Margaret J. Provance

February 18, 1925 - September 11, 2015

Margaret J. Provance, 90, formerly of Lake Lynn, PA, died Friday, September 11, 2015 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Russellville, AR. Though she was born and lived most of her life in the Point Marion area, she moved to Dardanelle, AR in 2007 to reside with her daughter, Sue Ann (Fields) Butts. Born Feb. 18, 1925 in Lake Lynn, she was the daughter of the late Harry Francis and Anna Mary (Hall) Bliss. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. William E. Provance, founder of the Nilan Apostolic Church in Nilan, PA. He served there as pastor for 43 years, and Margret was a strong supporter of his ministry each step of the way. She kept her membership at the Nilan Apostolic Church for 62 years, and in Russellville, she attended the Antioch Free Will Baptist Church. She was the last of her immediate family, having been preceded in death by 13 brothers and sisters: Edward “Buck” Franklin Bliss, Harry “Babe” Francis Bliss, Jr., Florence May (Bliss) King, Eleanor Louise (Bliss) Campbell, Dorothy Virginia (Bliss) Caton, May Elizabeth (Bliss) Fields Slusnys, John “Pete” Alvie Bliss, Jessie “Til” Leona (Bliss) Darrell Rhoades, Ray “Charlie” Mason Bliss, Laura Lee Bliss, Donna Bliss, David Bliss, and Viola Bliss. Surviving is her daughter and son-in-law, Sue Ann (Fields) Butts and Ronald D. Butts of Dardanelle, AR; granddaughters Carter Ann (Butts) Swindle of Russellville, AR and Erin Deanna (Butts) Anaya of Colorado Springs, CO., as well as a number of cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Friends will be received in the Nilan Apostolic Church Friday, Sept. 18 from 12:30 pm until the 2:00 pm hour of service, with the Rev. Charles Ruble officiating. Interment follows in Mount Moriah Baptist Cemetery, Smithfield. Serving as pallbearers will be Ewing Francis (Frank) Fields, Sam Stewart, Bill Best, Keith Guthrie, Ralph Nine, and Jerry Smith. Arrangements are in the care of the Richard R. Herod Funeral Home, Point Marion.