Out-of-state

HOMER, Alaska — Longtime Homer resident, Scotty (Harry Scott) Bacon, died age 76 on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4, 2017, at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. No services will be held as per Scotty’s request.

Scotty was born January 23, 1941, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He played football at Central and Hall High before graduating from Hall High in the class of 1960. He furthered his education at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, studying business and engineering. Scotty served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1966. He was TT Intercept, Specialist Five (in Intelligence) stationed at Menwith Hill, England. He received the Good Conduct Medal and an Expert Rifle (M-14) commendation. After being discharged, he headed north to Alaska — a place he had always wanted to go. He was waylaid, however, and ended up working as surveyor for 7 years in the Pacific Northwest before moving to Homer in 1975. Between 1975 and 1994 he worked on many major projects in Alaska, including the oil pipeline, the gas pipeline, Terror Lake Hydro Electric and Bradley Lake Dam. He retired from the Teamsters in 1994. Scotty loved woodworking and watching football with his friends.

He was known as a hard worker, always generous to a fault and always helping friends, neighbors and strangers while refusing anything in return. He leaves behind many close friends and football buddies and will be sorely missed by all his loved ones.

He was preceded in death by his father George Francis Bacon and Doris Varner Bacon-Yahm. He is survived by his wife, Terri Bramel of Anchorage and Homer; sons, Justin Bacon of Kobe, Japan, and Ryan Bacon of Anchorage.

Memorial donations in memory of Scotty may be made by paying it forward with random acts of kindness. Arrangements made by Homer Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Please visit or sign his inline guestbook at AlaskanFuneral.com.

–––––❖––––– McDONOUGH, Ga. — Rev. Charlie Harris, Jr., 81, McDonough, Ga., died September 3rd. Funeral Saturday, 1 p.m., Columbia District Auditorium, Magnolia. Interment: 23rd Psalms Cemetery, Rev. Cedrick Mitchell officiating. Survivors: wife, Marva Lavern Harris; children: Jimmie and James Harris, Charlotte Smith; siblings: Dorothy Clark, Nettie Banks, Christopher Wilkins. R.L. Reed Funeral Home, Magnolia.

–––––❖––––– RIDGELAND, Miss. — Carolyn Cockrill Pugh, passed away September 11, 2017 in her sleep at her residence in Ridgeland, Mississippi. A celebration of her life will be held this Sunday, September 17th at The Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Greenwood, Miss. Visitation will begin at 2:30 p.m. and the service starts at 3:30 p.m. Greenwood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The family would like to invite those attending for refreshments after the service, at the home of Susie and Jim Tackett.

Carolyn was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on November 18th, 1936, to Rebecca Driver Cockrill and Judge James Mitchell Cockrill. She attended high school at Central High School in Little Rock, then continued her education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. She met George L. Pugh of Portland, Ark., while at school and was married in 1957. They lived in Portland, Arkansas, raised three children, and later divorced.

Carolyn was a full time mother and was very active in her community. She helped start the Portland Riding Club, participated in local archeological digs, established the town Christmas tree tradition and donated her time to help with other civic projects. Her fascination with airplanes led her to take flying lessons and she soloed when she was expecting her third child, Leyden, in 1966. She went on to become an instrument rated pilot and started her own charter business, Air Fare. In 1972, Carolyn participated in the all female pilot race, The Powder Puff Derby, which was a cross country competition from New Jersey to California. She was designated an Aviation Safety Counselor by the FAA in 1974.

In 1981, Carolyn graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Journalism. She remained in Fayetteville after graduation and was Vice President at Creative Processes Ad Agency, was a Rotarian and a member of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church. She worked as a freelance writer and published articles in the Gazette and the Arkansas

Democrat papers.

Carolyn bought property and began building a lake house in Garfield, Ark., on Beaver Lake near Eureka Springs. She split her time between being a fraternity House Mother in Fayetteville while overseeing the construction of her home. She became a House Mother for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and a few years later went on to do the same at Kappa Sigma. Once her home was finished, she spent all of her time there due to an accident that affected her mobility. There she had four dogs, two goats, a chicken coup and became a master gardener. She had wonderful friends and was a member of the Saint James Episcopal Church in Eureka Springs.

Due to an additional injury, in 2012, Carolyn decided to move back to Fayetteville, however, her time there would be short lived. She moved to Greenwood, Mississippi, in 2013 to be near her daughter Susie due to her failing health. She became a member of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity, enjoyed gardening and was active in the Four Seasons Garden Club. Carolyn celebrated her 80th birthday with a big party in November 2016 with firiends and family. Due to her health, she made another decision to move to Jackson, Miss., in February of 2017. She was a resident at The Blake assisted living community at the time of her death.

Carolyn was, as many would say, a “character.” She said what she felt like, did what she wanted and was known for her colorful, sometimes racy jokes. She had a sharp tongue and a sweet heart. You never had to guess at what she might be thinking! She slowed down with age, but loved reading, gardening, her dogs and watching The Charlie Rose Show.

She is survived by her three children, Rebecca N. Pugh and her husband Dean Jabs of Bethesda, Md., Susan Pugh Tackett (Jim) of Greenwood, Miss., George Leyden Pugh Jr. (Jan) of Lake Village, Ark., her brother, Dr. James Mitchell Cockrill of Fayetteville, Ark., her sister, Becky Cockrill Rotenberry of Alexander, Ark., and 10 grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to: The Humane Society of Leflore County, 601 Lone Street, Greenwood, Miss. 38930; The Humane Society of the Ozarks, 1020 One Mile Road, Fayetteville, Ark. 72704, or a charity of your choice. An online guestbook may be signed at www.greenwoodmsfuneralhome.com.

–––––❖––––– RIDGELAND, Miss. — Margaret Lee Ponder Thompson, 83, died Sept. 10 at home in Ridgeland,

Miss., after a protracted illness. A native of Nashville, Ark., she was born on Jan. 17, 1934, to the late Ira and Jewell Tolleson Ponder – who were both members of pioneer Howard County families.

Margaret was the wife of Byron Damon Thompson Sr., whom she married in January 1953 and who passed away in September 2014. She is survived by a daughter, Laura Rebecca Thompson of Ridgeland, Miss.; two sons – Marshall Ray Thompson II of Flower Mound, Texas, and Byron Damon Thompson Jr., of Washington, DC; two daughters-in-law – Missy Silzer Thompson of Flower Mound, Texas, and Lisa Mullins Thompson of Washington, DC; two grandchildren: Laura Catherine Thompson of Dallas, Texas, and Robert Byron Thompson of San Francisco, Calif.; and close friend Carol Melton of Canton, Miss. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Hollis Ponder.

A family graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, at Nashville Cemetery. Visitation will take place at 1 p.m. at Latimer Funeral home in Nashville, followed by a 2 p.m. memorial service there. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Children’s Homes, Inc., of Paragould, Ark. (http://www.childrenshomes.org/).

Margaret graduated from Nashville High School In 1951, and entered Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia, Ark., that same year. She interrupted her education to marry Byron, who was then a basketball coach at Saratoga, Ark. (and later became manager of the Ideal Cement Plant in Okay, Ark.) She had met him while playing basketball for Nashville High School against her future husband’s team. As she put it: “I saw that good-looking man walk in the gym carrying his clipboard, and I said to myself, ‘That’s the one!’”

Twenty-five years and three children later, with all offspring away at college, Margaret resumed her own education – first while commuting from Okay, Ark., to Henderson in Arkadelphia. Following moves to Denver, Colo., and Mobile, Ala., she and Byron retired in Little Rock, Ark., where at the age of 60 she received a Bachelor of Science in Writing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Margaret was a member of the Arkansas Pioneer Branch of the National League of Pen Women, and published two oral histories of her beloved Howard County: one about Okay titled “A Village in Time,” and one about Nashville titled “A Peach of a Place.”

She was a member of Sunset Church of Christ in Nashville, Windsong Church of Christ in North Little Rock, Ark., the Mine Creek Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Nashville Literary Club, and was a life member of the Nashville Junior Auxiliary. She served as president of the Saratoga-Okay PTA, as the first woman in Howard County ever appointed to serve on the board of the Farmers Home Administration, as Coordinator of the 1970 Decennial Census in Howard County, and as Howard County Republican Committeewoman during the administration of Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller.

In Denver, she was a member of the Children’s Hospital Auxiliary and worked as Student Affairs Director for the College of Financial Planning.

–––––❖––––– OKLAHOMA CITY — Marilyn June Nelson, 83, of Oklahoma City, Okla., passed away on September 11,

2017, following a courageous, extended battle with Alzheimer’s disease. June was born on March 26, 1934, in Pine Valley, Okla., to Oswald “Babe” & Ruby McAdams. After a few early years in Wright City, Okla., June’s family moved to Kansas City, Mo., and later to Hot Springs, Ark. June was Homecoming Queen at Drury University, and then earned Master’s Degrees from both the University of Arkansas and Henderson State University.

June was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Carolyn Hill of Blue Springs, Mo.; husband, Larry Nelson of Hot Springs, Ark.; and son, Steven Riordan of Fayetteville, Ark.

June worked as a counselor at the Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center, and retired after 22 of service. June and Larry Nelson were active members of the Hot Springs Elks Lodge, where Larry once served as the Exalted Ruler.

June enjoyed her many grandbabies, dancing, bingo, excursions with her friends and time at the lake. June always will be remembered for her sweet and lighthearted nature. She had an infectious laugh and was quick to make new friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl L. Prince of Edmond, Okla.; her sons, Gary R. Riordan, of Little Rock, Ark. and Jerome L. Nelson, of Fairfield, Conn.; 12 grandchildren, Stephanie Loree Hughes, Laura Edwards, Jared Prince, Caleb Prince, Courtney Garrison, Rachel Merritt, Spencer Riordan, Neely Riordan and Amanda Nelson, Theodore Nelson, Moriah Nelson, Sarah Nelson and; four great-grandchildren, Jayden Hughes, Jacob Hughes, Elizabeth Edwards and Owen Edwards.

A graveside funeral service will be held at the Little Rock National Cemetery on Friday September 15th at 12 noon. Arrangements are with Hot Springs Funeral Home. Online condolences at www.hotspringsfh.com.

–––––❖––––– SPIRO, Okla. — Alma Lucille Carter Faughn, 86, of Spiro, Oklahoma died Monday. Visitation 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Thompson-Wilson McCrory Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside services 2 p.m. Friday at Woodman Cemetery. Sons, Jimmy Faughn, Michael (Minnie) Faughn; daughter, Gloria Faughn; seven grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great-grandchildren. thompsonwilsonfh.com. 870731-2551.