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.

BENTONVILLE — Raymond Everett Bonser passed away Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, in Bentonville, Ark. Ray was born in South Gate, Calif., on Sept. 26, 1930, to Bert Bonser and Alta Clark Bonser.

His parents and sister Emma Bonser Feldman preceded him in death.

Ray is survived by his wife of 68 years, Cherry South Bonser of Bentonville; daughters Rae Ann Bonser Haak and husband Dr. James Haak of Niceville, Fla., and Diane Bonser Shastid and husband Dale Shastid; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Ray enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17, going to many places including China and Japan. Ray’s time with the Marine Corps took him in 1950 to Korea and the Chosin area before being wounded and returning to the United States to marry Cherry Faye South on April 9, 1951.

Ray became a firefighter for the city of Orange in 1959, rising to the rank of battalion chief before retiring in 1983. He worked selling fire apparatus after retiring and was working in real estate when he moved to Bentonville, Ark., in 1991.

Ray enjoyed traveling with his family, photography and was a member of the Bentonville Church of Christ during his 28 years in Bentonville.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 at the Bentonville Church of Christ. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will follow in Bentonville Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Bentonville. Online condolences may be made at www. CallisonLough.com.

CHARLESTON — Joseph Richard Burt of Charleston, Ark., known his whole life as Joe Dick, passed away Oct. 30, 2019, at 98 years young.

Those who knew Joe Dick, knew that he never acted his age. In his 80s and 90s he could outwork grown men half his age.

He cheated death many times in his life, but pancreatic cancer is what inevitably took this man who many thought to be immortal, and in a way, he is.

Joe Dick’s legacy will live on through the lives he influenced during his time on this Earth. He was well known for many things, but what makes him most memorable will always be his unbreakable work ethic, his willingness to help those in need, his love for the Charleston Tigers and the Razorbacks (win or lose), being a man of few words, and his loyalty and devotion to God and his family.

Joe Dick was a lifelong farmer and rancher, but his first “real job” was driving a delivery truck all over the state for his father’s canning company. Even at 98 years old, he could remember the old truck routes he would take delivering canned goods 80 years earlier.

During World War II, he served in the Army of occupation in Germany. After getting out of the Army in 1942, he went back to work on the family farm. Ten years later, in 1952, he met Elaine Cheek. They courted for seven years (neither he nor Elaine ever made a decision that wasn’t carefully thought out). She finally told him to come back with a ring or don’t come back at all. Being the smart man he was, a ring was waiting for her the very next day. They drove to Elaine’s home church in Oklahoma to be wed Aug. 2, 1959. Their only son was born over a year later on Nov. 1, 1960.

Joe Dick remarked in his last days he sure didn’t get cheated on time, and he was truly blessed to have had such a long and good life.

His life’s work can be seen just east of the Charleston city limits. He was the owner of Burt Farms and Burt Feed. His fondness for the great outdoors and for working his land was evident in his dedication to be at work every day.

Joe Dick was an active member of First Baptist Church of Charleston, serving as general secretary of the FBC Sunday school for over 70 years. He was a 50-plus year board member of Franklin County Farm Bureau, a member of the Cattlemen’s Association, the Freemasons, and was an active supporter of the Charleston community in many ways.

Joe Dick was born Nov. 25, 1920, in Ratcliff, Ark., to Grace Smith Burt and Joseph A. Burt. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Leander J. Burt (1862-1929), his grandmother Sarah Burt, his younger brother, T.J. Burt (1923-1959), his father Joseph A. Burt (1896-1989) and his mother Grace Smith Burt. Following the pattern set by former Burt men, Joe Dick also passed in a year ending in 9.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elaine Cheek Burt; son William Burt [Bill] and wife Teresa of Springdale, Ark.; grandchildren and spouses Aaron Burt and wife Melissa, Elizabeth Burt Shelby and husband Colt, Brandon Burt and fiancee Nikki and Scarlett Burt; great-grandchildren Anna and Fletcher Burt, JR Burt, Cooper Ewing and Truett Shelby; sister-inlaw Betty Burt of Fort Smith; and nephew, Rick Burt.

Pallbearers are Aaron Burt, Brandon Burt, Colt Shelby, Cooper Ewing, Howard Gossett and Kevin Shotzman.

Family will receive friends Friday, Nov. 1, at Smith Mortuary from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at First Baptist Church Charleston with burial to follow at Garden of Memories under the direction of Smith Mortuary.

Online condolences may be made at www.smithmortuaryinc.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 297, Charleston, Ark., 72933.

FAYETTEVILLE — Sharon Peacock Ladut, age 65, of Fayetteville passed away Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, in Fayetteville. She was born Feb. 3, 1954, in Pine Bluff, Ark.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Sharon was beautiful. She was humble and kind. She loved her brothers and was proud of them in every way. She cherished them and loved how they cherished her. She loved the Ladut family and often referred to her sistersin-law as her best friends. She loved New Orleans and her friends there.

Justin was her heart and she will live on through him. Jenna was her bonus daughter and Sharon loved her. Their marriage was her deepest joy. We got a glimpse of the kind of grandmother she would be by the way she showed interest in her great nieces and nephews and other little ones in her life.

She wanted to know more about Jesus, she was just a little shy about it. But she outran us all, especially her brothers — I can see her spunky little self, sticking out her tongue at them in triumph! Now she knows our Lord in His full glory and penetrating love in a way that only the Trinity can display.

She is survived by son Justin Ladut and wife Jenna of New Orleans, La.; brothers Jimmy and Frankie Peacock of Huntsville, Ronnie and Phyllis Peacock of Franklin, Tenn., and Mike and Marilyn Peacock of Fayetteville.

Memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, at Fellowship Bible Church in the chapel in Rogers.

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

FAYETTEVILLE — Arla Marie Williams, 100, of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, at the Earlene Howard Hospice House in Springdale. Arla was born March 13, 1919, in Paducah, Texas, a daughter of Omer Lester Bearden and Emma Irene Ray Bearden.

She was the widow of the late M.J. Williams, who preceded her in death in 1974. Arla worked for school cafeterias in Texas and later in the kitchen of the Holiday Inn in Springdale. Arla loved having her nails and hair done, loved the color pink, shoes, anything sparkly or glam, loved old classic country music, flower gardening, and all her family loved her cooking especially her homemade biscuits and gravy.

She was preceded in death by her husband; sons Jack and Monte Williams; grandchildren Tony and Misti Williams; two brothers and a sister.

She is survived by son L.D. Williams of Wimberley, Texas; daughters Sherry Blackwell of Fayetteville, Ark., and Darla Williams of Lubbock, Texas; 15 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville, Ark., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, at 10 a.m.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Springdale. To sign online guest book please go to www. backstrom-pyeatte.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Earlene Howard Hospice House in Springdale or to Alzheimer’s Research.

FORT SMITH — Kloma Holland, 84, passed away Oct. 29, 2019, in Fort Smith, Ark. She was born March 1, 1935, in Rayle, Ga., to the late L. E. and Pauline Boatwright Barnes.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers James Barnes and Larry Barnes, sisters Vera Springer, Betty Jo Gaines and Myrtle Little, great-grandson Bryce Moore Dunlap and recently her best school friend, Clezell Harwell.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Roy Holland; daughters Susan Bell and husband David of San Antonio, Texas, and Sherri Fry and husband Brad of Fayetteville, Ark.; son Greg Holland of Fort Smith; sister Jean Truelove and husband Hoover of Gainesville, Ga.; brothers–in-law Joe Little of Gainesville, Ga., Jose Torres of Gainesville, Ga., and Ray Holland of Clarkesville, Ga.; grandchildren Rachel Moore and partner Hardin Young, Ryan Moore, Megan Dizicheh and husband Zach, Blake McDonald, Nicholas Fry and wife Chase, Claire Holland, Calli Holland and partner Skip Keyton; great-grandchildren Peyton Holland Schratz, Hadleigh Belle Dizicheh and Milleigh Kloma Dizicheh; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends all over the country.

Kloma was delivered by her paternal grandmother “Big Mama” and was the middle child of seven. Raised in her father’s childhood home in Clermont, Ga., Kloma was a farm girl who worked every aspect of the farm alongside her father — driving all the farm equipment including the logging truck, milking the cows and feeding the animals. At 14, although unlicensed, Kloma drove the school bus on Sundays picking up and returning her fellow churchgoers. In school, she was an excellent student and basketball player and participated in several clubs and acted in plays. At about 3 years old, Kloma developed scarlet fever which changed her hair from curly to “stick straight.” She was baptized at age 12 in the Jones’ fish pond and attended Clermont schools. Roy Holland transferred to her school in the 9th grade as his school didn’t offer high school grades. Kloma caught his eye because she acted more mature than the other girls and carried herself like a lady. Their senior year they were voted the couple “Most Likely to Live on a Hill.”

Kloma graduated from high school and after completing two years at Creighton Business College, she began her banking career and they were married at their preacher’s home. As they built their first home and started their family, Kloma was a homemaker, wife and mother; no one loved their family more than Kloma.

They moved to Fort Smith, Ark., in 1970 and enjoyed many friendships while they raised their children, attended East Side Baptist Church and eventually started a business.

Kloma enjoyed flowers, golfing, traveling, telling stories, playing card games, working puzzles, and most of all sitting and visiting with friends and family. Kloma was a devoted, loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed by everyone who loves her.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Dewberry Baptist Church No. 1, c/o 5807 Henson Road, Gainesville, Ga., 30506.

Visitation will be Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, from 2-4 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home. Cremation is under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.

HARRISON — Norma McKay, age 72, of Harrison died Monday, Oct. 28, 2019. No services are planned at this time. Daughter and sonin-law Susan and Blake Pruett and granddaughters Amanda Muegge and husband Stephen and Stephanie Pruett survive her. Online guest book: rollerfuneralhomes.com/harrison.

LITTLE ROCK — Otto F. Verch Jr., age 85, died peacefully at his daughter’s home Oct. 20, 2019. He was born July 2, 1934, at The Stork’s Nest in Tucson, Ariz., to the late Otto F. and Sophia Verch.

Otto is survived by his children Kevin Verch and wife Toni of Dallas, Texas, Kathy Farkas and husband Mike of Galena, Ohio; grandchildren Taylor and wife Alisa Verch, Matt Verch, Ash and wife Ashley Alstadt and Mia Alstadt; and great grandsons Parker and Oliver Verch.

Otto graduated from Tucson High School, the University of Arizona, where he met his wife Anne, who died in 2011 after 57 years of marriage, and the University of Indiana with an MBA in finance. As a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity he was honored in 2001 by being inducted into the Gamma Rho Hall of Fame.

Following three years of service in the Air Force, receipt of his MBA, and a brief residence in Dallas, Texas, Otto moved to Little Rock, Ark., in 1962 where he joined a group forming a new life insurance/mutual fund company that subsequently merged into a New York Stock Exchange-listed insurer.

In 1969 Otto moved on to a career in international finance when he moved to Europe, living in London, England, and Zurich, Switzerland, until 1974 when he semi-retired back in Little Rock, Ark., keeping busy with interests in local businesses, social, church, and volunteer organizations.

Otto returned to live in Green Valley, Ariz., after his wife’s death in 2011, where he enjoyed a vibrant social life and watching the desert sunsets over his beloved Santa Rita Mountains.

A private family memorial will be held at Christ Episcopal Church in Little Rock, Ark., on Saturday, Nov. 2.

The family asks, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Christ Church or your favorite charity.

SPRINGDALE — James “Buck” Hill, 63, of Springdale passed away Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, at Circle of Life Hospice. He was born July 21, 1956, in Lampasas, Texas, to James Willard Hill and Billie Marie Sasser-Hill. He was preceded in death by his mother; wife of 33 years Kathy Johnson-Hill and daughter Melissa Dawn Hill.

Survivors include his father, J.W Hill of Springdale; sister Gayle Klutts and husband Tony of Springdale; brother David Hill and his children, Kelly, Heather, Dustin and Ashlynn, all of Springdale; nieces Chanda Cutter and husband Eric and their children Madison and Gunner, all of Elkins and Shawnya Gore and husband Thomas of Lowell and many other great nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, in the chapel of Madison County Funeral Service in Huntsville with Chaplain Audie Long officiating. Burial will be at Friendship Cemetery. Funeral services are under the direction of Madison County Funeral Service. Please visit www.madisoncountyfuneralservice.com to leave the family an online condolence.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale.