Vonah Lee Leathers

Vonah Lee (Butler) Leathers, 90, of Blytheville, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 20th, 2026, at the Gosnell Healthcare Center in Gosnell, Arkansas.  Born on October 26, 1935, in Paulding, Missouri, she was the ninth child born to the late I.O. and Ethel Layton Butler. 

Vonah attended school at Rives and Hornersville, Missouri. She worked in the Rives school system, self-employed at Leathers Grocery and in later years at Milwaukee Electric Tool in Blytheville, Arkansas. Wherever she worked, she always greeted everyone with a smile! While at Milwaukee Electric Tool she would often tease newcomers and visitors with a smile and a kiss, Hershey's that is! She would always help anyone, including helping to organize the potlucks and reunions. Friends and family always bragged on her cooking--chicken and dumplings and homemade hot rolls were the favorite crowd pleasers. She had a tremendous memory, remembering and calling all the people she knew throughout her life on their birthdays. Between smiles and kindness, she always made everyone feel loved and special.                                                                                         

In June 1954, she married Lyman Leathers, they lived in Rives and farmed until his retirement. 

She is survived by her four children: Michael Leathers, Blytheville, Arkansas; Chuck Leathers, Holland, Missouri; Terry (Charles) Shackelford, Yarbro, Arkansas; and Gail Farrow, Blytheville, Arkansas. She was blessed with eight natural grandchildren and two bonus grands: Hope (Jody) Lindsey, Blytheville; Dawn (Jeremy) Fowler, Cooter, Missouri; Hali (Adam) Hines, Steele, Missouri; Jodi (Ricky) Leathers, Kennett, Missouri; Nikki Quackenbush, Jonesboro, Arkansas; Kenneth (Puntaree) Chandler; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Charles Wayne (Shari) Shackelford, Bristol, Tennessee; Davey (Martina) Shackelford, Tallahassee, Florida; Jeremy (Tabatha) Farrow, Mountain Home, Arkansas; and Jordan Farrow, Mountain Home, Arkansas. Blessings continued to 16 great-grandchildren: Jayleigh Leathers, Steele, Missouri; Westin and Avery Hines, Steele, Missouri; Ryker, Tyton, Nash and Dayton Fowler, Cooter, Missouri; Oscar Quackenbush, Jonesboro, Arkansas; Brittney (Brett) Barlow, and Marissa Hensley, Bristol, Tennessee; Abby and Jillian Shackelford, Bristol, Tennessee; Trey (Christal) Shackelford, Norfolk, Virginia; Jasmine Shackelford, Tacoma, Washington; Skylar and Landon Farrow, Mountain Home, Arkansas. She also had two great-great-grandchild: Waylon Barlow, Bristol, Tennessee; and Maya Shackelford, Norfolk, Virginia. She leaves a host of nieces, nephews, and friends to remember her fondly.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, IO and Ethel Butler; her husband, Lyman Leathers; brothers: Oras, Dean, Bryce, Cloral, Lloyd, and Teeroy Butler; and two sisters: Imo Butler Ridge and Rebah Butler Masters. 

Visitation to be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the Powell Funeral Chapel, 1811 Southwest Drive, Kennett, MO. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral chapel with Reverend Danny Pankey officiating and Charles Chipman reading the obituary. Interment will follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kennett, Missouri.                                                                                                  

Pallbearers will include Jody Lindsey, Jeremy Fowler, Nate Bishop, Zack Bishop, Adam Hines and Jack Watkins. Honorary Pallbearers are Westin Hines and Ryker Fowler.

Powell Funeral & Cremation Services, Kennett is in charge of arrangements.