William "Melvin" Lee Hovis

William Lee Hovis, 84, of Greenville, passed away on December 18, 2024, at Mercy Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born to the late Harry and Magdalene (Leach) Hovis on March 5, 1940, in Hiram, Missouri. Melvin was a 1957 graduate of Greenville High School. 

Mr. Hovis and Shirley Cook were married on August 30, 1963, at Hurricane Fork Church. They celebrated 61 years of marriage and had one daughter, Tammy. William was blessed with the joys of having a daughter always by his side and later spoiled his grandson, Austin. Family meant a great deal to William and time spent together was precious. 

Known by his friends as the “Reverend”, he loved to play pitch with buddies at the Grassy store and he loved to eat their biscuits and gravy.  William always had a team of mules to pull his wagons. He farmed and raised pigs for most of his life and drove a school bus for Woodland and Greenville Schools for nearly 35 years. 

Survivors include his wife: Shirley Hovis; daughter: Tammy (Paul) McWilliams of Poplar Bluff; grandchildren: Austin McWilliams of Salt Lake City, UT, Emily McWilliams of Columbia, MO, Catherine Batson of Ridgeway, CO; sister: Audrey Stanfield of Cape Girardeau; great friends and neighbors: Marty and Lori Yount.  

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother: Jerry Hovis. 

Services will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at the Hutchings-Pendergrass Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Funeral Service will begin at 1:00 pm, with Bro. Alan Terbrak and Jeff Garland officiating. 

Pallbearers will be Marty Yount, Eddie Hovis, Stacey Cook, Jeff Walk, Kenny Holsum and Rick Clubb. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Ezell, Jody Lemmons, Lisa Frymire, Kevin Boyer and Wayne Meyers.