Pulaski County
THOMAS LEONARD ALLEN, 90, of Little Rock, died Wednesday, June 26, 2019 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born January 16, 1929 in Decatur, Alabama to Leonard and Loleet Allen. He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Esther Outlaw Allen.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Bonnie Gunter Allen; five children, Amy Roupe (Ed) of North Little Rock, Thomas Allen Jr. of Little Rock, Tracey Conway (Herb) of Margate, Florida, Terry Inman (Jim) of West Monroe, Louisiana and Laurie Cole (Mark) of Parkland, Florida; three step-children, Michelle Moore (Gary) and Rob Gunter of Little Rock and Lori French (Dave) of Dallas, Texas; two brothers, Gerald Allen (Cynthia) of Coral Springs, Florida and John Allen of Fort Myers, Florida, one sister, Lyndel Metzler (Leo) of Columbia, S.C., nine grandchildren, one great-grandson, six nieces and two nephews.
Tom graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1951. Tom worked many years for Little Rock Road Machinery Company and at the age of 61, went to work for J.A. Riggs Tractor Company as an Aggregate Specialist. After 50 years in the road construction and heavy equipment industry, he retired in 2001.
Visitation will be held at Smith Funeral Home, 1921 Main Street, North Little Rock at 10 a.m., Monday, July 22, 2019 followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Arkansas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Please share your special memories with the family online at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
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KHERI AYERS, 29, of Little Rock passed away July 11, 2019. Funeral services will be held Saturday July 20, 2019 at Grace Temple AME Zion Church, 3221 South Gaines Street, 11 a.m.. Viewing from 10 to 11 a.m. with services immediately following. Services entrusted to Premier Funeral Home, 1518 South Battery Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72202. (501) 376-4800.
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LEWIS SOLOMON BLOCK III, age 66, of Little Rock, Ark. passed away on Monday, July 15, 2019. Lew was the son of Lewis and Carrie J. Block. Lew is survived by his daughter, Lora Ferguson and husband Casey of Austin, Texas, grandchildren, Cash and Mae Ferguson and sister, Babs Fowler and husband Gray of Jackson, Miss. There will be a private family memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Wolfe Street Foundation, 1015 Louisiana Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72202.
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Mr. FRANK BOYKIN JR., 57, of Little Rock, Ark. passed Tuesday, July 16, 2019. Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 20, 2019, at Brown Funeral Home Pine Bluff by Rev. Aaron Johnson. Burial in Forrest Lawn Cemetery by Brown Funeral Home. www. brownfunneralhome.com.
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MARSHALL A. DAY SR., of Little Rock, passed away on 13 July 2019 at the age of 98 in San Antonio, Texas.
He was born in Mt. Vernon, Ark. and lived most of his life in Little Rock. He was married to Virginia Lee Bailey for 63 years until she preceded him in death in 2001; they raised two children, Marshall Jr. and Dianne Williams. He is survived by his children, six grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. Marshall retired from AT&T in 1981 after 40+ years of service and moved to the Enola/Mount Vernon area in the early 1990s where he was a member of Naylor United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home in Little Rock. Marshall will be laid to rest at Mount Holly Cemetery, 1 p.m. Sunday. To sign the online guestbook, click “Add A Memory” at: www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.
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LUKE ALAN DUZAN, age 36, of Maumelle, died Wednesday. He was born on May 14, 1983, in El Dorado. A private family conducted graveside service will be held at Forehand Cemetery near Dover with arrangements by Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. The online obituary and guestbook are available at www. shinnfuneral.com.
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MONICA JACKSON, 49, of Little Rock passed away July 11, 2019. Funeral services will be held Saturday July 20, 2019 at Grace Temple AME Zion, 3221 South Gaines Street, 11 a.m. Viewing from 10 to 11 with services immediately following. Services entrusted to Premier Funeral Home, 1518 South Battery Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72202. (501) 376-4800.
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BRUCE GRAY SHARP was born on July 8, 1933 and died on his birthday 86 years later.
He was an artist who led an adventurous life, painting in fantastic detail, more like Remington or Russell than Warhol or Pollock – and different from most of the known artists in that he never desired the spotlight, never claimed to even be an artist, but his work spoke for itself to those fortunate enough to acquire an example.
Bruce was born in England, Arkansas, where he graduated from high school in 1951. His mother was named Ruth Gray Sharp, his father was William Parker Sharp Sr. and he had two brothers, William “Bill” Parker Sharp, now deceased, and Robert “Bob” Lawrence Sharp, of Sherwood.
He was a veteran, having enlisted in the United States Army and serving two years in Germany at the end of the Korean War. Bruce returned to finish his college education at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, and received his BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in the late 1950’s. He then began employment with “The Dallas Morning News” and in 1963 found himself in the massive turbulence which surrounded the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He was a reporter assigned to the case and on duty when Jack Ruby murdered Lee Harvey Oswald amid a throng of reporters. Later, he returned to Arkansas and eventually became head of art and graphics for the various and voluminous publications of the Arkansas Health Department. He worked that job for 21 years. Bruce was an avid outdoorsman who especially loved duck hunting on the Big Ditch. He went something like 18 years hunting wild turkeys, before having to give it up, with only one killed – although he would still get angry if that was ever pointed out. For approximately 40 years he gathered a few times each week with a group of friends and admirers, first at the After Thought and then at Ciao Baci. Bruce left instructions that Mary Healey, his caregiver at Andover Place, should be recognized because she did so much for him in the last part of his life. And for many years now, there has been a friend who defines the rafters, an absolutely loyal friend and hunting buddy named Steve Brooks. A quiet and extraordinarily talented man is now lost.
Graveside services and burial will be at the Arkansas Veterans Cemetery, 1501 West Maryland Ave., North Little Rock on Monday, July 22 at 1 p.m. Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Services, 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas. 501-9823400.
A special “happy hour” for friends will be at Ciao Baci, 3846 Beechwood, Little Rock on Wednesday, July 24 from 4:30-6 p.m. Help us celebrate Bruce’s life. His online guestbook is available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com.
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TAYLOR THOMPSON, 22, of Little Rock passed away July 13, 2019. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a celebration of Taylor’s life at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 20, 2019 in the Student Center of New Life Church, Greater Little Rock. Extended obit and guestbook at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
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DERONDA JEAN TUCKER, 82, of Little Rock died Monday. Survivors, partner, Larry Atkinson, brother, Mack Tucker, nieces, Beth Little, Alison Tucker, greatniece, Brenna Little, great-nephews, Andrew Little, Cooper Little, Patrick O’Brien. Visitation: 12 noon, Saturday, First United Methodist Church, Des Arc. Funeral services at 1 p.m. Burial, Lakeside Cemetery. www.garthfuneralhome.com.
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BEVERLY ANN TURNER, 63, of Mabelvale passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2019. Funeral services will be Saturday, 1 p.m at New Hope Nazarene Church, 5519 Atwood Rd., with visitation one hour prior to service starting at 12 noon. Burial in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Online obituary and guest register: www.smithfamilycares.com.