Obituaries
Notice of Passing
TERI CALHOUN
Teri Calhoun, 52, of Smackover, passed away on June 30, 2017 in little Rock. Services will be under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
JOHN C. HASTINGS
John C. Hastings, 83, of El Dorado, passed away on June 30, 2017 at the John R. Williamson Hospice House in El Dorado.
Services will be under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
DAVID B. HEBERT
David B. Hebert, 63, of El Dorado, passed away on June 30, 2017. Arrangements will be under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
Reminder of Services
DOROTHY J. MALCOM Funeral for Dorothy “Sweet Thang” Jean Brown Malcom, 80, of El Dorado, will be at 2:30 p.m. today at New Bethel Baptist Church with Pastor Bobby Patterson, eulogist. Interment will be at Lott Burgy Cemetery under the direction of Sims Mortuary.
RODNEY J. McGHEE
Service for Rodney Jerry McGhee, 78, of El Dorado, will be at 11 a.m. today at Beulah Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Singelton officiating. Burial will follow in Beulah Grove Cemetery under the direction of Andrews Funeral Home.
JEFFERY S. MORGAN Funeral for Jeffery S. Morgan, 55, of Smackover, will be held at 2 p.m. today at Westside Baptist Church with the Rev. Robby Sherman and the Rev. Cody Lain officiating.
Burial will follow at Union Baptist Cemetery in Old Union under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
Obituaries
CORTEZ D. BELL
Cortez Delane Bell was born July 29, 1972 to Robert Bell Jr. and Mary Benson Bell. He graduated from Farmerville High School in Farmerville, Louisiana and attended Southern University in Baton Rouge.
He worked as the general manager for Pilot Travel
Center in Rayville, Louisiana and manager of both McDonald’s and Wendy’s Restaurants.
Cortez was a member of
Miles Memorial Church of
God in Christ where he served as a deacon, Usher Board president, Finance Committee member, assistant Sunday School teacher and District Usher Board president for Magnolia East District.
He leaves to cherish his memories his mother, Mary Benson Bell of El Dorado; daughter, Keila McGee of Farmerville; son, Cortez Delane Moy of Dallas; brothers, Maurice Bell of El Dorado, and David Hegwood of Texas; one sister, Roberta Bell of El Dorado; and a special friend, Jackie Simpson of El Dorado.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Theongela LaDon Bell.
Public visitation will be from noon until 4:30 p.m. today at Sims Mortuary. Funeral will be at 2:30p.m on Sunday, July 2, 2017 at Morning Star Baptist Church with Pastor Felton Burgie, officiating and the Rev. Miller, eulogist. Interment will be at Beech Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Spearsville, Louisiana, under the direction of Sims Mortuary. Sign guestbook online at www. simsmortuary.com.
JOHN H. KIDWELL SR.
John Howe Kidwell Sr., age 76, of Warren, passed away Thursday, June 29, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family and Sweet, his beloved pet.
He was born Sept. 28, 1940, in Midland, Texas, a son of the late F.L. Kidwell and the late, Johnie Faye Howe McKinney. He married the love of his life, Anna Lee Wright Kidwell on May 19, 1962. He often proclaimed Momma was the most beautiful woman he ever laid eyes on. He told everyone he met, he never had a family and his life began when he married Momma and they had children. He loved the United States of America and was a proud Arkansan. He began his life in public service in the United States Navy serving from 1958 to 1961. He proudly served the citizens of Arkansas from 1962 until 1997, in the Arkansas State Police.
He retired as a captain of Troop F in Warren. He served two terms as the sheriff of Bradley County. He was a member of Good Hope United Methodist Church. He served as a lay speaker and then pastor for over 30 years at Good Hope United Methodist Church and New Edinburg United Methodist Church, where he loved sharing his faith and made life long friends. He was a past Masonic Grand Master of Arkansas. He found great joy in having his children home, watching deer, visiting people, bragging on his grandchildren, sharing his faith and helping others.
Preceding him in death was his wife, Anna Lee Kidwell; and one grandson, Carson Pifer.
Survivors are two sons, John Kidwell II and his wife, Angie, of Hermitage, Tony Kidwell and his wife, Brandy of West Point, AR; five daughters, Kelly Rowell and her husband, Stewart, of Warren, Kerry Gambill and her husband, Gary, of Warren, Kandy Burt of Warren, Robin Pifer and her husband, Trey, of Banks, and Mary Lara of Harrison; three sisters, Cherie Bryant of Alpena, Karen Roberts of Midland, Texas, and Shelley Hummel of Boerne, Texas; 22 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral will be at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 2, at First United Methodist Church in Warren. Burial will be in Williams Cemetery under the direction of Frazer’s Funeral Home of Warren. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until service time on Sunday, at First United Methodist Church. Memorials preferred to Fe Fe’s Soup Kitchen or Good Hope United Methodist Church. Online guest register www.frazerfuneralhome.com.
ARTHUR M. WESSON JR. Arthur Marklen Wesson Jr., 76, a retired production supervisor and Army veteran, passed away on June 25, 2017, following a battle with cancer. He was born Dec. 31, 1940, in Minden, Louisiana, to Arthur M. Wesson Sr. and Frances Wiley Wesson.
Known from babyhood by his friends and family as Buddy, he was raised in Magnolia, and graduated from Magnolia High School in 1958. He received his bachelor of business administration degree from Southern State College in 1968 and worked for ConAgra Foods for 25 years, retiring in 2003.
A longtime resident of El Dorado, Buddy served his community as a board member for various organizations, including the Jaycees, PTA, Episcopal EYC, and the Desoto Boy Scout Council. He was a member of First Methodist Church in Ashdown.
He was a good and loyal friend to many and a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was happiest when on the golf course, watching Razorback games, or spending time with his family.
Buddy is survived by his wife of 54 years, Carroll Gross Wesson; daughters, Michelle Crews and her husband, Joe, of Arlington, Texas, Tricia Burke and her husband, Mark, of Garland, Texas; son, Mark Wesson and his wife, Viviane Seki Sassaki of San Mateo, California; granddaughter, Elisabeth Crews of Shreveport, Louisiana; and many extended family members.
A memorial service, with military honors, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery with interment to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, Wounded Warrior Project, or the Gary Sinise Foundation.
The family will be at 1322 Forbes Drive, Garland, Texas. Services will be under the direction of Eastgate Funeral Home, of Garland.
(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).