OBITUARIES
J. Frank Blue
J. Frank Blue, 63, of Decatur, died Aug. 2, 2016, at his home.
He was born in Pampa, Texas, on Jan. 22, 1953, and raised in Albuquerque, N.M. He attended and graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor of arts degree in business. After graduating, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and owned a State Farm Agency for 30 years. For the past four years, he lived in Decatur and was a member of Heritage Baptist Church in Gravette.
J. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, John and Suzanne Blue of Albuquerque.
He is survived by two sons, Jonathan Blue and wife Amanda of Cincinnati, and Benjamin Blue and wife Stacy of Cincinnati; one sister, Teresa Kepler and husband Darrell, of Gravette; and two nephews, Brad Kepler and wife Lacy of Hiwasse, and Daniel Kepler of Bentonville.
A Memorial Service will be held Aug. 16, at Heritage Baptist Church in Gravette, with Darrell Kepler officiating.
Billy Joe Harrington, Sr.
Billy Joe Harrington, Sr., 75, of Bella Vista, died Aug. 2, 2016, at Ozarks Community Hospital in Gravette.
He was born Aug. 22, 1940, in Maysville, to William Holland Harrington and Lora Ann ( Wilhelm) Harrington. He was a Golden Glove Boxer and went by the name of “Fighting Tiger.” He was also an avid poker player and a man of great integrity. He served in the U.S. Army.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brothers, Perry, Denny and Rudy.
Survivors include sons, BJ Harrington and wife Shannon of Tulsa, Okla., and Alan Walton of Tulsa; daughters, Tammy Oakley of Maysville, and Kelly DeShields of Gravette; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sisters Velma Hendrickson of Hiwasse, Dallene Herrington of Southwest City, Mo., Fredia Shook of Rogers, and Inge Harrington of Tulsa.
Funeral services were Aug. 5 at Wasson Memorial Chapel, Siloam Springs. Burial was at Maysville Cemetery, Maysville. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.
Kimberly Jonell Lewis
Kimberly Jonell Lewis, 67, of Siloam Springs, died Aug. 4, 2016, at Washington Regional Hospital, Fayetteville.
She was born Feb. 16, 1949, in Muskogee, Okla., to William Kenneth Hall and Mickey Allene (McMullin) Hall. She and Randall Lewis were married in 1995. She was a retired teacher aide for Southside Elementary School.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include her husband, Randall of the home; daughters, Amy Hodge and husband Michael of Siloam Springs, Holly Foster and husband Brian of Rogers, Lisa Amedee and husband Randall of Gentry, and Sidney Burns and husband Ron of Athens, Texas; stepsons, Jason Lewis and wife Annie of Webb City, Mo., and Aaron Lewis and wife Jennifer of Neosho, Mo.; 20 grandchildren; sister, Holly Hinote of Siloam Springs; and brother, Watie Hall of Houston, Texas.
A memorial service was held August 8 at Wasson Memorial Chapel, Siloam Springs. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs.
Levonne Brattain Roberts
Levonne Brattain Roberts, 93, of Siloam Springs, died Aug. 6, 2016, at Mercy Hospital in Rogers.
She was born May 20, 1923, in Ponca City, Okla., to Roy Brattain and Hazel (Quier) Brattain. She was a retired teller for Arkansas State Bank and a house mom for John Brown University and School of the Ozarks. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Siloam Springs.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one grandchild; and brother, Roy Brattain, Jr.
Survivors include her son, Parker Roberts and wife Faye of Gentry; a daughter, Janie Brown of Siloam Springs; and two grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 10, at Bozarth Cemetery, Gentry. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.
Katherine Tucker
Katherine Elizabeth Vandiver Tucker, 93, died Aug. 7, 2016, at the Ozarks Community Hospital in Gravette.
She was a member of Maysville Bible Church and an active member of the Maysville Extension Homemakers Club for 60 years, serving as secretary-treasurer. She was a substitute teacher for 17 years for Gravette School District and served on the election board for many years. She worked for McAllister’s grocery store for 30-plus years. She also served as Maysville correspondent for the Gravette News Herald and the Westside Eagle Observer for many years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Luther Henry Tucker; four brothers; and one sister.
She is survived by two sisters, Marie Crawford of Gentry, and Francis Sims of Bentonville; one brother, Jim Vandiver, Jr., of Broken Arrow, Okla.; three children, Helen Tucker Chism of Gravette, Clifton Tucker of Bella Vista and Steve Tucker of Bella Vista; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Visitation was Aug. 9 at Bella Vista Funeral Home, Bella Vista, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Maysville Bible Church, preceding an 11 a.m. funeral service. Jim Whisenant will officiate at the service.
Arrangements are by Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory, Bella Vista.
Raven Jean Wells
Raven Jean Wells, infant daughter of Misty Wells Himsl, died Aug. 1, 2016, at Willow Creek Women’s Center, Johnson.
She was preceded in death by her great grandfather, Don Wells, Sr., and great grandmother, Alice King.
Survivors include her mother, Misty of Gravette; brother, Corbin Wells of Gravette; sister, Carmen Reding of Gravette; maternal grandparents, Claudia Martin of Gentry and Donald Wells of Gravette; great grandparents, Larry and Hallie Martin of Gravette; and uncle, Larry Stacy of Loveland, Colo.
Graveside service was held Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, at G.A.R. Cemetery, Sulphur Springs. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.