Billy Branch, 69, of Cardwell, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006, at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Born May 13, 1937, in Mounds, Ark., he was the son of the late Bill and Pauline Shearer Branch.

On July 19, 1954, in Paragould, Ark., he married Girtie McGuire, who survives.

Survivors also include one daughter, Sharon Zolman, of Arbyrd, Mo.; two sons, Donnie Branch and wife, Carmen, of Memphis and Tommy Branch and wife, Marilyn, of Cardwell; two brothers, Larry Branch and wife, Jackie, of Arvada, Colo., and Donnie Branch, of Puerto Vuertta, Mexico; six sisters, Judy Rance, of Rockford, Ill., Charlott Branch, of Charleston, S.C., Wilma McCrary and Betty Ann Houseman, both of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Debbie Ward and husband, Wimp, of Strong, Ark., and Sandy Berg and husband, Ted, of Little Rock, Ark.; six grandchildren, Jana Jansson, Christopher, Lindsey and Maddison Branch and Mitchell and Christy Zolman and three great-grandchildren, Halie and Noah Jansson and Jacob Don Zolman.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Patricia Diana Branch and one brother, Jerry Branch.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., today, Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the McDaniel Funeral Home Chapel in Senath, Mo., with the Revs. David Powell and Vernon Purser officiating.

Burial was in the Cardwell Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Wally Brown, Danny Smith, Roger Duty, Danny Cox and Terry and Rick Letson.

Honorary pallbearers were Loren Stroble, Cliff Parker and Bill Hawkins.