William Dees

A gathering of friends and family to celebrate the life of Bill Dees, will be at 5:00 P.M. Saturday, November 3, 2012 at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mountain Home, Arkansas. A celebration of life will also be held 2:00 P.M., November 11, 2012 at the Sanctuary Of Hope in Branson, MO. William Marvin Dees passed away October 24, 2012, in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 73. He was born January 24, 1939, in Electra, Texas, the son of Beecher and Dorine Gambill Dees. Mr. Dees has lived in the Mountain Home, Arkansas and South Missouri area since 1989. Bill was a glass is half full kind of guy who never met a stranger, a real people person. He was a man of faith, who enjoyed talking about scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit with anyone who would listen. Bill enjoyed fishing, but mostly, he loved to play the guitar or piano and sing. He enjoyed a successful career in the Nashville music scene as a singer, songwriter and entertainer, traveling the world performing. Bill's music included the No. 1 hist, "Oh, Pretty Woman" and "It's Over" recorded by Roy Orbison as well as many other artists. He accumulated a vast number of music awards including gold and platinum records. His legacy includes an amazing number of beautiful songs. Bill is survived by his wife, Nancy Decker-Dees of Kissee Mills, MO; three daughters, Valerie (Nathan) Hughes of Dekalb, IL, Susan (Ed) McNutt of Mountain Home, AR and Kelli (Rob) Byrd of Abilene, TX; one son, Fred Dees of Mountain Home, AR; one step-daughter, Jennifer Decker of Kissee Mills, MO; one step-son, Warren Decker of Springfield, MO; one brother, Mike (Peggy) Dees of Fritch, TX; one sister-in-law, Delores Dees of Corpus Christi, TX; ten grandchildren, Ashley Robinson, Megan Dees, Maggie Murray, Michelle Bentley, Zach Dees, Tasha Hackett, Robin Hinton, Sidney Rubin, Talianna Rubin and Reuben Byrd and 4 great-grandchildren, Grace, Annie, Jayden and Michal; nieces, nephews and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Val Dees. Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, www.StJude.org or Fender Music Foundation, http://www.fendermusicfoundation.org/ , phone number 818-706-8742, PO Box 67, Agoura Hills, CA 91376-0067. Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services.