OBITUARIES
Donald “Duck” Gene Cundiff
Donald “Duck” Gene Cundiff, 73-year-old resident of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, died June
26, 2017, at Regency Hospital in Springdale, Arkansas. Born October 29, 1943, in Siloam Springs, he was the son of Paul Cundiff and Dortha Woods Cundiff. He served overseas in the U.S. Army in Korea during the Vietnam War. Don worked for over 20 years at Franklin Electric. Don’s passions were the city of Siloam Springs and its history, the VFW and the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Lucy Cundiff of the home; stepdaughter, Elayna Trobare of Norman, Oklahoma; stepson, John Trobare of Norman, Oklahoma; one brother, Shorty Cundiff of West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma; two sisters, Sue Verser of Decatur, Arkansas, and Delores Jones of Springdale, Arkansas; and four stepgrandchildren.
Visitation was Thursday, June 29, 2017, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 30, 2017, at Fayetteville National Cemetery, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Memorial services were held at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs with Pastor Sharon Stockton and Pastor Gary Riley officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Grand Savings Bank, Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
To sign the online guestbook, visit www.wasson funeralhome.com.
Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.
PAID OBITUARY
Melanie Marion Snider Mason
Melanie Mason, 62, died June 29, 2017, at Good Samaritan Society in Parsons, Kan.
She was born March 15, 1955, in Siloam Springs, Ark., to Marion
Snider and Adanell Buffum Snider. She grew up on the John Brown University campus where her father worked for 45 years. Her first jobs were on campus in the snack bar and as a lifeguard.
She graduated from Siloam Springs High School in 1973, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Business Education in 1977 from John Brown University. She married Wayne Mason on July 2, 1977. She worked as a pastor’s wife and stayat-home mother. Over the years, she learned sign language in order to work with the hearing impaired and volunteered in the church and local educational institutions.
She is predeceased by her parents; a sister, Ann Wisdom; and a sister-inlaw Pam Snider.
She is survived by her husband; three children, Martha Cox and husband David of Parsons, Joanna Hankins and husband Eric of Overland Park, Kan., and Matthew Mason of Olathe, Kan.; a sister, Nancy Snider of Tulsa, Okla.; a brother, Stewart Snider of Conway, Ark.; brother-in-law Howard Wisdom of Grandview, Mo.; and five grandsons.
Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 8, 2017, at the Parsons Foursquare Church. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to John Brown University, Good Samaritan Society, or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
An online guest book is available at www.forbes hoffman.com.
Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons is in charge of arrangements.
Larry Gene Seward
Larry Gene Seward, 71-year-old resident of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, passed away June 27, 2017, in Springdale, Arkansas.
Born December
17, 1945, in Tuckerman, Arkansas, he was the son of David Seward and Pearl Holt Seward.
Larry married Mary Rebecca (Reba) McConnell on June 10, 1967, in Mount Ida, Arkansas. He was a threeyear letterman in basketball at then Arkansas College (now Lyon College) in Batesville, Arkansas, graduating with a degree in Biology in 1967. Larry was a professor of biology at John Brown University for 37 years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Siloam Springs for 43 years.
Dr. Seward taught Biology at Lakeside High School in Hot Springs before going on to earn an MS in Biology and an Ed.D. in Higher Education with an emphasis in Natural Sciences from Oklahoma State University in 1979. He joined the faculty at JBU in 1970 in the Division of Natural Science. His commitment to teaching and to the field of natural sciences was recognized as he was named a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation in 2005. During his 37-year tenure at JBU, Dr. Seward served the university and his community in multiple ways outside his teaching commitment. He served in multiple capacities that married his love of nature and the courses he taught in the Natural Sciences Division including JBU Grounds Manager, JBU Arbor Society founder, the Planning and Zoning Commission of Siloam Springs and Chair of Sager Creek Commission. His other passion was the support of student athletes. He served JBU as Faculty Athletic Representative for 25 years and Chair of the Faculty Athletic Committee for 27 years, retiring from both roles in 2007. Dr. Seward was also summer camp and program coordinator for JBU for nine years that served to develop and grow the multiple sports camps that exist at JBU today.
Dr. Seward spent his career helping students in the classroom, in the laboratory and on the sports fields of John Brown University. He loved spending time with his family, playing golf with friends, and keeping his beautiful gardens.
He was preceded in death by his parents, David Seward and Pearl Seward.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Reba Seward of the home; two daughters, Sarah Krivy and husband David of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Julie Nagel and husband Aaron of Lawrence, Kansas; five grandchildren, Caroline, Olivia, Bennett, Jackson and Mary Kate; two brothers, David Seward Jr. and wife Mattie of Searcy, Arkansas, and Bill Seward and wife, Carol, of Glendora, California; and two sisters, Betty Millsap of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Peggy Rainwater of Sheridan, Arkansas.
Memorial services were held 2 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2017, at First United Methodist Church, Siloam Springs, with the Rev. Dr. David Bush and the Rev. Clark Atkins officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, 325 E. Twin Springs, Siloam Springs, AR 72761. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.wasson funeralhome.com. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.
PAID OBITUARY
Ruby Joan Willis
Ruby Joan Willis, 80, of Siloam Springs, Ark., died June 28, 2017, at the Earlene Howard Hospice House in Springdale, Ark.
She was born on July 13, 1936, in Royal Oak, Ind., to Brownie Bennett and Pauline Headley Bennett. She married Samuel Willis. She was a homemaker who enjoyed taking care of children, often babysitting for friends. She enjoyed crafting, putting puzzles together, and reading. She was a Baptist and had been a longtime Sunday School Teacher at Harvard Avenue Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 2013.
She is survived by two sons, Samuel Clay Willis of West Siloam Springs, Okla., and Mike Willis of Westville, Okla.; three daughters, Janice Johnson of Jane, Mo., Denise Bohot of Fayetteville, Ark., and Deanna Willis of Siloam Springs; one brother, Tom Bennett of Michigan; and one sister, Sandra Beard of Michigan; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services were held July 1, 2017, at the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Chapel. Burial followed at Fairmount Cemetery under the direction of the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Siloam Springs.
An online guest book is available at www.BackstromPyeatte.com.
Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Siloam Springs was in charge of arrangements.
Aaliyah Faith VanHook
Aaliyah Faith VanHook, 16 months old, of Westville, Okla., died on June 25, 2017, in Siloam Springs, Ark.
She was born on Feb. 26, 2016, to Zachary VanHook and Cortney Wilson. She was always a happy baby and loved to swim. She was loved by everybody. Her sister and her dog were her best friends. She was a country girl who liked to help in the garden and feed chickens.
She is survived by her parents, Zachary VanHook and Cortney Wilson of the home; her sister, Addalyn VanHook; maternal grandmother, Heather Summerfield and husband, James, of Gravette, Ark.; maternal grandfather, Chad Wilson and wife, Rebecca, of Bentonville, Ark.; paternal grandmother, Carolyn Slaughter of Pea Ridge, Ark.; paternal grandfather, Scott VanHook and wife, Carra, of Centerton, Ark.; and great-grandparents, Doris and John Knox of Louisiana, Shane and Pam Wilson of Rogers, and Cheri Summerfield of Gravette, Ark.
Memorial services were July 1, 2017, at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, with Dr. Robin Cowan officiating. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.wasson funeralhome.com.
Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs was in charge of arrangements.