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 — LeRoy

Gustaf Gustafson of Bella Vista passed away on July 21, 2018. He was born on July 19, 1925, in Chicago, Ill., to the late Gustaf and Cecilia Gustafson.

LeRoy was a veteran of World War II, where he served in the Navy.

His survivors include his children, Kevin Gustafson and wife Marilyn of Little Rock, Judith Gustafson, and Joseph Gustafson and wife Beverly of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; grandchildren, Justin Thompson, and Jessica, Connor, and Julia Gustafson; and great-grandchild, Kingston Todd Thompson. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Sylvia; son, Thomas Gustafson; and siblings, Dorothy Crouse, Geraldine Ernst, and Larry and Jerry Gustafson.

A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4 at Living Waters United Methodist Church in Centerton.

BENTONVILLE — Her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ opened the doors of heaven today, July 31, 2018, to welcome Jeretta Clark

Hardwick of Bentonville, Ark., after a long, courageous battle with cancer. She entered heaven’s gates surrounded by family at home, under loving, compassionate care by Circle of Life Hospice, Bentonville.

We are all very blessed to have had her in our lives. She was a devoted wife, daughter, mother, and Gran to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She gave her life to the Lord as a young girl and walked with Him all the days of her life and created a strong Christian legacy for her family.

Jeretta was the daughter of Clifton and Sybel Clark. She was born March 30, 1937, in Erick, Okla. She met the love of her life, Horace, at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas, and they were joined in marriage June 29, 1956, in Oklahoma City. They have traveled the world together and had countless adventures. Horace’s work took them from Dallas to Little Rock, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Houston, San Antonio, Kansas City, and Mexico City, finally settling in Bentonville in 1989.

In Bentonville, she was instrumental in the establishment of the Circle of Life Hospice Ladies Auxiliary, “Angels Paying It Forward”, and was co-chair with her husband of the Capital Campaign of Benton County to raise funds to build a Circle of Life home in Bentonville. She was an active member of the Bentonville Garden Club and the PEO Chapter V. Some of her happiest times were spent in working in her garden.

Jeretta was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Kenneth. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Horace; their children and spouses Kevin (Laura) Hardwick of Bulverde, Texas, and their daughters Ciana and Ekkarach Inthanom of Phuket, Thailand, and Terra Hardwick of Baton Rouge, La.; Kim (Greg) Mertes of Bentonville, Ark., and their children Jessica and Justin Kilgo of Rogers, Ark., and Justin and Sara Mertes of Kansas City, Mo.; and Kirk (Tracey) Hardwick, and their children Luke, Landon, Lacey Lynn and Genevieve Hardwick of Dallas, Texas. Her great-grandchildren are Aerina and Kaella Inthanom, with another sibling on the way, and Adeline Mertes and her soon to be born sister.

There will be a visitation gathering at Callison-Lough funeral home, on Aug. 2, 2018, from 5 to 7:30 a.m. A celebration of her life will be on Aug. 3, 2018, at Cross Church, Rogers, at 10 a.m. The celebration will be officiated by Mickey Rapier, Jim Arkins and Bob McCaslin. A private family graveside service will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Circle of Life Hospice, 1201 NE Legacy Parkway, Bentonville, Ark., 72712.

FAYETTEVILLE —

Gurvis Wayne Wood, age 78, passed away from this life on Monday, July 30, 2018, at Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville, Ark., with his family at his side. He was born on Sept. 14, 1939, in El Dorado, Ark., to Tommie Gurvis and Latance Wood Culpepper.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Carolyn; and his brother, Ronny Wood.

Gurvis served in the U.S. Army and retired as major in the Arkansas National Guard, 39th Infantry Division.

He worked for Murphy Oil for 35 years before retiring in 2001. His favorite hobbies were reading, gardening, woodworking, fishing, and watching the Arkansas Razorbacks.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Martha Wood; his son, Tommie Wood and wife Stephanie; his granddaughter, Grace Ann Wood; his brother, Mike Wood of Norman, Okla.; his step-father, John Grady Culpepper of El Dorado, Ark.; his step-brother, Kenny Culpepper and wife Ann of Memphis, Tenn.; his brother-in-law, B.R. Martin of Rosston, Ark.; and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 10–11 a.m. with a celebration of life service to follow at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, at Canaan Baptist Church, 502 Canaan Road, Spearsville, La., 71277. Interment to follow at Canaan Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Canaan Baptist Church at 502 Canaan Road, Spearsville, Louisiana 71277, or the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank at www.nwafoodbank. org. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home & Crematory of Fayetteville.

JAPTON — Loy Lynn

Rogers, 79, of Japton, died July 29, 2018. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Aug. 2, 2018, at Brashears Funeral Home. Services will be 10 a.m., Aug. 3, 2018, with burial following at the Drakes Creek Cemetery. Services are entrusted to Brashears Funeral Home and Crematory of Huntsville.

ROGERS — Gary Lee

Carter of Rogers passed away on July 30, 2018. He was born on May 27, 1948, in Bentonville to the late Bill and Wilma Carter.

Gary was a lifetime resident of the Rogers-Bentonville area. He loved to bowl and was active in several local bowling leagues. Like his parents before him, he worked for the Carter’s Big W Service Station on Walnut Street in Rogers. He was a member of the Rogers First Assembly church.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Terry Carter; sons, Chris Carter of Springfield, Mo., Eric Halley of Manhattan, Nev., Michael Halley and wife Stephanie of Rogers; daughters, Lisa Jordan and husband Steve of Bentonville, Kiauna Maynard and husband Chris of Hindsville, Cassandra Matthews and husband David of San Antonio, Texas; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A graveside service for Gary will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4 in Ruddick Cemetery.

ROGERS — Nikki Jo

Miller, 51, of Rogers, passed away Tuesday, July 24, 2018. She is survived by a son, Daniel Miller; ex-husband, Mark Miller; stepfather, Ron Springston; brother, Ron Jr.; and sisters, Kristy and Sandy. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, at the McCord Cemetery Church in Elkins. Condolences at www.beards funeralchapel.com.

WEST FORK — Robert

Lee Kimball, 74, of West Fork died Monday, July 30, 2018, at Circle of Life Hospice. He was born Jan. 27, 1944, in Madison County, Ark., to Bert Lee Kimball and Mary Mayes-Kimball.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, James Kimball. Survivors include his son, Jimmy Kimball and wife Shanna of West Fork; daughter, Kim Love and husband Steve of Oologah, Okla.; sister, Rose Dyer and husband Jim of Elkins; two brothers, Gene Kimball and wife Wanda of Combs and Ervin Kimball and wife Pam of St. Paul; grandchildren, Jessica, Sara, Ethan, Jason, Joseph and Lauren and several nieces, nephews and other family members.

At his request there is no service scheduled. Private burial will be at Riverside Cemetery near St Paul. Funeral services are under the direction of Madison County Funeral Service of Elkins. Please visit our website to leave the family an online condolence, www.madison countyfuneralservice.com.

WASHBURN, Mo. — Visitation for Laura Rusher, 50, of Washburn, Mo., will be 6-9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 3, at Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home in Rogers. Graveside service will follow Saturday, Aug. 4 at Benton County Memorial Park Cemetery, Rogers, Ark. Online Guestbook and full obituary: www.bentoncountymemorialpark.com.

OMAHA, Neb. — Walter

James Crofut, patient husband, hilarious storyteller and master plumber, set aside his work boots for the last time on Sunday, July 29, 2018, at the home of his daughter, surrounded by those he loved most. He was born 84 years ago, on Feb. 3, 1934, to Charles Merwin and Florence Grace (Martin) Crofut in Ossining, N.Y.

In 1940, his family moved to Arlington, Vt., where he spent his childhood years, and attended Arlington schools. Always up for an adventure, he traveled to Alaska the summer after graduation to work in a gold mine. Later he returned to Arlington, attended trade school, and worked for both his father’s plumbing and heating business, and J. H. Winslow Plumbing and Heating in Bennington, Vt.

After several years of bachelorhood, Walt married Emily Chandler McGuire on July 5, 1963, at St. James Episcopal Church. The following years brought the birth of their daughter and a move to Northwest Arkansas. Walter continued his craft with Stokes Plumbing & Heating in Rogers, Ark. and the Rogers Public Schools.

After retirement, he manned the sales counter at Able Plumbing in Bentonville and dispensed invaluable advice to those with a plumbing predicament. With a warm smile, a kind heart, and wicked sense of humor, Walter put everyone he met at ease and never met a stranger.

In his final years, he came to live with his daughter and her family as they traveled and moved all over the country. He loved his family and without him, the mail would have never been picked up or the trash taken out or hinges oiled, and they would have lived in the dark with light bulbs that needed changing. He kept them laughing and in line until the very end. Lively memories of his witty comments will forever by remembered by his devoted wife, Emily Chandler Crofut; a brother, Donald Crofut of Burlington, Vt.; daughter and son-in-law Chris and Rindy Archer; four grandchildren (Chelsea (Peter) Noriega, Jennifer (Rob) Moylon, Chandler Hoover, and Brynn Hoover); two great-granddaughters (Charlotte and Aria); sisterin-law, Nancy McGuire, along with nephews and nieces.

A private memorial service will be held on the edge of the Battenkill River in the fall. Notes of condolence may be left at www.bramanmortuary.com.

Instead of flowers, Walter would hope that you be kind to your local plumber, offer a helping hand to someone in need, or if you so desire, make a donation to the charity he long supported, Boys Town (14100 Crawford St. Boys Town, Neb., 68010).