Mardell L Durnal

Mardell Lalman Durnal, 88, of Siloam Springs, Arkansas passed away Saturday, January 9, 2021 at the Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.

Mardell was born on November 21, 1932 in Iola, Kansas. She was the daughter of Kenneth H. Lalman and Bernita A. Willis Lalman. She married James Durnal on September 25, 1950 in Huntsville, Arkansas, celebrating 70 years of marriage. Mardell was an LPN, having received her certification in the only class offered in Siloam Springs and worked for the Woodland Manor Nursing home for 47 years. The families and patients she attended to and the nurses she trained admired her. She was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Siloam Springs and held a strong faith. She enjoyed camping, traveling, reading, and working crossword puzzles.

She is survived by her husband James Durnal; one daughter, Mary Alice Strickland and husband Stanley of West Fork, Arkansas; two sons, Clay Durnal and wife Jill of White Rock, New Mexico, Randy Durnal and wife Nancy of Fort Scott, Kansas; two brothers, Jerry Lalman of Mapleton, Kansas and Bill Lalman of Fort Scott, Kansas; one sister, Betty Kastle of Washington, Kansas; eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Shirley Foster and Eloyse Stewart: and one brother Kenneth Lee Lalman.

The family will hold a private graveside service. Arrangements are entrusted to the direction of the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Siloam Springs. To sign online guestbook please go to www.backstrom-pyeatte.com. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes or to the American Bible Society.