Obituaries

OBITUARIES Information for the obituaries and funeral notices below was supplied to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Advertising Department by funeral homes. For more information including cost and deadlines contact the advertising department at (501) 378-38

BELLA VISTA — Danette “Sue” McConnell, 81, of Bella Vista, Ark., died on April 9, 2018. Sue was born on April 22, 1936, to Charles and Beulah Kenison in Salina, Kan.

Sue graduated from Salina High School in 1954 and graduated from Kansas State University in August 1959. She married Michael Allen McConnell in August 1958. They moved to Kansas City where they raised their two daughters.

She returned to Central Missouri State to receive her master’s degree in distributive education in 1976. Sue taught distributive education for nine years at Winnetonka High School in Kansas City. After moving to Bella Vista, Ark., in 1987, she was a career planning & placement counselor for three years at the University of Arkansas.

She was preceded in death by her parents. Sue is survived by her husband, Mike; two daughters, Jann Kostecke and her husband, Keith, of Appleton, Wisconsin and Patty Mason and her husband, Steve, of Kansas City, Mo.; three grandchildren, John and Jackie Reynders and Lindsey Morris; and two sisters, Jean Kenison of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Betty Fuller of Wichita, Kan.

Sue was a member of Bella Vista Community Church. She sang in a church choir since third grade. She enjoyed music, golfing, quilting, water coloring, movies and cooking for family and friends.

The family will celebrate her life at the Bella Vista Community Church on Saturday, April 14, at 10 a.m.

Arrangements are by Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.

BERRYVILLE — Marjorie “Marji” Elizabeth (Gunn) Boggs was born in Memphis, Tenn., to Marjorie and John

Lindsey Gunn on March 31, 1942.

Marji earned a bachelor’s in political science from the University of California Berkeley and a bachelor’s in education from the University of Arkansas. She was an ESL instructor for NWACC Berryville branch and cared deeply for her students.

Marjorie was a dedicated volunteer on local library and church boards, political action groups and as a Spanish translator. Marji passed quickly after a brief illness, a week following her 76th birthday celebration with family and friends.

She is survived by her sister Peggy Meserve and husband George of Tallahassee, Fla.; daughters Lisa Knemeyer Skiles and husband Albert of Fayetteville, and Darcy Anne Boggs of Bella Vista.

A public memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., April 14, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church of Berryville. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a charitable contribution to Berryville Public Library or Kings River Watershed Partnership. Please visit Marjorie’s memorial page at www.WestfieldChapel.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Stephen Wallace Kirkland, 70, Fayetteville, a wellloved husband, father and grandfather passed away peacefully on April 9, 2018. Originally from Eastern Tennessee, Steve was born to Margaret and Jack Kirkland on Sept. 18, 1947.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda, of 47 years and their three children and five grandkids.

He was a devoted coach and father to Jason (Jennifer), Stephanie (Mike), and Josh (Tasha) and proud Papaw to Lauren, Tyler, Rylee, Cole, and Kingston Wallace Kirkland.

Steve was the oldest of five children and is survived by his sisters, Charlotte and Jackie and his brothers, Gary and Jeff. He had a loving and combative friendship with close family friend, Ann Koogler, A.K.A. Silly Aunt Ann.

Steve was an avid sports fan and will always be cheering alongside his baseball families the Razorbacks and the Naturals. He was a proud former member of the Marine Corps in the Vietnam era.

The family would like to especially thank the love and tenderness from the Palliative Care Unit of the VA Hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They were amazing. Per Steve’s request there will be no services, rather please honor his life in your special celebratory moment as he was many things to many people.

Arrangements: Epting Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Online condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com Donations can be made to Pagnozzi Charities in his memory (pagnozzicharities.org). Steve was a man that never forgot his roots and he remained loyal to both calling the Hogs and singing Rocky Top; a conflicting trait that he passed onto his children. WPS! Go Vols!

ROGERS — Verla M. Miller, 87, of Rogers, Ark., passed away on April 10, 2018, in Rogers. She was born Sept. 10, 1930, in Almeria, Neb., the daughter of Dale A. Hyatt and Lucy M. Dye Hyatt.

She was a purchasing agent for Performed Line Products for 33 years and was a member of Monte Ne Baptist Church.

She is survived by her daughters, Samantha Waddle (husband Richard), Gail Jeffcoat and son Max Miller (wife Susan), all of Rogers; her seven grandchildren; her numerous great-grandchildren; and her great-great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband Charles E. Miller, her parents, one brother, and one sister. The visitation service will be held from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Thursday April 12, 2018, at Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th St., Rogers, Ark. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 13, 2018, at Monte Ne Baptist Church. Interment will be at Rogers Cemetery following the service. Online condolences available at www.benton countyfuneralhome.com.

SPRINGDALE — Thelma L. Underdown, 72, of Springdale, passed away on Monday, April 9, 2018, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. She was born on Nov. 5, 1945, in Kingston, Ark., to Freeman and Estelle Thompson Stamps. Thelma was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Randy Underdown; one grandson, Dakota Roten; and three brothers, Dale Stamps, Fred Stamps and Vernon Stamps.

Survivors include her husband, Joe Underdown of the home; one son, Kenny Underdown of Missouri; two daughters, Teresa Wilson and husband Jimmy and Debbie Ramos, all of Springdale; two brothers, Jerrel Stamps and wife Marlene, and Clyde Stamps and wife Ellen; one sister, Maxine Murphy and husband Wayne, of Lowell; 14 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Saturday, April 14, 2018, 2 p.m., at Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale with Pastor Howard Owens officiating. Burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www. siscofuneral.com.

WEST FORK — Dell Bernice Hester, of West Fork, Ark., passed away in Fayetteville on Sunday, April 1, 2018, at 91 years old. She was born June 10, 1926, in Fayetteville, Ark., to Henry and Rosetta (Chism) King.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her previous husband of 30 years Otis Hester, her daughter Melanie Hester, her grandson Lloyd Hester, great-grandson Christopher Dozier, grandson Mack Dozier, and her son-inlaw Henry Mack Dozier.

Dell worked at the Pentagon as a secretary during World War II. She raised eight children and cared for numerous other children. She was very proud that she served on Meals on Wheels, and even received a letter from then President George W. Bush commending her for her service. She delivered her last meal in her early 80s.

She is survived by two sisters, Mabel Phillips of Springdale and Nancy King of Wichita, Kan.; her children Rosetta Landelius of West Fork, Lloyd Hester of Farmington, Nancy Townsend of West Fork, Janice Pemberton of Ashland City, Tenn., Charles Hester of Wesley, Ark., Kaye Dozier of Greenwood, Ark., Louis (Beaver) Hester of Bella Vista; and stepchildren Louis Hester, Lucas Hester, Lain Hester, Landis Hester, and Lyndel Hester, all of Clarksville, Tenn.; 21 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, and four great great-grandchildren; and many other friends and loved ones.

Memorial service will take place on Saturday, April 14, beginning at 10 a.m. at Moore’s Chapel in Fayetteville. Memorials may be given to Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale: 901 Jones Road, Springdale, Ark., 72762. Condolences may be given online at www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Marvin Dean Willis, 66, of North Little Rock died on Dec. 15, 2017. Born in Siloam Springs, Ark., to Marvin and Georgia Willis, Dean was a long-time client of Arkansas Community Life Services and was loved by all who knew him.

His interment will take place at the Fort Smith National Cemetery, 522 Garland Avenue, on Friday, April 27, 2018, at 11 a.m.. Surviving family: Arizona residents, Pamela (sister) and Ed Lenhart, will be attending. Memorials can be sent to Community Life Services 105 E. Roosevelt, Little Rock, Ark., 72206, or Arkansas Special Olympics, 2115 Main St., North Little Rock, Ark., 72114.