OBITUARIES
Ronald Arthur Douglas
Ronald Arthur Douglas, 73, of Gravette, died Sept. 14, 2020, at Circle of Life Hospice.
He was born June 22, 1947, to Gene and ImoJean Duncan Douglas in Rogers. He grew up on the family farm west of Centerton and attended school in Bentonville through the ninth grade, after which he attended and graduated from Gravette High School. He proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968, which included a long assignment in Germany. He did backhoe and dump truck work before working for Built-Well Construction Company from 1991 to 2017. In retirement, he managed the family farm and constructed a longdreamed-of workshop.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 28 years, Peggy Douglas; his parents, Gene and ImoJean Duncan Douglas; and his brother, Stephen Douglas.
He is survived by his sons, Christopher (Christy) Douglas of Centerton and Creston (Rachel) Douglas of Gravette; brother, David (Anastasia Strokova) Douglas of Elm Springs; sister, Brenda (Larry) Herbaugh of Prattville, Ala.; sisterin-law, Penny Douglas (wife of the deceased Stephen Douglas) of Gravette; four grandchildren, Sydney Douglas, Brennan Douglas, Nickolai Creston Douglas and Alexander Killian Douglas.
Graveside services were Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Gravette.
Arrangements are by Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.
Douglas ‘Doug’ Earl Florer
Douglas “Doug” Earl Florer, 69, of Siloam Springs, died Sept. 18, 2020, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale.
He was born on Dec. 16, 1950, in Siloam Springs, to Herbert Florer and Helen Amos Florer. He graduated from Decatur High School in 1968. He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. He returned to Northwest Arkansas and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business. He married Karen Pennington on Sept. 30, 1977, in Searcy. He worked in the poultry industry and as a farmer for most of his life. He was a member of Sager Creek Community Church and the Decatur VFW.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Helen Florer.
He is survived by his wife, Karen; two daughters, Brandy Fox and husband Randy of Siloam Springs, and Lindsay Pool and husband Matthew of Siloam Springs; six grandchildren, Taylor Pool, Brooklyn Fox, Levi Fox, MacKenzie Pool, Landon Pool, and Haylee Fox; two sisters, Faye Gilbert and husband Clint of Decatur, and Jo Cooper of Coffeyville, Kan.; and brother, Neal Florer and wife Teena of Fayetteville.
Graveside services were Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Falling Springs Cemetery in Decatur, with Pastor Jim Henderson officiating. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.
Cynthia M. Foltz
Cynthia M. Foltz, 73, of Gentry, died Sept. 15, 2020, in her home surrounded by her family.
She was born April 5, 1947, in Cedarville, Kan., to Blaine and Verda Evinger Honeycutt. She was an accountant and a member of the First Baptist Church in Decatur. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, playing the piano, sewing and crafting. Cynthia’s father Blaine was a minister and, wherever he was ministering, she was there with him playing the piano. She is preceded in death by her father, Blaine; her mother, Verda; and stepfather, J.D. Laurance; her husband, Max Foltz; and one brother, Blaine Honeycutt Jr.
She is survived by her children, Billy (Stacy) Harp of Belle Plaine, Kan., Dona (David) Flynt of Gravette, and Brian (Jacque) Harp of Decatur; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Lurella and Virgie.
Cynthia’s Celebration of Life service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the First Baptist Church in Decatur. Arrangements are by Benton County Funeral Home, Rogers.
Helen Kathleen Hipp
Helen Kathleen Hipp, 70, of Gentry, died Sept. 16, 2020, at her home.
She was born in Atikokan, Ontario, to Paul Croswell and Charlotte Sisco Croswell. She graduated from Newport Harbor High School in California. She married Johnny Hipp on Nov. 11, 1978, in Paradise, Calif. She worked as a beautician and was a caretaker. She and Johnny lived in Phoenix, Ariz., before moving back to Gentry in 2003. Helen was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Siloam Springs.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Charlotte Croswell; and son, Clinton Douglas Hipp.
She is survived by her husband, Johnny Hipp; daughters, Joni Cecile Hipp, Kathleen Hipp and Lakyn Hipp; four grandsons; one granddaughter; four great-grandsons; and one great-granddaughter.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs.
Robert ‘Bob’ D. Meyer
Robert “Bob” D. Meyer, 90, of Gentry, died Sept. 18, 2020, at his home.
He was born Feb. 14, 1930, in Oswego Township, Ill., to Henry Meyer and Wilhelmina Papke Meyer, both of whom emigrated as small children from Germany through Ellis Island. He joined the Navy at the age of 17 and served during the Korean War. After his discharge, he remained in California and was a fireman with the Los Angeles County Fire Department for 20 years, attaining the rank of captain before receiving a disability retirement. After retirement, he moved to Gentry. He married Wanda Shankles Meyer in 1984. They worked a small cattle operation. He was a member of the Gentry Christian Church.
He was preceded in death by one son, one grandson, his parents, one brother, and four sisters.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda; children, Robert D. Meyer Jr., Colleen Meyer, Heather Alosi and Joseph Meyer; daughter-in-law, Corrine Meyer; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 27, at Gentry Cemetery, with Pastor Rick Pearson officiating. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.
Daniel R. Peachey
Daniel R. Peachey, 82, of Maysville, died Sept. 15, 2020, at Highlands Health Care, Bella Vista.
He was born Sept. 17, 1937, in Pennsylvania to Emanuel and Mattie Peachey. He married Bertha Byler on Nov.21, 1957, and was a farmer. He was a member of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, in Gentry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, infant son and one grandson.
Survivors include daughters, Esther Nichols and husband Kendall of Powell, Wyo., Leah Peachey and husband Elmer of Maysville, Martha Hagelberger and husband Scott of Cumberland, Wis., Bertha Wenger and husband Lavern of Cumberland, and Lavina Unruh and husband Joe of Minerva, Ohio; sons, Emanuel Peachey and wife Nancy of Belleville, Penn., Cristie Peachey and wife Jodi of Alexandria, Penn., and Daniel Peachey and wife Tamara of Colcord, Okla.; 36 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lydia Peachey of Belleville, Penn., Nancy Swarey of Allensville, Penn., and Annie Detweiler and husband Samuel of Rockville, Ind.; and brother, Jacob Peachey of Belleville, Penn.
Funeral service was Sept. 18 at Gentry Mennonite Cemetery, Gentry. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs.
Wanda Mae Londagin Spears
Wanda Mae Londagin Spears, age 89, passed away on September 20, 2020, peacefully in her home with her family surrounding her. She was born June 17, 1931, to Jay and Mattie (Brown) Londagin in Gentry, Arkansas. She attended Gentry High School and married Russell Spears on May 21, 1950. They were the parents of three sons: Ricky, Randy and Kendall.
While living in Siloam Springs, Wanda was employed by Buttons and Bows Kindergarten as a teacher’s aide. The family moved to Farmington, Arkansas, in December of 1974. She worked for the Farmington School in food service for 15 years before her retirement in 1991.
She was a former member of two Extension Homemakers Clubs, the Farmington EHC and the Round TU-IT EHC. She was a former member of the Happy Heart’s Club and was a Red Hat Lady. She was also a member of the Kitchen band, The Late Bloomers. She wrote the Farmington Folks and Features column for the Prairie Grove Enterprise, then the Farmington Post for 26 years. She worked in the pre-school department of the First Baptist Church in Fayetteville for several years.
She was a Charter Member of the Farmington Baptist Church (now Main Street Farmington Baptist Church) and a former Sunday school teacher. Wanda volunteered her time for many years at the Farmington Senior Center, where she was an original member.
She loved arts and crafts, scrapbooking, making quilts for her family and their cat, Toady.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Russell, of 65 years, daughter-inlaw, Linda Spears, her sister, Janna Baker, and brothers, Leon and Cleo Londagin. She is survived by her three sons, Ricky and his partner SiRandal Henry of New York, Randy and Kendall of Fayetteville and four grandchildren, Hayden and Evin Spears, Jack Carver and Heather Coulter.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 25, 2020, at Main Street Farmington Baptist Church with Rev. Preston Beeks officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, September 24, 2020, at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. There will be a private family burial at Fayetteville National Cemetery. For the visitation and funeral, guests will be required to wear their own facemask, per the guidelines set forth by the State of Arkansas. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.
PAID OBITUARY
Betty Ruth Stellmon Vail
Betty Ruth Stellmon Wilmoth Vail, 81, of Springdale, died on Sept. 19, 2020, at Willard Walker Hospice in Fayetteville.
She was born on Dec. 15, 1938, in Fort Morgan, Colo., to Austin Etris and Eby Philpott Etris. At a young age, her family moved to Decatur. She worked for Peterson Industries for 11 years and then went to cosmetology school. She graduated from cosmetology school and was a licensed cosmetologist for 10 years. She married Arthur Vail on Oct. 16, 2004, in Eureka Springs. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Rogers and the Order of the Eastern Star.
She was preceded in death by two husbands, Joseph Stellmon and Homer Wilmoth; parents, Austin and Eby Etris; brothers, Gerald Etris, Raymond Etris, Gary Etris and Joe Ivan Etris; and granddaughter, Heather Stellmon.
She is survived by her husband, Arthur Vail; three children, Michael G. Stellmon and wife Marsha of Siloam Springs, Craig Stellmon of Fayetteville, and Barbara K. Miller and husband Donald of Fayetteville; two stepdaughters, Amy Couch of Springdale, and Carolyn Vail; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; three step-great-greatgrandchildren; two sisters, Faye Clark of Rogers, and Freda Slane of Spring, Texas; and sister-in-law, Ramona Etris of Oklahoma City, Okla.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26, at Decatur First Baptist Church in Decatur, with Pastor Cary Weaver officiating. The family will have a private burial in Decatur Cemetery following the service. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs.