Sanford "Rusty" Ryals

Funeral Services for Sanford “Rusty” Ryals will be held Monday, December 20, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. from McClain-Hays Chapel with Rev. James Ruffin and Rev. Dwight Fleming officiating. Burial will follow in Arlington Baptist Church Cemetery in Neshoba County. Visitation will be held Sunday, December 19, 2021, at McClain-Hays Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. McClain-Hays Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Ryals, 83, of DeKalb, died Friday, December 17, 2021, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Rusty was a native of the Arlington Community in Neshoba County and a longtime resident of DeKalb. He was a 1955 graduate of Arlington High School. He retired from Dowdle Gas Company as manager. Rusty was a longtime active member of DeKalb Baptist Church where he was a deacon and a member of the Adult Men’s Sunday School Class. He retired from the U. S. Marine Reserves. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Mildred Ryals, of DeKalb; and a host of nieces and nephews. Rusty was preceded in death by his parents, Odis “Pete” Ryals and Edna Ingram Ryals; and brother, Paul Ryals. Pallbearers are William Crenshaw, Eugene Ryals, Joe Vandevender, Jim Hobgood, Mark Robertson, and Jack Harrison. Honorary pallbearers are Johnny Creekmore, Clayton Lang, Ted Dixon, Dave Thomas, Robert Smith, J. L. White, and Vennis Manning.