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 — Ms. Joy “Peggy” Burdette

Meyer of Bentonville, Ark., formerly of Big Spring, Texas, passed away at The Bradford House, Bentonville, Ark., Jan. 25, 2018.

Joy was born to parents R.B. and Willie Alice Burdette on Oct. 28, 1934, in Menard, Texas. She grew up in Dublin, where she graduated high school in 1952. In 1952, Joy attended Texas Wesleyan College, School of Nursing, Fort Worth, Texas, City County Hospital. While in Fort Worth, Joy met her husband, Leonard W. “Bill” Meyer and they married on July 2, 1954, moved to northwest Iowa and farmed for 11 years. Joy was a caring nurse while in Iowa, later in Texas and New Mexico.

She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as traveling.

Joy is survived by daughter, Cheryl Wright and husband, Jimmy Wright of Bentonville, Ark.; daughter, Deborah Baremore and husband, David Baremore of Snyder, Texas; son, Michael Meyer and wife, Tere Meyer of Oviedo, Fla.; and son, Bruce Meyer, of Lubbock, Texas; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She also is survived by her brother, Charles Burdette and wife, Vickie, of Emory, Texas, and her sister, Oleta Allen, and her husband, Bob, of Nicholasville, Ky.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 31 years.

The family wishes to express our gratitude to the staff and caregivers at the Bradford House as well as those involved in our mother’s care from Circle of Life Hospice. No service is planned; interment will be held at Dublin Memorial Park, Dublin, Texas, at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 1201 NE Legacy Parkway, Bentonville, Ark. 72712. Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home Bentonville. BENTONVILLE —

James Samuel O’Hair,

age 87, passed away in Bentonville on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. He was born on Oct. 3, 1930, in Beaver, Okla., to John and Opal (Chapman) O’Hair.

He is preceded in death by both parents; brothers, Johnathan, Everett, Wayne, Henderson O’Hair; and sisters, Hazel Skaggs and Mary Harrelson.

He is survived by his wife, Adelaida O’Hair; son, James Samuel Jr. and Mary Jane O’Hair of Centerton, Ark.; daughters, Teresa and Steve Wilmoth of Bentonville, Ark., Debra Jean and Steve Houser of Newkirk, Okla., Cythia and Paul Gordon of Houston, Texas; Alex Vega of Bentonville, Ark.; Antonette and Jay Dela Guardia of Philippines; Abigael and Leo Conte of Philippines; 14 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, from 5 p.m.–7 p.m. at the Callison-Lough Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held at First Baptist of Gravette, Ark., on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery of Gravette, Ark.

Arrangements are under the care of Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Bentonville; www.calisonlough. com.

CHARLESTON — Arvel “Buddy” Leo Acoach Jr.,

who resided in Charleston, Ark., passed away Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, in Oklahoma City, Okla. He was born Aug. 19, 1946, in West Helena, Ark., to the late Arvel Leo Acoach Sr. and Marguerite

Mae (Schieffler) Acoach. He was 71 years old.

He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Martha Dale (Flanagan) Acoach; a brother, Robert “Bobby” Acoach; and his grandparents, Jerry Mariah and Catherine Acoach and Robert and Nellie Schieffler.

A 1964 graduate of West Helena High School, and a 1968 ROTC graduate of Arkansas Tech University, Buddy was a retired State Trooper for the Arkansas State Police. He worked 27 years for the Arkansas State Police in numerous positions, Internal Affairs, Fire Arms Instructor, SRT Sniper, Special Response Team Coordinator and Haz-Mat Coordinator. He graduated from the FBI Academy National Academy in 1975, served seven years as Deputy Federal Security Director in Fort Smith, six years with Department of Energy at Fort Chaffee, and five years with T.S.A. at Fort Smith Regional Airport.

Buddy was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and a retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He was a decorated soldier, receiving 2 Purple Hearts, Bronze Star Medal with Valor and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal (2 total medals), Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Cross for Gallantry with Silver Star, Vietnam Presidential Unit Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was an Airborne Ranger who also received the Combat Infantry Badge, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Reserve Medal, Air National Guard Service Ribbon, Security Police Master Qualification Badge, Security Police Combat Tactics, Security Police Staff Officer, OJT Commander/Staff Officer, and Humanitarian Service Medal. Buddy retired from the military as a Lieutenant Colonel after 28 years of service and served as the Commander of both the 188th Fighter Wing of the Arkansas National Guard and 554th Silver Flag Alpha Security Police Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base for the Air Force Reserve.

An Eagle Scout, Buddy’s commitment to the community never wavered. He was a member of Leadership Fort Smith, Rotary Club, District President of Mid-America Exchange Club, President of Fort Smith Noon Exchange Club, President of Fort Smith Morning Exchange Club, served on the Board of Trustees of the Hamilton House Child Safety Center, served as an usher for Arkansas Razorbacks football and basketball games, a huge supporter of Charleston School District and Charleston Tiger Football Foundation, and he was a member of First United Methodist Church in Charleston.

Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 29, at Community Bible Church at 9201 Dallas St., Fort Smith, Arkansas. Burial of cremains, with full military honors and Arkansas State Police Honor Guard, will be at 12 noon at Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home and Flower Shop in Charleston.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Lois (Oxford) Acoach; his children, John Acoach and wife Melinda of Fayetteville, Sarah Anne Fritschie and husband Eric of North Little Rock, Autumn Moore of Fort Smith, Leah Acoach of Rogers, Dusty Smith and husband Bryan of Charleston and Wendi Curtis and husband Daniel of Charleston; 11 grandchildren, Rebekah Fritschie, Emma Fritschie, Jordan Moore, Allie Moore, Ike Moore, Christopher Smith and wife Mindy, Kayla Smith, Danielle Curtis, Dalton Curtis, and Matthew Curtis; two great-grandchildren, Caynen Smith and Ellie Smith; six cherished dogs, Flash, Shorty, Lilly, Bonnie, Bandit and Sparky.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Ebbing Air National Guard Base 188th Wing, Arkansas State Police, and Exchange Club. The family will visit with friends from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Brotherton Funeral Home Chapel in Charleston.

In lieu of flowers, memorials and contributions can be made to Hamilton House Child Safety Center at 2713 S. 74th St., Suite 103 Fort Smith, Ark. 72903.

To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brotherton brothersfuneralhomes.com.

LINCOLN — Gerald

Bruce Lunsford passed Jan. 24, 2018, at the Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville. He was born Aug. 3,1942, in Westville, Okla.

Gary, the son of Bruce and Rosa Lee Lunsford, began his life in Arkansas when the family moved to Bentonville and then settled in Fayetteville four years later. The family joined Central Methodist Church. Gary attended Washington Elementary and was a 1960 Fayetteville High School graduate. He played for the 1957 undefeated football team and embraced Fayetteville’s public schools’ integration.

He began his mastery of carpentry and woodworking by working with and learning from his dad. He was a part of the construction crew that built the Mountain Inn across from the Washington County courthouse.

Gary joined the Marine Corps in 1960 but in less than six months received an honorable discharge after an accident from faulty explosives caused deafness in his left ear.

He returned to Fayetteville where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Arkansas. Gary’s incredible life experiences continued when he moved to Washington, D.C. in the 1960s and joined the Capitol Hill police force. During his time away from Fayetteville, he learned and loved skydiving with over four hundred jumps, learned to snow ski, raced stock cars where he suffered a spinal injury, and even attended the Woodstock music festival.

He tried out for the Washington Redskins football team and earned membership but did not join and instead came back to Fayetteville to support family. Gary’s life path then included being a bouncer with his older brother, Porter, at The Huddle Club on College Avenue, an art teacher at Woodland Junior High School and even running the horse-riding concession at Devil’s Den State Park for a summer. He then opened his woodworking shop in a bay at the Schlitz beer distributorship but soon established his shop in the old Fayetteville Lumber Company yard behind the store fronts in the Dickson Street entertainment district.

It was then he married the love of his life, Marty Jones, fathered and raised three sons, Jason, Quentin and Allan. He continued carpentry, woodworking and substitute teaching until he received the call to go into ministry.

He organized and traveled on several mission trips in South America, Africa and Russia. Gary became Pastor of visitation at Central United Methodist Church. He pastored several Methodist churches in Northwest Arkansas, including St. James and Wiggins in Fayetteville and congregations at Rheas Mill, Winslow, Lincoln and Morrow. He loved God, his family, the Razorbacks, riding his motorcycle, old cars, down-home cooking, chocolate cake, stray dogs, Siamese cats, mission work, talking about old Fayetteville and story-telling, traveling, Sunday afternoon drives, backyard barbecues, swimming in the river and woodworking. Most of all, Gary loved people.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Bruce and RosaLee Lunsford, and two brothers, Porter and David Lunsford.

He is survived by his wife, Marty, his three sons, Jason, Quentin and Allan, five grandchildren, his sister, Barbara Pryor, and his brother, Scott Lunsford. Gary did more in his 75 years than most would do in a hundred. He was a popular and well-loved man and will be sorely missed.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, under the direction of Moore’s Chapel. To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.

ROGERS — Cynthia

Ann “Cindy” Hayes, 59, of Rogers, Ark., passed away Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, at Mercy Hospital in Rogers. She was born April 27, 1958, in Fort Smith, Ark.

She was a graduate of Colorado Springs High School and worked at Walmart and K-Mart. Cindy was a free spirit that loved life. She loved animals, especially cats and enjoyed the ocean, Florida beaches and dolphins. She attended concerts and loved U2, Willie Nelson and got to know many legends in the music industry.

She was preceded in death by her father, Jesse Dean Hayes; aunt and uncle, Margaret and Cleman Neff and cousin, Kent Neff.

Cindy is survived by her mother and best friend, Wanda Faye Todd and companion, Mike Campbell of Rogers; stepfather, Keith McMahan; aunt, Dianna Williams (Jackie); cousins, Dr. Alvin Neff (Kathie), Gay Neff, Teranna Deming (Greg); and many dear friends.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, at Stockdale-Moody Funeral Chapel with Chaplain Jeff Rylee officiating.

Memorials may be made in memory of Cindy Hayes to The Rogers Humane Society, 407 E Nursery Road, Rogers, Ark. 72758. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services of Rogers.

Words of comfort or memories may be shared at stockdale-moodyfs.com.

CHICO, Calif. —

Virginia Lee (Pace)

Brown, of Chico, Calif., 95, passed away peacefully on Jan. 20, 2018.

Virginia spent a wonderful Christmas with her family, and on Dec. 27 was very proud to celebrate her 95th birthday surrounded by family and friends.

Virginia was born on Dec. 27, 1922, in Springdale, Ark., where she grew up with her parents, Arthur and Elsie Pace, and her younger brother and sister, Rolland and Sue. She had many relatives in the Springdale area including family names Pace, Goheen, Wilson and Graham.

In the summer of 1937, she traveled with her mother and siblings to join their father, in Greenfield, Calif., where she attended high school. After graduating in 1942, she married her high school sweetheart, Ken Guerrero, who soon left for service in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. Sadly, her only brother, Roland Pace, while also serving in the Navy, was killed near Okinawa in April 1945. Virginia’s children, Douglas, born in 1943, and Jamie, born in 1947, spent their early years in Greenfield before moving to Alameda in 1951, where Virginia lived for the next 49 years. After retiring, in 2000, she decided to relocate to Chico to be closer to her children.

She is survived by her son, Doug and Kelly Guerrero, and her daughter, Jamie and John Burghardt, both of Forest Ranch, California. She is also survived by five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A private family Memorial Service is being planned for later in the spring.

Condolences may be made to the family at www. brusiefh.com.