Obituaries

BENTONVILLE — Debra Louann Buckner, 53, of Bentonville, Ark., passed away on April 1, 2018, at the Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, Ark.

Debra was born Oct. 30, 1964, to the late Harold Gene and Oca June (Payne) Buckner in Gravette, Ark. Debra lived most of her life in the McDonald County area, before moving to Bentonville 16 years ago. Debra enjoyed family genealogy, crafts, watching the Dukes of Hazzard, and anything that had to do with Star Trek.

Debra was preceded in death by her parents. Debra is survived by a sister, Tina Marie Boling of Centerton, Ark.; a brother, Randal Gene Buckner and wife Edith of Chicago, Ill., two nieces; Allie Boling and Risa Buckner; two nephews, Randal Buckner, Jr. and Chris Boling; and a great-nephew, Wesley Cupples; as well as a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services for Ms. Debra Louann Buckner will be held Saturday, April 7, 2018, at 10 a.m. in the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Mo.

Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers are Bill Payne, Lanny Garrett, Kenny Buckner, Bob Buckner, Randal Buckner, Jr. and Chris Boling. Honorary pallbearers will be Delbert Payne and Donald Payne. Burial will follow in the Simsbury Cemetery near Powell, Mo.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through Ozark Funeral Home’s website, www.ozarkfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Mo.

FAYETTEVILLE — Nathan Fewell Merritt, 21, of Fayetteville, and long-time resident of Pea Ridge, passed away Saturday, March 31, 2018. He was born June 6, 1996, in Rogers to George Ray Merritt and Kelly Lynn Browning Kapoor.

He will be remembered as a kind soul who never met a stranger. Nathan was a graduate of Pea Ridge High School and was a defensive lineman for the Blackhawks. Following high school, he went on to proudly serve in the National Guard.

He was preceded by his grandmother, Darlene Jackson and his grandfather, Jim Merritt.

Survivors include his parents, Kelly Kapoor (Gaurav) of Rogers, and George Merritt ( Lorrie) of Pea Ridge; his fiancee, Kennedy Cox of Cave Springs; a sister, Kelsie Merritt of Rogers; two brothers, Jackson Merritt of Rogers, and Austin Merritt of Pea Ridge; his grandparents, Robert and Nona Browning and Ellen Merritt; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and dearest friends.

Services will be held Friday, April 6, 2018, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m.; funeral service at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers. Interment follows in Bentonville City Cemetery. Condolences can be expressed at www.RollinsFuneral.com.

PETTIGREW — Leon Patrick, 85, of Pettigrew, passed away April 3, 2018, at Huntsville. He was born M a rc h 1 0, 1933, in Pettigrew, the son of Crocket and Dorothy Williams Patrick. Leon was a retired farmer and volunteered at the Huntsville Senior Activity Center. He was a Christian and a loving dad, grandpa, and uncle. Leon was always quick to say something funny. He and his wife, Omitene, had a sorghum mill and made it the old-fashioned way for several years. They were always together, and now, they will be again.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Omitene; and one brother, Gerald Patrick.

Survivors include one daughter and son- in- law, Sheila and Charles Burton of Pettigrew; one son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Tabitha Patrick of Fayetteville; one grandson; two great- granddaughters, one step- granddaughter; one step- great- granddaughter; one sister, Lucille; one brother, Tommy; and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, April 7, at 2 p.m., at the Old Pine Grove Cemetery, with Pastor James “Russ” Huffman officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Brashears Funeral Home and Crematory of Huntsville.

ROGERS — Alan Lee Finkeldei, 63, of Rogers, Ark., passed away suddenly on March 29, 2018. He was born on July 15, 1954, in Fowler, Kan., son of the Joseph Henry Finkeldei and Evelyn Leona (Leis) Finkeldei.

Alan graduated from Fowler High School. He worked as a construction laborer in Dodge City for many years before moving to Rogers in 2015.

He was very family oriented and enjoyed spending time and having conversations with his brother, sister, nieces and nephews, especially if it included fish tales. He enjoyed playing golf, and his passion was being in the great outdoors to enjoy his love of fishing, in which he was proficient in locating and catching his limit. He often hosted gathering of friends to enjoy his bounty.

He leaves behind two sisters and one brother; Jane (Finkeldei) Mayo and Vern Mayo of Fowler, Kan., Don Finkeldei and Karla Walker of Santa Fe, N.M., Mary (Finkeldei) Smith and Brad Smith of Creede, Colo.; 10 nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and -nephews. He also leaves behind his special friends Ronda and Randy Pegram, and his faithful dog Annie.

Memorial services are pending. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to an animal shelter for the protection and adoption of homeless animals. Arrangements are under the care of Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers. www.rollinsfuneral.com.

ROGERS — Valencia La Verne (Jernigan) Hall, 88, of Rogers, Ark., went home to be with the Lord, on Monday, April 2, 2018.

Mother was born in Friendship community near Altus, Okla., on Jan. 22, 1930. There was a winter snowstorm howling down from the north which was the Guinness Book of Records world record at 16 degrees below zero at her birth. Her father and uncles got out to cut the fences, while one uncle went to get the doctor, because the snow had covered up the road and fence line. The doctor cut across the pasture to get to the farm and came to the house by horse and buggy. Mom was an 8 pound breech baby.

Mother was preceded in death by her husband, Weldon Durwood Hall; her mother, Edna Julia (Blanscet) Jernigan and father Patrick E. Jernigan; six brothers and sisters; her son, Michael Lynn Hall; two great- grandchildren, and a daughter-in-law, Yvonne Gilbert Hall.

Survivors include her three sons and two daughters, Jimmy Durwood Hall, Dorothy Ann (Hall) Zaeske and husband, Arthur Fredrickson Zaeske, Weldon Wayne Hall and wife, Carol Hall, David Patrick Hall, and Rhonda Sue ( Hall) Boldra and husband, Larry Dwight Boldra; a brother, Rodney Edmond Jernigan and wife Sharon; her 19 grandchildren; her 38 great-grandchildren; and her 17 great-great-grandchildren.

Mother was saved during a revival meeting at the Tabernacle Baptist Church at Roswell, N.M., at age 12.

Mother loved to read and write. She wrote many poems. The first book she read was Little Black Sambo and that was in the second grade.

At age 2, her family moved using a covered wagon her father had made from an old chassis with rubber tires and was pulled by six horses to Roswell, N.M. Next move was to Muleshoe, Texas, and then at age 18 they moved to Rogers, Ark., where she met her future husband. Two weeks later they were married, then moved to San Antonio and had 62 years of marriage.

Graveside services will be Saturday, April 7, 2018, at 10 a.m. in Rogers Cemetery at 510 S. 10th Street. Arrangements are under the care of Rollins Funeral Home. www. RollinsFuneral.com.

ROGERS — Hazel Olga Homesley, 102, of Rogers died on Sunday, April 1, at Innisfree Health and Rehab. She was born Hazel Brenton on March 22, 1916, in Cook, Minn., and grew up in Roscoe, S.D.

She moved to Northwest Arkansas and married Sidney Vernon Homesley in 1950.

Hazel worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for 36 years and Area Agency on Aging for 15 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, both parents, brother, sister, three stepchildren, and her grandson, Larry John Anderson, Jr.

Hazel is survived by her daughter Glenda Kirk, son-inlaw Jim Kirk, granddaughter Pamela Block, Pam’s husband Richard Block, three granddaughters in California; and 13 great-grandchildren. She also had many friends from the Bible Missionary Church and caregivers from Innisfree whom she loved like family.

We invite anyone who knew Hazel to celebrate her life at Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers, Ark. Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 6, 2018, and funeral services will be held 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, 2018, with graveside services to follow at Sonora, Ark.

ROGERS — John Lee Wells, age 72, went to Heaven on March 19, 2018, at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, surrounded by family and friends.

John was born on Aug. 30, 1945, in Salinas, Calif., to Alex and Dorothy Wells, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death, three brothers, Don, Louis, and Rex Wells; and one sister, Emma Yates.

John graduated from Bentonville High School in 1963. He enjoyed outdoor activities, sports, and excelled in Tiger football his senior year, earning All-State honors as a running back. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served in Thailand during the Vietnam War.

In 1977, John married Vicki Wilks, and he was a loving husband to her for 40 years until his passing.

He played youth baseball, and enjoyed, rooted for, and supported area teams, Hobbs State Park, and the Razorbacks. He was friends with notable area business and professional leaders, celebrities, athletes, and musicians, who liked his fried catfish meals and hospitality.

John was an ambassador of good will, good food, and great smiles! In 1988 he became the founding owner (with his family’s support) of Catfish John’s restaurant on Highway 102 in Rogers. His love for people was expressed daily in handshakes and personal table visits with customers. “How are you folks doing today?” he usually asked. John’s keen sense of humor would lighten the hearts of all who came in.

John is survived by his wife, Vicki; sons, Mike, Chad, and John David (Ellisa); sisters, Jane Knox (Al), Bobbie Ann Davis ( Glen); nine grandchildren; and four great- grandchildren who John loved very much; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of John’s life will be held at his home at 1 p.m. on April 7.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Cooper Max Foundation, 2520 CR 531, Burleson, Texas, 76028; and The Miller McNeil Woodruff Foundation, 6518 Timber Ridge Drive, Rogers, Ark., 72758.