Edwards v. Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance

Tom Glaze, Justice.

This case involves the construction of the will of J. P. Thornton, who died on September 2, 1961. Thornton was survived by his widow, Ava West Thornton (now Collins), a daughter from a prior marriage, Annie Laurie Thornton Edwards, and two grandchildren, James Edwards and Kathy Edwards Fossick. Since Thornton’s death, the relationship between Ava and Thornton’s daughter and grandchildren has been strained.

Thornton’s will devised Ava an undivided one-half interest for her life in his plantation situated in Desha County. In following paragraphs of the will, he devised Ava and…