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 — Ross Leon Willey, 81, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Aug. 20, 2019. He was born April 25, 1938, in Torrington, Wyo.,to Ira and Margaret Willey. Ross proudly served as a sergeant in the Army. He leaves behind one niece and two nephews. Condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Mildred (Milly) Jane Brewer, age 70, passed away April 23, 2019, after a yearlong battle with cancer.

Milly was preceded in death by son Damon James Brewer and parents William Paul Faris and Ruth Irene Faris, nee Vlasak.

She is survived by husband James Wayne Brewer, son Alexander Vernon Brewer and daughter Angelica Kelley Chalmers nee Brewer.

Milly was born July 4, 1949, in Oklahoma City, Okla., and married James Wayne Brewer of Oklahoma City, Okla., on October 11, 1968. They moved to Springdale, Ark., in 1976 and lived there until 2018.

Milly loved donating her time to the community including helping at the public schools when her children were young, serving as a Cub Scout leader and volunteering at the Red Cross as an animal CPR instructor. She also loved attending theater performances and art shows and was a proud season ticket holder at the Walton Arts Center. She enjoyed taking art classes, crossword puzzles and anything Star Trekrelated.

A short graveside service will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 24 at Bluff Cemetery in Springdale. Anyone who knew Milly is welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like a donation made to your favorite charity.

FAYETTEVILLE — Tommy Randal Ferguson, 61, passed away Monday, Aug. 19, 2019, at 5 p.m. in Fayetteville, Ark. He was born Jan. 24, 1958.

Tommy worked 43 years in the hospitality industry throughout his lifetime serving many loyal patrons in his community. He enjoyed attending church with his father at Baldwin Church of Christ.

Tommy was preceded in death by mother Leona Ferguson, grandmother Marie Akers, great aunt Elizabeth Wiley, uncles Preston, Melvin, Norman and George Ferguson, uncle Wade York, aun Eunice Ferguson and cousin Linda Wade.

He leaves behind his father, Francis Ferguson; brother and sister-in-law Dan and Carole Ferguson; nephews Brandon and Roary Ferguson; aunts Lucille, Betty and JoAnne Ferguson; cousins Dennis and Phyllis Ferguson, Robert and Cheryl Gilkey, David and Lori Ferguson, Cam and Susie Ferguson, Ronnie Ferguson, Don and Norma Engelberger, Jack and Jane

Ferguson, Jim Wade, Cheryl and Wayne McCormick, Mike Ferguson, LeeAnn Ferguson and Emily Cunningham; several nieces and nephews; and lifelong friends Bud and Marilyn Billis.

A memorial graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, at Hester Cemetery in Fayetteville, Ark., with Minister Keith Caselman of Baldwin Church of Christ officiating. The family requests casual attire at the cemetery. Cremation arrangements by Beard’s Funeral Chapel.

Condolences at www. beardsfuneralchapel.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Inez Louise Gardner, 86, of Fayetteville died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019, at her residence. She was born July 17, 1933. She enjoyed sewing, reading, and spending quality time with her family and cat. Survivors include her three children, and many loving relatives. Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home Fayetteville. Condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Carl Wayne “Duel” Richardson, age 84, of Fayetteville, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019. He was born Sept. 5, 1934, in Drakes Creek, Ark., the son of Henry and Alberta Duncan Richardson.

He was a supervisor for Northwest Arkansas Vending, retiring after 35 years and he was Baptist. He loved his family deeply, especially his grandbabies.

He’s survived by his wife of 58 years, Billie Pennington Richardson; daughter Patricia Lucas and husband Trey of Fayetteville; grandchildren Katie Richardson and her significant other, Hayden Rowsey and Kamryn Lucas; great-grandchild Will Rowsey and nephew Gary Dale Fritts.

Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at Moore’s Chapel. Graveside service will be 11 a.m., Friday at Drakes Creek Cemetery under the direction of Moore’s Chapel.

To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Patricia Ann Smidt passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, of Alzheimer’s disease. She was born Oct. 18, 1928, in Lakota, Iowa, and was preceded in death by her father Emil Mittag, mother Eva and eight siblings.

Her widowed mother singlehandedly raised 10 children and maintained the family farm. Pat came from a family of strong women whose grit she inherited. Pat attended Lakota High School where she participated in music, drama, and journalism, graduating in 1946. She was a cheerleader for the championship women’s basketball team.

She married Peter Smidt in 1947. Together they raised seven children on a farm near Lakota, Iowa. Pat’s gardening, canning and preserving fed their growing family. She was a skilled seamstress who made beautiful dresses for her daughters and herself and suits and ties for the men in her family. Her labors of love instilled in her children the value of hard work and independence.

Pat was a woman of strong faith and a serious student of the Bible. She lived her faith by serving others. One of the joys of her life was working as a cook for the Lake Okoboji Bible Conference.

She loved reading, writing, sewing, playing games, traveling, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

In 1983 Pete and Pat left the farm and moved to Fairmont, Minn. They retired to Bella Vista, Ark., in 1997 and moved to Fayetteville in 2006. These were some of the best years of their lives filled with family, new friends and adventures. Her family was the joy of her life.

She is survived by sister Sharon (Wil) McGregor of San Diego, Calif.; children Jack (Carol Jo) of Buffalo Center, Iowa, David (Helen) of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Mark of Fayetteville, Ark., Mary Hillburg (Daryl) of Algona, Iowa, Lois of Boone, Iowa, Philip (Jennifer) of Lynnwood, Wash., Jared (Laura) of Gig Harbor, Wash.; 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service is being held at Sequoyah United Methodist Church and a public celebration of Pat’s life will be in Iowa in October. Her ashes will be interred with her husband at Fayetteville National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Ark.

We mourn the loss of her earthly body and rejoice in the reunion of her spirit and new body with the love of her life in heaven.

Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home Fayetteville. Condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com.

GRAVETTE — Patricia “Patty” Louise Gruver, 65, of Gravette, Ark., died Aug. 19, 2019, at home. Visitation will be Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, from 5-7 p.m. at Gravette Church of God Holiness. Service will be Saturday, Aug. 24 at 10:30 a.m. at Gravette Church of God Holiness, 401 Atlanta St. SE, Gravette, Ark. Online condolences www.WestfieldChapel.com.

HUNTSVILLE — On Monday, Aug. 19, 2019, James “JL” Patrick, loving husband and father of three children, passed away at the age of 83 at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. JL was born May 5, 1936, in Huntsville to Jim and Marie Clark Patrick.

JL was an all-state offensive and defensive end for the Huntsville Eagles 1953 football team that won the school’s first district championship. He also played forward on the HHS basketball team, after learning to play the sport on a gravel court in the community of Alabam. In 2014, JL was inducted into the Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame.

JL opted to get married and go into business instead of pursuing a college career in athletics. On Dec. 24, 1954, he married his high school sweetheart, Wilma Todd. They raised two daughters and a son. After working many years in gas stations and tire businesses, he opened Patrick’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers in 1971. The restaurant on Elm Springs Road in Springdale is still in the family today.

JL was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Lawrence Patrick and Richard Patrick.

He is survived by his wife, Wilma Patrick, of the home; sister Helen Colson Laws of Lewellen, Neb.; daughters and sons-in-law Jennifer and Allen Henderson of Cave Springs and Sherri and Kenny Pianalto of Tontitown; son and daughter-in-law Todd and Lillian Patrick of Springdale; eight grandchildren, which were his pride and joy, Kesha, Tanner, Kirby Jill Henderson, Brock, Zack, and Cole Pianalto, Derrick Patrick and Jillian Burkett; nine great-grandchildren Peyton, Teagan, and Slade Henderson, Remington Wilson, Jovin, Baron, Hudson, and Tucker Pianalto and Emogene Burkett.

The family will receive friends 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, at Brashears Funeral Home. Funeral services will 11 a.m. with Arthur Galloway and Charles Berry officiating.

Pallbearers will be Tanner Henderson, Zack Pianalto, Peyton Henderson, Toma Whorton, Derrick Patrick, and Austin Burkett. Honorary pallbearers will be Brock Pianalto, Cole Pianalto, Sonny Baker, Bob Lee, Gene Grigg, Don Stamps, Vernon Wages, Arthur Galloway, Kirby Henderson, Kesha Wilson, and JW McLendon.

Interment will follow services at Alabam Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in JL’s name may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, Ark., 72762.

The family also wishes to thank Nob Hill Fire Department of their kindness and support.

Services are entrusted to Brashears Funeral Home and Crematory of Huntsville.

PRAIRIE GROVE — Wilma “Grace” Ramsey of Prairie Grove, Ark., passed peacefully from this life into the loving arms of our Lord, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. Mrs. Ramsey was an amazing 105 years old when she was tenderly called home.

Born April 6, 1914, in Prairie Grove, Grace was the daughter of William and Molly Hannah Maddox.

She married her childhood sweetheart, William Dean Ramsey, on April 29, 1933. She attended Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was a member of the Illinois Chapel Church. Grace Ramsey was loved dearly by everyone who knew her. Devoted wife, caring mother, loving grandmother and loyal friend, she will be deeply missed while precious memories linger.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Dean Ramsey and son Allen Ray Ramsey.

Survivors include sons John William “Bill” Ramsey and wife Beth of Fayetteville, Ark., Bobby Lee Ramsey and wife Lois of Golden, Texas, Harold Dean Ramsey and wife Jalene of Prairie Grove, Ark., and James Donald Ramsey of Rochelle, Texas; her legacy also includes nine grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren!

The family will receive friends Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, from 6-7 p.m. at Luginbuel Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove, Ark. Burial will be in the Illinois Chapel Cemetery; there will be no graveside service held.

Online guest book, www. luginbuel.com.

ROGERS — Dorothy Ellen Ericson, age 94, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019, in her residence in Rogers, Ark. She was born Oct. 14, 1924, in Greenville, Iowa, the daughter of Carrie Marie Defrain and Elmer Albin Barglof.

Dorothy married her sweetheart Lee Elmer Ericson in 1945 and started her family in southern California. They moved to Northwest Arkansas in 1970 where she resided until her death.

She enjoyed spending quality time with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an avid bowler with a high game of 276 and an average of 169. Dorothy was known to many who loved her as “Dot” or “GG” and was often referred to as a firecracker who was stubbornly independent.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lee, brother Raymond and sister Charlotte.

Survivors include sister Mae Marie Weaver of Spirit Lake, Iowa; daughters Barbara Jo and spouse Larry, Ellen Lee and spouse Bruce, Annette Marie and spouse Charles, all of Rogers, Ark., 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Dorothy’s life will begin on Friday, 10 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of Bella Vista, 1 Lambeth Drive. Interment will be at noon on Friday at Fayetteville National Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to Beaver Lake USBC Youth Scholarship Fund; Rogers Bowling Center, 3500 W. Walnut, Rogers, Ark., 72756, Attn: Julie Tribbel.

Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home Bentonville. Condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com.

ROGERS — Robert Foster May, 94, of Rogers passed Sunday, Aug. 18. He was born July 8, 1925, and preceded by his wife of more than 60 years, Betty Lou May, in 2018. Services are being planned for a later date. Arrangements under the care of Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers, www.RollinsFuneral.com.

ROGERS — Alton and Anna Short, married for 55 years, passed away within days of each other in Bentonville, Ark.

Anna Lou, 85, passed Aug. 16. She was born in Dumas, Texas, on April 7, 1934, to the late Robert and Frankie Lou Burks.

Alton Winston, 84, passed Aug. 19. He was born in Olney, Texas, on Jan. 14, 1935, to the late John Henry and Ethel Belle Short.

Children are Paulette King, Karen Aaron, and Randy Gilchrist.

A visitation will be on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, at Rollins Funeral Home Chapel from 1 until 2 p.m. Funeral will follow at 2 p.m. Burial at Pea Ridge Cemetery.

LAWRENCE, Kan. — On Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019, Steven Craig Painter, loving husband and father of three children, passed away at age 63 following a long battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Steve was born Sept. 13, 1955, in St. Louis, Mo., to Robert E. and Paula (Eastwood) Painter.

On Sept. 9, 1978, he married Phyllis Anne Clarkin. Steve and Phyllis shared a rare type of love filled with affection, deep respect, and almost constant harmony. They raised two daughters, Amanda (Painter) Ingham and Stephanie (Painter) Hildreth, and one son, Craig Painter. He was also a devoted grandfather to six grandchildren, Isabella Manes, Dylan Ingham, Colby Painter, Lucas Ingham, Hudson Painter, and Lilliah Ingham. Loving him in life and devoted to caring for him in his final days are daughter-in-law Jayme (Grimmett) Painter and sons-in-law David Ingham and Steven Hildreth.

He is survived by his four siblings and their spouses, Sherry (Painter) Davidson (Dale Davidson), Robert Painter II (Iris McKinney Painter), Debbie (Painter) Laemmli (Jim Laemmli), and David Painter (Marion Prince Painter).

Steve received his journalism degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and worked as a newspaper journalist in Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas. He was a distinguished reporter who believed in journalistic integrity above all else. He won numerous national and local awards for the veracity of his stories over the years, including a national award for the impact of the farm crisis on Kansas families in the 1980s.

Steve will be remembered for his gentle kindness and wonderfully dry sense of humor. He instilled a love of the outdoors in his children, taking them camping, boating, and fishing. He loved watching basketball and baseball, but he especially loved playing sports, a passion that began in childhood and continued throughout his adult life. He enthusiastically and patiently coached his children and their friends in all the sports they attempted.

His family called him the baby whisperer, as young children were drawn to his calming demeanor and he would hold and soothe his grandchildren for hours. He loved music and continuously filled his home with the sounds of his favorite musicians, frequented live music venues to dance with Phyllis, and exposed his children to the joy of live music and concerts from an early age. His favorite place to be was at the cabin his grandfather and uncle built on the Lake of the Ozarks, surrounded by his family and friends.

Steve passed away in the arms of his wife, Phyllis, with his sister, Debbie, who introduced them, by his side.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, Kan., 66044.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Brookdale Hospice Care or Kansas Palliative and Hospice Care, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.