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.

BENTONVILLE — Arlene Mary Baker died July 1. Born Sept. 2, 1942. Survivors: one daughter, JoAnn Hodson and husband Jonathan of Bentonville; one brother, Willard Beck and wife Linda of Portland, Maine; one sister, Jane McBrady and husband Jim of Lindenhurst, Ill.; three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. www.siscofuneral.com.

BENTONVILLE — Jeannie Lynn Brungardt of Bentonville passed away on June 28, 2017. She was born on Aug. 5, 1949, in Red Bluff, Calif., to Floyd Cody Norton and Barbara Arlene Wilson. She was the beloved wife of Brian Brungardt.

Jeannie will be remembered as a character who lived a colorful life. For many years she drove semi-trucks with her father and her sister, Rebecca Lee Schrader. She also worked for both California and Arkansas DHS as a child support investigator. She enjoyed crafting with beads and making jewelry. Jeannie was an avid reader and loved all things related to horror and mystery. She was proud of her family and loved traveling and camping with her husband and kids.

Survivors include her husband; children, Shanaree Duffy, Sonja Rodgers, Kimberly Duerksen, and Robert Shupman; her sister, Lynda Ware; and her brother, Bill Norton.

An in-home memorial service will be held at a date to be determined.

BENTONVILLE — John Morris Wright, age 93, died July 1, 2017, at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville. He was born to CJ Wright and Dema (Waldron) Wright on Dec. 15, 1923, in Bentonville.

John received his schooling in the Bentonville school system, graduating in 1941.

John proudly served during World War II with the United States Navy, being honorably discharged Dec. 17, 1945. Upon leaving the Navy, John became a policeman with the Napa Valley, Calif., police department before moving to Oklahoma. John married Lela Mae Swain on Oct. 24, 1948, and their marriage continued for the next 69 years until her death. In Oklahoma, John worked many years with the Hoover Van company, many of those years as their top salesman. He then opened Jimmy’s Cafe in downtown Bentonville as its owner-operator. After another stint with Hoover Van, John opened the Arkansas Ice Machine and Supply Company in Bentonville, until his retirement.

John was a charter member of the Methodist Men Bentonville in 1954. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 77 for 22 years. The family would like to give special thanks to the doctors and staff at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville for their loving care of Dad, and also to the Men’s Coffee Group at McDonald’s for the years of good times. Dad loved every minute of it.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his brother, CJ Wright, Jr.; and his oldest son, John M. Wright, Jr.

Visitation will be from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 6 at Callison-Lough Funeral Home in Bentonville. A graveside service will follow at 12 noon in Bentonville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Circle of Life Hospice or the Bentonville First United Methodist Church Building Fund.

BOONEVILLE — James Roby Burk, born June 9, 1921, in Seagoville, Texas to Jesse and Alyne Burk, lived a long and adventurous life. He died peacefully surrounded by his family on July 2, 2017. He was married to Nell Burk for over 76 years. Jim is survived by his wife Nell; son, Mike and his wife, Ann Burk of Fayetteville, Ark.; daughter Diane and her husband Jess Butler of Austin, Texas. Grandchildren include Elizabeth Burk Martin, her husband Dan, and their children, Sarah and Roby, Bill Burk and his wife Marjo, and their children, Joe, Jim, and Vada, Dan Butler and his wife Jennifer, and their children, Sullivan, Cashel, and, Finneas, Boomer Butler and his wife Megan, and their children Brady and Meredith, Meagan Butler and numerous other nieces and nephews relatives and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his siblings, Sam Burk, Jesse Lee Burk, Jean May, Mary Cooper and Bill Burk.

After Jim served with the Army Air Force in the Pacific Arena of World War II, he and Nell bought a “mountain” in Arkansas on July 6, 1948. Jim said buying this land near Booneville was the best investment he ever made. They made Booneville their home in 1970, and he and Nell enjoyed living and working on Timber Ridge Farm raising cattle and hay. Jim was a Southern Baptist and active member of the Arkansas Beefmaster Breeder’s Association.

Jim’s family appreciates everyone who has made Booneville a good hometown for Jim and Nell for all these years. The family is especially appreciative for all the care given to Jim by the kind staff of Oak Manor nursing and rehabilitation center. Jim’s great-grandson, Sullivan Butler, has recently battled childhood cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation where funds will be used for research and to find a cure for childhood cancer. Please go to stbaldricks.org for more information on sending funds.

A graveside service is scheduled for 10 a.m., Thursday, July 6, 2017, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Booneville, under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Burk, Joe Burk, Jim Burk, Dan Martin, Roby Martin, Jesse Butler and Jim Burk.

Visitation will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, evening at Roberts Funeral Home. www. robertsfh.com

CLINTON — Jenny Bonds, 84, of Clinton was born to the late James and Rose (Grainger) Paulin in London, England, and passed from this life on July 2, 2017, at her home in Clinton.

She stayed active, spending her time sewing, knitting, quilting, gardening and collecting teapots.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Frank Bonds.

Left to cherish her memory are three daughters, Janice Elrod (David) of Little Rock, Teresa Chudy (Mark) of Maumelle, Cindy Brantley (Steve) of Rogers; six grandchildren, Alicia Ablondi, Aaron Ablondi, Cassie Ross, Chris Brantley, Chase Brantley, Morgan Chudy; eight great-grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.

Graveside services and interment will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, at the Holley Mountain Cemetery in Shirley, Arkansas.

For online guestbook, www.rollerfuneralhomes. com/clinton.

FAYETTEVILLE — Donnis Edgar Whisenant, 72, of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away peacefully at his home on July 1, 2017. Donnis was born on Nov. 2, 1944, to the late AT and Cleo Whisenant.

Donnis is survived by his devoted wife, Kathy Ann (Edgecombe) Whisenant; children, Michelle Jaskolski and husband, Nick, of Fayetteville, Ark.; Marie Flannery and husband, David, of Wildomar, Calif; Thad Whisenant and wife, Molly, of The Woodlands, Texas; and Theodore Whisenant of The Woodlands, Texas; grandchildren, Nicholas, Ellie, Josh, Connor, Carson, Colton and Cooper; special friends Kent and Jeanne Arrant, Jim and Jennie Killion, Ernie and Jean Jaskolski, Mary and John Wilson, and Patty Killion.

Donnis was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He enjoyed playing guitar, singing, telling stories, and teaching his grandson, Nicholas, all about life.

A special thank you to the Fayetteville VA and Washington Regional Hospice for their loving care and support.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Westfield Chapel Funeral Home in Springdale, Ark., on Wednesday, July 5, 2017. Donnis will be laid to rest at Old Union Cemetery in Joyce, Louisiana.

HUNTSVILLE — James Calvin Sisk, 73, of Huntsville, Ark., died July 2, 2017, at his home. He was born Jan. 26, 1944, at Huntsville, Ark., the son of Floyd Forrest and Violet Edna Traver Sisk.

He was a retired truck driver for Cargill, an Army National Guard veteran and attended the Hindsville First Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Jorgensen Sisk on March 20, 2014; an infant daughter, Sissie Sisk and two sisters, Margie Baker and Marilyn Fitch.

Survivors include: five children, Donna and husband, Billy Carter of Farmington, Ark., Julie and husband, Chris Hooper of Fayetteville, Ark., Ronnie and wife, Phyllis Sisk of Huntsville, Ark., James and wife, Melanie Sisk of Hindsville, Ark., and Jerri Faye and husband, Chad Tipton of Huntsville, Ark.; one brother, Paul Sisk of Jane, Mo.; one sister, Marcella Gray of Memphis, Tenn.; 17 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 6, at the Huntsville Cemetery with the Reverends Leslie Elam and Charlie Brown officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Brashears Funeral Home www.brashearsfuneralhome.net of Huntsville, Ark.

Pallbearers will be Matthew Sisk, Dugger Tipton, John Eaton, Carl Thomas, James Sisk, II, Ronnie Sisk, Billy Carter, Chris Hooper, Chad Tipton and Tyler Hooper. Honorary pallbearers will be Andy Hopper, Jason Guthrie, Ricky Fox, David McDonald, Earl Burkes, Jack Boudrey and Dwayne “Bulldog” Davis.

Visitation from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at Brashears.

LOWELL — Nancy Jean Reynolds, 61, of Lowell, died June 29, 2017. Survivors: daughters, Machelle (Michael) Hattenhauer, Christina (Bruce) Bennett; brothers, Ray (Debbie) Pierce and Larry Pierce; grandchildren, Dilynn and Carli Whittle, Emily and Jani Johnson; Cortney Fowler and Ryan Reynolds; great-grandson, Kamryn Tabor. Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Friday, Brashears Funeral Home-Huntsville www. brashearsfuneralhome.net.

SPRINGDALE — Debra Ann (Bristow) Dunn, 57, of Springdale, passed away on July 1, 2017, in Bentonville. She was born on Nov. 28, 1959, in Guymon, Okla., to Eugene and Joann Bristow. Please visit Debra’s memorial at www. WestfieldChapel.com.