Vasser Edward "Big George" Nance, 81, of Leachville, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born at Monette, the son of the late John and Martha Smith Nance. He was a lifelong resident of Leachville and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was retired from Randall Co. of Blytheville and a longtime member of the Church of God in Leachville.

Survivors include a son, James David Nance of Smithsburg, Md.; two daughters, Martha Lou Smith of Floral and Ruth Ellen Cole of Leachville; three brothers, Murrell Nance of Memphis, Tenn., Collier Nance of Monette and Herndon Nance of Corsicana, Texas; two sisters, Alma Dulaney of Jonesboro and Zelma Mae Ashabranner of Cedar Hill, Texas; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mattie Coleman Nance in 1996, and two sisters, Thelma Wyatt and Vama Hayden.

The funeral was held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Howard Funeral service Chapel in Leachville with Rev. David Parker officiating. Burial was in the Leachville Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Dolph Smith, Darrell Hayden, Michael French, Jim Honnell, Chad Nance and Terry McCormick.