Obituaries
NOTICE OF PASSING JOHN LAWRENCE PUMPHREY
John Lawrence Pumphrey, 76, of Junction City, passed away on Thursday, April 8, at Life Touch Hospice, following a lengthy illness and stay at MCSA. A memorial to celebrate his life and to honor his passing will be held at the First Baptist Church, 112 N. Myrtle St., Junction City, AR, on Saturday, April 17 at 11:00.
OBITUARIES FADLALLAH HASSEN “F.H.” TAWEEL
Fadlallah Hassen “F.H.” Taweel, 83, of Smackover passed away peacefully on Friday, April 9, 2021 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
F.H. was born in Syria on October 18, 1937 and immigrated to the United States as a teenager. He was adopted by his uncle and aunt, Smoin “Charley” and Lola Miller Taweel. He is a 1956 graduate of Smackover high school and earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Louisiana Tech University in 1960. He later would earn a master of arts in teaching degree from Tulane University.
F.H. was a career teacher and taught for 32 years in the Homer, LA, Smackover, and El Dorado school districts. His legacy as an educator lives on in the lives of the thousands of students he taught throughout his career. He retired from teaching in 1992 and began a second career as an associate at Walmart in El Dorado until his retirement in 2002.
F.H. was an avid camper and was a member of the Derrick City Sams Chapter of the Good Sam Camping Club in which he was a life member. He also enjoyed carpentry, handyman projects, gardening, socializing with friends and family, and raising his sons Omar and Jerome.
F.H. was a Christian and a lifelong member of Smackover First Baptist Church. In his own words he once said, “when I die, don’t cry for me - that’s celebration time for me!”
F.H. leaves behind his wife of 25 years, Linda Taweel, his sons Omar (Katrenia) and Jerome, stepsons Adam (Theresa) and Charles Chandler, step grandchildren Josh Rodgers, Justin Bricklen, Ryan, Derin, Handley, and Chancie Chandler, and his beloved labrador retriever “Cookie”.
The family will receive guests at Perry Funeral Home in El Dorado on Thursday, April 15 from 1:00 - 2:00 with graveside services following at 2:30 at the Smackover Cemetery. Due to the continuing threat of COVID-19, please follow the CDC established procedures by wearing a mask and social distancing.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Lifetouch Hospice in El Dorado or the Alzheimer’s Association.