Cotton Holyfield

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Henry J. "Cotton" Holyfield, 72, died at 12:55 p.m. Feb. 15, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

Born March 29, 1933, in Sikeston, to the late Carl P. and Votra Baker Holyfield Sr., he was owner and operator of Holyfield Flying Service for 27 years and from 1968 to 1978, he was manager of Sikeston Municipal Airport. He was a lifelong resident of Sikeston and served from 1982 to 1998 as Scott County Treasurer and from 2000 to 2004 as Scott County Public Administrator. He was a graduate of ATP School in Panama City, Fla., and was a member and had served as president of Missouri Aerial Applicators in 1967. He was Past Master and 50-year member of Sikeston Masonic Lodge 310 AF&AM, a member of the Moolah Shrine Temple, Sikeston Chapter 137 Order of the Eastern Star, charter member of the Sikeston Elks Lodge and member of the American Legion and the Eagles Lodge.

On Sept. 3, 1949, in Piggott, Ark., he married Rosetta M. "Mickey" Poe, who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: one son, Butch Holyfield of Cape Girardeau; one brother and sister-in-law, Carl and Fredi Holyfield Jr. of Nashville, Tenn.; one sister, Doris Stephens of Sikeston; one brother-in-law, Don Poe of Sikeston; one sister-in-law, Jeanette Satterfield of Bentonville, Ark.; two granddaughters and one grandson-in-law, Shelley and Travis Eckelmann of House Springs and Alyssa Holyfield of St. Peters; and one great-granddaughter, Haley Layne Eckelmann of House Springs; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Rickie Lee Holyfield; one sister, Ruth Dover; and his father- and mother-in-law, Foncie and Rena Poe.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Blanchard Funeral Chapel in Sikeston. Masonic rites will be conducted at 7 p.m. by Sikeston Masonic Lodge 310 AF&AM.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Hunter Memorial First Presbyterian Church on the corner of Allen and Wakefield with the Rev. John Goodwin, pastor, officiating.

Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery at Sikeston.

Pallbearers will be: John Brewer, Jim Brewer, Dennis McGarity, Bill Ferrell, Scotty Hooe and Randy Grant.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Dialysis Unit Missouri Delta Medical Center, 1008 N. Main, Sikeston, Mo. 63801 or National Kidney Foundation, 1423 Hanley Industrial Court, St. Louis, Mo. 63144-1915.