Blevins is survived by 3 daughters, Tammie (Tim) Parker of Flippin, AR, Melinda (State Senator, Shawn) Womack of Mountain Home, AR, and Tina (State Representive, Eric) Harris of Springdale, AR and 7 grandchildren, Brandon and Blake Whitehead, Jordan and Bailey Womack, and Jackson, Grayson and Mason Harris, 1 brother, Darrell (Diana) Blevins of Grain Valley, MO, 1 niece and 1 nephew and a special friend, Bette Horn of Mountain Home, AR. Preceded in Death by: He was preceded in death by his parents, 1 daughter, Valerie and 1 son, Mark. Burial will be in the Oxford Cemetery, with Shawn Womack, Tim Parker, Eric Harris, Brandon Whitehead, Blake Whitehead, Abe Vogel, Jordan Womack, Jackson Harris as pallbearers. Visitation: Visitation will be from 2-8 P.M., Saturday, April 26 with the family receiving friends from 5-8 P.M. at the Kirby & Family Funeral Home. Funeral: Graveside services for Bill D. Blevins of Mountain Home, AR, will be 2:00 P.M. Sunday, April 27, 2008 at Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, Arkansas, with Elder Mike Haney officiating. Burial: Burial will be in the Oxford Cemetery Memorials: Memorials may be made to the Baxter County Library. Active Bearers: Shawn Womack, Tim Parker, Eric Harris, Brandon Whitehead, Blake Whitehead, Abe Vogel, Jordan Womack, Jackson Harris