Pulaski County

B. SUZANNE DILLARD, 72, of North Little Rock passed away Monday, August 22, 2016. She was born October 27, 1943 in Conroe, Texas to the late Donald and Doris Birdwell Barnes. Suzanne worked at Levy Church of Christ for over 32 years as secretary and women’s ministries leader.

She is survived by her son, Gray (Elizabeth) of Maumelle; daughter, Nancy Myers (Lowell) of Pangburn; grandchildren, Lyndsey, Ryan and Bethany Dillard; sister, Cynthia Voitle (Glenn) of Houston, Texas; brother, Donald Barnes of Houston, Texas; sister-in-love, Peggy Garner (Doyce) of Bryant; and a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Jane Davenport, and grandparents Daddy Bert and Mimi Birdwell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Levy Church of Christ (women’s ministries), 5124 Camp Robinson Road, North Little Rock, Arkansas, 72118. A visitation will be held from 9:3011 a.m. Saturday, August 27th, followed by a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. at Levy Church of Christ. Arrangements by Smith – North Little Rock Funeral Home. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.

––––– ––––– VOUNCIEL HARRIS, retired teacher and actress for Historic Arkansas Museum, passed August 22nd. Wife of the late Rev. Adolphus Harris; mother of three, Lynette Harris-Mucker, Carlton Harris and Antoinette (Phil) Carter and 13 grandchildren. Daughter of the late George and Mary Maize. Memorial services: Friday, 11 a.m. at Shiloh SDA Church, 2400 S. Maple, Little Rock. Services entrusted to Robinson Mortuary, 4511 E. Broadway, NLR (501) 374-0111. Sign online guest book at www. robinsonmortuary.com. “Service You Can Trust.”

––––– ––––– NICHOLAS JAMES MAHONEY, lovingly referred to as “Sweet Nicholas”; the infant son of Sara Palmer and Bryan Mahoney; passed away peacefully August 22, 2016. Nicholas was born July 13, 2016 in Little Rock. Services will be private at Arkansas Memorial Gardens, under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

––––– ––––– BARRY MIDDLETON JR., 72, of Little Rock, Arkansas passed away August 21, 2016. He was born on August 4, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois to Willie Dupree and Barry Middleton Sr. He worked 21 years for Entergy Arkansas (AP&L). In 2010, he retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Barry was a member of Hunter United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife Essie; daughter Rosalyn; sister Verna Middleton (Toledo, Ohio). Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 27 at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church with a viewing one hour before. Visitation will be Friday, August 26, 2016 from 1 til 6 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Premier Funeral Home, 1518 S. Battery St., Little Rock, Ark. 72202 (501) 376-4800.

––––– ––––– Dr. THOMAS PATRICK ROONEY, 80, passed away August 22, 2016, at Springhill Baptist Hospital in North Little Rock due to metastatic renal cell carcinoma. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Mildred and Donald Rooney on September 20, 1935. He was raised in Kansas City and graduated from St. John’s Seminary in 1955.

Dr. Rooney’s college career began at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis where he studied to become a Roman Catholic Priest. After a short time at Kenrick, he decided not to enter the priesthood and returned to Kansas City to graduate from Rockhurst College in 1957. Following graduation, he entered St. Louis University School of Medicine and earned his medical degree in 1961. After medical school, he enlisted in the Medical Corps for the United States Navy as a lieutenant and completed an internship at Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Illinois, then served at Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay until 1966.

He completed an orthopaedic residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children in Decatur, Georgia, before settling in Little Rock to join the practice of orthopaedist, Dr. John Hundley in 1969. A few years later, he opened his own practice in North Little Rock where he remained for the duration of his medical career.

Dr. Rooney’s career as an orthopaedic surgeon reflected compassion and devotion to the thousands of patients he served. He was beloved and respected for his intelligence, calm demeanor and integrity. He is remembered by colleagues not only for his kindness, but also his quick wit and sometimes off-color comments; often seen making rounds in designer jeans and occasionally accompanied by grandchildren. Even though he was dedicated to his profession, he always made time for family and friends. He loved playing golf, spending time at his farm in Cabot, working out, practicing yoga and reading. A cherished family memory is of him sitting on the sofa with a dog in his lap surrounded by books, magazines and newspapers with reading glasses perched at the end of his nose and his head buried in a book.

Dr. Rooney is survived by his wife of 40 years, Jessica Rauton Rooney, of North Little Rock; daughter, Meredith Cox and her husband Robert of Fayetteville; daughter, Erin Wheeler and her children — Sheridan and Jackson of Chicago; daughter, Kathleen Rooney of Hot Springs; daughter, Maggie Thompson and her husband Geoff and their children — Connor and Callum of Maumelle; son, Patrick Rooney of North Little Rock; brother, Tim Rooney of Pine, Colorado; sister, Gayle Deveney of Raytown, Missouri; former wife, Marilyn Rooney of Jefferson City, Missouri; many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews and dogs, Sally and Stella. Dr. Rooney was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Donnie Rooney.

Dr. Rooney is grateful for the service of his professional family at the McCain Orthopaedic Clinic over the last four decades. The family would like to thank his nurse, Terry Stafford, his office manager, Terri Watson and staff, Lisa Farquharson and Rachel Heffington, for their years of dedicated loyalty and commitment to his practice.

Heartful gratitude is extended to the doctors, nurses and staff of Springhill Baptist Hospital in North Little Rock who expertly and lovingly cared for Dr. Rooney over the last month.

Please join the family to honor the life of Dr. Rooney. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 26th, at Smith-North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, from 6 to 8 p.m. Father Joseph Orlowski will deliver a Latin Mass at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Saturday, August 27th, at 1 p.m., 211 West 19th Street, North Little Rock.

Charitable donations may be made to the following organizations: Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Ste. 300, Jacksonville, Fla., 32256, www. woundedwarriorproject.org, National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, New York 10016, www.kidney.org, or North Little Rock Animal Shelter, #1 Championship Drive, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72118. Visit the online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.

––––– ––––– Elder EARLY TOLBERT JR. of Little Rock, passed August 16th. Survivors: wife of 31 years, Everline Morgan Tolbert; sister, Earlene Tolbert; sons, James Tolbert and Joseph Carter; daughter, Lisa Tolbert; stepson, Derrick Morgan; stepdaughter, Trionna Morgan; grandson, Trooper Tolbert. Services, 11 a.m. Friday 1st Corinthians Baptist Church, 2922 East 2nd Street, North Little Rock. Services entrusted to Watson Northcrest. 501-812-5303.

––––– ––––– BRIELLE WILLIAMS, 1 month, of Little Rock, Ark., peacefully passed on August 19, 2016. Preceded in death by her grandfather, David Jackson. Her loving survivors include: mother, Lillian Allmon; father, Brandon Williams; sister, LaRyiah Williams; brother, Brandon Williams Jr.; grandparents, Rene’ Davis, Priscilla & Ricky Thompson and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins. A celebration of her life will be on Friday, August 26, 2016, 10 a.m., at Moody Chapel AME Church, 5630 Mabelvale Pike, Little Rock, Ark. Interment will follow at Arkansas Memorial Gardens, NLR, Ark. Arrangements by: Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home, 1200 S. Chester St., LR (501) 372-1305.