Arvilla R. Coy

Arvilla R. Coy was born on Dec. 19, 1925, to Croal Winslow Coy and Mary Devine Coy, in Crawford County, Kan.

Arvilla's family moved to the Milford area when she was very young.

She attended Milford and Lamar High Schools. She attended State Teachers College, in Springfield, and taught for one year before she met and married Robert Daniel Rhyne July 1, 1943. Their home was a railroad car while Bob worked for the railroad after their daughter was born a small gulfstream was purchased for Arvilla and Nancy to live in while traveling with Bob. They later purchased a farm and lived there together. Bob passed away in 1956 and Arvilla and Nancy continued to live on the farm. In 1967, she started working at the Missouri State Hospital until her retirement in 1987. In 2007, she moved to Springfield, Mo., to be near family.

Arvilla is survived by her daughter, Nancy and husband, John; granddaughter, Piper Schulte (Dan); grandson, Chad Stills (Jennifer); stepgrandchildren, Travis Rhyne (Noelle), Wendy Slayton (Michael) and Jill Johnson (Kevin); a great-grandson, Nicholas Stills; great-granddaughters, Kyla, Lakin, and Brooklyn Schulte; eight stepgreat-grandchildren; a special nephew, Jim Allman (Sharon); and 13 other nieces and nephews. Arvilla was baptized at an early age and was a member of the Nazarene Church, but had attended the Newport Baptist Church in her later years. Arvilla's life story can be viewed and condolences left online at Konantzwarden.com. Visitation will be today, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Konantz Warden Funeral Home, Lamar, Mo. Services will be Saturday, Nov. 14, at 10 a.m., at Konantz Warden Chapel, Lamar, Mo. Burial will follow at Howell Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Howell Cemetery and to the Sgt. Thomas Daniel Rhyne Scholarship Fund, in care of the funeral home.