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.

FAYETTEVILLE — James Larry Cochran, born May 6, 1953, and passed away May 22, 2017.

U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command SAC Jan. 6, 1978-1982 Rank E-3. A proud member of the Armed Forces from a family of 40 years of military service. Survived by his brother, Dan “ROOSTER” Cochran; son, Eric Paul Cochran; aunt, Francis McGuire; and several grandchildren.

While he spent some time in Louisiana and Alabama, most of his life he lived in Longview, Texas.

Larry was a friend to many and loved by those who knew him. He had a special place in his heart for kids and they responded in kind to Pops. I’m sure they will remember him with great fondness.

Since moving to Arkansas, he stood proudly with his brothers and sisters of the Patriot Guard Riders on multiple missions.

He will be missed and never forgotten.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at the Fayetteville National Cemetery.

Condolences at www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Sue Stockburger, age 81, of Fayetteville died Wednesday, May 24, 2017, in Fayetteville. She was born June 30, 1935, in Fayetteville, Ark., the daughter of Clyde and Effie France Thomas.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lloyd Stockburger; a son, Eric Duane Stockburger and a grandson, Blake Stockburger. She was a homemaker. She is survived by a daughter, Tanja Pearson and her husband Don of Fort Smith; a son, Eddie Stockburger and his wife Christie of Fayetteville; four grandchildren, Misty Ford, Timothy Stockburger, Keith Stockburger and Caleb Stockburger; and three great-grandchildren, Christian Stockburger, Ethan Ford and Cain Stockburger.

Visitation will be 5–7 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at Moore’s Chapel.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Moore’s Chapel with entombment to follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105, or the Broyles Foundation, 3810 N. Front St., Fayetteville, Ark. 72703.

To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.

HUNTSVILLE — Ruthell Bryant, 80, of Huntsville, Ark. died May 22, 2017, at Fayetteville Health and Rehab Center. Survivors: sons, Rusty Alan (Tonya) Bryant and Rickey Vernon Bryant; daughter, Kathy Ann Hooper; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren. Services 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 31 Brashears Funeral Home at Huntsville. Interment Boston Cemetery. www.brashearsfuneralhome.net.

LITTLE ROCK — Joyce Nell Crawley, 84, of Little Rock, Ark., passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2017. She was born in Fayetteville, Ark., on Monday, Oct. 31, 1932, to Jack and Emma Howard. Joyce taught public school for many years in the Little Rock School District, teaching business at Metropolitan Vocational Technical Center. She enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family. Her specialty was cornbread.

She received a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1960. She was known as MOM by a group of students from 1971 to 1972. Joyce was awarded the “Grateful Appreciation for Arkansas Vocational Association as President from 1975 to 1976”. She also served as President of Classroom Educators Business Office Education from 1976 to 1978. In 1982, she completed her Master’s Degree in Education at the University of Arkansas.

Joyce was preceded in death by parents and six brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband, Robert A. Crawley; brother, Reese Howard, son, Chuck Crawley (Karen) of Rogers, Arkansas; her daughter, Tammie Rauch (Allen) of Kernersville, N.C.; grandchildren, Nathan Miles (Dana) of Springdale, Ark., and Whitney Rauch of Charleston, S.C.; and two great-grandchildren, Ella Miles and Claire Miles of Springdale, Ark.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, 12400 Interstate 30, Little Rock, Ark. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Private burial will be at Fayetteville National Cemetery, Fayetteville, Ark.

Arrangements are in the care of Roller-Drummond Funeral Home, 10900 Interstate 30, Little Rock, Ark., 72209, (501) 455-5800.

Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/drummond.

LOWELL — Diana Kay Smith, 58, went to be with her Lord on May 26, 2017, in Springdale, Ark. She was born Nov. 8, 1958, to James and Patricia Patterson Campbell in Santa Ana, Calif.

Diana was a registered nurse for over 20 years. She enjoyed arts and crafts, crocheting and knitting.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one daughter, Jessica Anna-Marie Smith and one brother Kenneth Campbell.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Smith of the home; four sons, Timothy Smith and wife Jeanne, also of Lowell; Michael Smith of Salina, Okla.; Scott Smith and Christopher Smith, both of Lowell; Cody Smith of Lowell; two daughters, Sarah and Hope Smith, both of Lowell; one brother, James Oliver Campbell Jr. and wife Kerry of Missouri; one sister, Elizabeth Weeklend of Fayetteville; four grandchildren, Catherine, Michael Smith Jr., Samuel and Baylee Smith.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, May 30, at Sisco Funeral Chapel in Springdale at 10 a.m. Gary Morris will be officiating.

A visitation will take place one hour prior to the service.

To sign the online guest book, www.siscofuneral.com.

PEA RIDGE — Russ Lee (R.L.) Wade of Pea Ridge, Ark., passed away May 26, 2017, in the comfort of his home. He was born Nov. 28, 1948, in Bentonville, Ark., to Ralph and Ruth Townzen Wade.

Russ graduated from Bentonville High School in 1967. He served with the U.S. Navy he was honorably discharged on Feb. 12, 1981. He served many years as a Police Officer with the Bentonville Police Department where he received numerous awards including “Officer of the Year” and he later owned and operated Wades’ Classic Mustangs in Rogers, Ark.

Russ enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, sports and classic cars.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Ruth Townzen Wade; sister, Barbara Jean Sterling; brother, Billy Wade; and nephew, Curtis Wade Dial.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving wife of 33 years, Julia Adcock Wade of the home; sisters, Hilda Coffelt of Centerton, Ark., and Deanna (Mike) Dial of Rogers, Ark.; brother, Ted (Kathy) Wade of Fayetteville, Ark.; daughters, Amy Button of Pea Ridge, Ark., Aneica Wade of Rogers, Brande Barnes of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Heather (Jordan) Keller of Rogers, Ark.; and son, Jeremy Wade of Pea Ridge, Ark.; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Thursday June 1, 2017, at Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th, Rogers, followed by a 2 p.m. burial with full military honors in the Wade family plot at the Bentonville Cemetery.

Online condolences to www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com.

SILOAM SPRINGS — Bradley Wayne Bowlin, 30-year-old resident of Siloam Springs, Ark., died May 20, 2017, in Siloam Springs. Born June 5, 1986, in Fayetteville, Ark., he was the son of Donald Bowlin and Mary Keeney Bounds.

Bradley worked as a mechanism assembler at La-Z-Boy in Siloam Springs. He was a member of Cross Church.

He is survived by his wife, Ashley Bowlin-Thompson of Siloam Springs; three children: Cadence Bowlin, Khyler Bowlin and Brielle Bowlin; his mother, Mary Bounds and husband Bobby of Springdale, Ark.; his father, Donald Bowlin of Springdale; sister, Stephanie Bowlin of Bentonville, Ark.; lifelong friend, John Wasson of Winslow, Ark.; cousin, Steven Ingram of Springdale; step brother, Bobby Bounds of Springdale, mother-in-law, Kimberly Griffin of Siloam Springs; fatherin-law, Bradley Thompson of Burkburnett, Texas; brotherin-law, Daije Thompson of Phoenix, Ariz.; and sister-inlaw, Kayla Raney of Siloam Springs.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m., Saturday, June 3, 2017, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Ark. To sign the online guestbook, visit www. wassonfuneralhome.com.

SILOAM SPRINGS — Roberta Ellen Phelps, 82-year-old resident of Siloam Springs, Ark., died May 23, 2017, at Earlene Howard Hospice Home in Springdale, Ark. Born Nov. 18, 1934 in Belle Fourche, S.D., she was the daughter of Roy Lambert Nilson and May Waters Nilson. She married Thomas Phelps in Belle Fourche. They moved to Northwest Arkansas in 1979. Roberta worked as a farmer, a bookkeeper, a business owner, a clerk at True Value, and even as a sample lady for Consumers.

She was a member of the Logan Friendly Neighbors Club. Roberta was a loving mother and grandmother. She was a caring neighbor, fantastic cook and cat lover.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Thomas Phelps; and one son, Everett Phelps.

She is survived by one son, Riley Phelps of Helena, Mont.; one daughter, Rebecca Phelps of Crestview, Fla.; a daughter-in-law, Sally Phelps; four grandchildren: William Grant, Tara Grant, Lana Shofner and husband Robert, and Calie Neil and husband Adam; five great-grandchildren: Ryker Shofner, Corbin Shofner, Jada Neil, Brooklyn Neil, and Thomas Grant; and one sister, Evelyn Mahoney and husband Ed of Tulsa, Okla.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Ark. Burial will follow at Fairmount Cemetery, near Gentry, Ark. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m., Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at Wasson Funeral Home.

To sign the online guestbook, visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.

SPRINGDALE — Buford Fay Gibbons, 95, a resident of Springdale, Ark., passed away May 25, 2017, at Northwest Medical Center. He was born Dec. 23, 1921, in Dover, Ark., to Herbert Matthew Gibbons and Anna Mae Hardcastle Gibbons.

He graduated from Parkers Chapel High School near El Dorado, Ark., before entering the Army Air Corps in 1942. Fay served in WWII and was stationed in Italy at a B-17 base where he managed an oxygen plant.

After his return, Fay married the love of his life, Betty Jane Walker. They celebrated 67 years of marriage in February of 2016, one month prior to her death.

He retired from A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. in 1995 where he was an investment adviser for 17 years.

Fay is survived by one daughter, Denise Gibbons-Cobb (Bill), and one son, Chip Gibbons (Becca). He was Pap-paw to three grandchildren, Maggie Cobb, James Gibbons (Sirena), and Amanda Gibbons. He is also survived by one sister, Helen Gibbons White, of Atlanta, Ga.

Visitation will be at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at Westfield Chapel Funeral Home in Springdale, Ark. Visitation will be followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. Interment will follow the service at Bluff Cemetery with military honors.

To honor Fay’s love of flying and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Tailwind Aviation Foundation (www.tailwindfoundation.org).

Please share fond thoughts and memories of Fay on his memorial page at www. WestfieldChapel.com.

BEAUMONT, Calif. — Don Fithian passed away on May 6, 2017, while in the process of moving from Beaumont, Calif., to Springdale, Ark. He was born in Joplin, Mo., on Feb. 8, 1931, and moved to California in 1961.

While in California, he founded a structural steel company, Columbia Steel in Rialto, Calif. He served on the board of Mexican Medical, a Christian medical organization, as a volunteer pilot; and served one year as president of the National Orange Show in San Bernardino, Calif. He was a member of the Fellowship in the Pass Church in Beaumont, Calif.

Don is survived by his wife of 66 years, Barbara Sheffler Fithian; one son, Gary and wife Joanne of Fayetteville, Ark.; two grandchildren, Trevor Fithian of Beaverton, Ore.; and Tamara Gressley of Payson, Ariz.; four great-grandchildren, Toby, Dillon, Braylynn and Brody; one sister, Virginia Melton and husband Gene of Joplin, Mo.; and three brothers, Bill Fithian, Bob Fithian and wife Joy, all of Rogers, Ark., and Harold Fithian and wife Reva of Norman, Okla.

He was preceded in death by a son, Alan Fithian and a daughter, Shirley Fithian. Shirley and Don will be placed together at Osborne Memorial Cemetery in Joplin, Mo.

Memorial service will be held on Friday, June 2, 2017, at the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home, 2230 N. Thompson, Springdale, Ark., with refreshments beginning at 9 a.m. and service to begin at 10 a.m. Rev. Bill Peters and Pastor Kevin Melton will officiate the service. Burial will follow that day at 2 p.m. at the Osborne Memorial Cemetery, 33rd and McClelland Blvd. in Joplin.

To sign the online guest book, please visit www. backstrom-pyeatte.com.

YUCAIPA, Calif. — Shirley Wren Fithian was born on Oct. 17, 1952, in Webb City, Mo., and passed away on Feb. 29, 2016, in California. She was one of God’s angels here on earth and her sweet disposition affected many lives. She and her dad adored each other and are now “walking” together in heaven along with her brother Alan.

Memorial service will be held on Friday, June 2, 2017, at the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home, 2230 N. Thompson, Springdale, Ark., with refreshments beginning at 9 a.m. and service to begin at 10 a.m. Rev. Bill Peters and Pastor Kevin Melton will officiate the service. Burial will follow that day at 2 p.m. at the Osborne Memorial Cemetery, 33rd and McClelland Blvd. in Joplin.

To sign the online guest book, please visit www. backstrom-pyeatte.com.

APOPKA, Fla. — Lucas Lee Brown, 31, of Apopka, Fla., passed away at home on May 20, 2017.

Lucas was born Nov. 14, 1985, to Dan Brown and Elizabeth Brown in Siloam Springs, Ark. He attended schools in Siloam Springs and graduated with the class of 2004. While in high school, Lucas ran track, cross-country, and swam on the Siloam Springs Flyers team. Lucas continued his education at University of Central Florida in Orlando and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree in 2015.

Lucas has one daughter, Leina Grace. While studying, Lucas served at Fresh Start Ministries as a teacher and counselor. After graduation, Lucas returned to Destin, Fla., to work at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast and later worked as an Administrative Assistant at Phil Anthony Studios.

Lucas was a member and served at Celebration Church in Orlando, Fla., where he served on the prayer team, interceding for members, guests and staff prior to and following services.

Lucas is survived by his daughter, Leina Grace Bell Joseph; father, Dan M. Brown; mother, Elizabeth Newlun; stepfather, John Newlun; brother, Dan N. Brown; sisters-in-law, Toni Brown, Tabitha Brown; stepsisters, Jessica Robbins, Justine Ransom, Jamie Newlun; maternal grandmother and grandfather, paternal grandmother; aunts, uncles, cousins, many nieces and nephews; close family, Sherrie Anne, Mark Joseph, and son.

He was preceded in death by his brother, USAF TSgt John Brown, Aunt, Uncle, and paternal grandfather.

There will be a memorial service at Bethel Cemetary in Gravette on May 30 at 11 a.m. officiated by Larry Petton.

Condolences may be sent to Elizabeth Newlun, 19762 Waldon Road, Rogers, Ark. 72756. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Patricia Alexander, 89, of St. Petersburg, Fla., passed away May 22, 2017. She was born in Liverpool, England, on Oct. 20, 1927. She attended the Liverpool College for Girls and Bangor Teachers Training College in Bangor, Wales.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Julian Alexander; parents, Robert William and Beatrice Browne; brother, Edmund Browne; sister, Carol Batchelor; son, Stephen Alexander; great-granddaughter, Claire Elizabeth Dennis; and son-in-law, Michael Koballa.

She is survived by son, Bob Alexander (Becky) of Rogers, Ark., and daughters Alice Tennison (Bill) of West Memphis, Ark., and Linda Koballa of Fayetteville, N.C.; 11 grandchildren, Lisa Dennis (Jay) of Rogers, Chris Tennison (Elizabeth) of West Memphis, Lane Clemmons of Fayetteville, N.C., Danny Faircloth of Oxford, Md., Kayla Alexander of St. Petersburg, Fla., Tara Alexander (Jason) of St. Petersburg, Fla., Haley Alexander (Shaun) of Mississippi, Robert Alexander (Jess) of Kettering, Ohio, Stephen Alexander of Dayton, Ohio, Brittiniey Bartnick of Indiana, Brooke Enlow (Patrick) of Indiana; and 12 great-grandchildren.

During WW II she met Julian Alexander, a U.S. Army G.I. stationed in England. After a brief courtship, she traveled to the United States where they married July 6, 1947, in Youngstown, Ohio. Together they celebrated 64 years and raised four children. The couple lived in Lafayette, Ind., Fayetteville, Ark., and Dayton, Ohio.

Patricia was a school teacher of both preschool age children and high school students for many years before retiring and moving with her husband to St. Petersburg, Fla. There she enjoyed taking Caribbean cruises, dining and dancing at the Elks Club, and spending time with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Patricia will be forever remembered as loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held at the Anderson McQueen Tyrone Chapel, 7820 38th Ave. N. St. Petersburg, Fla. 33710, on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at noon. Interment will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Fla.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the St. Petersburg Elks Lodge #1224 2675 66th St. N. St. Petersburg, Fla. 33710. To share condolences, please visit www.andersonmcqueen.com.