Obituaries
DR. CLAUDE DOUGLAS “BUDDY” BAKER
Dr. Claude Douglas “Buddy” Baker, son of Claude Austin Baker and Margaret Norman Baker, passed away March 5, 2023; he was born in El Dorado, AR on August 10, 1944.
Dr. Buddy Baker was a 1962 grad from El Dorado High School and received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas and his PhD in Biology from the University of Louisville.
He was an award-winning teacher, researcher, department chair and biologist at Southern Arkansas University and Indiana
University Southeast. Buddy had a deep interest in family genealogies in Columbia County, which led to him culminating his own book titled Samuel Baker, Revolutionary Soldier from Fauquier County, Virginia. He was a lifetime member of the alumni association and was a member of the SAU Board of Governors. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Magnolia, and a member of the Columbia County Republican Committee where he served on the state committee.
Dr. Baker helped establish three Endowed Scholarships – Claude D. Baker-A Call to Service by Steve Moberly at IUS, William and Dorothy Craig music Endowment, Claude and Skeet Baker Endowed Scholarship in Marine Biology at SAU.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Professor William Perry Baker and Paul David Baker. Survivors include his beloved wife, Neva Braswell Baker; sons, David (Susan), Mark (Carla) and Michael Braswell; daughters, Phyllis (Mike) Skinner and Pamela (Rusty) McDonald; 12 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Theresa Baker and Colleen Sloan; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Memorials may be made to the Claude and Skeet Baker Scholarship in Marine Biology at Southern Arkansas University Foundation, Inc., 100 East University, MSC 9174, Magnolia, AR 71753-218 or First Baptist Church Magnolia (Building Fund), PO Box 456, Magnolia, AR 71754.
Visitation will be Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Magnolia with funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m. with Bro. Dustin Wisely and Bro. Roger Dunlap officiating. The burial will be in the Magnolia Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. in Magnolia.
JO NELL KEENE GRIFFITH
Jo Nell Keene Griffith age 88 of Parkers Chapel, passed away Saturday, March 4, 2023 at the John R. Williamson Hospice House in El Dorado. Jo Nell was born on May 9, 1934 in Louisiana to the late Lula May Jackson Keene and George H. Keene.
She was a former Member of Galilee Baptist Church, where she enjoyed teaching Sunday school and playing the piano and organ. In later years, she and David joined Parkers Chapel
First Baptist Church, where she enjoyed attending while she was able. She was the owner of Griffith Mobile Home Park in Parkers Chapel for many years and especially enjoyed going fishing with her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, David Griffith; one son, Michael Griffith; one grandson, Steven Griffith; one sister, Eloise Glover, and one brother, J.D. Keene.
Survivors include; one daughter, Kathy Hogue of Pea Ridge, AR; one son, Mark Randall Griffith of Parkers Chapel; seven grandchildren; ten great grandchildren, and one great great grandson.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 am until 12:00 noon on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at Bailey Funeral Home in El Dorado. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm at Scotland Cemetery, near Junction City, with Bro. Paul Purifoy officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home.
Please sign our online guestbook at www.baileyfuneralhome.net
CATHERINE SUE (COUCH) WHIDDON
Catherine Sue (Couch) Whiddon was born November 5, 1948 and passed away March 4, 2023 at the age of 74 at the John R. Williamson Hospice House after suffering a stroke on January 17, 2023.
Sue grew up in Junction City, Arkansas, the daughter of William L. “Buddy” and Catherine Couch.
She graduated from Junction City High School, as valedictorian, and Louisiana Tech University. She did graduate work at Oklahoma City University. She was a certified Montessori Teacher, taught at Junction City Schools, Children’s House of Learning, Mt. Holly Schools, El Dorado Elementary and Middle School and First Baptist CLC. She worked all together in Arkansas School Systems for 31 years. After retiring from teaching, she was the prayer coordinator at First Baptist Church for 10 years.
Sue was an avid reader and lover of the outdoors. A proud mother, who was always involved in whatever her sons were doing. She was a selfless individual who placed others ahead of herself! She always had something on the stove and everyone was welcome to eat and always enjoyed her cooking. Her witty humor often times would catch you off guard, but you couldn’t help but laugh when you looked up and saw her holding back laughter with a grin.
Sue was preceded in death by her parents William L. “Buddy” and Catherine Couch, grandparents, Alvin and Mary Lou Laney, W.M. Foster and Geraldine Couch, and nephew, Will Adams.
She’s survived by her husband, Dan G. Whiddon, Jr., sons, Trey Whiddon (Jessica), of Texarkana, Chris Whiddon (Amanda) of West Monroe, LA, grandchildren, Aidan, Sadie, Bowen, and Ashton, and step grandson, Tripp. She loved all her grandchildren, A Joy in Her Life! She is also survived by her sister, Betty Couch Adams of Batesville, AR, three nieces, Dana Blume DanPlantus of Houston, TX, DeAnn Blume Welch of Phoenix, AZ, and Katie Adams Treubig of Birmingham, AL.
Thanks to all the nurses at the John R. Williamson Hospice HouseLife Touch Hospice. What a God Sent Place! Also a special thanks to the nurses at Baptist Health Center in Little Rock for their kindness and care!
The visitation will be on Tuesday, March 7th from 5:00-7:00 pm at the First Baptist Church in the Parlor.
A memorial service will be on Wednesday the 8th at 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to First Baptist Church of El Dorado or to the Charity of Donors’ Choice.
Condolences can be expressed at www.youngsfuneralhome.com
JAMES PATTERSON
James Patterson, of El Dorado, AR, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2023. Survivors include his daughter, Mitzi Thompson; grandsons, Jonathan Thompson (wife, Audrey), Justin Thompson (wife, Rachel); great grandsons,
William, Edward, John, Ray; great granddaughter, Adeline; along with numerous loving nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William Lloyd Patterson and Velma Ruth Smith Patterson; his loving wife of 62 years,
Geraldine Witherington Patterson; sister, Martha Ann Patterson Rankin; and brother, Rudolph Patterson. James was born and raised in El Dorado, AR and worked for Columbia Chemical. He was a member of Calion Baptist Church and was a Mason. He will be sadly missed.
The Patterson family would like to offer special thanks and appreciation to Angela Patterson for her care and compassion during this difficult time.
A gathering of friends and family will be held at Young’s Funeral Directors, 508 Champagnolle Rd., El Dorado, AR on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 from 5pm to 7pm. Graveside services will be held at a later date under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
Memorials may be made to UCAPS, PO Box 204, El Dorado, AR 71730.
Condolences can be expressed to the Patterson family at www. youngsfuneralhome.com
LARRY ALTON JOHNSTON
Larry Alton Johnston of El Dorado, Arkansas passed away surrounded by family on Monday February 13, 2023, at the age of 75 after a long battle with dementia.
Larry was born on December 15, 1947, in Hope, Arkansas to Ellen Margaret and Alton Theodore (Punkin) Johnston. He graduated from Hope High School and received a degree in accounting from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Larry served in the Air Force for 4 years and the reserves for 2 years. He spent the majority of his career working for the Social Security Administration in El Dorado and Camden, Arkansas.
Larry was a giving person and always made sure family and friends had a good time. He lived life with a patient easy-going manner and often shared stories from his childhood and time spent in the Air Force, as well as life lessons and the occasional joke. Larry enjoyed fishing and hunting with his sons. He would have a blast in the summer time camping on the old river, fishing and just hanging out with his sons. He also enjoyed playing golf and spending time at the lake. He was a big kid at heart and had no problem going off the rope swing with the youngsters. Larry loved listening to music, especially the oldies. He enjoyed classic cars and cruising around in his 1969 Mercury Cougar that he purchased when he was in the Air Force. Larry also loved spending time with his three grandchildren. Most of all Larry was a great mentor, proud father, and a loving husband.
He is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife Emma of 52 years; 2 sons, Courtney of Beaumont, Texas, Andrew and wife Christine of Houston, Texas; three grandchildren, Nicolas (14) and Olivia (11) of Houston, Texas, and Lucas (11) of Beaumont, Texas; sister Priscilla Davis and husband Leon of Hot Springs, Arkansas; and several nephews, nieces, and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in El Dorado, AR on March 11, 2023, at 2 pm. Memorials can be made to either the Alzheimer’s Association or St. Mary’s Church in Larry’s name.