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.

ATKINS — James Carl Risenhoover was born in Fayetteville, Ark., on Sept. 18, 1937, to Newton Risenhoover and Edna Mae Risenhoover-Griner. He died Feb. 6, 2020, in West Plains. Mo. He was 82 years old. He was a resident of Russellville, Ark., and a member of Parker Hill Holiness Church.

James served in the Army as a private first class and fought in the Korean War. He also served as a sergeant on the Bentonville Police Department for many years. He loved to hunt, fish and spend time with his family. He was a believer in Jesus Christ and served Him honorably.

James was preceded in death by his second wife, Corene Risenhoover, father Newton Risenhoover, mother Edna Griner, sister Juanita Anthony and one brother.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; daughters Michelle Jackson & husband Steve, Kimberly Holliday & husband Larry and Sherry Shirley; sons Carl Risenhoover & wife Paula, Bill Risenhoover, Rick Risenhoover, Chuck Kelley Jr. and Tony Kelley, Delfie Moore; 30 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, from 9:3011 a.m. with funeral services beginning at 11 a.m. at Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th St., Rogers Ark.

Graveside services with military honors will be at 2 p.m. at Fayetteville National Cemetery with Brother Shane Farris officiating.

Online condolences can be made at www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com.

BELLA VISTA — Kenneth Walter Bolinger, lately a resident of House of Three in Bella Vista, passed away Feb. 3 after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Ken was born April 13, 1939, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Walter and Willeta Raley Bolinger, who were there as teaching missionaries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

He spent most of his life in California.

From 1958-1964, he was married to Ivalee C. Haunani Henry, a marriage that produced three sons, Lance, Kent and Keith. Ken worked his way up to branch manager at Budget Finance, and then went back to college. He graduated from Pacific Union College in Angwin, Calif., in 1969 and went on to law school at University of California’s Hastings College of Law in San Francisco.

Upon graduation and passing the bar, Ken opened a private practice, initially representing collection agencies and insurance companies and eventually narrowing the scope of his practice to insurance subrogation. He maintained offices in northern and southern California and appeared at trial in every municipal and superior court

in the state over the course of 35 years. For a few years, Ken was also a partner in a company that designed and sold collection agency software bundled with early desk-top computers.

In his second year of law school, Ken met Myra Sue Potter at a small law office where they both worked. They were married in 1974, and welcomed another son, Stephen, the following year. Myra went on to work in Ken’s offices, an arrangement that made it easy for them to plan long vacations together. Over the course of their 45-year marriage, they traveled extensively in Britain and Europe and enjoyed a few long cruises to more exotic locales.

Ken wasn’t particularly athletic, but he was an avid basketball, horse racing and NASCAR fan. He loved going to live music concerts across all genres and was sustained and uplifted by old rock & roll and country music throughout his illness.

Since 2010, Ken suffered from Parkinson’s Disease and then Lewy Body Dementia. He and Myra moved to NW Arkansas in 2018, and he went into residential care the following year, first at Grand Brook Memory Care in Rogers, then into House of Three in Bella Vista, where he finally gave up the fight under the comforting care of Elite Hospice and the wonderful staff at House of Three.

Ken was preceded in death by son Keith in 1983, sister Hazel Marie, a few close friends and Elvis and Merle.

He is beloved and survived by his wives, Ivalee Henry and Myra (Potter) Bolinger; sons Walter Lance of Sacramento, Leonard Kent of Hilo, Hawaii, and Stephen Jarrard & wife Kate of Melbourne, Australia; grandchildren Heather Hoopiilani (Bolinger) Burch of Fort Worth, Fiona Jane, James Kenneth, and Caroline Maeve Bolinger of Melbourne; sister Betty (Bolinger) Stanfield of Sebastopol, Calif.; in-laws Wayne and Nancy Inglis of Bella Vista and Richard Potter of Chicago; several Raley and Bolinger cousins, many long-time dear friends, and Willie Nelson.

The family would like to thank Elite Hospice and House of Three, especially Brandi Thurman, for their compassionate end-of-life care. Burial and a going away party for Ken will be held in Napa County, Calif., in March.

In remembrance, please donate to your local hospice agency or the Lewy Body Dementia Association, or just take someone you love out to hear some live music — and sing along.

For a more detailed description of Ken’s life, please go to www.funeralmation. com.

BELLA VISTA — Catherine Kennedy passed away Jan. 30, 2020. She was born in Jackson, Miss., in 1945.

Catherine spent her childhood in San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Texas, where she graduated from W.B. Ray High School and attended Del Mar Junior College. As a young person, she was a Girl Scout and an accomplished ice skater.

She married Frank Terry Krapausky in 1965 and moved to Maine. They later moved to Knoxville, Ill., where they had Thomas Andrew Krapausky in 1973.

Catherine worked for years as a journalist and photojournalist in Galesburg, Ill. In 1992, she graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in special education, and taught K-12 for several years. In 2003 she remarried to Gary Lynn Kennedy.

Catherine had a sharp wit and was particularly kind to those with disabilities. She loved animals and part of her always remained a delighted child. Her interests included reading, writing poetry and children’s fiction, photography and collecting antique campaign paraphernalia.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, George Edward and Christine Marie Gosnell.

She is survived by her loving husband, Gary Lynn Kennedy, son Thomas Andrew Krapausky, and brother Jan Carter Gosnell and wife Mary.

Arrangements are by Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory. Condolences may be expressed at www.funeralmation.com.

BELLA VISTA — Angela Renee Williamson, 51, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Feb. 7, 2020. She was born Oct. 7, 1968, in Nuremberg, Germany.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m., Feb. 15 at Forest Hills Church in Bella Vista. Burial will follow at Bella Vista Memorial Garden Cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed at www.funeralmation.com.

BENTONVILLE — DeAnna Sue Spears, 61, of Bentonville passed Feb. 8, 2020, in Bentonville. She was born Dec. 9, 1958, in Neosho, Mo., the daughter of Ishmael and Lula Hudgens Boyd.

She was preceded in death by her parents and son Daniel.

She is survived by husband John, sister Denise Willis and husband Lewis, several nieces and nephew.

Visitation will be 9:3010:00 a.m. Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, with services beginning at 10 in the chapel of Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th, Rogers. Interment in the Bentonville Cemetery. www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com.

BENTONVILLE — Richard Merl Wells, 80, of Bentonville, Ark., died Feb. 6, 2020.

His surviving family includes his wife of 56 years, Barbara G. Wells; children Richard M (Stephanie) of Atlanta, Ga., and Heather Conley (Patrick) of Bentonville, Ark.; grandchildren Thomas and Matthew Wells, Ashley Grace and Liam Conley; twin brother Louis M Wells (Ann) of Germantown, Tenn.; and sister Suzanne Thornton (Jim) of Greenville, Ky.

Richard was born March 25, 1939. His childhood was in Central City, Ky. He then attended Murray State University in Kentucky. Following pre-pharmacy studies there, he went to University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Pharmacy in Memphis, graduating in the spring of 1963.

He lived in Bartlett, Tenn., where he owned Bartlett Pharmacy for 28 years. He’s past president of the Bartlett Businessmen’s Association and past president of the Bartlett Optimist Club.

Richard and Barbara lived in Oxford Miss., Pocatello, Ind., Birmingham, Ala., Bartlett, Germantown and Memphis, Tenn. They retired to Bentonville seven years ago.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at First United Methodist Church in Bentonville.

Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m., until service time.

Arrangements are entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services. Online condolences may be expressed at Stockdale-Moodyfs.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Ed Mosher, age 66, lost his 10-month battle with cancer on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020.

Our beloved Ed was very happy-go-lucky, carefree and lived a simple life in Fayetteville, Ark. He loved fishing, riding his bike, and his dog Sammy. He had an infectious smile and a loveable “hi!” for everyone.

Ed was a father of five, a grandfather of 20, and a great-grandfather of eight.

Ed was cherished by many friends and his family and the sweet way he seemed to find a friend in anyone will be greatly missed.

Online condolences www. WestfieldChapel.com.

ROGERS — Julia Landry, 71, Rogers, died Jan. 28. He was born March 13, 1948, in West Memphis, Ark., the daughter of George and Mildred (Howell) Lee. She is survived by son Mack McPherson and brother George (Susan) Lee. She was a retired teacher and member of Rogers Noon Kiwanis. Dearly loved. Memorial contributions: UofO, Music Scholarships, Clarksville, Ark. 72730.

SILOAM SPRINGS — Mary Mae Crouch, 74-year-old resident of Siloam Springs, Ark., died Feb. 4, 2020, at her home. She was born on June 6, 1945 ,in San Antonio, Texas, to Howard Bass and Vera Clem Bass.

Mary graduated from high school in San Marcos, Texas. She married Charles “Larry” Crouch and they moved to Siloam Springs in 2005 from Hindsville, Ark. Mary worked as a caretaker for the elderly for many years. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Crouch; former husband Dale Kroll Sr., parents Howard and Vera Bass; sons Dale Kroll Jr. and Robert Kroll and grandson Jordan Crouch.

She is survived by daughter Darlene Bailey and husband Jason of Siloam Springs; stepson Jeff Crouch and wife Sharon; stepdaughters Pam Jackson and husband Bill, Tammy Davis and husband Randy, Michelle Jeffers and husband Mark and Sarah Garcia and husband Merced; daughter-in-law Cleta Kroll; 20 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; brother Tom Bass; and nephew Bernard Bass.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Siloam Springs, with Bishop Jason Bailey officiating. Burial will follow at Fayetteville National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Ark. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Siloam Springs.

To sign the online guest book, please visit www. wassonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

SPRINGDALE — Sara L. Fixmer of Springdale, Ark., died Jan. 30, 2020. She was born Dec. 18, 1939, in Salina, Okla.

She and her husband, Tom, lived in Tulsa and Bixby, Okla., most of their married life. She moved to Arkansas in 1996 and retired in 2001.

Her working life was a varied one beginning at age 16 as a secretary upon graduation from high school. Other positions she held included personnel manager, administrative assistant, accountant and treasurer.

She received a B.S.B.A. degree from the University of Tulsa in 1983 and worked as a partner in business with her husband from 1985 until 1994. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Springdale and volunteered at the Bread of Life and was trained as a Stephen Minister.

Upon retirement she became a master gardener, volunteering at Botanical Garden of the Ozarks and various parks, took classes and bridge lessons at OLLI, played bridge and Canasta with the Newcomers group, enjoyed SoNA and Broadway plays, jazz concerts and comedies at Walton Art Center and great exhibits at Crystal Bridges.

She is survived by daughter and son-in-law Leslie and Michael Victor of Murphy, Texas.; grandchildren Lauren, Cassie and Ryan Victor, Stephanie Jaynes Mathis, (husband Dustin) and Alex Jaynes; great grandchild Scarlet Mathis.; several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, along with many friends and extended family.

She gives special thanks to the Buchanan clan for sharing their life with her, especially to Carrie and Marilyn for the endless and zany fun wherever we were and whatever we did, and to Lonnie and Kim for always being there as well as to Steve Jaynes and Diane King for taking on Guardian/ financial duties.

She was preceded in death by husband Tom Fixmer; daughter Audrey Fixmer Jaynes; son Kristopher Shawn Fixmer; parents Alva and Cassie Rutherford; brothers Wayne and Dale Rutherford; and sister Doris Woods.

A memorial service will be Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at 11 a.m., in the chapel of First United Methodist Church in Springdale. An inurnment service will be at Memorial Park in Tulsa, Okla., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Circle of Life Foundation or First United Methodist Church Foundation.

To place an online tribute, please visit www.nelsonberna.com.

SPRINGDALE — Col. Pierce Lane Smith, 92, passed away peacefully Feb. 6, 2020, in the Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville, Ark.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Smith; daughter Deborah Sue Palmtag; grandsons Michael Hoesing and Scott Leach; stepson Peter Van Crosby; step-daughter Carrie Ann Esposito; and step-grandson Scott Leach.

He was preceded in death by son James Russell Smith; step-grandson Brian W. Leach; parents Sigsbee James Smith and Wilma Reba Farrar Smith;e brothers Frank Martin Smith, Bobby Dane Smith and Skip Smith; and sister Marilyn Loraine Smith Lewis.

Pierce was born Oct. 1, 1927, in Muskogee, Okla., and when he was 14 years old, he and his family were stationed in Hawaii on the tragic day when Japan entered World War II by attacking the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. He often discussed and described the events of the attack throughout his life in vivid detail. This event shaped his future, and he quickly entered the U.S. Maritime Service in 1945 to contribute to the war effort, which started his long service to his country in the U.S. Military.

He served in the U.S. Maritime Service from January 1945 to August 1945 aboard fuel tankers in the Pacific Ocean. He returned home after the war and in January 1946 graduated from high school in Springdale, Ark. Colonel Smith holds a bachelor of arts degree in general education earned from the University of Omaha, Nebraska in 1964 and a master of science degree in business administration from George Washington University in 1965.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in February 1946, serving at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and then at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, as a supply technician until December 1952. After receiving his commission as a distinguished graduate of Officers Candidate School in June 1953, Colonel Smith attended intelligence photo radar interpretation school at Lowry Air Force Base, Colo., from July 1953 to June 1954. He then worked briefly with the 544th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. In October 1954, he was assigned to the 3921st Reconnaissance Technical Squadron Royal Air Force Base Station, Drayton, England, serving as a photo interpreter developing air target charts and radar predictions.

After returning to the United States in October 1957, he was assigned as a photo interpreter developing air target charts for the 15th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, March Air Force Base in California. During this period, he attended Squadron Officers School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. From October 1959 through July 1964, Colonel Smith served as a missile operation staff officer at Headquarters, Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., where he was project officer for trajectory computation programs used to target Snark, Atlas, and Jupiter missiles.

Colonel Smith attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., from July 1964 to July 1965, and then returned to Headquarters Strategic Air Command as a missile operation staff officer. He worked as project officer in the development of the trajectory computational program for Minuteman F and Minuteman G missile systems.

From May 1970 through January 1973, he was assigned to the Joint Strategic Target Planning staff, Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. There, he performed duties as chief of Missile Combat Target Team, chief of Combat Targeting Teams, and chief of Penetration Analysis Branch.

In January 1973 he assumed the duties of deputy commander of operations for the 91st Strategic Missile Wing, Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, moving up to the vice commander in April 1974. And finally, Colonel Smith took over as commander on May 5, 1975.

Pierce has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal with star, Air Force Longevity Service Award ribbon with six oak leaf clusters, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship ribbon.

Pierce retired in 1976 at the rank of colonel, and commander of the 91st Strategic Missile Wing, Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, and proceeded to enjoy 44 years of active and happy retirement.

Colonel Smith was formerly married to Bette Glynn Kelly of Eagle Pass, Texas, who sadly passed away Nov. 13, 1998. In retirement, Pierce enjoyed fishing and golf, and in 1999 Pierce met his second wife while golfing, Margaret Robinson, and they were married shortly thereafter, and they spent 20 happy years together.

Funeral service will be Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, at 10 a.m. at Sisco Funeral Chapel, after which a gravesite military service will be at Bluff Cemetery, Springdale.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Willard Walker Hospice Home 325 East Longview Street, Fayetteville Ark., 72703.

Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral. com.

SPRINGDALE — Dolores Lee Willoughby, 72, of Springdale passed away Wednesday at her home. She was born Sept. 27, 1947, in Washington, Mo., the daughter of Homer and Alice Haag Kormeier.

She was the fourth of five children and grew up in Owensville, Mo. Married to Greg Willoughby for almost 52 years, she loved being a homemaker and enjoyed taking care of her family. Serving Jesus and her family were the most important parts of her life. She will be dearly missed.

Survivors are her husband Greg of the home; son Josh and Joy Willoughby of Franklin, Tenn.; daughters Heather and John Wasson of Van Buren and Robin and Grant Dunivan of Owensboro, Ky.; and eight grandchildren.

There are to be no service at this time.

Cremation arrangements entrusted to Heritage Funeral Home.