Obituary of Benny J. Sowell

Benny J. Sowell, 82, of Coffeyville passed away Friday, March 31, 2017, at Windsor Place. He was born on July 27, 1934, in Morrilton, AR to James Harse and Berneice Odessa (Halloway) Sowell. He attended Morrilton Grade School and High School. Ben was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the U.S. Army from October 8, 1954 until receiving his Honorable Discharge on September 29, 1956. Following his discharge he made his home in Coffeyville and attended Coffeyville Community College, and began working at Cooperative Refinery in Coffeyville where he worked until he retired in 1993. Following his retirement he enjoyed staying busy mowing lawns and working part time at Pickwick Apartments as Maintenance Man. He later worked as a security guard at John Deere Coffeyville Works and American Insulated Wire. Ben was a member of the Tyro Christian Church and American Legion Post #20 where he served one year as Commander. His favorite pastimes were playing golf, bowling, gardening and especially fishing, claiming to have taught many of his friends the enjoyment of fishing. He married Anita Bucher in 1958; this union was blessed with two daughters, Melinda and Nancy. The couple later divorced. On December 12, 1992, he married Mardelle Young at Coffeyville. Survivors include his wife, Mardelle of the home; two daughters, Melinda Carr and husband Roy, Nancy Nash and husband Mike; three step-children, Mike Young and wife Julie, Tammy Gray and husband Darrel, and Kip Young and wife Tammy; grandchildren, Monica Logan and husband Curtis, Dustin Duvall and wife Angie, Kelly Hannah, Kristi McQuary and husband Tommy, Aubrey Foye and husband Daniel, Shelly Slavin and husband Thomas, and Trenton Young; step-grandchildren, Luke Carr and wife Jamie, Jennifer Stapleton and husband Jake, Jennifer Johnson and husband Dusty, and Randolyn Day and husband Jared; and numerous great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Carl and Tommy; one sister, Fairy, and a very special grandson, Matthew Swigart. A Memorial Service celebrating Benny's life will be at 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 10, 2017, at the Tyro Christian Church with Nathan Boldt and David Bycroft officiating. Inurnment will be in Restlawn Memorial Park in Coffeyville with Military Honors conducted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1022 and American Legion Post #20. Friends may call on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to the Tyro Christian Church or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice; contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.