Ken Spruell, known by some as Ken but by many as simply “Spruell,” was called to Heaven on September 29, 2025. He was 78 years old. He died from complications of stroke after three years of valiant battle.
Spruell was born June 26, 1947, to Nathaniel Rufus and Pauline Spruell. He grew up in the former Old Overton mining village near Irondale, Alabama. After high school he served in Vietnam as a member of the Air Force, graduated from the University Montevallo, and then achieved success as an executive in the insurance industry. After serving in similar roles in California and Tennessee, Spruell became President of Molton, Allen & Williams, a large insurance broker based in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1999, pursuing his dream of living in the country and running a small-town insurance agency, Spruell promised to build Patti her dreamhouse if she would agree to move home to Dothan. Having convinced Patti to leave their beloved home in Birmingham, Spruell joined The Baxter Agency in Dothan, as Vice President and was instrumental in the eventual merger/acquisition of The Baxter Agency and Molton, Allen & Williams. Spruell and some of his colleagues later bought The Baxter Agency where Spruell served as President until health issues forced him to retire at 75. For many years, Spruell also served on the Board of Advisors for the Business School at the University Montevallo.
Spruell leaves behind his wife Patti Palmer Spruell, his brother Johnny, his son Jason Spruell and wife Joy, his children of the heart through marriage Glenn and Sean Sanders, his grandchildren Nathan, London, Lance and Laurence Spruell, his grandchildren by marriage Rabon, Ralls, and Jenni Pennington (and several great-grandchildren through them), his daughter-in-law, Ruth Spruell; his son-in-law through marriage, Mike Pennington; his nephew and lifelong friend, Danny Elkins, Danny’s wife Patsy, and many more cherished nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and cousins as well. Spruell was preceded in Heaven by his parents; his siblings Hubert, Elizabeth, Leon, Neal, Clyde, Mary, and Sarah; his son, Michael Derek Spruell; and his daughter of the heart by marriage, Peyton Pennington.
Pallbearers will be Jason Spruell, Glenn Sanders, Paul David West, Ralls Pennington, Ray Wiehe, Bill Lovrich, Donnie Peters and Doug Kitchens. Honorary pallbearers are Darrell Raulerson, Hovie Sawyers, and grandsons Lance, Laurance, Nathan and London Spruell.
Funeral services will be held at Sorrells Funeral Home in Slocomb on Thursday, October 2, 2025 with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. and services commencing at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Wendell Holmes and Rev. Tommy White officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Peyton’s Chapel, adjacent to Ken and Patti’s home which is located at 11780 Fortner Street, west of Dothan. A reception for friends and family of the Spruells will then be held from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Southerly House, 1609 County Road 74, Dothan, AL 36301. Flowers are welcome, but so are donations in Spruell’s memory to either Sardis Missionary Baptist Church in Dothan or Kitty Kottage in Dothan.
Mr. Herb Allen Van Slyke, Sr. “Grumpy” passed away on Monday, September 29, 2025 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was 81.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, October 4, 2025 in the Chapel of Sorrells Funeral Home Slocomb.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to service.
Herb was born on December 26, 1943 to the late Robert Evans and Thelma Winters Van Slyke in Cornwall, New York. He graduated high school, served his country through Military Service, in the United States Army, and continued to serve his community by being a business man. He was the owner of Cycle Service in Dothan since 1981. He was an avid, Auburn football fan, loved fishing, and motorcycles.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Jean Van Slyke.
A legacy of love and leadership will continue through his surviving family, Janett Van Slyke, his loving wife; a daughter, Barara Van Slyke; two sons: Allen Van Slyke (Heather), Robert Van Slyke (Trishia); grandchildren: Trent Johnson (Caitlin), Drew Arnold, Cade Van Slyke, Regan Johnson (Tyler), Caleb Brannon, Hunter Welch, Olivia Welch, Emily Van Slyke, Kylar Royals, Raylee Van Slyke; great-grandchildren: Remington Brannon, Jaxtyn Johnson; one brother, Robert E. Van Slyke, Jr.; one sister, Gail Cunningham; numerous nieces, nephews, and an extended family member Taressa Trammell.
Betty Jo Watford Wells, 89, of Malone, Florida and long time resident of Samson, Alabama passed away on September 27, 2025. A beloved daughter, sister, mother, and teacher, Betty Jo lived a long and meaningful life defined by her strength, dedication,and love for those around her.
Born on February 3, 1936, Betty Jo was the cherished daughter of Edward Watford and Lina Griffin Watford. She later married Donald D. Wells, with whom she shared many years of love and partnership. She is survived by her daughters, Lisa Holloway (Jason) and Wendy Morris (Randy); grandchildren Zack Holloway (Elizabeth), Brooke Morris and Rachel Morris; great granddaughter Jane Holloway; as well as her sister Lurie Long (Lynn) and her brother, Bobby Watford (Florene).
A highly respected business education teacher, Betty Jo left a lasting mark on her students and colleagues. Known for her no-nonsense style, she ran a tight ship in the classroom, instilling discipline and determination in all those she taught. Beyond her career, her passions included gardening, cheering on The University of Alabama football and following college basketball. She was also admired for her love of beautifying spaces, both indoors and out—a gift she carried into every facet of her life.
In keeping with her wishes, no formal service will be held. The family extends their deepest gratitude for the love, prayers and support of cherished friends, the church community and Southern Care Hospice whose kindness has been a source of comfort and strength.
Randal Michael Gates passed away peacefully at his home in Dothan Alabama on September 22, 2025 at the age of 60.
Randy was born July 1, 1965 at St Anthony’s hospital in St Petersburg Florida to parents George Michael Mesologitis (Gates) of New York City and Jacqueline Ann Gates (nee Larnerd) of Pennsylvania. Growing up in Florida, Randy enjoyed visiting sites of interest around the state with his mom and stepdad Gino, as well as recreational activities and travel with his dad. He also enjoyed visiting family near Binghamton New York during summer breaks. He graduated from Gibbs High School in St Petersburg in 1984, where he was involved in JROTC, Spanish club, and varsity wrestling. His nickname in high school, “Gator,” foreshadowed a lifelong dedication to the Florida Gators. After high school, Randy enlisted in the United States Air Force, following the examples of his father who served in the Greek Hellenic Army, and his then-recently deceased stepfather Gino, a former Staff Sergeant in the USAF. He completed basic training at Lackland AFB, was trained in munitions systems at Lowry AFB and Tyndall AFB, and served in the 325th Tactical Training Wing’s Equipment Maintenance Squadron at Tyndall, maintaining weapons systems for F-15 aircraft.
Randy was introduced to the love of his life Jeanné through her best friend, Mayra. He infamously arrived at their first date after helping a friend repair their car, with a wrench in his back pocket and covered in grease. Nevertheless, a strong connection was made and they continued dating throughout his time in the Air Force, spending time together when he was on leave and generating substantial long distance phone charges while he was away. They were married on October 1, 1988 and resided in Pinellas county Florida where their two sons, Michael and Brennan, were born in 1990 and 1997 respectively. The family relocated to Alabama in 1998 but he remained fond of Florida and his time there throughout the rest of his life. He was proud of his paternal Greek heritage, being the son of a first-generation American father who fought beside Allied forces in World War II as a member of the Greek Hellenic Army’s Sacred Squadron, 3rd Raiding Forces. The family’s roots in Greece go back to the island of Chios, descended from one of the few survivors of the third siege on Messolonghi during the Greek War of Independence. The family’s original surname, Mesologitis, was reportedly adopted by survivors of the massacre after being displaced from their homes and families.
Randy was a dedicated member of Harvest Church for over 20 years and served on multiple service teams. He also served diligently with the tape ministry for numerous years, providing recorded copies of services for those who were unable to attend. He was a passionate blood donor, donating at every opportunity, and received recognition as a “three galloneer” by the Lifesouth blood bank. He was a proud member of the NRA, and passed his enjoyment of firearms and recreational shooting to his sons and grandson. He enjoyed fishing and outdoor recreation, as well as puzzles, boardgames, and locksmithing. He was an avid fan of Wheel of Fortune and rarely missed an airing. Ever the dependable, dedicated worker, Randy recently celebrated 25 years of employment with McLane distribution, where he received numerous recognitions for his outstanding performance throughout his time there.
He is preceded in death by his wife Jeanné (nee Rosano), dear mother Jackie Wolkins, father George Gates, stepfather Gino Vannicola, and sister in-law Lenie Taylor.
He is survived by his stepfather Jeff Wolkins of New Port Richey FL, brother Tom Taylor of Durham NC, sister Kathy Allis of Vestal NY, sons Michael Alan Gates and Brennan Randal Gates (Isha), grandson Elliott Michael Gates, brother in-law Thomas Rosano Jr (Kim) of Macon GA, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Randy was exceedingly loyal, loving, and dedicated as a husband, father, and son. We are devastated that our time with him was cut short so unexpectedly, but we take comfort in knowing his soul is at peace and he is reunited with his beloved wife and the loved ones who departed before him. His lifelong demonstrations of unwavering strength, loyalty, dedication, and love ensure his legacy lives on through the memory of this man of utmost integrity, and the lasting effects of his devotion to those he loved.
A celebration of Randy’s life will be held at Harvest Church in Dothan Alabama on Friday October 10th, 2025 at 2 pm. The family will receive visitors at 1 pm prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Randy’s memory.
CW3 (Ret) Ronald Leon Arsenault Jr., Ret. U. S. Army, died Sunday, September 28, 2025. He was 67.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Sunday, October 5, 2025 at Searcy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mark Fronduti officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M., Sunday, October 5, 2025 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Friends of Army Aviation.
Ronald served his country honorably for 24 years—18 years in the U.S. Army and 6 years in the U.S. Air Force. A seasoned pilot, he logged over 18,000 flight hours during his military career and was a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. His passion for aviation carried into civilian life, where he founded Arsenault Aviation, a respected FAA testing center for commercial pilots. Through his company, he certified roughly 33,000 students, shaping the future of aviation with integrity and excellence.
Outside of his professional achievements, Ronald’s heart was always with his family. He was a devoted husband and gave everything for his wife. He was an exceptional father who even coached his son in soccer, football, and baseball, often structuring his work around Jason’s games so he never missed a moment. He owned his own airplane and loved to travel, but no adventure was greater to him than watching his son grow.
He was preceded in death by his son SGT. Jason Arsenault, and father Ronald Arsenault Sr.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Debby Arsenault, Newton, AL; two grandsons, Nathan Arsenault, Newton, AL, Auston Arsenault, Prattville, AL; parents, Rick and Quida Bodiford, Prattville, AL; sister, Wanda Jones, Prattville, AL; two brothers, Don Arsenault, Prattville, AL, Richard Arsenault (Lynn), Lineville, AL; two special angels, sister and brother-in-law Ricky and Anita Carter; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends
You may sign the register book or send condolences to the family at our website: www.searcyfuneralhome.com.
NEWTON…Mr. Ben Samuel “Pete” Watson, a resident of Newton, died early Sunday afternoon, September 28, 2025, at his home. He was 88.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, October 1, 2025, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Tommy Giddens and Pastor Bill Mansfield officiating. Burial will follow in Newton City Cemetery. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Watson was born and raised in Newton, the son of Lonnie Frank Watson and Bennie Mae Golden Watson. Though life took him to central Florida for about thirty years, Newton was always home in his heart, and he eventually returned to the place where it all began.
He and his wife ran a shop called Creative Touch in Wiregrass Commons Mall, where they poured their time, energy, and love into the business. It wasn’t just a job—it was something they built together.
Mr. Watson had a deep love for the land. He found peace in gardening and took pride in caring for his cattle. These quiet moments outdoors were where he felt most connected to the world around him.
Faith was a big part of his life, and he was a devoted member of Newton First Assembly of God Church, where he found community and strength.
He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Jennifer Nicole Watson; four sisters, Nancy Keen, Eileen Price, Mary Lou Holton, and Mary Judah, three brothers, Bobby Gene Watson, James Howard Watson, and Samuel Junior Watson. Though they’re no longer here, their memories live on in the stories and love that Mr. Watson carried with him.
Surviving relatives include his wife of sixty-nine years, Elizabeth Rachel Watson; two sons, Daniel Watson (Brenda) and Timothy Watson (Stephanie), all of Newton; brother, Billy Gene Watson (Mary), Newton; grandchildren, Kyle, Brandi, Terry, Tanya, Melanie, Mandy, Melinda, and Bubba; great-grandchildren, Maci, Arial, Marty, Madyson, Kadden, Aaliyah, D.J., Lauren, Rea, Bradon, Braden, Aubrie, Devin, Kaitlynn, Anthony, Trevor, Damon, and Alaih; fifteen great-great children; nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Serving as active pallbearers will be D.J. Watson, Brandon Watson, Kyle Watson, Kadden Roberts, Jordan Watson, and Terry Watson.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
