Obituaries
Notice of Passing
CORTEZ BELL Cortez Bell, 44, of El Dorado, passed away on June 21, 2017, at UAMS in Little Rock. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Sims Mortuary Inc.
DEBBIE BORDEN Debbie Borden, 46, of El Dorado, passed away.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Young’s Funeral Directors.
WILLARD L. LEE Willard L. Lee, 78, of El Dorado, passed away on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Courtyard Health and Rehab.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Young’s Funeral Directors.
STEVEN C. MASSEY Steven C. Massey, 59, of El Dorado, passed away on Wednesday, June 21, 2017.
Arrangements are under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
CARL H. PRIDGEN Carl H. Pridgen, 68, of Strong, passed away on Thursday, June 22, 2017.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Young’s Funeral Directors.
Reminder of Services
ELOISE BOYD Services for Eloise Boyd, 69, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at the Millard Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Farmerville, Louisiana, with the Rev. Stephen Dixon officiating.
Interment will follow at the Millard Hill Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. today at the Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Farmerville.
IRENE McLELLAND Services for Irene Van Dyke McLelland, 84, of Junction City, Louisiana, will be at 10 a.m. today at the Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church Family Life Center with the Rev. Rubin Weaver officiating. Interment will be in the Scotland Cemetery in Junction City, under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Junction City.
RODNEY S. SKIPPER Funeral for Rodney Shane Skipper, 50, of El Dorado, will be 10 a.m. today at Young’s Chapel with Bro. Ricky Smith and Bro. Stacey Johnson officiating.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. prior to the service today. Burial will follow at Adams Cemetery on Crain City Loop under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
JOHN TOLIN III Funeral for John “Butch” Tolin III, 70, of Louann, will be at 3 p.m. today at Young’s Chapel. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. prior to the service today. Arrangements are under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors, El Dorado.
FREDDIE C. WILLIAMS Funeral for Freddie C. Williams, 79, of El Dorado, will be at 1 p.m. today at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium.
Interment will be in Lott Burgy Cemetery under the direction of Sims Mortuary.
Obituaries
FRANK D. EEDS Frank David Eeds, 70, of Hampton died Thursday, June 22, 2017 at his home.
He was born Nov. 17, 1946 in El Dorado. He was a retired material handler for General Dynamics and a member of Dickenson Baptist Church in Harrell.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ivy Henry Eeds and Elizabeth Billie Brousard Eeds; and one daughter, Denise Eeds.
He is survived by his wife, Mackie Eeds of Hampton; two daughters, Paula Bryant of Batesville and Cindy Milligan of Wilmar; one son, Marc Ables of West Monroe, Louisiana; three sisters, Sandy Anders of Crossett, Rebecca Russell of Huttig, and Chrissie McGhee of Hammond, Louisiana; nine grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; two special friends, Art Lowery of Monticello and Mike Caldwell of Camden; and a host of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Life Touch Hospice, 2301 Champagnolle Road, El Dorado, AR 71730.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Dickenson Baptist Church in Harrell with the Rev. Mike Nutt officiating.
Arrangements are by Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce. To sign the online register visit www. bentonfuneralhome.net.
VIRGINIA D. ELLIOTT Virginia Dare Wooten Elliott, 92, of Tyler, Texas and formerly of Strong, passed away
June 20, 2017 at the University of Texas Health and Science.
Virginia was born June 22, 1925 to the late Charlie Smith and Levugga Parelee Frisby Wooten. She is a member of Green Grove Assembly of God where she was raised from the time she was a little girl. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother that will truly be missed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Euclid Elliott; sons, Milbert Elliott, Eddie James Elliott and John Coley Elliott; sisters, Lilian Fairy Wooten, and Reta Florice Frisby; and one infant sister.
Virginia is survived by Charlie “Pete” Elliott (Mona) of Camden, Euclid Elliott (Lisha) of El Dorado, Leonard Elliott (Melanie) of Fort Worth, Texas, Mae Henry, Rosie Warren (Roy), Gloria LaBeff, and Shelia Jernigan all of Tyler, Texas; 21 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and one step great-great-grandchild.
Visitation will be held from noon until 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, and funeral at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Green Grove Assembly of God.
Interment will be held at Green Grove Cemetery, under the direction of Perry’s Funeral Chapels.
Memorials can be made to Green Grove Assembly of God, 146 Sandyridge Lane, El Dorado, AR 71730; or to Green Grove Cemetery Association, 2871 Pigeon Hill Road; Strong, AR 71765.
Online guest registry at www.perrysfuneralchapels.com.
VERN HARRIS Vern Harris, 77, of El Dorado passed away on Monday, June 12, 2017. She was born on
Aug. 25, 1939 in El Dorado, to L.C. Welch and
Verda B. Williams.
Vern was a former employee of Warner Brown and a member of Zion Watch Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and one bother.
She is survived by her sons, Tim Welch of Tucson, Arizona, Johnny Davis of El Dorado, Eric Harris of El Dorado, and Charles Harris of Marion, Ohio; one daughter, Marion E. Johnson of Arlington, Texas; and one brother, Don Welch of Pine Bluff.
Public visitation will be from noon until 4:30 p.m. today at Sims Mortuary.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, at Zion Watch Baptist Church with the Rev. Donald Dredd officiating. Interment will be in Fellowship Cemetery in Lillie, Louisiana, under the direction of Sims Mortuary. Sign the guestbook online at www.simsmortuary.com.
JAMES E. JONES Lt. Col. James E. Jones, 88, of Hot Springs, passed away Tuesday, June 20, 2017 after a lengthy illness and a full life.
He was escorted into the arms of Jesus by Illa, his wife of 62 years, whom he has mourned for almost three years. A member of a large Clark County family, James was the eldest of six children born to Jimmy and Gertrude
(Todd) Jones. His siblings are Margie Shepherd of Auburn, Alabama, Kitty Slatton of Hot Springs, J.D. Jones of Chester, Virginia, Billie Croft of Jonesboro, Louisiana and Doug Jones of Bluffton, South Carolina.
James had accepted Christ and was a charter member of Third Street Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. He was a 1947 graduate of Arkadelphia High School, and also a graduate of Henderson State University.
He was a soldier and an educator, serving in the U.S. Army, 1st Cavalry in Northern Japan, and was a commander of the reserve unit at El Dorado. James was also a teacher, basketball coach, and administrator in the Arkansas Public Schools, retiring as superintendent of Union School District in Union County.
James enjoyed retirement at Bismarck, gardening, fishing, serving in the Bismarck Volunteer Fire Department and just being with his sweetie, Illa. He was fun and had a playful spirit all his life, developing friendships wherever he lived. Many respected his opinions, and he was a rock of support to the family he loved dearly.
Survivors include his siblings; children, Jim (Wendy) Jones of Hot Springs, Diane (Greg) Bell of Jackson, Tennessee, Davy Jones of Hot Springs, Mary Beth (Eric) Smith of Bossier City, Louisiana, and Chris Jones of Russellville; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday with the service beginning at 2 p.m. at Twin Lakes
Baptist Church, 3899 Highway 290, Hot Springs. Burial will follow at Gilchrist Cemetery in Friendship.
All who knew and loved James are welcome.
Online condolences at www.caruth-hale.com.
ELLIS McKNIGHT Ellis McKnight, 91, of Magnolia, passed away Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at the John R. Williamson Hospice House in El Dorado.
Ellis was born on April 12, 1926 in Union Parish, Louisiana to the late Willie Edward “Bill” and Avis (McCraigan) McKnight. He was a member of the First Baptist Church for 44 years.
Ellis was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Brenda Pless McKnight; grandchild, Paul David McKnight; three brothers, Otis McKnight, Peter McKnight, and Frank McKnight; and one sister, Claudean McKnight Sindle.
He is survived by his wife, Grace Cole McKnight of 60 years of Magnolia; son, V. Dean McKnight of Los Cruces, New Mexico; daughter, Rebecca “Becky” McKnight Blount and her husband, James J. “Jeff” Blount III of Picayune, Mississippi; grandchildren, Andrew McKnight and Sarah McKnight of Los Cruces, James D. “Jamey” Blount and his wife, Penny, of Crestview, Florida and James J. Blount IV of Bossier City, Louisiana; great-grandson, Landon Ellis Blount of Crestview, Florida; sister, Ruby McKnight Pepper; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Funeral will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Lewis Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Brent Summerhill and Bro. Roger Dunlap officiating.
Burial will follow at the Jolley Cemetery in Three Creeks Community in Union County under the direction of Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. in Magnolia.
Pallbearers will be James Blount, Jeff Blount, Richard Price, and Ricky Pepper. Honorary pallbearers will be Jamey Blount, WC Bryant, and Everett Biddle.
The family requests memorials be made to the First Baptist Church, 318 E. Main, Magnolia, AR 71753; or Life Touch Hospice, 2301 Champagnolle Road, El Dorado, AR 71730.
To sign the online guest book or to share a memory visit www.lewisfuneralhome.biz.
JUDITH A. OSBORN Judith Ann Osborn, 63, of Troup, Texas went to be with the Lord on June 10,
2017.
She was born
Nov. 30, 1953 in El Dorado, t o Dolwyn
“Judy” Woods and Robert Osborn.
Judith was a nurse that loved her patients. She loved her children and grandchildren, the outdoors and spending time with her family.
Judith was preceded in death by her parents; a special grandmother, Vera Hixon; step-father, Clarence Woods; brother, Rodney Osborn; and a granddaughter, Georgia Dimler.
She is survived by her husband, Gabrielle Suarez Gamez; five sons, Ronnie Huitt (Kathy) of Strong, Mark Huitt (Heather), Michael Martinez (Kellie), Javier Martinez, all of Troupe, and Carlos Martinez (Cori) of El Dorado; three daughters, Stacey Bolton (Shane) of Huttig, Jennifer Keathley (Michael) of Strong, and Juana Dimler of El Dorado. She has 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bobby Osborn of Kentucky, and Wayne Osborn of St. Joseph, Louisiana.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at New London Baptist Church with Bro. Terry Smith officiating.
All flowers need to be sent to the church today, New London Baptist Church, 1436 Winchester Road, Strong.
Online guest registry at www.perrysfuneralchapels.com.
VIOLA PALMER Viola Palmer, 104, of El Dorado passed away on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. She was born
Nov. 2, 1912 to Allen and Lucinda Daniels Nunley.
She was a very active and dedicated member of Beulah Grove Baptist Church for over 59 years.
Survivors are three daughters, Lucy Dunwood of El Dorado, Eula Davis of Wesson, and Ira Mijares, of Los Angeles; three sons, Robert Palmer of El Segundo, California, Floyd Palmer of Mount Willie, and Charles Ricky Palmer of El Dorado.
Public visitation will be from noon until 4:30 p.m. today at Sims Mortuary with family hour from 5-6 p.m. at Beulah Grove Baptist Church.
Funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at Beulah Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Luther Harris, eulogist.
Interment will be in Beulah Gove Cemetery under the direction of Sims Mortuary. Sign the guestbook online at www.simsmortuary.com.
VIRGINIA M. PICKERING Virginia M. Pickering, 88, of West Monroe, Louisiana, passed away Wednesday, June 21, 2017.
She was born Aug. 23, 1928, to E.B. and Zeffie McKinnon Mullen in Newell.
She worked in the trust department for First Nation Bank and Exchange Bank before her retirement. Virginia had been a resident at the Guest House in West Monroe, for several years.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Paul F. Pickering Sr.; and two brothers, Billy Wayne and Charles Mullen.
Survivors include her two sons, Paul Pickering Jr. (Jo Ann) of West Monroe, and Steve Pickering Sr. (Gail) of Monroe, Louisiana; four grandchildren, Trey Pickering (fianc, Leslie Jones), Ginny Bonnette (Daniel), Steve Pickering Jr. (Jeanine), and Brett Pickering (Becky); two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Mullen of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Roselyn Mullen of Springdale; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 24, 2017, at Young’s Chapel with Marcelle Crow officiating.
Visitation will begin at noon on Saturday prior to the service.
Burial will follow at Arlington Memorial Park under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
Memorials may be made to the Curtis Grove Cemetery Fund, 6604 Wesson Road, Junction City, AR 71749.
An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.
MABEL I. PITTMAN Mabel Irene Cary Pittman, 93, of Chidester, passed away peacefully on Tuesday,
June 20, 2017 at the
John R. Williamson Hospice House in El Dorado.
Mrs. Pittman was born August 26, 1923 in Union County to the late James Arzo Cary and Sarah Self Cary.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John Pittman, Sr. and three sons, John Pittman, Jr., Donald Pittman and Larry Pittman, one granddaughter, Tina Pittman, four brothers, Clinton, Elmer, Dewey and Elton, two sisters, Loy Harris and Virgie Fife.
Survivors include her three sons, Raymond Pittman and wife Dianne of Bryant, Billy Pittman and wife Tanya of El Dorado and Danny Pittman of Camden, twelve grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday, June 24, 2017, 9:00 a.m. until funeral services at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel of the Bailey Funeral Home, El Dorado, with Rev. Bob Inmon officiating. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 24, 2017 at the Holleman Cemetery, near White Oak Lake. Under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, El Dorado, AR.
Special thanks to grandsons, Kenny and Joey for the special care they gave there mamaw for the last ten years.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Lifetouch Hospice.
Please visit www.baileyfuneralhome.net to sign the online register book.
(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 870-862-6611).