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.

FAYETTEVILLE — John Harold Hardy, age 64, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. He was born on Jan. 11, 1955, in Glendive, Mont., to Jack and Mildred (Banks) Hardy. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his daughter, Kendra Boyle and husband Bo; three grandchildren, Shae, Memphis and Ava; his sister, Sherry Sutterfield and husband Ron; and his brother, James Hardy and wife Shelly. A private service will be held at a later date. To place an online tribute, visit www.nelsonberna.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — James McConnell, 67, of Fayetteville, Ark., died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday March 2, 2019, at First Baptist Church of West Fork. Online condolences www. WestfieldChapel.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Evelyn Shea McDonald of Fayetteville, Ark., left peacefully to be at home with her Lord on Wednesday, Febr. 27, 2019. Evelyn was born in Natchez, Miss., on May 10, 1928.

She is survived by her children, David McDonald and his wife Jeanie, Dannie McDonald, Jill Garner and her husband Nick, Frances Mayo and her husband Dave Yeager; grandchildren, Brian McDonald and his wife Christie, Allison Brewer and her husband David, Boyce Rigby, Chad Rigby and his wife Elise, Megan James and her husband Elliott; great-grandchildren, Kaitlin, Abigail, and Megan McDonald, Andrew and Matthew Brewer, Elliott and Addison Rigby, Lola and Mabrey James, and Jason Hastings; and beloved niece Alice Thorpe and her daughter Mason. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Lamar McDonald and daughter, Debbie Hastings.

After moving to Vicksburg, Miss., in 1946, Evelyn held a variety of employments, which included Saul Fried Furniture and the Help You Self Cafe, where she met and later married Lamar McDonald. She faithfully served First Baptist Church, including the formation of the first Sunday school class for adults with limited abilities.

She became the cafeteria manager of Warren Central High School, a position she dearly loved for the next 20 years. After retirement, she continued in the food business purchasing Knapp’s Bakery, soon to be followed by the Biscuit Company that quickly became a favorite restaurant for locals and tourists.

In 1988, she moved to Fayetteville, Ark., where she joined the Fayetteville City Hospital Auxiliary, spending many years working in The Attic thrift shop. Always the faithful servant, she was an active member of First Baptist Church.

She was honored in 2001 to represent Arkansas in the Ms. Senior America pageant. At the tender age of 72, Evelyn became the Kappa Delta Sorority house mom, the favorite of all her occupations. Her “girls” affectionately called her Mom MeMe and encouraged her legendary high kicks. They loved her so much, they wouldn’t let her go until the age of 85, at which time she fully retired and moved to Butterfield Trail Village.

If you were ever blessed by her presence, you were blessed from above. Possessing a heart of tears for her fellow man, Evelyn lived her life to serve, not to be served. She embraced Psalm 16:8, “I have set the LORD always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”

Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church, Fayetteville on Friday, March 1 at 3 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 4 p.m. Interment will take place at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg, Miss., on Monday, March 4 at 10 a.m. Family and friends are welcome, and encouraged, to attend both services.

The family offers their deepest gratitude for the extraordinary care given to their mother during her time in residence at Butterfield Trail Village. The nurses, aides, security personnel, and staff loved her well, as she had loved them. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Employee Care Fund at Butterfield Trail Village, Fayetteville, Ark. To sign the online guest book please visit www. nelsonberna.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Martha Earnestine Sanders, 89, of Fayetteville, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, at Prairie Grove Health & Rehab. She was born Aug. 1, 1929, in Sheridan, Ark. to James and Mary Harper Cash.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband J.B. Sanders in 2014, five brothers, two sisters and one grandson.

Earnestine became a child of Christ at Lost Creek Baptist Church in July 1941 in Sheridan. She was a member in good standing at Calvary Baptist Church in Fayetteville for over 38 years. She spent many years working in restaurants and grocery stores until 1962 when she became a licensed hair dresser in Arkansas. She then set-up and operated her own beauty shop for 44 years. Earnestine worked at and maintained a good list of clientele until December 2006.

She was a loving mother and wife. Her passions included gardening. Her hobbies included building several native stone flower beds and making ceramic figurine dolls. She had a very large collection of carousel horses and lighthouses. She enjoyed antiquing and quilting. Earnestine was always involved in everything that the kids participated in. She sat for hours in the sun at softball and baseball games. She also spent several freezing nights at football games. Earnestine was always active in the church anytime she could be. She taught Sunday school, AWANNAS and vacation bible school.

Earnestine is survived by her four children, Jim Sanders of Fayetteville, Jena Vanhook and husband Ron of West Fork, Jerry Sanders and wife Patti of McKinney, Texas, and Jay Sanders and wife Sang of West Fork; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a sister, Gertrude Carlton; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Monday, March 4, 2019, at Beard’s Chapel. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at Calvary Baptist Church in Fayetteville with Pastors Gene Fulcher and Kirk Shelton officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Memorial Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Beard’s Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 1410 N. Porter Road, Fayetteville, Ark., 72703. Condolences at www. beardsfuneralchapel.com.

LONGMONT, Colo. — Kenneth Wayne Villyard, 83, of Longmont, Colo., passed away Tuesday at Accel Longmont in Longmont, Colo. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m., Monday, March 4, 2019, at the Roller Funeral Home chapel in Paris under the direction of Roller Funeral Home. Complete obituary may be found at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/ paris.