Orval Heywood took many historic photos of Maryville in the 1950s through the 1980s and was also the main photographer for the Forum and Maryville High School yearbook.
While he took thousands of photos, there are relatively few of him during his heyday. This photo is from the 1967 Maryvillian. Robert E. Cobb was a journalism teacher at the high school at the time. His son Phil Cobb purchased the Forum from Gatehouse Media in 2013, making Maryville one of the few cities in the country to have a locally owned newspaper. He sold it to the Garners in 2012 and then reacquired it in February 2026.
Orval Nicholas Heywood, 96, of Maryville, died January 27th, 2017, at Liberty Health & Wellness Center, Liberty, MO.
He was born October 15th, 1920, in Scribner, NE, the son of Bernard and Sophie (Weiman) Heywood. He married Thelma Jean (Jeannie) Carpenter on Dec 12th, 1941, in Papillion, NE. She passed on January 1st, 2007.
Orval served in the US Army Air Corps as a Staff Sergeant in WW II and was honorably discharged in March of 1946.
He began his photography career with Walt Studios, traveling to do school pictures. Later, he opened a studio on the Maryville square. He enjoyed many years taking pictures for NWMS, school photos, weddings, and local events.
In March of 1962, he joined the Maryville Host Lions Club. He served as District Governor, Club Secretary, and was awarded Lion of the Year in 1995-96 and then the International President’s Leadership Medal in 2010. That year, they changed the club’s Annual Golf Tournament to the Maryville Host Annual Orval Heywood Golf Tournament in his honor. He was also a long-time member of the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation Board of Directors and collected over $22,000 in his “Penny Jug” for them. He was an avid golfer and attributes his long life to the game of golf. One year, he played over 200 rounds and, at 94 years old, shot a 39 on nine holes. He was a great supporter of Mozingo Golf Course and donated to the new Tom Watson junior pitching and putting area. He felt it was a great opportunity to pass along a lifetime sport to kids of all ages.
Orval is survived by his sister Bernadine Zivonovic, his sister-in-law, Jeanie Heywood, his son James (JB) Heywood, and his granddaughters Jewel Callahan (Terry) and Jacqueline Kodas (Todd). He also leaves his 6 great-grandchildren and 10 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma Jean; his 4 brothers, Dr. Leo, Herbert, Clarence, and George Heywood; and his grandson, James (Jamie) Nicholes Heywood.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation.
A visitation will be 1:00-2:00 PM Friday, February 3, 2017 at the Price Funeral Home, Maryville, Mo. A Celebration of Life will follow the visitation at 2:00 PM. Interrment will be in Miriam Cemetery, Maryville.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com