OBITUARIES
Larry Leroy Bates
Larry Leroy Bates, 58, of Gentry, died on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, at the Mercy Hospital in Rogers.
He was born on Feb. 10, 1960, in Grove, Okla., to Ernest Leroy Bates and Delores Darlene Knight Bates. He was a diesel mechanic for Valley View Trucking Co. in Gentry, attended the First Christian Church in Gentry and loved working on cars with his son.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Connie Pederson.
Survivors include his wife, Sally Bates of the home; his stepmother, Paula Jane Hutton of Siloam Springs; two sons, Cody Smith and Caleb Bates, both of Gentry; two daughters, Christina Crozier of Lebanon, Ore., and Tabitha Dagley of Gravette; two stepdaughters, Lina Lewis of Springdale and Tabitha Lingo of Pineville, Mo.; one stepson, Odis Anthney of Huntsville; two sisters, Janie Hamilton of Ulysses, Kan., and Jerri Peachee of Siloam Springs; and 17 grandchildren.
Funeral service was at the Backstrom-Pyeatte Chapel on Thursday, Jan. 3. Arrangements were by Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home.
Carolyn Delores Cannon
Carolyn Delores Cannon, 79, of Colcord, Okla., died on Jan. 1, 2019, at Siloam Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Siloam Springs.
She was born Aug. 23, 1939, in the Robinson Community to Herman Littrell and Cynthia Bell McGarrah. She grew up in Springtown and lived most of her life in northwest Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma. She worked in customer service for Walmart for many years. She was a member of Wedington Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Marvin Jones; and brother, Bud Littrell.
She is survived by three sons, David Jones of Siloam Springs, Rick Jones and wife Sue of Siloam Springs, and Mike Jones and fiance Jennifer Bramwell of Lincoln; daughter, Laura Harrison and husband Carll of West Siloam Springs, Okla.; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Lynn Gladski of Garfield, and Marilyn Tevebaugh of Maysville.
No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs.
Clifford Orren Barnes
Clifford Orren Barnes was born January 10, 1924, to Theron Nelson and Leota M. Barnes between Decatur and Gravette, Arkansas, just west of the tracks on Spavinaw Creek. He died January 5, 2019, at home on the farm. He attended school at Cottage Grove and then at Decatur. In 1941, he married Ruth Root and they bought a farm also on Spavinaw Creek.
Clifford was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944 during WW II. He was an infantry B.A.R. man. He fought in the battle of Okinawa, in the south Pacific, was wounded twice and received the Purple Heart. Surviving all of that, he returned home where he and Ruth farmed. Clifford later became a butcher. He and Ruth raised three children. Ruth died in 2004. Clifford was a charter member of the Decatur VFW Post 9834, a lifetime member of the Sulphur Springs American Legion Post 35, and a member of the “40 and 8.” He was preceded in death by three sisters, Irene, Nina and Bonnie.
Survivors include his sister, Barbara McGarrah; three children, Mary Wilkins, Richard Varner and Reuben Barnes and his wife Margo; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and 7 greatgreat-grandchildren; a number of nieces and nephews, along with his old buddy, Orville Barrett, many friends and his dog Ginger.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 10, 2019, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Visitation will be 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 9, 2019, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Arkansas. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.
PAID OBITUARY
Johnny Lee Keith
Johnny Lee Keith, 64, of Decatur, died Friday, Dec. 28, 2018, at the Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville.
He was born Dec. 25, 1954, in Mulkeytown, Ill., to Wesley A. Keith and Kathryn Lorene Sanders Keith. He was a gun collector, liked listening to country music, riding horses, and rode bulls in the rodeo when he was young. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Diane Keith.
Survivors include three sons, Johnny Keith Jr. of Muldrow, Okla., Roger Keith and J.W. Keith, both of Decatur; one daughter, Springer Keith Todd of Sheboygan, Wis.; four brothers, Jimmy Keith, David Keith and Arlin Keith, all of Decatur, and Ricky Keith of Summers; and seven grandchildren.
Graveside services were held at the Falling Springs Cemetery near Decatur on Friday, Jan. 4. Arrangements were by Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home in Siloam Springs.
Martha Kreder
Martha Kreder, 77, of Sulphur Springs, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018.
She was born in Lansdale,
Pa., to Josie and Curtis Largent. While residing in Phoenix, Ariz., she served as a member and officer of the Arizona Breakfast Club, where she met Alfred Kreder. They married in 2005 and moved to Sulphur Springs. She was a member of Grace Meadows Fellowship for more than 20 years. Martha served 10 years as an alderman on the Sulphur Springs City Council and was involved in numerous activities, including being a member and president of the Friendly Neighbors Club for 15 years.
She is survived by two sons, Norman Barnett and wife Rebecca of Surprise, Ariz., and Virgile Kreder and wife Dorothy of Egg Harbor, Wis.; three daughters, Rhonda Barnett of Sulphur Springs, April Essex and husband Bill of North Glenn, Colo., and Shirley Kreder and (Terry Dodds) of Davis, Ill., her brother, Glen Largent of Quakertown, Pa.; her sister, Vera Kassinger of Harleysville, Pa.; 11 grandchildren; 28 greatgrandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 8, at Grace Meadows Fellowship in Maysville, with Bill Querry officiating. Burial followed at Butler Creek Cemetery in Sulphur Springs. Arrangements were by Bella Vista Funeral Home.
Henry Herbert Law III
Henry Herbert Law III, 82, of Rogers died Friday, Dec. 28, 2018, at Ozarks Community Hospital in Gravette.
He served in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Law; and one sister, Susan Law of New Mexico.
Arrangements are by Epting Funeral Home of Gravette.
Sibyl Jeanne Leeman
Sibyl Jeanne Leeman, 92, of Decatur, died Dec. 30, 2018, in Bentonville.
She was born to William (Dutchie) Orland Stellmon and Gladys Irene Willert Stellmon, in Decatur. She graduated from Decatur High School in 1944. She married Ervin M. Leeman in October 1945. Together they raised five children in Decatur. She was a homemaker most of her life and worked for the county clerk’s office, as well as Peterson Industries of Decatur.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin; her parents; brothers, Billy and Joseph; and brothers- and sisters-inlaw, Bill, Dorothy and Mary.
She is survived by five children, Russell Leeman and wife Dianne of Decatur, Susan Pate and husband Ken of Fort Smith, Frank Leeman and wife Donella of Gravette, Lisa Edmiston and husband Tom of Huntsville, and Elizabeth Skinner of Fort Smith; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law Betty Etris Vale and Marjorie Ferrell.
Services were Jan. 2 at Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home in Siloam Springs. Burial followed at Falling Springs Cemetery in Decatur. Arrangements were by Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home.
David Wayne LeRoy
David Wayne LeRoy, 45, of Sulphur Springs, lost his fight with pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018, at his residence.
He was born Aug. 28, 1973, in Siloam Springs, to Charles Bullard and Debra Lynn Workman.
He was a 10 year resident of Hilo, Hawaii. His hobbies included spending quality time with his family and friends, reading, cooking and the outdoors, leisurely swimming and canoeing. He was also a wonderful storyteller and was a cook for many years.
He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Robert Bullard.
He is survived by one son, Dawson LeRoy of Sulphur Springs; two daughters, Aubrey Danes of Florida and MaKila LeRoy of Sulphur Springs; his mother, Debra McGuire of Sulphur Springs; three brothers, Steven LeRoy of Sulphur Springs, Joel Bullard of Pine Bluff and Jesse Bullard of Gravette; two sisters, Sherry Wilson and her husband Cody of Centerton, Jody Bullard of Gravette; and grandmother, Mona Marcella Taber of Redding, Calif. Other survivors include Marcy and Adrian Dickson and Terri Wright.
Services will be announced at a later date by the family. Arrangements are by Epting Funeral Home of Gravette.
Billie Jo Mullen
Billie Jo Mullen, 49, of Sulphur Springs, died Jan. 2, 2019.
She was born May 27, 1969, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
She is survived by her father and stepmother, Bill and Vanda Boyd of Sulphur Springs; brother, Lonnie Boyd and wife Michiko of
Bella Vista; sister, Dawn Backus and husband Frank of Ridgedale, Mo.; “twin” brother, Corey Birchfield and wife Michelle of Siloam Springs; her children, Zachary Boyd Wells, of Goodman, Mo.; Richelle Bonneville, of Virginia Beach, Va., Charlee Gann and husband Brandon of Reno Nev.; and Nicholas Boyd-Goodlett and fiance Juli, of Springdale; and four grandchildren, Madisyn, “EJ” Eric Jr., Jayden, and Ryan.
Billie Jo enjoyed cooking, crafting, the outdoors and traveling. She loved her family and exploring and experiencing new things in life.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, at the First Pentecostal Church in Gravette.
Arrangements are by Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory, Bella Vista.
Hazel Marie Shankles
Hazel Marie Shankles, 92, of Gentry, died Jan. 4, 2019, at Siloam Springs Nursing and Rehab.
She was born May 13, 1926, in Teague, Texas, to Clifford Thompson and Dora Stroud Thompson. She married Dawson Shankles on Nov. 6, 1944. She worked at Gentry Medical Center and was a member of the Gentry Christian Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dawson; a brother, Ralph Thompson; a sister, Modene Botter; a stepson, Charles Shankles; and a stepmother, Jody Thompson.
Survivors include a son, Jack Shankles and wife Bonnie of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a daughter, Wanda Meyer and husband Robert of Gentry; a daughter, Shirley Thompson of Ringling, Okla.; 10 grandchildren; and numerous greatgrandchildren and greatgreat-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 11, at First Christian Church, Gentry. Burial will follow at Gentry Cemetery, Gentry. Visitation will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 10, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.