Pulaski County

KATIE BELLE YOUNGBLOOD COOK, age 97, of Little Rock, passed away Thursday, February 23, 2017. She was born in Florence, AR, daughter of John A. Youngblood and Anne Belle Hoover Youngblood. Katie was a lifelong nurse, having graduated as an RN from Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in 1942. Her nursing career included Children’s Hospital during the 1946 polio epidemic, St. Vincent’s and Baptist Hospitals, and she retired from the VA Hospital in 1987 after 36 years.

Katie was predeceased by her husband of 30 years, E. C. “Gene” Cook, the “love of my life”; her parents; one sister, Ruby Y. James; three brothers, Gilford, Dallas and Ray Youngblood; nephew, Dwaine James; and nieces, Jo Ann Higgins, Virginia Birch and Linda Hughes. She is survived by her nephews, Bernard Youngblood, Dallas Youngblood, Jr., Lehrke Youngblood and James Youngblood; nieces, Gay Gladden and June Brixie; and grand-nephew Anthony Tucker.

Katie was a kind hearted, humorous woman who loved her family and friends, and will be deeply missed. She was a woman of devoted Christian faith, member of First Baptist Church, Little Rock, Sunday School, WMU, SAGA Senior Adults Active in Giving, and book roundtable. Katie went on to volunteer with the VA Hospital for over 9,300 hours following retirement. She was a member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE).

The funeral service and celebration of Katie’s life will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, March 1, 2017 with visitation at 10 a.m. prior to the service at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. (501) 2248300. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at Oakland Cemetery in Monticello.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 62 Pleasant Valley Dr. Little Rock, Ark. 72211.

Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.

–––––❖––––– Our precious mom and grandma, DORIS JEAN DAVIS, 83, of Little Rock moved to her Eternal Home, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. She was born July 25, 1933 in Cord, Ark. to Bill and Cora Saunders Coleman. She was a homemaker who loved caring for her family. She was of the Assembly of God faith.

Doris is survived by two sons, Cliff (Pam) Davis and Steve (Gail) Davis; eight grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and her brother, Gerald Coleman. She was preceded in death by her parents; five siblings; her husband, Cleveland Davis and a son, Larry Gene Davis.

Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, March 2nd with a visitation prior to service at 12 p.m., at Smith – North Little Rock Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Pinecrest Memorial Park.

Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.

–––––❖––––– KENNETH WALTER HAYDEN-CRAWFORD, 79, of Sherwood, Ark., died Jan. 27, 2017. He was born at Jarrow-Upon-Tyne England on Feb. 19, 1937. He was retired from Phillips Electronics in Cambridge England. Ken served in the Royal Navy. Kenneth immigrated to the United States in 1992, and became a US citizen in 1994. He was a loving husband and grandfather. Kenneth is survived by his wife, Pam Hayden-Crawford of Sherwood, his daughter, Shelly Johnson, of Jacksonville and his son, Clint (Shawnna) Johnson of El Paso, Ark.; 4 grandchildren, Sarah Welch of Memphis Tenn., Hannah and Hunter Welch of Jacksonville, Christen Johnson of El Paso, Ark., and his beloved dog Beau. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Cremation Arrangements Entrusted to Arkansas Cremation. www.ArkansasCremation.com.

–––––❖––––– JAMES “BUDDY” HICKS, 55, of Little Rock passed away Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017. He was born April 20, 1961 in Ft. Smith, Ark. He was a member of Life Line Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wonderful companion, Julie Johnson; his bonus daughter, Jennifer Moore; mother, Zoe Hicks Guthrie; sister, Peggy Hicks Powell (Greg); and his brothers, Brad Guthrie (Tammy), Jay Guthrie (Amy), Kip Guthrie (Christi) and other beloved family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, father, James K. Hicks and his stepfather, Harold G. Guthrie.

Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association, Arkansas Chapter, 320 Executive Court, Ste. 104, Little Rock, Ark. 72205.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Smith – North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main Street, with a visitation one hour prior to service. Burial will be follow in Rest Hills Memorial Park.

Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.

–––––❖––––– JIM G. MURSKI, 79, passed away Feb. 25, 2017 at Hospice Home Care in Little Rock. He was born in Brenham, Texas, to the late Willie and Hattie Murski. He graduated from Blinn College in Brenham and served in the United States Navy.

In 1966 Jim became the second sales employee for Xerox Corporation in the state of Arkansas, until he retired and started his own company called Docustore Inc., and for 15 years was a Xerox dealer and engineering printer sales and service company.

He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman and was never happier than when he was at Greers Ferry Lake.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and one sister. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Winstead Murski; children; Dana Murski Renard (Kelley), Little Rock; Jason Matthew Murski (Heather), Little Rock; grandchildren Tyler Renard, Fayetteville; Kelsey Renard, Baton Rouge, La.; Stephanie Renard, Seattle, Wash..; Ryan Renard (Tracey), Fayetteville; Nicholas Griffiths, Little Rock; great grandson, Cruse Renard. Fayetteville; brother, Jack Murski, Brenham, Texas; and sister Irene Murski, Dallas, Texas.

The family would like to express appreciation to Dr. John Ransom and Dr. Steve Hutchins, the staff of the heart (LVAD) team and the nurses and aides of 8B cardiac unit at Baptist Health for their care and kindness during his lengthy illness.

Memorials in his name may be made to Catholic High School for Boys: 6300 Father Tribou Dr., Little Rock, Ark. (www.lrchs.org) in honor of Matt Murski, Tyler Renard, and Nicholas Griffiths.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 5 p.m. -7 p.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court, Little Rock (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.)

Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200. Jim’s online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.

––––– ––––– LT. COL. HARLEY GENE POWELL, USAF (Ret.), age 85, of Jacksonville went to be with his Lord on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. He was born Sept. 24, 1931 in Dundee, Miss. to the late LeLon and Labon Powell. His sisters Marietta and Margie preceded him in death.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Charlotte Powell, four daughters, Kathy Lucas (Luke), Gene McCool (Steve), Vikki, Lisa and step-daughter Debbie Raney, many other beloved family members, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and multitude of friends.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017 at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with a visitation from 10 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow in Sylvania Cemetery.

Arrangements by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home & Crematory (501) 982-2136. Sign online guestbook at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.

–––––❖––––– JOSEPH HARRISON RED, JR, died peacefully surrounded by friends and family on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. He was born in Little Rock on Jan. 9, 1930 to Joseph H. Red, Sr., and Eva Phillips Red. Joe worked for the Little Rock Fire Department for 39 years and retired as Captain. He mentored many

firemen over his career and loved them as his brothers. He had a strong work ethic and the highest compliment you could receive from him was, “He was a hard worker.”

Joe was a member of Sardis United Methodist Church and a former member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ. He served in many capacities at both churches and both were very dear to him. At Sardis he was known for passing out bubble gum to the children (and some lucky adults) each Sunday. He loved his church family and they were a great source of support and loving community to him.

As a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for over 45 years, Joe helped many battle and overcome addictions. He never judged or condemned but loved unconditionally. This was one of the his key character traits. No one was a stranger to Joe. Pride never kept him from welcoming and sharing his love to everyone he met.

Joe was a Shriner at Scimitar Shrine Temple, and he supported the Shrine Hospital, because it provided services to children free of charge. As someone who was raised with little material wealth, he understood people in need. Although he was a successful man, he never forgot from where he came. He appreciated everything he had earned through his hard work, and never failed to give whenever he saw an opportunity.

Joe was an example for many. He taught his family and friends the true meaning of love. To know him was to love him, because he loved you first. He couldn’t help himself, it was just his nature. He had a profound impact on so many, but he always considered himself blessed that he was worthy of love. He felt so lucky to have his family and friends. He was grateful for his life and everything in it. Always one to look on the bright side, when challenges arose, his attitude was, “It could always be worse.”

He is survived by his wife, Frances; three daughters, Lana Wiedower, Cinda Baldwin and Melissa (John) Norris; grandchildren, Kiffin Rogers, Harmony Starr, Melanie Reeves, Cody Baldwin, John Collin Norris and Alexander Harrison Norris; great-grandchildren, Mathilda and Eli Starr; sisters, Betty Stooks and Joyce Moore.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1 at Sardis United Methodist Church, 10715 W. Sardis Rd., Bauxite, AR. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Little Rock Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Little Rock Fire Department Honor Guard.

Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, Fla. 33607, or Sardis United Methodist Church or to one’s favorite Charity.

Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200. Joe’s online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.