OBITUARIES
James Edwin Armstrong
James Edwin Armstrong, 96, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Monday, March 20, 2017, at Concordia Nursing & Rehab in Bella Vista. He was born June 24, 1920, to Kelly Armstrong and Dona Bee Brown Armstrong at Lincoln, Ark.
He married Ruby Gayle Palmore on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1942, at Yuma, Ariz.
He worked at Boeing in Wichita, Kan., in the experimental lab, testing bombers and transport planes. He retired from MartinMarietta Space Program in New Orleans where he also worked in the experimental programs section. He enjoyed fishing, playing golf and repairing golf cart motors for many years. He was a Methodist.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Kenneth Armstrong.
Survivors are his wife, Ruby Armstrong, of the home; a daughter, Judith Ann Dodd and husband, Robert, of Garfield, Ark.; three granddaughters, Laura, Cheryl and Julie; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law, Guy Cable Sr. and family of Rogers, Ark.; and one niece, Kennie Sue Walker of Tulsa, Okla. No service was planned. Arrangements were by Sisco Funeral Home of Pea Ridge.
Online condolences may be made at siscofuneral home.net.
Ann Mary Richard
Ann Mary Richard, 70, of Seligman, Mo., died Sunday, March 26, at her home. She was born Sept. 24, 1946, in Chicago to Joseph George Poplawski and Anna Mary Szamocki.
She married Douglas Lee Richard March 16, 1966, then moved to the area in 1979 to make their home. She worked at the Wal-Mart Photo Lab in Bentonville and raised animals on her farm. She loved her goats, dogs, bluebirds and restoring old dolls.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Joseph.
Survivors are her husband, Douglas Richard of the home; a son, Doug Richard and wife, Amber, of Mt. Home, Ark.; a daughter, Rachel Nicholson and husband, Shawn, of Seligman, Mo.; a sister, Margie Mineo and husband, Frank, of Girard, Ill.; and nine grandchildren, Maggie Marcotte, wife of Alex, David Nicholson, Tabitha Nicholson, Andy Nicholson, James Nicholson, Matthew “Red” Nicholson, Kaitlyn Richard, Emma Richard and Joseph Richard.
Cremation arrangements were by Sisco Funeral Home in Pea Ridge.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Online condolences may be made at sisco funeralhome.net.
Jo Ann Elizabeth Stroud
Jo Ann Elizabeth Stroud, 83, of Garfield, Ark., died Monday, March 27, 2017, at Jamestown Nursing and Rehab. She was born Saturday, March 10, 1934, in Mt Olive, Ark.
JoAnn worked very hard throughout her life, both at home as wife and mother, and as a secretary for businesses in Garden City and Mountain Home, two pastors at First Baptist Church in Mountain Home, and a hospital administrator in Laurel, Miss. In 1981 she became executive secretary for Joe Frank Sanderson Sr., the owner of Sanderson Farms, Inc., and worked there until she retired in 1996.
JoAnn loved reading British mysteries, painting, writing, home-making and keeping up with as many friends and family members as possible through cards, letters, phone calls and visits. The love of writing and history motivated her to compile genealogies of both sides of the family. She was also an excellent cook, with a reputation for baking the flakiest pie crust ever. She was a wonderful Sunday School teacher, sang in the choir and supported mission causes. Probably the most important legacy JoAnn left to her world was her fervent, unending prayer that she and all those within her sphere of influence would walk closely with the Lord in humble repentance and awe toward Him, and in gratitude and joy for His salvation and love, not only in this life, but forever with Him in Heaven as well.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph ‘Joe’ T. Stroud; father, Roy Kenneth Robertson; mother, Nancy Mae Jeffery Robertson; a daughter, Patricia Stroud; and brothers, Roy K. Robertson, Jr. and Charles D. Robertson.
Survivors include her daughter, Melissa Eubanks (Stefan), Garfield, Ark.; a son, Michael Stroud (Linda), Birmingham, Ala.; a brother, Jerry Robertson (Ava), Van Buren, Ark.; six grandchildren; and nine great-grand children.
Visitation will be from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, April 1, 2017, in the Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Laurel, Miss.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Laurel, Miss.
Burial will follow in Lawnhaven Baptist Church Cemetery, Laurel, Miss.
Arrangements are under the care of Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, Laurel, Miss.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.colonial chapellaurel.com.
Bentley Michael James Vandagriff
Bentley Michael James Vandagriff, 2, died March 17, 2017, in Bentonville, Ark. He was determined to share a birthday with his father 14 weeks early on Jan. 29, 2015, at 1 lb. 4 oz. in Bentonville, to Harley Vandagriff and Paige Forest.
“If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.”
During Bentley’s two short years here on earth, he touched many lives and was loved deeply by everyone he met. Bentley’s laugh and smile was contagious. He was the strongest person we’d ever met. He was our fighter since the day he was born. Bentley came into this world too soon and was taken too soon, though his life was brief, it was a gift to us. We are so lucky to have got to spend the short time we did with him and love such an amazing baby.
Survivors are his parents; his brother, Owen Vandagriff; his maternal grandparents, Michael Forest Sr. and Rachael Forest of Rogers, Ark.; aunts, Jessica Forest of Rogers and Desiree Forest of Texas; uncle, Michael Forest Jr. of Bella Vista, Ark.; great-grandparents, William and Joyce Downing of Rogers; great-aunt, Dawn Burrell and husband, Mark, of Rogers; and grandparents, James Root and wife, Linda, of Pea Ridge, Ark., and Eleanora Thomas of Oklahoma.
A memorial service was held at 4 p.m. Friday, March 24, 2017, in Mt. Whitney Chapel, Garfield, Ark.
In his honor, please wear a superhero shirt to the service.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Owen’s College Fund at the Arvest Bank, 2nd Ave.
Online condolences can be made at www.rollins funeral.com.
Jo Lynn Williams
Jo Lynn Williams, 62, of Pea Ridge, died Thursday, March 23, 2017, at Northwest Medical Center, Bentonville. She was born Oct. 7, 1954, in Huntsville, Ark., to Johnnie and Joyce (Kales) Goldsmith.
On Dec. 24, 1971, in Seligman, Mo., she was united in marriage to Norris Eric Williams who preceded her in death on June 19, 2014.
She was a graduate of Southwest High School, Washburn, Mo., and then earned her CNA certificate. For several years, she was empoyleed as a CNA for the Area Agenc of Aging in Bentonville, Ark. Some of her favorite pastimes were reading, sewing and making decorate cakes.
She was also preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include a son, Jamie Lynn Williams of Pea Ridge; a daughter, Erica Dawn Henderson and her husband, Jason, of St. Joseph, Mo.; a sister, Jennifer Goldsmith of Cassville, Mo.; and four grandchildren, Steven, Gabe, Matthew and Isabella.
Visitation was at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville, Mo.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville, Mo., with Craig Fletcher officiating.
Burial will be in King Cemetery, Seligman, Mo.
Contributions may be made to Saving Sight in memory of Jo.
Visit www.fohnfuneral home.com for online obituaries, guestbook and private condolences.