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 — Benjamin Tyler Richards, infant son of Dawn and Clint Richards of Bella Vista, was born and taken from this life on Dec. 21, 2018. Benjamin was loved more than words could ever fully express and his memory will be forever carried in the hearts of his parents. Although he was not in their lives nearly long enough, he forever changed them. Benjamin will be missed by his mother Dawn Richards, father Clint Richards, sister Abbigale Richards and brother Grayson Richards. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 26, at Rogers City Cemetery.

FAYETTEVILLE — Hot (Lewis Ponder) Johnson passed away Dec. 22, 2018, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale, Ark. He was surrounded by family and friends.

Born July 1, 1932, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to William Bryan and Mildred Ponder Johnson, Hot spent most of his early childhood in Texas before moving with his family to Fayetteville in 1943. He grew up in the family plumbing business, and after what he described as “two terms — Truman’s and Eisenhower’s” at the University of Arkansas took over his father’s plumbing business, Johnson Plumbing, in partnership with his brother, Harold. Together they expanded the business to also include Fayetteville Sheet Metal and Johnson Hardware before Hot sold his share to Harold.

Hot was a fixture on Dickson Street in its heyday, from which emerged many stories — a few of which have become part of Fayetteville lore — and many lifetime friendships. Hot’s humor was legendary, and not infrequently shocking (well before that was a thing), and he was in high demand at parties and other gatherings among his large network of friends.

Though he did not graduate from the University, Hot was an educated man. An autodidact, he was a particularly erudite plumber with a rapier wit and a love of words and word play. His children bore the brunt of his passion for words, logging what we are sure were many miles in trips — mostly under protest — to the ever-open Random House Unabridged Dictionary.

Hot was preceded in death by his dearly beloved wife of 57 years, Christine, who he thought of every day and dreamt of every night.

He is survived by his children Julie Johnson Garton and her husband Brett, and Jonathan Johnson; grandchildren, Jennifer Simmons and her husband John, Daniel Cox, Juliana Antoninus, Sarah Langham and husband John, and Mary Gwin and her husband Justin; and great-grandchildren Connor, Lillian, Vivienne, Rebekah and Samuel. Siblings Harold Johnson, Shirley Neal and Sallye Martin preceded him in death, and he is survived by brothers, Russel Johnson and Fred Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Hot Johnson’s name to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation (P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, Ark. 72203; or at giving.archildrens.org) or to Circle of Life Hospice (nwacircleoflife.com).

A visitation will be held Dec. 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Moore’s Chapel in Fayetteville. A party to celebrate Hot’s life will be held at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12.

To place an online tribute, visit www.mooresfuneral chapel.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — On Dec. 12, 2018, Mozelle Margaret Elizabeth Morris, a loving wife, mother, and granny, entered her heavenly home. Mozelle was born in Halsell, Texas, on Feb. 23, 1923, to Alford D. and Lena Peirce.

She met her husband, Al Morris, of 65 years on a blind date. They raised four children on a family farm in Winslow, Ark. Mozelle was a faithful member of the Church of Christ teaching her family by word and by example. She was no stranger to hard work and sacrifice. Even though she was a wonderful homemaker, one of her frequent sayings was that she “kept her house. The house did not keep her”. She found great joy working in the yard and caring for her many flower beds. Mozelle trusted in the Lord every day. She would rarely finish a sentence without saying, “Good Lord Willing”.

She is lovingly remembered by two sons and their wives, Gary and Gail Morris of Moravia, Iowa, and Steve and Linda Morris of Alma, Ark.; two daughters and their husbands, Cathy and Jerry Schimming and Sally and William Geren, both of Bella Vista, Ark.; her brother, Jack Peirce of Wichita Falls, Texas; seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Being a great mother has been a precious and memorable gift given to her children. Our hearts are forever grateful to our beloved mother.

There is no public funeral service. Mozelle’s ashes will be buried alongside her husband’s on their home place.

To place an online tribute, visit www.mooresfuneral chapel.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Janice Jean (Higginbotham) Terry, 72, of Fayetteville passed away early Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. She was adopted by the late Morris and Flora Higginbotham at birth on July 21, 1946, in West Virginia.

They moved to Arkansas during her early years, and she graduated from Fayetteville High School where she was a majorette and played saxophone in the band.

She is survived by her three children, Ken Terry of Greenland, Wendy Ryver of Farmington and Dennis Terry of Elm Springs; four grandsons, Andrew, Sidney, Brax and Jack; a granddaughter, Marrisa; great-grandson, Noah; and sisters, Rebecca Barker and Melissa Workman.

She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Danny Nutter and Marvin Barker. She is deeply loved and will be forever missed.

There will be no service, but a celebration of life is in the process of being planned.

Condolences at www. beardsfuneralchapel.com.