Robert Dean Nesbitt, 75 & Joyce Anneta Nesbitt, 82
Robert Dean Nesbitt, 75, of Vanzant, died March 3, 2024, with his family by his side. His wife, Joyce Anneta (Collins) Nesbitt, 82, died April 12, 2023, at her home with Robert and her children by her side.
Robert was the son of the late Jewell Dean and Myrtle (Collins) Nesbitt. He was born March 27, 1948, in West Plains. Joyce was the daughter of the late Elmer T. and Corine (Harris) Collins. She was born October 12, 1941, in Vanzant.
After graduating high school, Bob worked at Green Giant in Belvedere, Illinois, and then joined the United States Army and served two years during the Vietnam War. When he returned to Missouri, he worked several different jobs and eventually farmed, logged, owned and drove a bulk milk truck and transported RV trailers before retiring.
After graduation from high school, Joyce went to cosmetology school. She worked at and owned several beauty shops over the years in Mountain Grove, Vanzant, Dora and West Plains. She also drove the OATS van for a few years. She enjoyed her patrons and loved to be of service to them. Joyce also enjoyed the years she spent farming. She loved her cows and especially loved raising calves. Joyce worked hard in all her careers while raising a family and pouring into her children by supporting their school events and hobbies.
In Bob’s spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing cards with his dear friends. He also liked watching old westerns and bull riding.
In her spare time, Joyce liked riding her horses, camping and fishing and taking occasional vacations or trips. She also became very active with Willow Springs #2 Church. She worked very hard to maintain and improve the church to keep it going in order to honor the past generations and be there for future generations of family and friends.
Robert and Joyce married on June 24, 1973. They greatly loved and enjoyed their family. They especially cherished their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
They are survived by three sons: Tom Cudworth and Kim of Harrison, Arkansas, Wesley Cudworth of Norwood and Travis Nesbitt and his wife Angela, of Springfield; one daughter: Lesa Murrell of Willow Springs; three sisters: Betty Bean of Union, Kay Woods and her husband Harold, of West Plains, and Evelyn “Evie” McCracken and her husband David, of Flippin, Arkansas; six grandchildren: Shannon, Sarah, Brianna, Brooke, Aubrey and Carsen; five great-grandchildren: Ragen, Jade, Faith, Bailee and Garrett; and many other relatives, neighbors, and friends who will greatly miss them.
Besides his parents, Robert was preceded in death by his loving wife of 49 years, Joyce; his grandparents, Chester and Sybil Collins; uncles Kenneth, Kermit, and Elza Collins; his daughter-in-law, Tammy Cudworth; and two brothers-in-law, Lawrence Bean and James Stowers.
Joyce was also preceded in death by her two nephews, Dustin Levin Collins and Western Collins.
*****
Editor’s note: Both of these obituaries were submitted to the Times last week. Because we had not published Mrs. Nesbitt’s obituary last year when she died, we published both together in this April 10 edition.