J.A. (Andy) Nivens

J.A. (Andy) Nivens, 98, of La Russell, passed away May 28, 2019, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon. He was born the middle child of seven on the family farm Nov. 2, 1920, to George and Addie (Vaughn) Nivens.
Nivens graduated from Mt. Vernon High School. Sometime after graduation, he and his brother, Delbert, lived in Wichita, Kan., where he worked for Boeing before the United States joined WWII. He joined the Navy in 1942, and served in the Pacific Theater as part of the Naval Air Fleet maintenance crew.  After his service concluded, he returned to the farm where he worked for nearly 66 years. He married Vera Ruth Brock in 1951, in Bentonville, Ark.; she preceded him in death in -- 2001.
Nivens worked for a number of years at the Lawrence County ASCS office measuring crops and administering farm programs. He was elected to serve more than 20 years on the ASCS County Committee. He was a member of the American Legion Lewis Wilkinson Post 588 for 70. He was a lifelong member of the Fellowship Baptist Church and attended Round Grove Baptist Church in his later years.
Nivens is survived by: son, James (Carolyn) Nivens;  daughter, Debbra (Roger) Bowles ; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by: his parents; wife; three sisters and three brothers.
Graveside services were under the direction of the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home in Miller, May 31, 2019, at the Fellowship Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.