Arlene Bywater, the daughter of Orville and Irene (Hayes) Singleton, was born July 23, 1936 in Craig, Missouri. She attended school in Craig. Her family moved to Tarkio, Missouri and Arlene graduated from Tarkio High School in 1954.

On May 16, 1954, Arlene was united in marriage to Eddie Ray Bywater in Tarkio. They made their home in Tarkio their entire married life, and became the parents of five children.

Arlene was employed by the United States Postal Service for nearly 40 years, retiring as Postmistress at the Westboro, Missouri Post Office. For a short time she worked at the popcorn plant in Hamburg, Iowa. Arlene was a tireless mother and grandmother, literally raising most of her grandchildren. Her life was devoted to caring for her family and felt blessed to have 27 grand and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed working in her yard. Arlene passed away Friday June 25, 2010 at Community Hospital-Fairfax, Missouri at the age of 73 years.

Besides her parents, Arlene was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Misty Lybarger, and son-in-law, Ron Gibbons. Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Eddie, of their home in Tarkio; daughter, Deborah Gibbons, Tulsa, Oklahoma; four sons, Mike Bywater, Tarkio, Phil Bywater, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Stuart Bywater, Tarkio, and Jon Bywater and his wife Amber, Tarkio; 10 grandchildren, Angela, Jacob, Sarah, Pamela, Jeremy, Shylo, Justin, Briacin, Cameron, and RayLeigh; 17 great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Delilah, Cadence, Noah, Haley, Emily, Jayden, Darika, Alexis, Ariel, Arlene, Kyle, Noah, Brandon, Jordon, Brooklyn and Nicholas; five sisters, Delores Pritchard, Rose Wilder, Jackie Anderson, Ann Feldmon, and Marion Bywater; three brothers, Richard, Jesse and Henry Singleton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services:
11:00 am, Tuesday, June 29, 2010, Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio, Missouri
Interment: Home Cemetery, Tarkio
There is no scheduled family visitation.
Open visitation will begin 9:00 am Monday June 28 at Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.
Memorials may be directed to the Arlene Bywater Memorial Fund.
Online condolences and obituaries at www.minterfuneralchapels.com
Services directed by Davis Funeral Home Tarkio