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) 378-3889.

CENTERTON — Gerald Blue, 64, of Centerton, Ark., died Sept. 8, 2019. Born Sept. 26, 1954, in New Orleans, La., to David and Margaret Wagner Blue. He is survived by wife Katie and daughter Jessica. Memorial services will be held at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home in Metairie, La., at a later date. Arrangements by Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services. Condolences to stockdale-moodyfs.com.

CENTERTON — Philip Julian, 54, of Centerton died Sept. 7, 2019, in Bentonville, Ark. He was born May 12, 1965, to James and Elosie Julian. Survivors include mother; wife Tracy; sons Kevin and Raymond; daughters Susan and Gracie; brothers Timothy, Chad and Kevin; and granddaughter Arrietti. Services are at 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Fayetteville National Cemetery under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home, 3926 Willowood Ave., Springdale.

CROSSES — Retha Jean (Baker) Williams, 77, of Crosses, Ark., passed away Sept. 9, 2019, in Fayetteville. She was born June 30, 1942, in Delaney, Ark., to Ben and Ethel Briscoe Baker. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Ethel Briscoe Baker, sister Hazel (Baker) Hollingsworth, brother Carl Baker and daughter Carla Jean (Williams) Simmons.

Jean was a member of the Church of Christ. She loved the Lord, her family and the outdoors. She created many beautiful memories with her family and closest friends while camping, fishing and riding through the woods enjoying all that nature has to offer.

Jean was a hard worker. She had many labors of love including quilting, gardening and tending to her flowers.

She is survived by her husband, Harold Williams

of the home; daughters Janet (Williams) Ploudre of Crosses and Gina Williams and husband David of Crosses; brother Rex Baker and wife Karen of Elkins; sister Betty Brookes of Springdale; granddaughters Brooke Lynn (Simmons) Gipson of Bryant, Ark., Sara Jean (Ploudre) Kimbel of Elkins, Paisley Lynn Ploudre of Fayetteville, Reese Anna Williams, Ivy Rayne Williams and Wryn Avinlee Wiliams, all of Crosses; and great-grandsons McCoy David Kimbel of Elkins and Elliott William Gipson of Bryant, Ark.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, at Beard’s Chapel in Fayetteville. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Beard’s Chapel. Interment will follow in Ledbetter Cemetery in Madison County under the direction of Beard’s Chapel. Condolences at www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Mike Braff, age 69, of Fayetteville, Ark., died Monday, Sept. 9, 2019. Michael was born Dec. 31, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Sheldon and Jeanette Braff. Michael is survived by wife Patricia Peachey; step-sons Wyatt Boatright and Andrew Boatright; brother Dennis Braff; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Online condolences, www.WestfieldChapel.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Ivory Joseph Simon, 78, of Fayetteville, passed away Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, in Fayetteville. He was born July 22, 1941, in Ville Platte, La., to Pierre and Octavia Simon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, three sisters and a grandson.

Ivory worked and trained horses all his life. He enjoyed fishing, playing guitar and listening to zydeco music. He was a member of Combs Street Church of Christ.

He is survived by daughters Romona West and Sarah Simon; sons Lawrence, Grifford, Antoine, Richard, Joseph and Joe Simon; stepchildren Shranell Rodriguez and James Wilks; brothers Navis, Joshua and Patrick Simon; sister Barbara Marshall; 25 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, at Combs Street Church of Christ. Cremation arrangements by Beard’s Funeral Chapel. Condolences at www.beardsfuneralchapel. com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Mae Wiles passed away at home on Sept. 4, 2019, at 7:11 p.m. She lived 75 years as a kind, loving, generous, and joyful soul.

She is survived by her sisters, Catherine Lucile Shaver of Fort Smith, Ark., and Roberta Dortha Borchardt of Lincoln, Ark.; sons Oscar Harold Fryar of Huntsville, Ark., and Herbert Martin Fryar of Lared, Kan.; daughter Darreleen Eudora Wiles of Fayetteville, Ark.; 17 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren and many friends.

She has built quite a legacy. She is dearly missed but her family knows she is in the loving arms of our savior. Rest in peace, Grandma/Mom/Mae. Online condolences: www.WestfieldChapel.com.

FORT SMITH — Judy Staggs, 72, passed away Sept. 9, 2019, in Fort Smith. She was born Nov. 30, 1946, in Tylertown, Miss., to Olson Stogner and Helen (Applewhite) Stogner. She received her bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State College for Women and her master’s from Southern Mississippi University. She was a retired teacher from Fort Smith Public Schools.

Judy was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Cornerstone Sunday School Class, PEO Chapter AS, and Naomi Circle.

She is survived by husband Dr. David Staggs; daughters Jenna Wertz and husband Clayton, of Dallas, Texas, and Jamie Cregger of St. Louis, Mo.; son Jody Staggs of Dallas, Texas; brother Chim Stogner of Tylertown, Miss.; and grandchildren Truitt and Tucker Wertz, Carson, Everett, and Riley Cregger.

Visitation will be Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, from 5 p.m.7 p.m. in the narthex of First United Methodist Church. Private burial will be in Fort Smith National Cemetery. Memorial service will be noon Thursday in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends following the service in the church narthex.

Pallbearers will be Dr. David Phillips, Dr. David Nelson, Scott Waller, Ken Bell, Judge Jim Spears, and Mike Boyd. Memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church, 200 N. 15th St., Fort Smith, Ark., 72901, or PEO Scholarships, Sandy Parker, 604 Wofford Lake Road, Fort Smith, Ark., 72916. Online condolences may be sent to www.edwardsfuneralhome. com.

HUNTSVILLE — Joan Frances Lotito, 87, of Huntsville; died Sept. 8, 2019, at Huntsville. She was born May 14, 1932, at Caro, Mich. Graveside services will be noon, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Fayetteville National Cemetery with Brad Moore officiating. Services are entrusted to Brashears Funeral Home and Crematory of Huntsville.

ROGERS — Jamerson Beard, 48, of Rogers, passed away Sept. 10, 2019. Survivors include siblings Doretta Gittings (Barry) of Rogers, Jamie Graham and Randall Beard of Arizona, Heidi Beard of Fayetteville and Charlene Walker (Teven) of Bentonville. Services will be held in Cameron, Ariz. Sign Jamerson’s online guestbook at www.littlerockfuneralhome. com.

WINSLOW — Robert “Bob” Collins, 73, of Winslow, died Sept. 4, 2019, at his home. He was born Sept. 10, 1945, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Robert Henry and Evelyn Prochaska Collins.

Bob was a Navy veteran serving during the Vietnam Era. He was an electrician by trade.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Robert W. Collins and brother Scott Collins.

He is survived by wife Janet Collins of the home; sister Margaret Waldman and husband Rich of Winslow; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one special nephew.

Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at Fayetteville National Cemetery with military honors. Online condolences may be made to www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.