Obituaries
Notice of Passing FREDA B. PATTERSON
Freda B. Patterson, 98, of Brownwood, Texas, formerly of El Dorado, died Thursday, May 4, 2017 in Brownwood. Arrangements will be announced by Bailey Funeral Home.
Reminder of Services BILLY R. AGERTON
Billy R. Agerton, 89, of Strong, passed away Friday, May 5, 2017, at the John R. Williamson Hospice House.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 7, 2017, at Green Grove Chapel.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 8, 2017, at the church with the Rev. Ricky Smith and the Rev. Colby Agerton officiating. Burial will follow at Green Grove Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
Memorials may be made to Green Grove Chapel or to Green Grove Cemetery Fund.
An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.
JERRY BAXTER
Memorial service for Jerry Baxter, 62, of El Dorado will be at 11 a.m. today at Beulah Grove Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Luther Harris Jr. officiating. Cremation arrangements are by Andrews Funeral Home.
NORMA J. JERRY
Funeral for Norma Jean Jerry, 85, of El Dorado, will be held at 10 a.m. today at Young’s Chapel with the Rev. Robert Lee and Bro. Tommy Robertson officiating. Burial will follow at Liberty Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
VIRGINIA JONES
Funeral for Virginia Jones of Waldo, will be held at 3 p.m. today at St. Matthew Baptist Church, Col 62 W, McNeil, with burial to follow in St. Matthew Cemetery under the direction of Henderson Funeral Service. Public viewing at the end of the service only.
LaRUE H. PHILLIPS
Graveside services for LaRue Hines Phillips, 81, of Bryan, Texas, formerly of El Dorado, will at 2 p.m. today at Rest Haven Memorial Park in El Dorado, with the Rev. David Prothro officiating, under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
LEO RUCKS
Funeral for Leo Rucks, 82, of El Dorado, will be at 2 p.m. today at Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. John W. Elliott officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery under the direction of Andrews Funeral Home.
Obituaries ALSTON R. GRAY SR.
Funeral for Alston R. Gray Sr., 61, of Spearsville, Louisiana, will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at Camp Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Buddy Boatwright, the Rev. Robert E. Lee, and the Rev. Joe Floyd Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Camp Creek Cemetery under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home in Farmerville, Louisiana.
Mr. Gray, a small engine mechanic, went to his heavenly home on May 3, 2017. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather and was a member of Camp Creek Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Joan Lowery and Maynard Gray; step-dad, Liston Lowery; and one brother, Patrick Michael Gray.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 40 years, Ruby J. Gray; three sons, Thomas Alston Gray and his wife, Nicole, of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Alston R. Gray Jr. and his wife, Amber, of El Dorado, and Fred George Gray of Spearsville; four brothers, Jim Gray and his wife, Cheryl, of Truxno, Louisiana, Robert Slayton and his wife, Judy, of Truxno, Ricky Slayton of Truxno, David Lowery and his wife, Debbie, of Monroe, Louisiana, and William Gray of Wisconsin; one sister, Marie Gray Lotta and her husband, Jeff, of Beloit, Wisconsin; three grandchildren, Juston McKinney, Lillian Holubik, and Nicole Raine Holubik; and various nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Matt Sharp, Josh Sharp, John Rhodes, James McAdams, Robert E. Lee and Eric Sumner. Honorary pallbearers are Robbie Sharp, Joe Floyd Thomas, and Jake Sharp.
Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Monday at Farrar Funeral Home.
Online messages for the family may be left at farrarfuneralhomeonline.com.
JEFF D. HUST
Jeff David Hust, 51, of Three Creeks, Arkansas passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at home.
Born on Oct. 29, 1965 in Swartz, Louisiana, he was the son of Alvin J. Hust and Helen New. Jeff was a member of the Three Creeks Baptist Church. He was an Arkansas State Trooper, C.I.D. working for the Arkansas State Police in law enforcement and was also a Mason.
Jeff was preceded in death by his fathers, Alvin J. Hust, and Johnny New; and son, Joshua David Hust.
Survivors are his wife, Shelbi Hust of Three Creeks; mother, Helen New; sons, Colby Hurst (Stacy) of Rison, and Corey Hurst (Amy) of Three Creeks; daughters, Charlotte Brown (Andy) of Three Creeks, Scarlotte Duncan (Amanda) of Jacksonville, along with grandchildren, Kenny, Abel, Cole, Mac, Lauren, Gracie, Bo, and Grayson; sisters, Carolyn Walters (Cedric), Denise Hust, and Nila Green (Jay); brother, Terry Farmer; and a multitude of brothers and sisters in blue.
A memorial and Masonic funeral will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, 2017, at The El Dorado Municipal Auditorium under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors and with James Sparks and Brandon Gurley officiating. Memorials may be made to Officer Down Memorial, P.O. Box 1047, Fairfax, VA 22038 USA.
An online guest registry is available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.
NAMEN THOMAS
Namen Thomas, 53, of El Dorado, formerly of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away May 4, 2017 at St. Vincent in Little Rock. He was born on April 19, 1964 to Levi Thomas Sr. and Claudia Todd James.
He graduated from McRae High School in Mount Holly, and he worked for Christopher Homes.
He was preceded in death by his mother; and two brothers.
Survivors are his father, Levi Thomas Sr. of Mount Holly; his daughter, Melody Hall of Pearcy; two sons, Namon Thomas II of North Carolina, and DeAngelo Gilmore of Jacksonville; sisters, Lessie Richardson Fogle of El Dorado, Polly Cowser of El Dorado, Betty Ann Boone of Camden, Diane Thomas Williams of Jacksonville, Monique Thomas Joy of Jacksonville, Kim Utsey Whitehead of Baltimore, Maryland, Dorothy Standoak of Waldo, Retha Warson of Fort Worth, Texas, Ida Jean McIntyre of Mabelvale, and Caprice Thomas of Ohio; brothers, Levi Thomas Sr. of Baltimore, Jerry Thomas of Hot Springs, Anthony James of Jacksonville, Andre James of Jacksonville, and Albert James of Jacksonville; a special friend, Barbara Williams of El Dorado.
Public visitation will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. today at the Sims Mortuary. Funeral in Jacksonville, Florida to be announced. Sign guestbook online at www.simsmortuary.com and like us on Facebook.
(The deadline for full obituaries for the next day’s newspaper is 4 p.m. The deadline for death notices is 5 p.m. the day prior to publication. Obituaries submitted after these deadlines will not be published the next day, but will run in the following day’s newspaper. For more information about costs of obituaries and photos, call 870862-6611).