Nina Mae Orchard

Nina Mae Orchard, age 86, of Ava, Missouri, passed away peacefully, on Saturday, July 20, 2024. She was born August 17, 1937, in Success, Arkansas, to Charley and Lillie (Kelley) Barks. Nina was a Christian and was very strong in her faith. She loved the Lord with everything that was in her.

Nina went to school in Senath, Missouri, and was the eldest of six kids. Her father passed away when she was only 15 years old and after she completed the 8th grade, she stayed home to work in the cottonfields and help take care of her siblings.

In 1971, Nina was united in marriage to James Edwin Orchard, Sr. They moved to Eminence, Missouri, where they began their life together and raised their six children, Stevan, Tony, Lisa, Michael, Vanessa , and Jamie. Nina always loved anything crafty and in her spare time, she loved to garden and s e w. She opened a shop in Eminence called “Nina’s Knot Shop”. She loved teaching others how to sew, make flower arrangements, and macrame. She was also very involved in the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and 4-H.She enjoyed taking the kids hiking and cave spelunking. In 1980,she and her family moved to Hot Springs,

Arkansas, where Nina was the praise and worship leader for her church. She loved to sing and play the guitar a little. Nina went back to school and on October 10, 1988, she received her GED, then went on to get a degree in the Culinary Arts. She was the best cook! N i n a always wanted to move back to the Missouri Ozarks and in 1992, she and her husband moved to Ava, Missouri. S h e spent her days cooking, gardening, sewing, quilting, and loving on her grandchildren.

Nina is survived by her sister, Audrey; her children, Stevan and wife, Judy, Tony and wife, Tami, Lisa and husband, David, and Vanessa and husband, Reggie; her grandchildren, Hannah, Brandon, Allison, Trey, Michaela, Kimberly, Adam, TJ, Heather, Len, TJ, Aaron, Jessica, and Jason; a very special great grandson, Lane Harding; and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James; her brothers, Robert, Lee, and Richard; and her sons, Michael and Jamie.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday,July 24, 2024, at Yarber Mortuary, Eminence, Missouri, with Pastor Oren Alcorn officiating. Visitation was held prior to the service from 1-2:00 p.m. also at the funeral home. Interment was in Pine Lawn Cemetery, Winona, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at LBDA.org. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.