Obituaries
Pulaski County
TANDY VAN NUYS ALLEN II, 82, of North Little Rock passed away Wednesday, June 7, 2017. He was born June 25, 1934, in Chariton, Iowa, to Tandy and Thelma Allen. He was retired from Union Pacific Railroad, (formerly Missouri Pacific Railroad) and was very active with his graduating class from Central High School.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Sally Kent Allen; and his parents. He is survived by his son, Tandy V. Allen, III; daughter, Lisa (Greg) Dombroski; son, Tim (Judith) Allen; son, Todd (Patty) Allen; sister, Phyllis (John) Kincannon; brother, Dr. Richard (Doretta) Allen; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1201 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, Arkansas 72113. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 12, 2017, at First United Methodist Church of Maumelle. Arrangements by Smith-North Little Rock Funeral Home. Online obituary at www. SmithFamilyCares.com.
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BILLY GENE DURNAL, 82, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away June 7, 2017. He was born February 27, 1935, in Forrest City, Arkansas, to the late Arthur and Luna Cash Durnal.
Billy is survived by daughters, Deborah Funderburg (Robert) and Donna Durnal; sons, Richard Durnal (Sheril) and Kenneth Durnal; grandchildren, Kevin Durnal (Laura), Stephanie Smith (Zack), Brandon Funderburg (Heather), Heather Wilson (Noah), and Nicholas Hendrix; nine great-grandchildren, Carson, Cash, Collin and Cai Smith, Chole, Haylee and Abigene Durnal, Gracie Wilson and Barrett Funderburg; and a host of other family members and friends.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
Arkansas
BENTON — Ivan Bruce DeYoung, passed away June 8, 2017, at the age of 76 after a battle with cancer. Visitation will be 1-3 p.m. Sunday, June 11, 2017, at Roller-Ballard Funeral Home Benton. Funeral service is scheduled 10 a.m. Monday, June 12, Roller-Ballard Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations to Grape Chapel Church of God Benton. Online guestbook: www.rollerfunerralhomes.com./ballard.
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BENTON — Myong Hui Munoz a beloved wife and friend passed away June 7th, 2017, in Benton, Arkansas. Myong is survived by her husband of 38 years, Gabriel Munoz.
Myong was born in Seoul, Korea. She attended the University of Texas at Austin in 1979, but actually began her education with Martial Arts training at the age of three and she never stopped. She went on to become one of the most highly respected Martial Arts instructors in the country. Grandmaster Kathy as she was known to her martial arts family, was an 8th Dan Black Belt, and one of the highest-ranking women in the world. She had studied martial arts for over 60 years. Grandmaster Kathy Munoz taught martial arts in Wimberley, Texas, during the late 90s and still maintains a dedicated following of students and close friends in the community.
A funeral Mass in Hot Springs, Arkansas, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, June 12, 2017, at St. Mary of the Springs Catholic Church with a reception to follow immediately after, at the church reception hall. There will be a visitation and rosary at Roller-Ballard Funeral Home in Benton, Arkansas, on Sunday, June 11, from 5-7 p.m. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Myong’s life. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/ ballard.
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CABOT — Nancy Marion Hillman, age 70, of Cabot, passed away on June 8, 2017. She was born in Cash, Arkansas, on February 28, 1947.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Marion Anderson, and two brothers, William and James Anderson. Nancy is survived by her husband, Timothy; two sons, Keith (Karen) Lody and Clifton (Margie) Pope; four grandchildren, Michael, Kara, Nicholas, and Brittany; and one great-granddaughter, Ayah.
Cremation arrangements entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service, Jacksonville, 501-982-3400. www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com.
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DES ARC — Cleborn R. Smith, 78, of Des Arc died Wednesday. Survivors include his wife, Mary; three daughters, Janice Sears, Tressia Henard, Phyllis Pirtle; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one brother. Visitation is 1-2 p.m. Sunday at Garth Funeral Home Chapel with funeral services immediately following at 2 p.m. www.garthfuneralhome. com.
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DOVER — Fannie Reeves, 82, of Dover, passed away Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at her home. Funeral Service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 10, 2017, at Humphrey Chapel. Burial will be at Rest Haven Memorial Park in Russellville by Humphrey Funeral Service. Internet obituary and online guest book are available at www.humphreyfuneral.com.
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FORDYCE — Melinda Jo Evans Yossett, 54, of Fordyce died Thursday, June 8, 2017. Visitation: Saturday, June 10, 2017, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce with services at 2 p.m. Burial at Evans Cemetery. Arrangements are by Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce. Online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.net.
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GLENWOOD — Ray Lee Owens passed away peacefully at his home in Glenwood, Arkansas, on Monday, June 5, 2017. A private memorial service will be held by his family. Condolences may be sent in care of Rick Owens, PO Box 46, Glenwood, Ark. 71943. Cremation arrangements entrusted to Arkansas Cremation. www.ArkansasCremation.com.
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HASKELL — Glenda B. Blair, age 71, of Haskell, passed away Thursday, June 8, 2017. She was born February 25, 1946, in Benton, Arkansas. Glenda was a nurse’s aide at the Benton Services Center.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Helen Hughes; son, Daniel Blair; daughter, Wanda Morgan; brother, Ervin Hughes; and four sisters, Francis Wilkerson, Mary Caple, Reba Calhoun and Teresa Mize. She is survived by her husband, Allen (Buddy) Blair of Haskell; two daughters, Loretta Burrus and husband Jeff of Traskwood and Patricia Suarez of Haskell; daughter-in-law, Michelle Blair of Benton; two brothers, Carl Hughes of Hot Springs and Raymond Hughes, Jr. and wife Donna of Alexander; eleven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 11, at Ashby Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 12, at Fairplay Cemetery. On-line guest book at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.
–––––❖––––– HOPE — Funeral for Linda Scott, 2 p.m. Sunday, June 11, 2017, at Brazzel/Oakcrest Funeral Home with Bro. Nathaniel Crane officiating. Burial, New Hope Cemetery, Patmos, Arkansas. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 10, 2017, Brazzel/Oakcrest The Funeral Home, 1001 South Main St., Hope, Ark. Arrangements,
Brazzel/Oakcrest The Funeral Home. Complete obituary: www.brazzelfuneralhomes. com.
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HOT SPRINGS — Mary Elizabeth Byers Hornbeck, 88, of Hot Springs, Ark., passed away June 8, 2017. She was born May 28, 1929, in Crocketts Bluff, Ark., to Benjamin Franklin and Mary Alice Inman Byers.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, C.W. Hornbeck; and two brothers, Willard and Charles Byers. She is survived by her sons and their wives, Larry Hornbeck and Melinda of Texarkana, Texas, and Randy Hornbeck and Jo of Hot Springs, Ark.; six grandchildren Amanda Hornbeck, Elizabeth Hornbeck, Gary Hornbeck (Claudia), Si Hornbeck (Anna), Emily Loy (Brad), and Benjamin Hornbeck (Abbey); four great-grandchildren Ethan and Eli Hornbeck and Skylen and Evie Loy; and one sister Willie Mae Oliver of Corpus Christi, Texas.
Mary lived, loved, and put her faith in Jesus. She loved spending time in her garden and also with her family. Her family is appreciative for the wonderful givers at Lake Hamilton Health and Rehab and the doctors and nurses at Arkansas Hospice.
Funeral services will be 3 p.m. June 11 at Essex Funeral Home with visitation beginning at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in DeWitt Cemetery. www.essexfuneralhome.com.
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LONDON — Larry Eugene Watt, age 71, of London, Ark., passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at Baptist Health Medical Center. Funeral services at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at Jones Funeral Home Chapel under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Crossett, Ark. (www.jonesservice.com).
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PINE BLUFF — Jacqueline Ann “Jackie” Glover, 79, of Pine Bluff, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 8, 2017. She was born in Pine Bluff on June 6, 1938, to the late Jack George and Edna Goodson George. Services will be held on Monday, June 12, at 2 p.m. at Watson Chapel Baptist Church with pastors Todd Howard and ML Faler officiating. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. at the church. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Online condolences: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.
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PINE BLUFF — Mary Easter Vaughn, 72, of Pine Bluff, died June 8, 2017, born on, June 22, 1944. Cremation arrangements entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service, Jacksonville, Arkansas. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook can be found at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com.
–––––❖––––– WARREN — Luellar Elizabeth Hunter Perry, age 69, of Warren, Ark., died Thursday, June 8, in Conway, Ark. Arrangements were by Frazer’s Funeral Home. Online guest register www.frazerfuneralhome.com.
–––––❖––––– WYNNE — Debbie K. Raymond, 58, of Wynne died on Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Wynne. Graveside services are 10 a.m. Monday, June 12, 2017, at Vanndale Cemetery. Visitation is 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 11, 2017, at Thompson-Wilson Wynne Funeral Home.
Out-of-state
HOUSTON, Texas — Lois Carrah Tarpley Dunham Forsythe, a pianist who taught lessons for many years in the Pine Bluff School District and surrounding areas, died peacefully surrounded by her children, in Houston, Texas, on May 29, 2017. She was 97.
Known for her sensitive style and expression and her ability to play any request from classical to country, she was regarded as one of the finest organists and pianists ever to live in Pine Bluff. “Lois had a greater repertoire of piano pieces than anyone else in Arkansas,” said her longtime friend, the late Louise McCown.
Lois began her love of the piano at a very young age. Her first cousin, the late Rev. Bruce Hays Price, D.D., wrote in a letter to her, “I recall when you were about five years old, you came home from church and went to the piano and picked out the notes you had heard.” By the time she was nine years old, Lois was pianist at her mother’s church every Sunday morning. At age 11 she began classical training with Dr. Marcelline Giroir in Pine Bluff, and from there her prolific musical career began. By 1945 Lois was a fulltime piano teacher and assistant organist with Edgar Ammons at Trinity Episcopal Church.
Lois Carrah Tarpley was born in Sweet Home, Arkansas, on February 16, 1920, and moved to Pine Bluff with her family in 1921. She was the daughter of Thomas A. Tarpley and Sarah McCracken Cloar Tarpley. Her father was a telegraph operator for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad. He played violin at church and the bugle in the Spanish-American War. Her mother was a homemaker and devoted member of Second Baptist Church in Pine Bluff.
Lois had two sisters – Ava Cloar Johnson and Margaret Tarpley Garner; four brothers – Ralph Cloar, Lee Cloar, Clyde Cloar, and Elmer Tarpley.
Although primarily known as a teacher, Lois also played the piano in local dance bands, popular radio stations, country clubs, and beauty pageants. Whatever the venue, Lois could do it and was always called upon to fit the bill. She was interested – super interested – in all music; it was her life. Her student piano recitals were always fabulous shows, and someone once said that she should sell tickets for reserved seating. Anyone who has ever experienced the sheer joy of learning from one great teacher will know the value of her remarkable talent.
Lois moved to Texas in 1969 where she continued teaching piano and organ lessons, and began playing in dinner restaurants for the next thirty years. It was at the Old San Francisco Steak House in Houston where she met Alan Richard Forsythe. They were later married.
Her only son, William Louis Dunham Jr., died in 2012. She is survived by her children: Carrah Lee, Margaret Gwyn, Judith Ann, and Jane Elizabeth; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Beloved by all, her kindness, intelligence, humor, and loyalty will be greatly missed by a rich legacy of family and friends across the nation.
A Memorial Service will be held in her home state of Arkansas later in the fall, when the trees are turning and the leaves are falling, marking not an ending but a new beginning of yet another season of this Life on Earth. Rest in Peace, Mama.