Pulaski County
BETTY M. BYARD of Jacksonville passed from this life on September 7, 2019. Betty was born on March 30, 1937 to the late Dossie and Ida Mae (Yarbrough) Rambo in North Little Rock, Ark. Betty is survived by two sons, John Byard (Sherry), and Charles W. “Willie” Byard (Lindy); grandchildren, James Byard, Jason Byard, Carissa Gullett, Jacob McGinnis; sister, Cecil Jean Short (G.W.); and several great-grandchildren, extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband and five siblings. Betty was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. The family extends a special thankyou to Village Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation and Arkansas Hospice. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at Smith-North Little Rock Funeral Home. Graveside service will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at the Cypress Valley Cemetery, Vilonia. Online guestbook at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
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INA CLAIRE DUGAN, 81, of North Little Rock, passed away on September 7, 2019. She died following a prolonged illness which began with throat cancer. Ina Claire was born to Ina Hart Dean and J.P. “Izzy” Dean on February 16, 1938 in North Little Rock, Ark. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Paul A. Dugan in 1981. She is survived by her brother Dr. John Paul Dean and his wife, Sue Hamilton Dean, her nephews, niece and their children: Dr. David Dean (Woodrow, Caroline), Dr. John Dean (Bliss Dean, Anna Bliss, Andrew), and Suzanna Bannerman (Dr. Drew Bannerman, Abby, Benjamin). As per her request there will be no service. Please sign the online guestbook at Smithfamilycares.com.
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MANJULABEN CHANDRAKANT PATEL. It is with heavy heart to inform everyone that Manjulaben Chandrakant Patel, 86, of Ode – Kehda District-Anand passed away in Little Rock on Sunday, September 8, 2019 at 1:30 a.m. She was born on September 14, 1932. She is survived by her sons, Ranjit C. Patel, Pankaj C. Patel and Dipesh C. Patel; grandchildren, Hemang, Arpit, Dhruvin and Ronek. Funeral services were held on 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 8, 2019 at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, AR 72205. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200. Manjulaben’s online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.
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NORMA RUTH “SUE” ISON WESTENHAVER entered Heaven on September 6, 2019, one day after turning 88 surrounded by family. She was born on September 5, 1931 to William Hamilton Ison and Ella Arvela Snow Ison. She married Marvin Bill “Wes” Westenhaver on November 19, 1949. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and her two brothers, William Harvey “Sonny” Ison and Fay Eugene “Bud” Ison.
Even though she battled Alzheimer’s the last seven years of her life, she still kept her sense of humor and her wonderful smile. Everyone that came to the house, left with a smile on their face. She was known for always having an open door for relatives and friends of all ages. There were many who came by at Christmas just to see what the theme of her Christmas tree was that year. She always had a large basket of candy for the kids that came by. She was known for her afghans that she loved to crochet and give away, as well as sewing and cross stitching. She also worked with her husband, at his grocery store, Wes’s Food Center in Sherwood from 1969 to 1996 until they retired and moved to Cabot, Ark.
She was always active in church, teaching Sunday School for sixth grade girls, missions, Bible Study Fellowship and also worked as the wedding director at Park Hill Baptist for many years. She was a role model for her family in always being there for others, taking care of her mother when she had Alzheimer’s and giving gifts for all the residents at the Arkansas Retirement Center on all of the holidays. She was a member of Park Hill Baptist Church and was a charter member of Gravel Ridge First Baptist Church.
She is survived by her daughters, Jana Westenhaver and Beth (Sam) Westenhaver Weatherford; two grandsons, Brad (Megan) Weatherford and Reid (Alicia) Weatherford; four great-grandchildren, Stella, Weston, Grace, and Garrett; four sisters-in-law, many cousins and friends. Special thanks to Chanel Dexter, Sheila Chenault, Cynthia Arum, and Arkansas Hospice for their loving care.
The funeral service will be Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 1 p.m., with visitation from noon1 p.m., at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home. Burial following at Gravel Ridge Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, please make donations to Park Hill Baptist Church, 201 East C. Ave., North Little Rock, Ark., 72116 or Arkansas Hospice. Please sign the online guestbook at Smithfamilycares.com.
and friends. Public viewing will be Wednesday, September 11, 2019, 1-4 p.m. Funeral service will be Thursday, September 12, 2019, 10 a.m. Both services at Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home, 1200 Chester St., LR (501) 3721305. Interment at AR. State Veterans Cemetery.
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CYNTHIA MIGNON RUSHING MASON was born Sept.26, 1933 in Little Rock, Ark. She attended schools in Little Rock and graduated from Ward Belmont High School in Nashville, Tenn. in 1951. After going to William Woods College in Fulton, Mo. for one year she transferred to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., majored in Social Welfare and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.
After graduating in 1955, she worked for the Veterans Hospital as an intern in social welfare, met the love of her life, Farrel Eugene Mason, and married him in 1956 and were happily married for almost 60 years. She spent most of her married life in Little Rock, Ark. and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She was a member of the Country Club of Little Rock, Junior League of Little Rock, Scattered Seeds Garden Club, and Zeta Tau Alpha lunch bunch. She was on the Salvation Army Board, Working Women’s Day Care Board and Contact Board counseling suicide and people of need. She volunteered at the Arts Center, The Territorial Capital, Easter Seal preschool program, and Association of Children with Learning Disabilities.
She was an extrovert, loved traveling to different places, meeting new people, and learning about new things. For example, while staying at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, Calif., she bought a 30 foot custom made Newell Coach motor home (license Arkansas Turtle) across the street on a whim with husband, Gene, and drove it back to Arkansas. Conceptually, they took pride in raising their children as individuals to follow their passions and encouraged this adventure.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Scott Rushing, husband, Gene Mason, son, John Mason, and daughter in-law ,Trisha Mason. She is survived by sons, Scott Mason and wife, Annie (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico), Jim Mason (Bellevue, Wash.), Patrick Mason (Little Rock) and wife of John, Kathy Mason (Little Rock). Her grandchildren are Matthew Mason, Ryan Mason and Jocelyn Mason.
Contributions should be made to AETN, P.O. Box 1250, Conway, Ark., 72033 and The Salvation Army, 1111 W Markham St., Little Rock, Ark. 72201.
A visitation is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral home on Thursday, September 12, 2019. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, September 13, 2019 at Calvary Cemetery at the corner of Charles Bussey and South Woodrow Rd. Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.reubelfuneralhome.com.
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ALBERT LUTHER MOON, 93, of Jacksonville passed away Saturday, September 7, 2019. He was born in Des Arc, Arkansas to Golden Clifford Moon and Alma Curtis on January 15, 1926. Al is survived by his daughters, Deborah Lea Werden (David) and Wanda Gail Fuller (Mike); five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Arrangements have been entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Online guestbook, www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com.
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NORMA JEAN WILLIAMS NEUKAM, 91, was born in El Dorado, Arkansas on March 26, 1928 to Carl K. and Grace Williams. She went to her heavenly home in the early hours of September 8, 2019 at Heartland Rehabilitation and Care Center in Benton. Prior to her death, she had been an active member of and Sunday School teacher at Rose Hill Church of the Nazarene in Little Rock, and active in Women’s Ministry over the years.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years, Harry Andrew Neukam, her mother and father, Grace and Carl Williams, her little brother, Noah and younger sister, Patricia Jane Anderson. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her brother, James Williams of The Woodlands, Texas, her daughter, Bonnie Bratton (George) of Little Rock, and her son, Richard Neukam (Cindy) of Wyoming; grandchildren, Nellie Eubanks (Craig), John Bratton (Stacie) and Chad Neukam; eight great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and a host of friends.
We want to thank the wonderful nurses and staff at Heartland Rehabilitation and Care Center for the excellent loving care they gave Mama as well as our appreciation to the nurses and staff of Arkansas Hospice. Everyone was so kind and thoughtful to Mama and to us. God bless you, one and all!
Visitation will be this evening, Tuesday, September 10 from 6-8 p.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.). Services will be Wednesday, September 11 at 10 a.m. at Rose Hill Church of the Nazarene, followed by interment at Almyra Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rose Hill Church of the Nazarene, 11001 Kanis Rd., Little Rock, Ark. 72211 or to Arkansas Hospice, #14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, Ark. 72116. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 2242200. Norma’s online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.
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HARRY D. RICKER JR., of North Little Rock passed from this life on September 7, 2019. Harry was born on August 15, 1951 in Little Rock.
Harry is survived by his wife Sheryl, of 47 years; two sons, Jacob (Holly) Ricker, and Aaron Ricker; five grandchildren, Peyton Jones, Alyssa Ricker, Caitlyn Ricker, Addison Ricker, Megan Ricker; two sisters, Sharon Smay and Sandra Smith (Gene); one brother, Wendell Ricker; his four legged fur-baby, Sassy; and several extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Faye Ricker and a brother-in-law, Terry Smay.
Harry worked for ABF freight for twenty-seven years and was one-of-a-kind. He was a giving man, an avid outdoorsman, hunter and a “Mr. Fix It.” He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at Smith-North Little Rock Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 3 p.m., Thursday, September 12, 2019 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Rest Hills Memorial Park. Online guestbook at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
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JAMES ALLEN “JIM” THOMAS JR., 77, of Sherwood, passed away Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. He was born June 4, 1942, in Morrilton, to James Allen Thomas Sr. and Marjorie Lee Miller Thomas. He is preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Dewayne Dodson.
Jim is survived by his wife, Judy Whitehurst Thomas, a daughter, Melissa Anne Dodson, two sons, James Allen (Mona) Thomas and Travis Neal Thomas, two step-sons, Jeffrey and Brian Smith, five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren and one sister, Annette (Lewis) Hodge and one nephew, Lynn McCaig.
Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at Roller-Owens Funeral Home, 5509 JFK Blvd., North Little Rock. Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial to follow at Arkansas State Veterans. Online Guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/owens.
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ROBERT LEE WARD, 84, of Little Rock passed away September 5, 2019. He was born March 7, 1935, to James and Dorotha Ward in Bee Branch, Arkansas. Services will be held at RollerFuneral Home, 11 a.m., Wednesday, September 11, 2019, visitation is an hour prior to the service. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/ drummond.