OBITUARIES
Kathryn Frances Bilby
Kathryn Frances (Akers) Bilby, 89-year-old resident of The Maples in Springdale, Ark., went home to be with the Lord and her “My Jimmie” on Sunday, November 13, 2016. She was born July 20, 1927, in Quanah, Texas, the daughter of Victor Manson and Ruby Blanch (Williams) Akers. She married Jimmie Charles Bilby Sr. on January 16, 1946, in Plainview, Texas. They moved to Siloam Springs, Ark., in 1959 to join his parents in operating the Bilby Food Center on Wright Street, they later bought and operated the store. Later they put in Bilby Foods, which was one of the first businesses on the Highway 412 by-pass, in the late 60’s and early 70’s. After selling the grocery store they later opened and operated Bilby Home Improvements until they retired in the mid 1990’s.
Kathryn taught Sunday school for about 35 years working with children and youth. She also served as a Cub Scout Leader and helped with Webelows in Plainview, Texas, served with the Parent Teacher Association for 6 years. She was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church in West Siloam Springs, Okla., and was associated with Westside Baptist Church in Colcord, Okla., prior to becoming a resident at The Maples.
Kathryn loved everybody and loved working with people in school, church, and all the customers she served during the years. She was dearly loved by many people including all of her caregivers over the last 3 years.
She is preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Rena Pelphrey, Lena Strain, and Geraldine Walker, and her husband Jimmie, the love of her life.
She is survived by two sons, Charles Bilby and wife Carolyn of Siloam Springs, and Leroy Bilby and wife Johnetta of Gentry, Ark.; one daughter, Georgia Bilby of Cookson, Okla.; two step-children, Mike Bilby and wife Tootie of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Peggy Harper of Tulsa, Okla.; six grandchildren, Jimmie Bilby and wife Kelly, Ginna Vincent and husband Mike, Victor Bilby and wife Michelle, Misty Martin and husband Jason, Chrisi Towery and husband Mark, and Ryan Young; four step-grandchildren, Mark, Matt, Amy, and Alyson; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and one on the way; a brother-in-law, Chuck Walker of Pensacola, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 16, 2016, at Wasson Memorial Chapel in Siloam Springs, Ark., with the Rev. Robert Matney officiating. Burial will be at Oak Hill cemetery in Siloam Springs, Ark. Visitation was Tuesday, November 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs, Ark.
To sign the online guest book, visit www. wassonfuneralhome. com. Arrangements are under the direction of Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Ark. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR 72762
PAID OBITUARY
Sandra Lynne (Haddock) Brooks
Sandra Lynne (Haddock) Brooks, of Livermore, Calif., — “Sandy,” to those who knew her— went home to be with her Lord on Monday, November 7, 2016, at 2:04 p.m., while a patient at UCSF Parnassus Medical Center in San Francisco. She died after a more than four-year battle with Colon Cancer, a victim of a sudden onset of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Sandy was born in Siloam Springs, Ark., November 24, 1963, the first child of Jerry and Sharon Haddock, of Siloam Springs. She graduated with honors from Siloam Springs High School in 1982 and was a member of the National Honor Society. She attended Arkansas Tech University from 1983-1985, and graduated with honors from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Education, in 1987.
Sandy began her career as a legal secretary for various attorneys in Northwest Arkansas. Later, she was employed by the Arkansas Office of the Attorney General, as Charitables Coordinator for the Consumer Protection Division.
In 1983, while attending Arkansas Tech University, Sandy was married to Scott Brooks, originally of Siloam Springs, but then a resident of Russellville, Ark. She faithfully honored her vows until the day of her death.
Sandy retired from outside employment in 1995 when her third daughter, Emma, was born, choosing instead to invest her time and energy into the rearing and education of her children. The course of Sandy’s life led her to reside in Siloam Springs, Russellville, Fayetteville, Springdale, Little Rock, and Malvern, all in Arkansas; Broken Bow, Okla.; Tulare, and Livermore, Calif. She was an active and faithful church member throughout her life, holding membership in Weddington Missionary Baptist Church (Siloam Springs), Russellville Missionary Baptist Church, Landmark Missionary Baptist Church (Siloam Springs), Unity Missionary Baptist Church (Little Rock), Liberty Missionary Baptist Church (Little Rock), Pine Top Missionary Baptist Church (Broken Bow), Big Creek Missionary Baptist Church (Malvern), Tulare Missionary Baptist Church, and Grace Missionary Baptist Church (Livermore), and as a pastor’s wife, was cherished by the churches her husband served.
Sandy was a dedicated wife, mother, and homemaker. She had a quick wit, an infectious personality, and she loved to laugh. She loved roller coasters, daffodils, and clothes of all kinds but especially shoes. She loved baking, much to the delight of friends, family, and church members. She loved her dogs — Bonnie, Schatten, and Caelin — who all preceded her in death. She loved people, interacting with them, and getting to know them and their families. She loved doing things for others; she was a servant at heart. She loved her children and her husband, for whom she selflessly sacrificed daily. But most of all, she loved her Lord, Who she learned daily to trust and depend upon, as He carried her through the difficulties and hardships of her protracted disease.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents and an aunt, Jessie Lowe.
Sandy is survived by her husband, Scott Brooks, of Tulare, Calif.; her daughters, Rachel Stitt and husband Brandon of Fremont, Calif., Chloe Brooks of Phoenix, Ariz., Emma Brooks of Reno, Nev., and Molly Brooks of the home; her parents, Jerry and Sharon Haddock of Siloam Springs, Ark.; her brother, Ed Haddock and wife Gwen of Rudy, Ark.; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Don and Jackie Brooks of Kansas, Okla.; a sister-inlaw and brother-in-law, Nanci and Homer Solis of Batesville, Ark.; two aunts, Pat Rhoades and husband Bob, and Linda Jones; an uncle, Frank Phillips and Edie Adams; several nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. November 19, at Weddington Missionary Baptist Church, 19445 Weddington Church Rd., Fayetteville, AR 72704.
A second memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. November 26, at Callaghan Mortuary, 3833 East Ave., Livermore, CA 94550.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, tax deductible donations in memoriam be made to the donor’s choice of the following 501(c)(3) organizations: UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, P. O. Box 45339, San Francisco, CA 941450339, made payable to UCSF Foundation in memory of Sandra Brooks or online donations may be made at www.makeagift.ucsf. edu/cancer; Grace Missionary Baptist Church, 1759 Locust St., Livermore, CA 94551; or Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation, 440 Boulder Court, Suite 100C #7, Pleasanton CA 94566. Online donations or further information at: www.healingtherapiesfoundation.org. PAID OBITUARY
Juadah “Judy” Mounger Gardenhire
Juadah “Judy” Mounger Gardenhire, 72, of Farmington, Ark., died Nov. 13, 2016, at Willard Walker Hospice House.
She was born Sept. 17, 1944, in Siloam Springs, Ark., to OD and Eva Mounger. During her childhood, she lived in Siloam Springs and graduated from Siloam Springs High School in 1962.
She began her career as a caregiver working as a candy striper while in high school. She was a graduate of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences in Little Rock. She worked as a nurse (RNBSN) for 42 years in hospitals located in Northwest Arkansas, Bossier City, La., Conway, Ark., and the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Fayetteville, Ark. She married Jean Gardenhire Jr. in 1968.
She is survived by her husband; three children, Kevin Gardenhire and wife Kara, Justin Gardenhire and wife Amanda, and Kristyn Baker and husband Jimmy; seven grandchildren; a brother, Karl Mounger of Siloam Springs; and a sister, Ruth Jones and husband Larry of Fayetteville.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Willard Walker Hospice House.
The funeral will be held at Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home at 1 p.m. Nov. 18, 2016, with burial at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Michael Lee Walls
Michael Lee Walls, 54, of Siloam Springs, Ark., died Nov. 14, 2016, in his home.
He was born Dec. 12, 1961, in Denver City, Texas, to Smythe Walls and Barbara Thomas Walls. He married Jackie Wade in 2008. He was a mechanic for Smitty’s body shop.
He was preceded in death by his mother and his wife.
He is survived by his son, Steven Walls of Siloam Springs; his daughter, Brittney Metcalf and husband Scott of Siloam Springs; his father, Smythe Walls of Siloam Springs; a sister, Sherry Smith of Siloam Springs; a brother, Steve Walls and wife Rebecca of Siloam Springs; and one grandson.
A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, at Wasson Memorial Chapel in Siloam Springs.
An online guest book is available at www.wassonfuneralhome.com.
Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs is in charge of arrangements.