Pulaski County

JOY M. BERGGREN of Little Rock passed away peacefully at home on June 14, 2017. She was born December 5, 1930 in Oelwein, Iowa, to Viola and Herman Zacharias. In her earlier years, she attended the University of Northern Iowa. She was the business administrator for First Christian Church in Little Rock, Ark.

She was an active church member of Faith Lutheran Church in Little Rock. She enjoyed spending time with family, playing bridge with her friends, reading, and shopping. She also enjoyed volunteering at her church during certain events. Joy was a loving person who always had open arms and a smile on her face. She will be missed dearly by her family and friends but not forgotten.

Joy was preceded in death by her husband, Marlin L. Berggren; parents, Viola and Herman Zacharias; and her three siblings: Martin Zacharias, Harrison Zacharias, and Violet Neve. She is survived by her three sons: John C. Berggren and his wife Linda Berggren, Chris R. Berggren, and Neal E. Berggren; granddaughters, Audrey A. Green and Karley K. Young; great- grandchildren, Zoey M. Green and Corbin E. Green; and step- grandchildren, Sam and Dina Jones.

The funeral service will be at 11 a. m. Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at Faith Lutheran Church, 7525 W. Markham Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72205, ( 501) 666- 0850. Burial will follow at Little Rock National Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10 a. m. before the service. Arrangements are in the care of Roller- Drummond Funeral Home, ( 501) 455- 4800. Online guestbook: www. rollerfuneralhomes. com/ drummond.

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JOHN EDD “BOONE” CARLON, 82, of Jacksonville died Sunday, June 18. Funeral services will be 2 p. m. Thursday, June 22, at Harris Chapel. Burial will be at Old Hickory Cemetery by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Online guestbook: www.harrisfuneralhomes.net.

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CHARLES ( CHUCK) CLIFTON SR., 90, of Little Rock, passed away June 18, 2017. Born March 5, 1927 in Horn Lake, Mississippi, to Haden and Dora Mayfield Clifton. Charles graduated from Memphis State University in 1956. He was a Real Estate broker and home builder for 55 years.

He is preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Shirley Clifton. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Cecilia Clifton; son, Charles Clifton Jr.; three daughters, Charlotte Paape ( Ralph); Cheryl Clifton; and Carol Pierce ( Marvin); eight grandchildren; 10 great- grandchildren; and one great- great- grandchild on the way.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, June 21, 2017 from 6- 8 p. m., at Pinecrest Funeral Home, 7401 Hwy. 5 N, Alexander, Arkansas 72002. Funeral services will be Thursday, June 22, 2017, at 10 a. m. Burial will follow at Forest Hills Memorial Park.

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JAMES CLYDE ELLIS, age 69, of Jacksonville, Arkansas passed away June 16, 2017. He was born on November 21, 1947 to Clyde and Marcelene Ellis. He is survived by his son, James P. Ellis. Cremation arrangements entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service, Jacksonville, Arkansas. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com.

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MELODY BLAIR ERNST, 54, Maumelle, Arkansas. Inflammatory Breast Cancer might have taken her body early Saturday morning but it certainly did not take her soul, spirit or love. Born May 29, 1963 in Oklahoma City, she had many wonderful times there with her sisters and cousins before moving to Mountain Home, Arkansas in the 8th grade to live with her grandparents, Melton and Rachel Beavers. As a Bomber she starred on the dance team that traveled the state winning many awards. In 1981 she attended the University of Arkansas where she met her lifelong friend Dayna ( Ryles) McGuire at Pomfret Hall and shortly thereafter her future husband at the Gazebo Club — where they danced the night away. After a year at college, Melody moved back to Mountain Home and got her cosmetologist license and became a hair stylist. The separation proved too much for Brent to bear and so on a visit to Fayetteville ( January 18, 1983) to celebrated Brent’s grandparent’s 50th wedding anniversary at the Hilton on the square, he popped the question in the elevator and she said “yes!” They wed on June 23, 1984 and settled in Fayetteville where she was a hair stylist and Brent worked to finish his degree at the U of A- finally! She followed Brent in his career in the paint business to Baton Rouge, Louisiana — where she managed a hair salon at JC Penney’s — then to Houma, Louisiana- where she got her cosmetology instructor’s license — then back to Baton Rouge where she was an instructor at Lockworks. In January of 1990, they found out that not only was Brent being transferred back to Fayetteville but Melody was pregnant! On September 22, 1990 the joy of their lives came into the world — Megan Elaine Ernst. As a working mom, Melody made the decision to go back to school and get her teaching degree. She flourished as a nontraditional student and graduated with honors from the University of Arkansas in May of 1995. She went on to teach elementary school in Bentonville and Elkins before her husband once again uprooted her to Central Arkansas where they settled in Maumelle. After a semester at the Anthony School, she went to work for the Little Rock School District ( Washington Magnet, Fulbright, Geyer Springs, and Roberts Elementary schools), where she finished her teaching career. She cherished and loved her students and they unanimously and overwhelmingly loved her. We have volumes of albums with pictures and notes and drawings from her students over the years. She made a lot of lifelong friends on her life journey. Along with Dayna McGuire ( who married a fellow Bomber — Tim) she developed a wonderful and fun relationship with a group of “girls” in Maumelle whose company she cherished. Tommi Blevins, Shellie Moore, Julie Pierce, Jana Chiolino, Stephanie Grooms, Sarah Cain, Kimberly Jenkins, Wendy Bass, Kara Baumgartner and Peggy Carson all made her life so much richer and definitely funner! Melody was the most photogenic person of all time. She was notorious for editing any picture ever taken of her, when she really didn’t have to worry about it. Melody did everything on her own terms — she lived and loved life her way.

Left to cherish her wonderful memory is her lucky husband, Brent,; her loving daughter, Megan; sisters, Geni Strouse ( Chris), Mandy Green ( Mike), and Robyn Blair ( Patti Jo); brother, Kevin Ray ( Twana); parents, Jim and Sandy Blair and Becky and Jim Marcum; mother and father- in- law, Fred and Sarah Ernst; brother- in- law, Blair and his wife Sarah; four nieces, seven nephews, several cousins, best friend Dayna and a world full of friends and Smokey.

The family would like to thank the remarkable people at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Newnan, Georgia. Dr. Ricardo Alvarez did a great job as her medical oncologist. And very special thanks to the people at Baptist Hospital — especially the 9th floor team.

And a very special thanks to her cousin Joe Tom Fisher of San Antonio, who came up to help and visit with her at the hospital her last two days. Sharing childhood memories from Oklahoma City when they were growing up comforted her more than any drug ever could.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like a donation to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation in honor of Melody. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday June 24, 2017 at 12 noon at First United Methodist Church in Maumelle, Ark. Online Guestbook available at www. rollerfuneralhomes. com/ conway.

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GUNER ERUREN, age 85, passed away on June 19, 2017. He was born February 20, 1932 to Halide Belkis and Refik Eruren in Ankara, Turkey. He had an exciting and versatile youth, including stints in the Army, law school and medical school before traveling to the United States in 1957 to complete his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.

It was in Columbia, Mo., where Guner was attending the University of Missouri, that he met the love of his life, Carol Mann Gannaway Eruren. They married in 1961 and for more than 51 years shared a life of travel and adventure. They lived in Jefferson City, Mo., and Seattle, Wash., before moving back to Little Rock, Carol’s hometown.

It was in Little Rock that Guner settled into his career, joining Cromwell Architects Engineers in 1972. He was head of the structural engineering department from 1980 until his retirement in 1995. His work leading that department was one of his proudest accomplishments and he was involved in working on hundreds of buildings around the United States and world. Some of the major projects he was involved on in Little Rock include: the Capitol Hotel renovations, Heifer International, CALS Main Branch, Pulaski County Jail, ANG Helicopter Hangar at Camp Robinson, Museum Center, Victory Building and the Stephens Spine Center at UAMS.

Guner returned to Cromwell part time after retirement under the agreement that he wouldn’t head up any projects or be held to any deadlines. The younger engineers that he worked with called working with him “Guner’s Boot Camp,” since he drilled them with questions on all of their calculations and decisions, which made them better engineers. He worked until 2007.

In addition to his career, Guner cared deeply about his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 51 years, Carol Mann, in 2013, as well as his “adopted brother” Steve Lehotzky. He is survived by his son Jon Eruren ( Heather) of Little Rock; daughter Karen Erren ( Eduardo Marin) of Palm Beach, Fla.; granddaughters, Briana Eruren of Fayetteville, Paige Pirtle of Little Rock and Megan Pirtle of New York.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3 p. m., Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Ruebel Funeral Home Chapel in Little Rock, with a reception following at 4: 30 p. m. at Guner’s home. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

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BETTY DIANE GAMMILL, 72 of Little Rock, passed away June 18, 2017. She was born on September 4, 1944 to Dan and Faye Gammill in Camden, Arkansas.

She is preceded in death by her sister, Mary Gammill Harrison; her husband, Thomas Lester Gammill; her daughter, Sarah Lynn Gammill; and her parents. She is survived by her son, Dan ( Kim) Gammill; and grandchildren, Amanda Gammill, Elizabeth Gammill, and Thomas Gammill.

Graveside services will be held at Forest Hills Memorial Park on Friday, June 23, 2017 at 10 a. m. An online guestbook is available at www. griffinleggetthealeyroth. com.

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RICHARD T. KNIGHT, 64, of Sherwood died on Thursday, June 15, 2017. He was born in Ft. Smith, Arkansas to parents, Travis and Nan Knight, who preceded him in death along with brother, David Rodenberg. He is survived by his loving sisters, Linda ( Rick) Lane and Lisa ( Charles) Horst; two nieces, a nephew and four great- nephews along with a host of family and friends.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Sherwood Animal Shelter, 6500 North Hills Blvd., No. Little Rock, Ark. 72116. A memorial service will be held at 10 a. m. on Wednesday, June 21st in the Gazebo at Rest Hills Memorial Park, 7724 Landers Rd., North Little Rock, Ark. 72117. www.griffinleggettresthills.com.

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RICKIE A. VERSER, 64, of North Little Rock passed June 19, 2017. He was born November 9, 1952 in Searcy. Memorial services will be Saturday, June 24 at 2 p. m. at the North Pulaski Baptist Association, 4500 North Hills Blvd., NLR. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service in Jacksonville. Online guestbook, www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com.