Thelma Lafferty

Born Sept. 18, 1920, in East Prairie, daughter of the late James O. and Mary E. Douglas Ditto, she was a lifelong resident of East Prairie. She was of the New Life Pentecostal belief.

On Oct. 9, 1945, in East Prairie, she married James W. "Bill" Lafferty who preceded her in death on Jan. 18, 1994.

Survivors include: four sons, Billy Lafferty, Danny Lafferty, Robert Lafferty and Eddie Lafferty of East Prairie; four daughters, Almeda Curvin of East Prairie, Marilyn Simmons of Ellsinore, Brenda Long of Greenville, Ind., and Charlene Moss of Lebanon, Tenn.; one brother, Marvin "Red" Ditto of East Prairie; and 28 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Also preceding her in death were two daughters, Angie Ruth Lafferty and Frances Ann Lafferty; and three brothers, Edmund Ditto, Charlie Ditto and Jewell Ditto.

Visitation begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at Shelby Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Burial will follow in the Dogwood Cemetery near East Prairie.