Seeward Rance Chailland, 86, of Ripley County, Mo., died Tuesday, May 16, 2006, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Born April 19, 1920, in Caruth, Mo., son of the late Roy and Eva Read Chailland, he was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served in WWII. He was a member of the Eastern Star, the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church and attended the Doniphan Church of God in Doniphan, Mo.

On May 24, 1947, in Piggott, Ark., he married Georgia Lou McClain, who survives.

Survivors also include one son, Melvin Chailland and wife, Mary, of Doniphan; two daughters, Regina Wheeler and husband, Francis and Rosemary Bryer, all of Doniphan; one sister, Julia Sue Watson, of West Memphis, Ark.; nine grandchildren, Paul and Eva Corley, Julie Boothe, Elizabeth Norwood, Luke and Ty Chailland, Joy Calais and Addie and Jessie King and seven great-grandchildren, Maddox Wheeler, Xander Norwood, Jordan and Chris Chailland, Macy Calais, Amy Harmon and Jolene Blakeman.

He was preceded in death by six brothers, Cecil, Grover, Omer, Hassel, Wayne and L.R. Chailland.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., today, Friday, May 19, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan with Masonic services starting at 6:30 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 20, at the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with Bros. Larry Bradshaw, Hubert Payne and Clint Colburn officiating.

Pallbearers are Ty and Luke Chailland, Sam Boothe, Louis Norwood, James Sanders, Logan Reardin and Paul Corley.

Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 20, at the McDaniel Funeral Home in Kennett.

Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery at Kennett.