Arkansas
AUBREY — James Williams, 69, of Aubrey, Arkansas, passed away May 3, 2018. Graveside services will be held May 9, 2018, at 1 p.m. at Oak Grove Cemetery in Moro, Arkansas. Visitation will be held May 8, 2018, from 6-8 p.m. at Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in Marianna. Family and friends may view and sign online guestbook www. rollerfuneralhomes.com/Marianna.
–––––❖––––– BATESVILLE — Charline Thomas Bice, 87, of Batesville, Arkansas, passed away on Saturday, May 5, 2018. She was born in the town of Sulphur Rock, Arkansas, on August 26, 1930, to Charlie Calvin Thomas and Ilar Sneed Thomas. She was a devoted military wife, traveling the world over supporting her husband’s military career. Afterwards, she continued her career as a school teacher in the Batesville School District from which she retired in 2004 after serving her school and community for 24 years.
She is survived by her son, C. Don Bice, MD of Little Rock, Arkansas; daughter-in-law, Eva Ferguson of Maumelle, Arkansas; granddaughter, Courtney Robinson of Broomfield, Colorado; and niece, Diane Hunter Wood of Fort Smith, Arkansas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews in her extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don L. Fitch Bice, Col. USAF Retired 1978; sisters, Nettie Hunter, Vela Wyatt, Lucille Vickers; brother, Earl Thomas, and nephews, Charles and Clyde Vickers.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Southside Church of Christ, 2102 Batesville Blvd., Batesville, Ark. 72501 or the charity of your choice. Pallbearers are Travis Bice, James Odell, Terry E. Bice, Doug Bice, Thomas Wood, and Dennis Wood.
Funeral Services will be conducted by Brother Bill Cline on Wednesday, May 9 at 11 a.m. at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home, 510 E. College Avenue in Batesville preceded by visitation at 10 a.m. Burial will follow the service at Oaklawn Cemetery. www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/batesville.
–––––❖––––– BENTON — Willie Dixson, age 71, of Benton, passed away Sunday, May 6, 2018. He was born May 2, 1947. Graveside Service will be Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Francois Cemetery. Arrangements by Regency Funeral Home. Sign the guest book at regencyfuneralhome.com.
–––––❖––––– BENTON — Linda Speer, 71, Benton, died Saturday. She was born on March 13, 1947. Survivors, son, John Speer, and daughter, Kathryn Whittamore. Chapel services, Ashbys, 10 a.m. Wednesday. Burial, private, Meadowbrook Cemetery in Beebe. Visitation, Ashbys, Tuesday, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. On line guestbook at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.
–––––❖––––– BENTON — William “Bill” Taylor of Benton, formerly of Conway, met his Lord May 5, 2018. A memorial celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Central Baptist Church in Conway. Arrangements provided by Dial and Dudley Funeral Home in Bryant. To sign online guest book visit www.dialanddudleyfuneralhome.com.
–––––❖––––– BRYANT — Floyd L. Taylor, 75, of Bryant, passed away May 6, 2018. He was born March 19, 1943, in Bauxite to Floyd Jackson and Lily Taylor. He was an avid deer and turkey hunter and loved to watch the Nascar races.
He is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, June Taylor; son, Carl (Teresa) Taylor; two sisters, Nettie Hawley and Ann Allison; and one grandchild, Bryce Taylor.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, May 9, 2018, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Pinecrest Funeral Home. Services will be Thursday, May 10, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Pinecrest Funeral Home followed by burial at Pinecrest Memorial Park. To sign the online guestbook go to www. pinecrestmemorialpark.com.
–––––❖––––– CAMDEN — John Spencer Green, 19, of Camden, Ark., died in Little Rock on Sunday,
May 6, 2018, after a 10-month battle with esophageal cancer. He was a graduate of Camden Fairview High School and was a member of the Thrive
Church in Camden.
Spencer is preceded in death by his grandmother, Johnette Green, great-grandparents, John and Imogene Christian and Robert and Eleanor Green. He is survived by his mother, Susan Green, his grandfather, Bill Green, and his uncle Mike Green, all of Camden. He is also survived by great uncles and aunts, Gary and Marilyn Hancock of Sulphur Springs, Texas, and Don and Judy Epperson of Texarkana, Texas, special friends, Emily Davis and Anthony Colletti, and numerous cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be Thursday, May 10, 2018, at 2 p.m. at Cullendale First Baptist Church with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery in Camden. Noah Hill, David Walthall and Anthony Colletti will officiate. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at Proctor Funeral Home. Spencer enjoyed WWE Wrestling, hanging out with friends and pranking his Mom. His family asks that you come casual because Spencer did not like to dress up.
A special thank you to Dr. Jamie Burton and staff and Dr. Greg Engstrom and staff for caring for Spencer. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to 13th Judicial District-Casa North, P.O. Box 946, Fordyce, Ark. 71742. To sign the online guest register, visit www. proctorfuneralhome.com.
–––––❖––––– CROSSETT — Robert “Bill” Ray, 64, of Crossett, died May 5. Celebration of Life Service 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 8th at First Baptist Church of Crossett, 701 Main St. Visitation 12-2 p.m. prior to the service. For full obituary go to meddersfuneralhome.com or call (870) 364-6171. “Celebrating Life.”
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DES ARC — James Rannie Crafford, 75, of Des Arc, died Friday. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Linda Faye, one daughter, Tammy Crafford, three grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, three sisters and two brothers. Memorial services are 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at Garth Funeral Home in Des Arc. www.garthfuneralhome.com.
–––––❖––––– GIFFORD — Yvette “Buffy” Susan Culverson, 51, of Gifford, passed away Friday, May 4, 2018, in Malvern, Arkansas. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at 5 p.m. with a Memorial Service to follow at 6 p.m. at Regency Funeral Home. Cremation arrangements by Regency Funeral Home. Sign the guest book at regencyfuneralhome.com.
––––– ––––– HEBER SPRINGS — Patse Joy Rector, 86, was born to John and Lillian Robbins Baker on November 10, 1931, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and passed away in Heber Springs on May 7, 2018. When Patse was very young, her father died. Her Mother later remarried to Ford Hicks, who Patse remembered and loved in her growing up years as her Father.
Mapat, as she was lovingly called, was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Heber Springs. She loved playing bridge, flowers and gardening, watching birds, and she was a feisty lady.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 56 years, Sam B. Rector. She is survived by a son, Sam B. Rector Jr., of Boston, daughter Joy Rector Phifer (Tommy) of Fairfield Bay, two grandchildren, Ginger O’Gorman (Jeremy) Kimberly Phifer, three grandchildren, Hunter and Cooper Schalchlin, Lillian Ray Richey, other relatives and many friends.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Heber Springs on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Funeral Services will begin at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Cleburne County Memorial Gardens. For online guest book, www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.
–––––❖––––– HOPE — Graveside service for Mrs. Vonceil Yocom will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Hope, with Bro. Chris Vines officiating. Memorials can be made to Miller McNeil Woodruff Foundation, 6518 S. Timber Ridge Drive, Rogers, Ark. 72758. Arrangements are with Brazzel/ Oakcrest The Funeral Home of Hope, Eddie Brazzel, Director. Online registry: www.brazzelfuneralhomes.com.
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HOT SPRINGS — Darrell Van Smith of Hot Springs, Ark., died May 6, 2018, after a long fight with cancer. He is survived by Nancy, his loving wife of nearly 55 years, his sons, Scott
Smith and Grant (Amanda) Smith, granddaughter, Gwyneth Smith, his mother,
Mildred Smith, brother, Winston Smith, sister, Marge Grisham, and large extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, Van Smith.
Darrell was born Dec. 5, 1938, to Van and Mildred Smith. He grew up in Hot Springs and was a 1956 graduate of Lakeside High. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hendrix in 1960. He went on to earn a master’s degree in theology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and pursued post-graduate work at the Institute of Religion at the Texas Medical Center in Houston.
After six years of serving the United Methodist Church as a Minister to congregations in White Hall, Eudora, and Camden, he and Nancy moved back to Hot Springs. Here, he was the Director of Economic Planning for the West Central District of Arkansas Planning & Development, writing the first grants that established Garland County Community College, Mid-America Park, and Mid-America Museum. Darrell also wrote the proposal to the Governor’s Office on Aging establishing the Area Agency on Aging of West Central Arkansas and then led as Executive Director for 25 years. Throughout his tenured career at the AAA, he was honored with many awards and his calling to serve the elderly was fully realized.
Darrell was known as an avid hunter and fisherman, amateur photographer, music enthusiast, and Oaklawn Racing fan. He passed on his outdoor passions to his sons, leading them to build a cabin in the Fourche Valley. His interest in archaeology and Native American artifacts flourished after discovering many unique artifacts on their farm.
Of all his many life accomplishments, his proudest is his family. He met Nancy Edwards in Camden in 1962 while working as an Associate Pastor at the First United Methodist Church before attending SMU. They married on June 23rd, 1963. She has been his partner in life, work, and travel. Together, they traveled to six continents, 20 countries, and nearly all 50 states. Some of the highlights included the Great Barrier Reef, New Zealand, and Indonesia. His sons have been a source of pride, but his granddaughter has been his greatest joy.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Klipsch Amphitheater at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs on Friday May 11th at 1:30 p.m. The family will receive guests following the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Klipsch Amphitheater. Arrangements are with Hot Springs Funeral Home. Online condolences at www.hotspringsfh.com.
–––––❖––––– LACEY COMMUNITY — Shelby Jean “Jeane” Horn Hyatt, age 81, of the Lacey community, passed away Saturday, May 5, 2018 at Belleview Estates Nursing and Rehab in Monticello. She was born October 2, 1936 in the Lacey community in Drew County, Ark. A Private Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Online guestbook www. stephensondearman.com.
–––––❖––––– LONSDALE — Richard “Dick” Koller, 81, of Lonsdale passed away Sunday, May 6,
2018. He was born January 5,
1937 in Philadelphia, PA to the late Charles and Madelene Koller.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, John
(Jack); his first wife of 16 years, Barbara; second wife of 30 years, Joyce; and sons, Todd David and Toby Tyler.
Survivors include two daughters, Tracie (Lawrence) and Trina (Lance); grandchildren, David (Ann), Todd, Lacie (Brad), Elissa, Brittany (Zac), Amber (Ryan), Ian, Quinn, Tessa, and Emma; great-grandchildren, Brennen, Kamryn, Brailyn, TJ, Kole, Jaeden, Zoie, Willa Grace, Kade, Kannon, and Breckon; brother, Charles (Sharon); and fiancee, Carolyn Robbins.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at Roller-Ballard Funeral Home (315-4047) with J.R. Lee officiating. Entombment to follow at Forest Hills Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday evening, May 8, at the funeral home.
–––––❖––––– MARBLE FALLS — Sean Neff, 44, formerly of Russellville, died May 4, at home in Marble Falls. Private inurnment at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla. In lieu of flowers, donations made to the Wounded Warrior Foundation or Disabled American Veterans of Arkansas. Arrangements by Coffman Funeral Home, Harrison, on-line condolences, www.coffmanfh.com.
–––––❖––––– McCRORY — Mable Dean “Deannie” Stoner Swanson, 88, of McCrory died Friday. Visitation 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday with 2 p.m. funeral services on Wednesday at Thompson-Wilson McCrory Funeral Home Chapel. Interment, Fakes Chapel Cemetery. Survivors, two sons, one daughter, two sisters, one sister-in-law, 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren. thompsonwilsonfh.com 870-731-2551.
––––– ––––– MELBOURNE — Beth Battles Cooper, 35, died ❖ May 6. Visitation and funeral service: Tuesday, May 8 at Belview Baptist Church in Melbourne. Visitation begins at noon. Funeral service begins at 2 p.m. Arrangements by Eddie’s Family Funeral Home. Survivors: Blake Cooper (husband), Lane Cooper, Seth Cooper (sons), Benny & Patricia Battles (parents).
–––––❖––––– MENA — Judy Caroline Rhodes, age 65, of Mena, Arkansas passed away Saturday, May 5, 2018 in Mena. Graveside service will be Friday, May 11, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Witherspoon Cemetery in Vandervoort, Arkansas with Brother Donnie Jewell officiating under the direction of the Beasley Wood Funeral Home of Mena.
––––– ––––– MORRILTON — Bobbie Lou McCoy Huffman, age 79, of Morrilton, Arkansas, died Monday, May 7, 2018. Funeral services: 2 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at Harris Chapel with Rev. Jimmy Doyle Huffman officiating. Burial at Plummerville Cemetery by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton. Visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Online Guestbook: www.harrisfuneralhomes. net.
–––––❖––––– MOSCOW — Donald Gene Blankenship, 74, of Moscow, Arkansas, passed away Sunday, May 6, 2018 at Davis Life Care Center. He was born February 25, 1944 in Pine Bluff, son of the late William P. Blankenship Sr. and Jane Newton Blankenship.
Don was reared and received his early education in Linwood, graduating from Pine Bluff High School in 1962. He attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Don finished college at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Degree.
He served from 1967-1968 on the Aircraft Carrier USS-Ticonderoga, CVA-14, V-2 Division near the coast of Vietnam. He was honorably discharged from the United States Navy Reserve in August 1972.
Survivors include two brothers, William P. “Bill” Blankenship, Jr. (Sharon) of Pine Bluff and Ronald Blankenship (Joy) of Pine Bluff; sister, Jan Harris (John) of Nacogdoches, Texas; nephews, William Lee Blankenship of Pine Bluff, Andrew Bond Blankenship (Ginny) of Little Rock, Benjamin Ramsay Blankenship (Betsy) of Little Rock and John William “Bill” Harris (Heather) of Douglas, Texas; nieces, Mary Elizabeth Walter (Alan) of Paragould, Kimberly Kay Sardin (Bill) of Hot Springs, Mary Jane McClendon (Levi) of Burke, Texas and Kate Barlow (Eric) of Little Rock.
Don was especially grateful for the friendship and help of Bobby Wyatt and Jack Jones. He will be in state Tuesday evening from 5-7 p.m. at Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Directors. A graveside service will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at Grady Cemetery. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.
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OLA — John Young, 68, of Ola, passed away, Sunday, May 6, in Little Rock. Funeral Service will be 2 p.m., Thursday, May 10, at Jesus Name Church. Burial at Nimrod Cemetery in Nimrod by Humphrey Funeral Service. Visitation is an hour before service, at the church. Full obituary is available at www. humphreyfuneral.com.
–––––❖––––– PLUMERVILLE — Bill Mitchell, 89, of Plumerville, born September 25, 1928, passed May 4, 2018. Survivors include: wife: Delores, sons: Billy Mitchell, Mark Deaton, daughters: Joyce Willis, Mary Mitchell, Phyllis Muller, and Lisa Trafford, sisters: Marta Stotts and Phyllis Mitchell, 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Services: announced at a later date. www. rosewoodcremation.com.
–––––❖––––– RUSSELLVILLE — Evelyn Inez Bunton, 68, of Russellville died Saturday. The graveside service will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at New Bethel Cemetery near Plainview and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. Visitation will be 2-3 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home. Online obituary/guestbook available at www.shinnfuneral.com.
–––––❖––––– RUSSELLVILLE — Dr. Shelby A. Heflin, age 69, of Russellville, died Sunday, May 6,
2018. He was born on September 10, 1948, in Russellville to Houston Dee
Heflin Jr., and
Reba Teal Shirey.
Dr. Heflin served during the Vietnam era in the
United States
Army and years later continued his service in the National Guard, totaling over 30 years. He had a thriving dental practice in Russellville for 25 years until his retirement. He was an avid outdoorsman who greatly enjoyed a myriad of fishing trips with his great group of family and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Deborah Heflin. Survivors include his wife of almost 50 years, Wanda Heflin of Russellville; a son and daughter-in-law, Shelby Jr., and Kelli Heflin of Fayetteville; a daughter, Lisa Heflin of Rogers; two brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Mike and Teresa Wilkins of Russellville, and Laura and Bill Speer of Fayetteville; and a granddaughter, Morgan Heflin of Fayetteville.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 5 to 6 p.m., at the funeral home. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at Brearley Cemetery in Dardanelle with Pastor Gary Harvey officiating, and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. Memorials may be made to Bost Inc., P.O. Box 11495, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72917.
Honorary pallbearers are Milton Teeter, Robert Roberts, Glyn Turnipseed, Robert Mason, and Maxie Mathis. The online obituary and guestbook are available at www. shinnfuneral.com.
–––––❖––––– SEARCY — Jimmy Dale Waldrup, 48, of Searcy, Arkansas passed away on April 26, 2018. Graveside Services on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 10 a.m. at White County Memorial Gardens in Searcy. Entombment to follow. For online guest book www.rollerfuneral homes. com.
–––––❖––––– SHERIDAN — Robert Earl “Bobby” Jernigan, 76, of Sheridan formerly of Pine Bluff and Hot Springs, died, Sunday, May 6, 2018. Graveside services will be Wednesday May 9th, two o’clock in the afternoon at Lee Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at Fuller Hale South Funeral Services. Online condolences: FullerFunerals.com.
–––––❖––––– SNYDER — James Foster Squier Sr., 63, of Snyder (Ashley County) passed away Saturday at his home. He was born February 21, 1955 in Easton, Maryland to the late Rex Daniel Sr. and Anna Mae Melvin Squier. He was a retired mechanic, working on the new Greenville Bridge and also worked for ten and a half years rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.
James was also preceded in death by a son, Bobby Rice, a grandson, Derek Micheal Nichols and three sisters, Dorothy Zebrowski, Doris Sands and Romayne Hallman. Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Swann of Snyder, two sons, James Foster Squier Jr. (Crystal) and Joseph Daniel (J.D.) Squier (Joanne) both of Dover, Del.; two daughters, Barbara Ann Reynolds of Dover, Del., and Carolina Nichols (Craig) of Snyder; four brothers, Rexford Squier Jr. (Bootsy) of Goldsboro, Md., Robert Squier (Elaine) and Ronnie Squier (Patricia) all of Felton, Del., Benny Squier (Alfred) of Denton, Md. and four sisters, Helen Boyer of Elkton, Md., Betty Ann Holtz-Timmerman (Rand) of Syracuse, N.Y., Kathryn Phillips of Ft. Myers, Fla., and Eileen Naughton of Scranton, Pa. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Tyler Lee Dunning, Sage Reynolds, Kaleb Nichols, Lisa Michelle Squier, Joseph Lane Rice and Luke Squier.
Memorial Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at the Montrose Baptist Church in Montrose, with Bro. Larry Donaldson officiating. Arrangements by Griffin Funeral Service in Star City. Online obit www.griffinfuneralservice.net.
––––– ––––– WARD — Jill Elizabeth Minenna, 66, of Ward, passed away Saturday, May 5, 2018 at her home, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born December 27, 1951 on the Hamilton
Air Force Base in Hamilton, California to the late
Kenneth and Dorothy Pyle Greeley. She has found peace in her battle with that which could not be won, the suffering has ended. She may now continue being our Wife, our Mother, our Grandmother — our Angel. We will miss her infectious smile, her warm laughter, the beautiful cakes she baked and decorated, and the amazing Italian meals she made with love for her family. She will be forever loved and missed, and never forgotten.
Survivors include her husband of 43 years, David Minenna; son, Ian Minenna of Ward; daughter, Heather (Ted) Land of Little Rock; two granddaughters, and four sisters.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Thursday, May 10, 2018 at Thomas Funeral Service with Father Andy Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens, Beebe. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at the funeral home. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Service, 501941-7888. www.thomasfuneralservice.com.
––––– ––––– WARREN — Tony Leroy Mauldin Sr., age 68 of Warren, Ark. died Thursday, May 3rd at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock, Ark. Graveside services 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 9th at Oakland Cemetery by Frazer’s Funeral Home. Burial in Oakland Cemetery. Visitation: 9:30 a.m. till service time at Oakland. Online guestbook www.frazerfuneralhome.com.
–––––❖––––– WYNNE — Bonnie Williams, 82, of Wynne, died Sunday, May 6, 2018, at home. Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at Thompson-Wilson Wynne Funeral Home. Funeral services are 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at the funeral home. Interment in Harris Chapel Cemetery.