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 — Wayne

Earlson Calhoun Sr., 101, of Bella Vista, Ark., died at home Sunday, March 11, 2018. He was born Dec. 21, 1916, in Montrose, Mo., to the late Earl and Verda (Manbeck) Calhoun.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 79 years and two brothers.

He is survived by his sister, Alice Jane Wagner (Les); two sons, Wayne E. Calhoun, Jr. (Linda) of Bella Vista, Ark., and Charles E. Calhoun (Mary) of Denton, Texas; four grandchildren, Kelley Bowers, Patrick Calhoun, Charles Calhoun, Jr. and Laurie England; 10 great-grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren.

He was an outstanding father and husband who was involved in coaching Little League baseball, being a Boy Scout leader and Scoutmaster, achieving the Silver Beaver award which is the highest non-Boy Scout award, teaching Sunday school and school activities, turning down promotional opportunities, with Sears to stay in Tulsa.

He moved to Bella Vista from Tulsa, Okla, in 1974 upon retiring from Sears & Roebuck. He and his wife, Ara Mae Calhoun were leaders in the Bella Vista community. He was the branch manager of the Bella Vista Benton County Savings and Loan office in Town Center which later became Simmons Bank. He was instrumental in establishing the ambulance service with the fire department and the recycle center and was a volunteer at Helping Hands of Bentonville for many years.

A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Bella Vista at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 22, with the Reverend Jeanne Williams officiating and where he and his wife were charter members.

Having served in the China, Burma, and India Theater in World War II where he flew “The Hump” as a radio operator on a C-46, he will be buried at the VA National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 20 Boyce Drive, Bella Vista, Ark., 72715 or the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Arrangements are entrusted to Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be made at www.funeral mation.com.

FARMINGTON —

Sharon Howell, age 77, of Farmington, Ark., passed away peacefully in her home Monday, March 12, 2018. Sharon was born May 25, 1940, to Carl and Norma Baker in San Jose, Calif. She later in life relocated to Arkansas and started her family.

She was kind, generous, and loved unconditionally. She was known as everyone’s grandma.

Mrs Howell was preceded in death by her parents, Carl Baker and Norma Eubanks Baker; her husband, John Howell; one daughter, Julie Brown; her brother, Bob Baker; and sister Pat Lee.

She is survived by her son, John Howell Jr.; her granddaughters, Tabitha Rideout, Kimberly Jordan and Heidi Richardson; her sister, Videne Dodson; brother, John Baker; eight great-grandchildren; and many other family and friends.

A memorial service will be held in her honor Saturday, March 24, at 5 p.m. at Westfield Chapel, 3236 W. Huntsville Ave., Springdale, Ark. Services have been entrusted to Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home.

FAYETTEVILLE — Mary

Lou Colbert, 86, of Fayetteville entered into eternal life

March 11, 2018. She was born Sept. 22, 1931.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life and husband of 60 years, MT Colbert; and great-grandson, Jackson Lee Graves.

Mary Lou worked for 24 years at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. She had a passion for flowers and gardening and took great pride in maintaining a picture-perfect home. She was devoted to her family and friends as well as her pets. She is greatly missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda Bacon and husband, Tom of Elkins; her son, Kenneth Colbert of Saint Francis, Maine; her granddaughters, Angie Graves and Jenn Matthews of Fayetteville; and four great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at Beard’s Chapel with private burial to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jackson L. Graves Foundation, www.jacksongraves.org.

Condolences at www. beardsfuneralchapel.com.

FORT SMITH — Robert

L. Holt, 71, of Fort Smith passed away on March 11, 2018, in Fayetteville, Ark. He was the husband of Terri Holt. They shared 23 years of marriage.

Robert was born in Eccles, W.Va., the son of William and Gloria Holt. He served in Vietnam as an artillery officer in the U.S. Army. Soon after being honorably discharged, he attended Florida Atlantic University where he earned a B.A. He was employed at Tyson Foods for many years and served in several managerial roles throughout his career. He was an honorable man.

He is survived by his spouse, Terri Holt; his children. Melissa Holt, Robin Wright (Hansel Wright), and Thomas Bonner. Robert was the proud grandfather of Elloree Wright.

Please visit Robert’s memorial page at www.Westfield Chapel.com.

GREENLAND — Muriel Dean Bruffett Allman,

69-year-old resident of Greenland, Ark., died on March 15, 2018, at her home. Born on Sept. 8, 1948, in Kansas City, Kan., she was the daughter of William Henry Bruffett and Dora Dean Harrington Bruffett.

Muriel married Thomas Allman on May 16, 1964 in Kansas City, Kan. She lived in Northwest Arkansas for over 30 years. Muriel retired from Cintas where she worked washing and sorting uniforms.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas; and her parents, William and Dora.

She is survived by two sons, Thomas Eugene Allman and fiancée LaDonna of Seligman, Mo., and Billy Lee Allman of Springdale, Ark.; daughter, Tammy Lynn Moore Allman and husband Jerry Moore of Greenland, Ark.; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and sister, Dora Jane Spurlock of Aurora, Mo.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Ark. Burial will follow at Gentry Cemetery, Gentry, Ark. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, March 19, 2018, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

To sign the online guest book, please visit www. wassonfuneralhome.com.

LOWELL — Dan

Downing, 77, of Springdale, Ark., passed away March 16, 2018. Danny Ray Downing was born March 1, 1941, in Claremore, Okla., to Howard and Ruthie Downing.

He graduated from Locust Grove High School in 1959 and went on to earn a degree in Accounting and Business Administration at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla. He served in the Air National Guard for six years. He married Betty Lou Skidmore of 55 years on Jan. 26, 1963. After working for the IRS for 10 years, they started their own accounting practice for 38 years where he loved helping his clients save tax dollars. His real passion for accounting was to encourage his clients to achieve their dreams through financial planning and counseling. Dan was actively involved at his church Christian Life Cathedral where he served as an elder for many years.

Dan enjoyed hunting, fishing and being on his bulldozer. He and Betty took many road trips with their RV group, including an Alaskan cruise and trip to Hawaii, with close friends Red and Loretta Dixon.

His greatest joy was to spend time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He liked watching their activities, taking them to get Little Debbies and going on treasure hunts.

Dan is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter, Dianna Alaniz and son-in-law Scott and their three daughters (Kara, Erin and Sophie); sister, Margie Hill; two brothers, Bob and Robert Downing; granddaughters, Maranda Ferrell and Jordan Bohannan; and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Ruthie Downing; his sister, Carol Meeker; and his son, Billy Ray Downing.

A visitation will be Monday, March 19, from 6-8 p.m. at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 20, at 10 at Christian Life Cathedral in Fayetteville, Ark. Burial will be held at New Hope Cemetery in Chewey, Okla.

A special thanks for all the special care received at Highlands Oncology Center, Washington Regional Infusion Clinic and the Willard Walker Hospice Home.

Memorials may be made to the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute in Little Rock, Ark. To sign the online guest book, please visit www. nelsonberna.com.

PARIS — Alice B. Johnson died March 15, 2018. Memorial Rosary is 5:30 p.m., March 20, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Paris. Memorial Mass is 10 a.m., March 21, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with burial in Oakwood Cemetery under the direction of Roller Funeral Home. Online guest book, www.rollerfuneral homes.com/paris.

SILOAM SPRINGS —

William “Keith” Smith, 64, of Siloam Springs, Ark., passed away on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at the UAMS in Little Rock, Ark. Keith was born on June 18, 1953, in Stuttgart, Ark., to James William Smith and Mary Odell McVay-Smith.

He enjoyed fishing, watching the Razorback games, and being a loving grandpa to his grandchildren.

He is survived by his son Brian Smith and wife, Jennifer of Siloam Springs, Ark.; two stepdaughters, Candice Farris and husband, Richard of Owasso, Okla., and Amber Herrera and husband, Raul of Owasso, Okla.; one brother, Randy Smith and Vicki of Springdale, Ark.; nine grandchildren; and a niece and nephew.

Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Siloam Springs, Ark. Pastor Steve Abbott will officiate the service.

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

TONTITOWN — Elsie

Mae Pianalto, 86, of Tontitown, Ark., passed from this life Thursday, March 15, 2018, at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, Ark. She was born Oct. 16, 1931, in Tontitown, Ark., the daughter of Pete Fiori and Mary Cortiana Fiori.

Elsie Mae married the love of her life, Gabriel Dominic Pianalto on Jan. 3, 1951. Elsie Mae graduated from Springdale High School, was crowned Queen Concordia of the Tontitown Grape Festival in 1949, and worked as a waitress at the Venesian Inn for over 50 years.

Elsie Mae devoted her life to her soulmate Gabe, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that she loved so much. Family gatherings with the sound of stringed instruments and songs being sung always made Elsie Mae proud, and oh she had a happy heart. Elsie Mae’s smile was contagious, and her loving caring ways were felt by all who knew her. She was a devout Catholic and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and choir in Tontitown, Ark.

Elsie Mae was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Gabriel Pianalto; her granddaughter, Rachel Pianalto; her parents, Pete and Mary; sisters, Clara, Dorothy and Virginia; and brothers, Bill, Charlie, and Virgil.

Elsie Mae is survived by three daughters, Brenda of Springdale, Doris Holmes and husband Gary of Springdale, Silvia Hall and husband Jason of Tontitown; four sons, Virgil Pianalto and wife Gail of Tontitown, Patrick Pianalto of Springdale, Bernard Pianalto and wife Sherry of Tontitown, and James Pianalto and wife Kristi of Fayetteville. Elsie Mae’s heart was filled with love, and oh how proud she was of her most precious grandchildren: Michael, Paula, Jon, Jessica, Justin, Jacob, Gavan, and Maddi, and her six great-grandchildren; Noah, Hannah, Lilly, Cooper, Aiden, and Priscilla. Elsie Mae had many extended family members and friends she loved so much.

A conversation Paula (Elsie Mae’s grandaughter) had with her daughter Lilly about death and life in Heaven with God, Lilly describes life’s precious moments by simply responding, “That’s OK Mommy, Great Nona is not here with us, now she is everywhere.”

Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, March 19, 2018, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tontitown with Fr. William Burmester officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Tontitown.

Rosary services will be Sunday, March 18, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Church.

Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bell Tower Memorial, P.O. Box 39, Tontitown, Ark., 72770 and Arkansas Children’s Northwest, 2601 Gene George Blvd, Springdale, Ark., 72762. Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral.com.

AURORA, Ill. — Ruby

Irene Sicks Deason, 90, of Aurora, passed away Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at Presence Mercy Medical Center. Born Oct. 2, 1927, in Okmulgee, Okla., married in Ponca City, Okla., June 6, 1948 to Howard Stanley Deason.

Ruby was a loving, wife, mother, grammy, and hardworking housewife and went to work outside the home in 1966 to pay for her daughter’s college. She was a Brownie leader as well as a Den Mother for Cub Scouts. She was a Sunday school teacher, WMU president, and choir member. She also volunteered at the Mountain View Library.

Howard and Ruby were founding members of two Southern Baptist Churches, Lakeside Baptist Church in Rogers, Ark., and Foothills Baptist Church in Mountain View, Ark.

Ruby and Howard were married for 57 years. For the past 13 years, Ruby has lived with her daughter and son-inlaw in Aurora.

She is survived by her children, Linda Kaye Deason Bridgman and her husband Bob of Aurora, Ill., and Howard Lynn Deason of Spring, Texas; two grandchildren, Robert Allan Bridgman, Jr. and his wife Maggie and Jill Elizabeth Bridgman Sprau and her husband Andrew; six great-grandchildren, Alex (Kasie), Brenna, Michael, and Indy Bridgman, Evan and Lauren Sprau; a great-great-grandson, Nolan; and her devoted caregiver, Kelly Ann Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Stanley Deason; her parents, Charles B. and Mamie Belle Balliett Sicks; her older sister, Ruth Sicks; five older brothers, Vivian, Clyde A., Ivan H., Frank E., and Ralph C. Sicks; in-laws, Howard A. Deason and Stanley Simmons Deason.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at 7 p.m. at The Daleiden Mortuary. Pastor Gary L. McCann officiated. Interment was in Benton County Memorial Park in Rogers, Ark. Local arrangements by Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers.

Visitation was held Tuesday, March 13, 2018, from 5 p.m. until the service hour at 7 p.m. at The Daleiden Mortuary, 220 North Lake Street, Aurora, Ill., 60506. (630) 631-5500.

Please visit our interactive website at www.daleiden mortuary.com where you may sign the guest book or leave condolences for Ruby’s family.

JOPLIN, Mo. — Harold “Leon” Russell, Junior, 65, of Joplin, Mo., passed away Friday, March 9, 2018, surrounded by his loving family.

Leon was born Aug. 12, 1952, in Joplin to the late Harold Leon Russell and Beatrice Normadine Beckwith Scott.

Leon is survived by his wife, Kathy Turner; one son, Brian James Russell, wife Theresa, grandson Christian; two daughters, Lindsey Beth Hinojosa, grandson Ethan; Macey Lauren Willis, grandson Nolan, all of Long Beach, Calif.; his mother, Norma Scott, Joplin; two brothers, Glenn Russell, Joplin, Buford Scott, Topeka, Kan.; two sisters, Cynthia Wilken, husband Ron, Fort Worth, Rebecca Scott, Joplin; sister-in-law Linda Egoshi, Ark.; two faithful companions Lolly and Reece. He also leaves many nieces, nephews and friends who knew him as a confidant and sincere loyal friend: Patricia, Corie, Scott, Ryan, Jerri, Cindy, Jacqueline, Breaunna, Whitney, Emily, Emma, and Samantha.

He was preceded in death by his father Harold Leon Russell, Galena, Kan.; brothers, James Kent Russell and Richard Scott; stepfather, Buford Scott.

Leon graduated from Johnson High School in Johnson, Kan. He was an Eagle Scout and would fondly tell stories of catching rattlesnakes and hunting pheasants in western Kansas. He worked on the family farm and appreciated watching things grow, evidenced by his and Kathy’s garden, complete with irrigation.

He proudly served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Juneau (LPD-10) ABH-3 serving in the Vietnam War, earning numerous service medals until he was released in 1974 to the Naval Reserves, settling in California to raise his family. He became an active Elks member, but his greatest joy was camping and fishing with his children. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree while working for the Veterans Affairs Administration in California. Leon retired from the Veterans Affairs Hospital of Livermore, Calif., as the Chief Medical Administrator.

He then relocated back to Joplin and met Kathy, his soul mate and “perfect match.” He also started a new career with U.S. Cellular, where he worked for 20 years until retiring. He was also the co-owner/operator of Express Signs Co., R & S Used Cars, “The Dish Man” and numerous other ventures. He joined and became an active member of Christ Community United Methodist Church, participating in De Colores.

Anyone who knew Leon knew he was a computer wizard, electrical and engineering genius. He always had the right answers and was everyone’s “go-to” guy. Leon loved holidays. One of his biggest engineering feats was his Christmas and Halloween displays which grew bigger each year until he ran out of space. Thankfully his nieces, nephews and Kathy painstakingly set up his creations to his specifications, including lights set to music and animation. Halloween would draw some 500 people for candy and treats, many returning year after year much to his pleasure. He enjoyed showering his family with love and special celebrations becoming our very own Santa Claus. Immediately after Halloween, Christmas began and the decorations, shirts, and Kathy’s candy appeared. If you happened to stop by, he would always be playing some Christmas show on TV. Easter had a very special place, and his egg hunt was spectacular.

His passing will create an immense void not only for his family, but for so many.

We are going to miss you big guy, our patriarch.

Services are planned for Saturday, March 24, 2 p.m. at Christ Community United Methodist Church in Joplin. His pastor Chris Sloan will officiate. A Hawaiian Luau celebrating Leon’s life will follow at Big R’s Bar-B-Q.

Preparations are by Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Christ Community Children’s Camp Fund: 417-781-8701; www.ccumc-joplin.org.