Edwards v. Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance

The testator and his wife, Ava Thornton (now Collins), lived in the main house of the 1,050-acre plantation in Desha County from 1930 until his death in 1961. Ava Collins continued to live in the main house until it burned in 1989.

The testator left a will in 1961 devising one-half of the plantation to his wife, Ava, and was silent about the life estate in the other one-half. He devised the remainder interest in the plantation in thirds: one-third to Ava; one-third to his daughter, Annie Thornton Edwards; and one-third to his grandchildren, James Edwards and Kathy Fossick. The testator stated…