Nellie Marie Dunavant, 88, of Caruthersville, Mo., died Wednesday, July 5, 2006, at McKenzie, Tenn.

Born August 27, 1917, she was the daughter of the late Hugh and Annie Leek Holt. She was one of the original organizers of the R-3 Party and was a member of the First Baptist Church at Caruthersville.

On January 23, 1937 she married Alvin C. Dunavant, who survives.

Survivors include one niece, Phyllis Franks and husband, Joe, of McKenzie, Tenn., and two great nephews, Randy Franks and wife, Lee Ann, and Kenny Franks and wife, Kathy.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 7, 2006, at the First Baptist Church at Caruthersville with Dr. James Adams and Rev. John Earl Dunavant officiating.

Burial was at the Little Prairie Cemetery at Caruthersville.

Pallbearers were John Alford, Keith Jean, Byron Luber, Roger Medlin, Baughn Merideth, and Tommy Lynn Crowe.

Honorary pallbearers were Calvin House, John Sellars, Billy Dodd, James Ralph Murphy, Billy Jean, Tommy Greenwell, Earl Bullington, Louis Hardesty, Troma Jones, Jim Atchison, Charles Long, and Denny Merideth.

John W. German Funeral Home at Hayti, Mo. was in charge of the services.