Obituaries

OBITUARIES Information for the obituaries and funeral notices below was supplied to the Arkansas

Democrat-Gazette Advertising Department by funeral homes. For more information including cost and deadlines contact the advertising department at (501) 378-3889.

BELLA VISTA — Glenn Boggess, 68, of Bella Vist a passed away April 16, 2017. Born to George and Etta Meeks Boggess on March 3, 1949, in Kearney, Mo. Preceded in death his wife Patricia and sister Joyce Waters.

Survivors: four sons, Greg and Stephen Boggess of Bella Vista, John and Erich Boggess of White City, Kan.; one brother, Delbert Boggess of Kearney, Mo.; 16 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th, Rogers. www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com.

BELLA VISTA — Bill Bray, 54, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Saturday, April 15, 2017, at Northwest Medical Center. He was born Dec. 13, 1962, to Fred and Ruby Bray in Mountain View, Calif. He was a field technician engineer for Cummins Allison. He is survived by his wife, Cyetta and sons, Bryan and Robbie. No services are planned. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.

BELLA VISTA— Christopher Dale Henderson, 57, of Bella Vista passed away on April 19, 2017, at Circle of Life at Legacy Village in Bentonville after a long battle with esophageal cancer. He was born on March 16, 1960, in Springdale, Ark., to the late Elmer and Betty Henderson.

He is survived by his loving wife, Pamela ( Morey) Miller Henderson of the home; children, Rory Henderson and wife, Ashley and their children, Adalie and Ethan of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Katie Henderson of Rogers; Chad Miller of Salt Lake City, Utah; Corey Miller of Rogers and Collin Miller of Fort Bragg, N.C.; sisters, Mitzi Huffman of Louisiana; Gina Moreno of Texas; uncle, Don Miller and wife, Shirley of Rogers.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 24, 2017, at Highlands United Methodist Church in Bella Vista.

Arrangements under the care of Rollins Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made atwww. roll ins funeral. com.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Highlands United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.

BELLA VISTA — Gerald Peter Schultz, 74, of Bella Vista died April 22, 2017, at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville. He was born June 25, 1942, in Detroit, Mich., to Pete and Arlene (Hampe) Schultz.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include many family members and friends.

Condolences: www. eptingfuneralhome.webs.com.

BENTONVILLE — Charles E. Dickey, 84, of Bentonville passed away April 22, 2017, in Bentonville. He was born March 8, 1933.

Arrangements are pending by Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th, Rogers.

LINCOLN — Winnie Mae Emerson, 77, of Lincoln, Ark., passed from this life on April 20, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. She was born Sept. 18, 1939, in Missoula, Mont., to Fred and Daisy Cheesman. She is preceded in death by her parents; twin sons, James and John Thomas; and her sister, Carol Dyer.

Winnie’s memory is cherished by her loving husband of 34 years, Clark Emerson; her children, Ron Thomas and his wife Joy, Debbie Thomas, Susan Cruikshank and her husband Bobby, Michelle Milder and her husband Steve, and Donna Mae Donlon and her husband Jeff; her brother, John Cheesman; 20 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Winnie worked for 21 years in the Lincoln School system. She was loved by everyone and had a contagious smile. She will always be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

A memorial service will be 3-5 p.m., Sunday, April 23, 2017, at the Auditorium of the Lincoln Middle School.

Share memories of Winnie on her memorial at www. WestfieldChapel.com.

LITTLE ROCK— Howard Ray Garrett, 86, of Little Rock, passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017, surrounded by his family. He was born Sept. 10, 1930, in Farmington, Ark., to the late, S. L. and Lillie Garrett. He grew up in Prairie Grove, Ark.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Algie, Earl and Ivan and two sisters, Sylvia and Tena Mae.

Ray is survived by his wife of 57 years, Patsy Garrett; son, James (Robin); daughter, Beverly Neal (Chip); two grandsons, Garrett Neal (Riley), Matthew Neal; two granddaughters, Payton Loundy (Ryan) and Dara Garrett; four great-grandchildren, Ayden and Avery Neal, Gabriel Garrett and Elizabeth Loundy; and three sisters, Marjorie Shelley, Melba Garrett and Maxine Allen.

Ray worked 64 years in construction, as an equipment operator. He retired at age 82 from Moyer Excavating and Trucking Company for whom he worked over 20 years.

Although he was a workaholic, he enjoyed gardening and bowling. He gardened in big numbers such as 75 to 100 tomato plants plus other vegetables; this allowed him to generously share with friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and attending sporting events that included his children and grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home Chapel, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. 72211, (501) 224-8300. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at Sharp Cemetery in Prairie Grove, Ark.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimers Association, https://act.alz.org.

Online guestbook: www. roller funeral homes. com/ chenal.

MAGAZINE — Billy E. Krigbaum, 76, a resident of Magazine, passed away Friday, April 21, 2017, at his home.

Cremation arrangements are private under the direction of Roller Funeral Home in Paris. Online guestbook available at www.rollerfuneral homes.com/paris.

PEA RIDGE — Louis Edward Simmons, 73, of Pea Ridge, died Friday, April 21, at Mercy Hospital in Rogers. He was born Marc h 28, 1944, at Baltimore, Md., to Louis Edward Simmons Sr. and Mary Corinne Bettien Simmons.

He was a U. S. Navy veteran serving aboard the USS Oriskany aircraft carrier during the Vietnam era from 1961-1965.

He married Evelyn Faye Evans, April 26, 1968, in Rogers. He was a tool and dye specialist repairing punch press dyes at Emerson Electric. He was a member of the Rogers VFW #3031 Honors Team, enjoyed hunting and shooting guns, fishing. He was a Civil War buff, liked to watch movies and be with his grandchildren.

He was a member of Christ Church in Rogers and is preceded in death by his father.

Survivors are his wife, Evelyn Simmons of the home; his mother, Mary Criswell of Rogers; two daughters, Sherri Manhart ( Michael) and Jennifer Cook ( Bob), all of Pea Ridge; two sisters, Patricia Fisher (William) of Bentonville and Mary Douglass (David) of Rogers; two grandchildren, Kelsi Cook and Alexander Manhart.

A memorial service is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at Sisco Funeral Home Chapel in Pea Ridge. A visitation is set for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Sisco Funeral Home Chapel before the service begins. Burial will be at Pea Ridge Cemetery with full military honors by Rogers VFW Post #3031.

Memorials may be made to Rogers VFW Post #3031, P.O. Box 1383, Roger, Ark. 72757. Online condolences may be made at siscofuneralhome.net.

PINE BLUFF — Jay Dickey, 77, former Arkansas Fourth District Congressman from died unexpectedly on Thursday, April 20, at JRMC in Pine Bluff from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. He was born in Pine Bluff, Ark., on Dec. 14, 1939, to Jay and Margaret Rowell Dickey.

He graduated from Pine Bluff High School (PBHS) in 1957, attended Hendrix College for one year, then the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, obtaining a B.A. in 1961. He played for the Arkansas Razorbacks Basketball and Tennis teams, going on to coach the Razorback Tennis team while attending the U of A Law School, where he obtained his J.D. in 1963.

Jay began his legal career in private practice with his father, Jay Dickey Sr., and, like his father, served as Pine Bluff City Attorney, 1968-70. During the early years of racial integration, Dickey organized the “Affiliated Youth” for reconciliation between students at the segregated schools in Pine Bluff. He proudly served as huddle leader for Fellowship of Christian Athletics at PBHS. Although he had never held elective office, Jay ran for Congress in 1992, becoming the first Republican U.S. Representative for the Fourth District, serving from 1993 until 2001. During his eight years representing the people of south Arkansas he served on the House Committee on Appropriations, and five of its subcommittees: Agriculture, National Security, Energy and Water, Transportation and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. He was most proud of his work on the Dickey-Wicker Amendment, which prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from using appropriated funds for the creation of human embryos for research purposes or for research in which human embryos are destroyed. He was also a lifetime member of the NRA and crafted an amendment to the House of Representatives appropriations bill that came to be known as the Dickey Amendment to prevent the CDC from gun violence research. Years later, however, with friend Dr. Mark Rosenberg of the CDC, Jay became a strong advocate for using scientific research to find ways to simultaneously protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners and attempt to prevent deaths and injuries from gun violence.

Jay is survived by his children: John Rowell Dickey (Betty Jo), Laura Dickey Campbell, Ted Dickey (Lila), Rachel Dickey Haithcoat (Jeff), and Cindy Pefferkorn McCormick; sister, Barbara Dickey McCain; and 11 grandchildren: Kathy Pefferkorn Hughes, Hannah Dickey, Grace Ann Dickey, Jonathan Dickey, Lydon Campbell, Edward Dickey, Elizabeth Dickey, Rachel Campbell, William Dickey, Miles Jay Haithcoat and Graham Haithcoat. He is also survived by his good friend and former wife, Betty Dickey.

The family especially thanks Betty Motes, who was his lifelong friend and frequent volunteer over the past few years. The family would love to hear any story you’d be willing to share about Jay. If so, please send them to eadickey@me.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Post Office Box 2414446, Little Rock, Ark. 72223, or Center Missionary Baptist Church, 60 Cole Rd, Rison, Ark. 71665.

The family will receive friends on Friday, April 28, from 5- 8 p. m. at the Pine Bluff Country Club, 1100 West 46th, Pine Bluff. Funeral services will be Saturday, April 29, 10:30am at First Baptist Church, 6501 South Hazel, Pine Bluff, directed by Ralph Robinson & Son. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren. Interment will be in Ludington, Mich.

Online condolences: www. ralphrobinsonandson.com.

ROGERS — Robert T. Harker, 86, passed away on April 11, 2017, in Bentonville. He was born on May 29, 1930, in San Francisco to the late Donald and Eleanor (Cain) Harker.

He will be fondly remembered as a world traveler, journalist, Mensa member, avid reader and history enthusiast, Highlands Oncology volunteer, neighbor, and U.S. Navy veteran.

He is survived by his daughter, Rachel Pfutzenreuter and husband, George and their sons, Ryan and Robert all of Deerfield, Ill.

A memorial service will be held on April 28, 2017, at 4 p.m. in the Apple Blossom Community Room, 2501 N. 22nd St., Rogers.

Memorial donations may be made to Hope Cancer Resources, 5835 W. Sunset Ave., Springdale, Ark. 72762.

Arrangements are under the care of Rollins Funeral Home.

ROGERS — Eloise Huffman, 89, of Rogers, died April 21 at her home.

Service set for 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at Sisco Funeral Chapel in Pea Ridge. Burial in Tucks Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, April 24 at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at siscofuneralhome. net.

SEARCY — Joe Paul Daves, 72, died on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in Searcy, Ark. He was born Nov. 23, 1944, in Madill, Okla., to the late Pauline Daves and Joe Franklin Daves.

He is survived by his wife of 45-years, Carol Snelson Daves of Searcy; two sons, Nelson (Julie) Daves of Virginia and Riley (Sandy) Daves of Searcy; one sister, Martha ( Lee) Stephenson; nieces, Tara ( Sonny) Holeyfield, Alicia (Alan) Webber, Kelly Osmon, Lee Ann (Cliff) Childers, Laura (Matt) Davis, Monica (Erik) Mauney; nephew Terry (Julie) Stephenson; seven grandchildren; and a host of extended family that he loved dearly.

He enjoyed making memories. He had a servant’s heart and left an impression on everyone he met.

A celebration of life was held Saturday, April 22, to honor his life and the impact he had on so many.

Donations may be made in his honor to the Park Avenue Baptist Church Building Fund. Cremation arrangements by Powell Funeral Home of Searcy. www. powellfuneralhome.net.

SPRINGDALE — Kenneth Demaris, 76, of Springdale passed away April 20, 2017. He died peacefully surrounded by family. He was born Oct. 23, 1940, in Sikeston, Mo., the son of Kelly and Mabel Demaris.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Demaris; their children, Kenneth Demaris and wife Ginger, Troy Demaris and wife Teresa and Teresa Jacques; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He was first, a devoted Christian and loving husband to his wife Shirley. Secondly, he was a diehard patriot.

He served his country in the United States Army. He was a Criminal Investigation Agent In Vietnam, Korea and Indonesia. He was assigned to the security detail of President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon Johnson as a bodyguard.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Springdale. He loved fishing and traveling abroad with Shirley.

A celebration of life will be Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Springdale.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to, In Memory of Ken Demaris, Willard Walker Hospice, 325 E. Longview St., Fayetteville, Ark. 72703, or First Presbyterian Church, 100 S. Gutensohn Road, Springdale, Ark., 72762.

Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral. com.

SPRING DALE— William Dean Johnson, 90, of Springdale passed away Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at his home. He was born Jan. 8, 1927, in Sonora, Ark., to William Theodore and Sybil Merle Barnes Johnson.

Dean was an Auto Mechanic for many years in Washington. After he retired, he moved back to the area to be closer to family. He served honorably in the United States Navy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, John C. “Jake” Johnson.

Survivors include one brother, Harold Johnson and wife Willa Dean of Springdale; one sister, Louise Farmer and husband Charles C. of Springdale; his sister- inlaw, Norma Jean Johnson of Springdale; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 26, 2017, at 2 p.m. at Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale with Rev. Paul Eden officiating. Burial will follow in the Sonora Cemetery.

A drop-by visitation will be Monday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral. com.

SPRINGDALE — Ruth Elizabeth MacDougall, 70, of Springdale, Ark., died April 20, 2017, in Springdale. Survivors include her sons, Thomas Bercher and his wife Rebecca and Steven Bercher and his wife Hope; siblings, Earl Fochtman, Margaret Estes, and Sally Lanham; grandchildren, Brittany, Augustus, Seamus, Steven, and Aaron.

Share online condolences at www.WestfieldChapel.com.

SPRINGDALE — Carl Wesley Nelson, 81, passed on April 15, 2017, in his home surrounded by loving family.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Janice; his children, Robert Nelson of North Henderson, Ill.; David (Mary Ann) Nelson of Monmouth, Ill.; Donna (Bret) Benjamin of Knoxville, Ill.; Nancy Nelson (Jeff Beliveau) of Alexis, Ill.; Slade (Annette) Wilson of Tontitown, Ark.; and Theresa Nelson (Brian Giblin) of Lyons, Ill.; 13 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley and Theola (Truitt) Nelson; one sister, Lois Brown, and one brother, Paul Nelson.

Carl was raised on a farm near Galesburg, Ill., graduated from Galesburg High School 1954.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1958-1962.

Carl was a Third Degree Mason and a member of the Masonic Lodge in Rio, Ill. In 1991, he graduated from Northwest Arkansas Community College with his Associate in Nursing and worked as an RN in psychiatric, hospice and long-term care.

He has donated his body to science.

Pastor Solberg and Hospice Chaplain Audie Long held a celebration of his life at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church on April 16, 2017.

SPRING DALE— Margaret Earlene Wright, 73, of Springdale passed away Friday, April 21, 2017, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. She was born March 2, 1944, in Elect ra, Texas, to Cecil W. and Mable Bilderback.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Sandra Bilderback; her companion, Robert Courtney; three siblings, Leonard Bilderback, Dale Bilderback and Charlene Collins.

Survivors include one son, Donnie Wright and wife Tammy; one daughter, Kelly Kirby and husband Danny; granddaughters, Dustie Galloway and her companion Justin Madewell and Erica Caudle; two grandsons, Danny Joe Kirby Jr. and wife Mika and Joshua Robinson and wife Kaitlyn; six great-grandchildren, Colton Galloway, Ivey Galloway, Thomas Madewell, Paisley Kirby, Karder Caudle and Kollin Caudle; four siblings, Howard Bilderback, Ronnie Bilderback, Peggy Cline and Lovena Tyson.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at 10 a.m. at Sisco Funeral Chapel with Mike Collins officiating. Burial will follow in Burkshed Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Circle of Life hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, Ark., 72762.

Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral. com.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Ronald Allen Lethem was born to Faye Marie (Gifford) and Walter Roy Lethem Sr. on Oct. 27, 1926, in Walnut, Iowa. He was the fifth of six children.

Shortly after his birth, the fa m i ly m ov e d to Maryville, Mo. There, he graduated from high school and attended college.

In 1946 Ron entered the Army Signal Corps and served as a basic training TS (Battlefield Field Communications) Instructor. After being honorably discharged, he entered the retail business and spent the next 25 years managing and supervising department stores in Iowa and Wisconsin for the C.R. Anthony Company.

As a result of Ron’s many promotions, he and his family eventually settled in Manchester, Iowa. During this time, he was a member of the Lions Club and active in Chamber of Commerce work, receiving various awards for his contributions to downtown renovation projects.

After raising their family, Ron and Ruth moved to Prairie DuChien, Wis., where he managed his last C.R. Anthony store. Upon retiring from the retail business, Ron studied for and obtained a Real Estate Brokers license. He worked for Century 21 Realty in Prairie and again found success. Finally, Ron retired fully to devote himself to his most cherished career — that of Grandpa. Ron enjoyed frequent visits from family which were spent fishing and boating on the Mississippi River. There and through 12 years in Bella Vista, Ark., he enjoyed flower gardening and amateur photography, specializing in wild flowers and grandkids. Ron had many showings of his works and won several awards.

He will also be remembered by his family for his sincere — often humorous — letters and poetry. Ron and Ruth returned to Iowa in 2014 when they moved to Marion. Ron passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar

Rapids, Iowa, on Dec. 7, 2016, surrounded by his family.

Ron married Ruth Eleanor Lacina in 1948 in Rockwell City, Iowa. They raised four wonderful children: Carolyn Schram (Ames, Iowa), Marsha Mitchell (Mineral Point, Wis.), Richard Lethem (Marion, Iowa), and David Lethem (Fort Myers, Fla). Ron and Ruth have 32 beautiful grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and they never missed a chance to share pictures and stories of each of them.

Ron served his country proudly, achieved success in business, and celebrated beauty in the world through the lens of a camera, but his greatest source of pride was the fact that all his children grew up to be great parents and gave him so many wonderful grandchildren.

Those Ron is survived by include his beloved wife of 68 years, Ruth; three children, Carolyn, Marsha, and David; and his younger brother Richard Brown Lethem of Maine.

Ron’s ashes will be taken to Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa, with a service to be held on April 28, 2017, at 2 p.m. A luncheon will follow at the United Methodist Church in Adel, Iowa.

This great man’s life and legacy ( and some advice worth heeding) may best be summed up in his own words—the last few lines of one of his much-loved handwritten poems, “An Old Man’s Life”:

“My family grew from the original four

I haven’t counted lately but there must be thirty or more

So look after and take care of your kids you see

And someday you may be a lucky old man just like me.”

— R. A. Lethem.

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. — Florence Alma Joseph was born Nov. 9, 1910, and gracefully completed her baptismal journey on Dec. 12, 2016, at age 106, with her family at her side, at the home of her son, John Joseph, of Queensbury,

N.Y.

She will be remembered for her loving heart, her beautiful smile and gentle touch. Florence was a faithful Episcopalian, serving for nearly 40 years on the Altar Guilds at St. Augustine’s Church in Wilmette, Ill., and continuing her service at St. Theodore’s Church in Bella Vista, Ark., after moving here in 1979 with her husband, Russell.

Florence was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years and is survived by her sons Fredric of Minneapolis, Minn.; John and daughter-inlaw Susan, of Queensbury, N.Y.; four grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at St. Theodore’s Episcopal Church in Bella Vista on Monday, April 24, 2017 at 10 a.m.

MOHAWK, Tenn. — James Lynn Harris, 65, of Mohawk, Tenn., died Thursday, April 20, 2017. He was born Oct. 23, 1951, in Camden, Ark.

He is preceded in death by his father, Monroe Harris; and one brother, Roger Harris.

He is survived by his wife, Stefanie Harris of Camden; one son, Ty Harris of Fayetteville; one daughter, Jamie Allen and husband Chris of Bentonville; his mother, Marguerite Harris of Camden; one brother, Tommy Harris of Camden; one nephew, Cole Harris of Camden, two nieces, Kirsten Harris of Camden and Kerry Murphree of El Dorado; one great niece, Rachel Murphree of El Dorado.

Visitation will be Monday 6-8 p.m. at Benton Funeral Home in Bearden. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Camden. Arrangements by Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce.

To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.net.

CEDAR PARK, Texas — Carol G. Greenley, age 96, was called home to the Lord on March 13, 2017. She was born Dec. 3, 1920, in Huron, S.D., to Oscar and Evelyn Olson.

Upon graduating from high school and NW College of Commerce in 1938 she held various administrative positions prior to her marriage to Floyd Greenley on Jan. 14, 1961. Thereafter, she resided in Brainerd Minn., Urbandale, Iowa, Bella Vista, Ark. [19782012], and most recently in Cedar Park, Texas.

Carol was a God-fearing woman; loving all, respected, hospitable, organized, and always willing to serve and help others.

She was preceded in death by her husband Floyd in September 2003. She is survived by her sister, Jeanette Olson of Huron, S. D, her stepson, Owen and his wife Sandy, their children Christi, Tim, and Steve; and three great-grandchildren.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bella Vista since 1978. We will honor her memory with a simple service in the Chapel at First Methodist Church, 20 Boyce Drive, Bella Vista, Ark., at 10 a.m. Saturday April 29, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Gideon’s International for Bibles or to the First United Methodist Church.