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.

CONWAY — Jean Marie Varvil, 85, of Conway, Ark., departed this life on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. She was born on June 26, 1932, in Flint, Mich., to the late Elmer Lee Wetherford and Hazel Yeargan Wetherford.

She was also preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Jewel Varvil; two brothers, Elmer and Clyde Wetherford; twin sister, June Alley; a sister; Lawanda; and granddaughter, Tollie Hicks.

Whether you called her Jean or Granny, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, neighbor, and friend. She was a dedicated railroad wife as well as a dedicated member of Highway Baptist Church. She loved to travel, play bingo, show off her dog Parker; and visit with friends and family.

She is survived by two daughters, Madalyn Chapman ( Skip) and Darlene Hicks (Andy); granddaughter, Brandy Owen (Donnie); two grandsons, Drew Hicks and Sean Chapman ( Jennifer); and four great-grandchildren, Heath Owen, Sam Owen, Savannah Maree Chapman, and Serenity Mae Chapman.

Visitation service will be from 9-10 a.m. Friday, May 25, 2018, at First United Methodist Church in Conway. Interment will be 2 p.m. Friday at Shiloh Cemetery in Paragould, Ark. Online guestbook www. rollerfuneralhomes. com/Conway. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society or your local animal shelter.

FAYETTEVILLE — Darrow Doyle Faubus, age 92, passed away May 17, 2018, at Washi n g ton Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Ark. He was born Sept. 21, 1925, in Combs, Ark., to John and Addie Joslen Faubus.

Doyle grew up on a farm near Combs where he developed a life-long love and appreciation for nature. He was a Navy veteran and worked as an assistant auditor in West Memphis, as the assistant director of Livestock and Poultry Commission in Little Rock, and as a farmer. He was elected Circuit Clerk of Madison County and served on the Madison County Board of Economic Opportunity Agency and was a member of the Silver Hair Legislature in Little Rock, Ark.

After a series of surgeries and a heart attack, Doyle turned his attention to music. He had always written poems for himself and now he added music. He wrote several songs and recorded five albums. He enjoyed playing music at local venues and events.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father; his four sisters, Cressy, Connie, June, and Bonnie; and his two brothers, Orval and Elvin. Doyle is survived by his wife of 72 years, Betty, his daughter, Debra; his granddaughter, Megie Doyal; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 25, 2018, at Beards’ Chapel. Graveside services will be held Saturday, May 26, 2018, at 10 a.m. Combs Cemetery in Combs, Ark., under the direction of Beard’s Chapel. Condolences at www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.

GRAVETTE — Janice Kay Fletcher, 64, of Gravette died Monday. Visitation will be Friday, 8 a. m. - 2 p. m. with the family receiving friends from 1-2 p.m. Services will begin immediately at 2 p.m., Powell Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in Shady Grove Cemetery by Powell Funeral Home Bald Knob-Judsonia. www.powellfuneralhome.net.

GRAVETTE — Leslie Fred Welty of Gravette passed away on May 22, 2018. He was born on Feb. 2, 1934, in Chicago, Ill., to the late Leslie and Frances Welty.

Leslie was a veteran of the Korean War, where he served in the Air Force. He was a member of Grace Meadows Fellowship Church in Maysville.

Survivors include his son, Vincent Welty and wife Deborah of Gravette; grandchildren, Desiree Nicole Welty, Joshua Tyler Welty, Quentin Nichols, Rose Welty, James Welty; and sister, Rita Haynes. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Beatrice Welty; and four children, Glenn Franklin Welty, Clinton Eugene Welty, Jay Royce Welty, and Christy Ann Nichols.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 26 at Grace Meadows Fellowship Church in Maysville. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Maysville Cemetery. Arrangements are by Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers. www.RollinsFuneral.com.

LITTLE ROCK — Martha Frances Allen Engstrom died Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in CHI St. Vincent’s Hospital. She was born on May 8, 1921, to the late Emmet J. and Floy ( Runyan) Allen of De Queen, Ark.

She graduated from De Queen High School and she attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and the Dean’s List. In 1940, she wed Harold J. Engstrom of Little Rock and the marriage lasted 62 years until his death in 2002. They made their home in Little Rock raising a family of 4 boys.

She served as a Cub Scout leader, and PTA president at Pulaski Heights Elementary and junior high, and was a Sunday School teacher at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church also as a member of the Board of Stewards. Mrs. Engstrom was a member and past president of the 20th Century Club and a member of the Hope Lodge Board, The Women’s Emergency Committee, and AR Arts Center, The Fine Arts Club, and Pleasant Valley Country Club.

Preceded in death by her parents and a stepfather, Fay W. Park, her husband Harold J. Engstrom and a son, Robert Allen Engstrom. She is survived by a brother, Don W. Park and wife Joan of Greenbrier, Tenn., and a sister, Patricia Oldt of Grand Rapids, Mich. Martha is also survived by her three sons and daughtersin- law; Jim and Laura Engstrom, Steve and Rebecca Engstrom of Little Rock, and Bruce and Sue Engstrom of North Little Rock; six grandchildren, Carrie Engstrom Lebowitz and husband Scott of Memphis, Tenn., Amy Engstrom of Washington, D.C., Allen and wife, Ashley Engstrom, Greg and wife, Julie Engstrom, Page and husband, Tommy Siegler and Louise Engstrom of Little Rock; great grandchildren, Jackson and Mason Engstrom, Gus and Oliver Engstrom of Little Rock and Zachary and Sam Runyan Lebowitz of Memphis, Tenn.; and six nieces and nephews.

Her three sons, thank her for her strong guidance, support, character, and leadership as a mother for which they give credit to much of the positive things in their lives and those of their immediate families. The family extends their gratitude to Dr. Paul Zelnick and the rest of the healthcare professionals and assistants in her life.

A visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 24, 2018, at Ruebel Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Friday, May 25, 2018, at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. officiated by the Reverend Lynn Lindsey followed by burial at Roselawn Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Ave, Little Rock, Ark., 72205. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

ROGERS — Larry VanMeter, 83, of Rogers, passed away on May 22, 2018, at his home in Rogers, Ark. Larry was born in St. Joe, Mo., to Roosevelt and Roberta VanMeter on Aug. 1, 1934.

He was married to Virginia VanMeter on Jan. 31, 1976, in Bella Vista, Ark. Larry retired from Hussman Foods in 2001 and enjoyed his retirement playing golf and spending time with his family. He was a veteran of the Korean War and proudly served in the Army. Larry was a member of the Rogers Free Will Baptist Church since 1986 and served as the church Treasurer and teen Sunday school teacher.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Roosevelt and Roberta VanMeter. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Virginia VanMeter, his children, Larry D. VanMeter and wife Kerry VanMeter, Roger VanMeter, Lanita Trotter, Wilber Johnson, Rick Bolinger and wife Noi Bolinger. His brother Charles VanMeter and wife Marguerite, 10 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home, Thursday, May 24, 2018, from 5-7 p.m. Funeral service will be held Friday, May 25, 2018, at 10 a.m. at Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home with internment service immediately following. “Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.”

SILOAM SPRINGS — William Robert “Bill” Gann, 85, longtime resident Gentry and Siloam Springs, Ark., died May 20, 2018, at the Alma Manor.

He had moved to Alma, Kan., two years ago to be closer to family. Bill was the youngest of the five children of Elmer Franklin and Elsie Rebecca (Steinke) Gann. He was born Jan. 4, 1933, in Omaha, Neb., where his father took the family in search of work during the great depression.

The family returned to the family farm southeast of Gentry when Bill was a young child, where he went to school and spent much of his life. Bill Gann was the 5th generation of the early pioneer Gann family who originally settled along what is now Gann Ridge Road near Garfield, Ark., in the 1850s and he lived to see the 9th generation of the Gann descendants born in the Ozark mountains of Benton County, Ark.

Bill married Hazel Davis on Sept. 12, 1955, and they lived in Siloam Springs for most of their 41 years of marriage and were part of the Norwood Bible Church congregation. Hazel preceded him in death on Jan. 3, 1997. Bill worked for almost 31 years at Franklin Electric repairing electric motors. He loved to fish and was an avid fan of the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals. He enjoyed traveling in his comfortable van with his wife and later with members of her family to visit relatives and see the sights along the way. Bill also had a keen interest in the weather. Anyone who had a chance to visit with him at Alma Manor (where he became known as the weatherman) was given a lesson on current conditions.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, his sister Norma Cox and brothers, Charles and Jerry Gann. Bill is survived by his oldest

brother, Elmer Eugene (Gene) Gann of Independence, Kan., and nieces and nephews; Charles Gann ( Laura) of rural Belvue, Kan., Monica Cox of Rogers, Ark., Sandra Marcum of Bentonville, Ark., David Gann (Linda) of Independence, Kan., Norman Cox Jr. (Marilea) of Naples, Fla., Kathy (Steve) Jimmerson of Dodge City, Kan., Rebecca Caine and Christina Lundy of Kokomo, Ind., Vickie Jordan and Tim Gann of Siloam Springs, Ark., and Tammy Gann of Winong, Wis.

The family would treasure the sharing of memories and stories from Bill’s friend and co-workers and especially his extended Davis family at an informal graveside memorial service 2 p.m. Friday, May 25, 2018, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Siloam Springs, Ark., to honor the gentle life of our dear uncle. To sign the online guest book, visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.

WINSLOW — Jason Robb Sanford of Winslow, passed away on Sunday, May 20, 2018, at 40 years young. He was born on Feb. 8, 1978, in Fayetteville, Ark., to David and Janice (Shea) Sanford.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather Ray Shea, and paternal grandparents Elizabeth Norman Sanford and Charles F. Sanford.

Jason played on four state championship soccer teams, played baseball and football, all while he was a teenager. He also loved fishing. He was a hard worker who loved his family and his friends. He was a jack of all trades, and was able to do just about anything from automobile mechanic to carpentry and tile work. He did everything he possibly could to help those he came in contact with who were in need.

He was a great dad and did everything he could to provide for his kids. He loved to play and wrestle with them all. He enjoyed talking and being with his kids and his wife and best friend, Kira. He had the best hugs and infectious smile, and he will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his wife and best friend Kira Sanford of Winslow, Ark.; his seven children, Shealynn, Hailey, Carley, David, Tony, Kairi, and Kennedy; his parents, David and Janice Sanford of Fayetteville, Ark.; sister, Staci Sanford of Springdale, Ark.; twin brother, Damon Sanford of Fayetteville, Ark.; his maternal grandmother, Joan Shea of Brea, Calif.; his extended family, Chuck and Emily Dwyer, and their kids; his best friends Amanda and Daniel Smith and their kids; and many other family, friends, and loved ones.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2018, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Moore’s Chapel Funeral Home. Condolences may be given at www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.