Area Obituaries
Wilma Inez (Jenner) Applebury, age 99, of Pine Bluff, Arkansas passed away on November 30, 2023, at home in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She was born on November 12, 1924, at the family farm in Sumner, Lawrence County, Illinois, the fourth child of six children, daughter of Horace Webster and Goldie Margaret (Doe) Jenner. Grandparents were Dr. Edward Jenner and Laura (Hershey). Maternal grandparents were John and Elizabeth Doe. The family attended Union Chapel Church, which sat on the land donated by the Jenners’ at the corner of the family farm. She married Ivo (Red) Forrest Applebury on August 02, 1947, and he preceded her in death on January 26, 1988. Wilma Inez (Jenner) Applebury attended Spring Hill, a one room grade school taught by Lauren Petty. Wilma graduated from Lawrenceville High School in June 1941, at the age of 16. In July, Wilma attended Holsey Business School in Decatur, Illinois and received a certificate/diploma in 1942. In 1943, Wilma moved to St Louis to work as a secretary with Continental Rubber Works and then Boyd’s Department Store until the Spring of 1948. Wilma was a legal secretary with the city of West Memphis, Arkansas for about 40 years until she retired (85). When President Bill Clinton was Governor of Arkansas, Wilma served as a secretary when he came to West Memphis. Wilma was a “Daughter of the American Revolution.” Wilma loved playing the piano. Her first lessons were with Betsy Harper. Wilma was a member of the West Memphis, Arkansas Seventh Day Adventist Church and served as a pianist; she loved to play hymns. Wilma loved crossword puzzles, reading, and taking shorthand. She loved to correct the family grammar and spelling. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband; one brother: Edward C. Jenner; four sisters: Laura Elizabeth (Jenner) Thompkins, Margaret Hope (Jenner) Martindale, Mary Lou (Jenner) Ferriell, and Idella Ruth Jenner; and one daughter: Bonita Dean Applebury Pacheco Marshall. Survivors include four children: Donna Lou (Applebury) Nixon (Dalen) of California, Michael Foriest Applebury (Sandra) of Arkansas, Eugene Webster Applebury (Vivian) of Tennessee, and Edward Ivo Applebury (Heidi) of California; 16 grandchildren: Carolynda Applebury (Joseph), Daniel Marshall, Laura Lou (Nixon) Cook (William), Kyle Nixon (Shienan), Melissa Inez Nixon (Stephen Johnson), Michael Foriest Applebury, Jr.(Deborah), Tamara (Applebury) Tirado (Brian), Heather Applebury, Jennifer (Applebury) Holley, Christina (Applebury) Scott (Lawrence), Genie (Applebury) Yanez (Dani), Jonathan Applebury (Betsy), Timothy Applebury, Andrew Applebury, James Applebury (Katsumi), and John Applebury (Apitida); 25 great-grandchildren: Annelise Applebury-Stevenson, Christina Applebury-Stevenson, Courtney Applebury-Zelee, Emma Cook, Autumn Nixon, Everest Nixon, Alexandria Applebury, Abigail Applebury, Annabel Applebury, Emma Tirado, Ian Tirado, Nathan Holley, Hailey Holley, Lauren Holley, Sophie Scott, Lawrence Scott, Jr., Nicole Bishop, Courtney Bishop, Victoria Applebury, Shelby Applebury, Jeremiah Applebury, Ryan Applebury, Kouki Applebury, Kazuki Applebury, and Isabella Applebury; and five great-great-grandchildren: Belladonna Applebury, Elizabeth Applebury, Paisley Applebury, Kenzie Zelee and Estelle Zelee. Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at 10:00 AM CST at the Noble Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 1411 US Highway 50, Noble, Illinois 62868. Pastor Larry Clonch will be officiating. The burial will be in the Sumner Cemetery. Sivert-Macey ; Steffey Funeral Home in Sumner, Illinois is in charge of the arrangements. Please visit www.emmonsmaceysteffey.com to view the tribute and to send condolences.
