Russell Leon French, 63, of Doniphan, Missouri, died Thursday, May 15, 2008, at the Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan.

Mr. French was born January 7, 1945, at Harviell, Missouri. He was a self-employed producer of specialty hardwoods. He enjoyed cooking and was a perfectionist at woodworking.

On December 1, 1962, he was married to Sharon Carter at Rockford, Illinois. She survives.

Also surviving are one son, Russell D. French of Doniphan; two daughters, Tonia Jackson of New Haven, Kentucky, and Heidi Moore of Doniphan; his mother, Bethel Wolverton French Tyler of Doniphan; one sister, Barbara Jones of Harviell, Missouri; two brothers, James French of Hazelwood, Missouri, and Harvey French of Harviell, Missouri; nine grandchildren: April, Shelia, Kim, Josh, Trisha, Shelby, Gabrielle, Isabel and Jacob and seven great-grandchildren: Levi, Alex, Tanner, Kristopher, Eli, Gracen and Eric.

Mr. French was preceded in death by his father, James Harvey French.

Visitation will be Friday evening, May 16, 2008, from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will be Saturday, May 17, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home chapel with Brother John Payne officiting. Burial will follow in the Pitman Cemetery.