Evelyn Baker
Evelyn Baker, 87, died Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, at Innisfree Nursing Home, in Rogers, Ark. She was born June 22, 1929, in Jefferson, Mo., to Lynn and Elizabeth Shackelford.
Her early life was spent in Jefferson City, where she attended Jefferson City Junior College. She earned an associates of arts degree. She married Marshal Baker. They celebrated 41 years of marriage on May 5, 2015. He served in the U.S. Air Force and Reserves, receiving an honorable discharge in 1958. In her early years, she worked as a secretary at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Phoenix, Ariz.
She enjoyed the outdoors. Her lifelong passion was traveling. She enjoyed the many beautiful landscapes in the Western states, particularly the Colorado mountains.
She is survived by her nieces and nephews, niece Lynn Wolfe, nephews John Bredeman and Jim Bredeman of Kansas City, Mo., and Larry Bredeman of Alaska, and niece Linda Fain and nephew Scott Shackelford from Jefferson City; her dear friends, Max Pallace of Rogers and Aaron Hoffman of Bella Vista, Ark.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016, at Village Bible Evangelical Free Church. Pastor Mark Voll officiated.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Village Bible Evangelical Free Church, 1591 Forest Hills, Bella Vista, AR 72715 or the St Louis Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 955423, St. Louis, MO 63195.
Arrangements were under the direction of Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.
Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.
Jane Osburn Howard
Jane Osburn Howard, 90, died Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. She was born in Morris, Ill., the only child of Bernice and Everett Osburn.
After earning her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Arizona, she and her husband, Stan, moved to Albuquerque, N.M. in 1950. After the passing of their daughter, Ellen Howard, she and Stan relocated to Bella Vista, Ark., in 2016.
She received her doctorate from the University of New Mexico in 1969 and she did post-doctoral work at the John Tracy Clinic for hearing-impaired children. She worked at the New Mexico State Department of Education and at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, where she was a faculty member in pediatrics and psychiatry. She was the coordinator for the deaf-blind children’s program at Programs for Children from 1972-1976. Throughout her career, she continued consulting with various groups focusing on the needs of deaf-blind children and those diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. Her professional organizations included Pi Lambda Theta, Zeta Phi Eta and Alpha Epsilon Rho.
She was active in the United Methodist Church. She was a charter member of the Christ United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, where she served as chairperson for several years. She was also a member of the Board of Harwood Girls School and was a devoted member and officer of United Methodist Women, holding local, district and conference offices.
She enjoyed square dancing and traveling with Stan. She was a frequent bridge player and enjoyed the lifelong friendships she developed in her community.
She is survived by her husband, Stan Howard, of Bella Vista; a daughter, Susan Howard Nuttall and son-in-law, John Nuttall, of Bella Vista; grandchildren, Reid Nuttall of Evergreen Park, Ill., and Nathan Hinchberger of Lakewood, Colo.; and three great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Rhiannon and Sean Hinchberger of Bellevue, Wash.
A memorial service will be planned in Albuquerque at a later date.
If friends desire, contributions may be made to the Arthritis Foundation at www.arthritis.org.
Gerald Jean Miles
Gerald Jean Miles, 80, of Bella Vista, Ark., died on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016, at a local skilled-care center. He was born Aug. 12, 1936, on a farm near Clear Lake, Iowa, the youngest son of Maurice and Dell Miles.
He attended a country school near Clear Lake and graduated from Ventura (Iowa) High School in 1955. He was very proud of his service to our country and was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1955, serving through 1958 in Fort Smith, Ark., Fort Knox, Ky., as well as two years in the Third Armored Division in Germany. He enjoyed his military travel.
On Dec. 10, 1960, he married Lois Jean Amundson at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Radcliffe, Iowa. They settled on a farm three miles south of Radcliffe and began farming. They successfully raised hogs, farmed corn and soybeans and their family on the farm until 1984. They then managed motels in numerous locations until they retired in Bella Vista in 1994.
He never met a stranger, even quickly making friends with those who cared for him at the nursing home and hospital. He enjoyed duck hunting with his brother, Wayne, in Riverton, Iowa, and pheasant hunting on local farms. He taught his boys to hunt, building memories that were often discussed and laughed over at family gatherings. He loved to work in his yard, planting new flower gardens, landscaping and planting many trees.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Allan and Wayne; and his parents.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lois Miles; sons, Robert Miles and wife Jennifer of Bella Vista, Rick Miles and wife Kim of Radcliffe, Iowa, Terry Miles and wife Kim of Bella Vista, and Steve Miles and wife Lori of Quincy, Ill.; grandchildren, Oliver and