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.

CAVE SPRINGS — Helen Howard was born October 25, 1929 to Richard Dickinson and Hazel Hammock Dickinson Porter. Helen died February 14, 2020 in Rogers, Ark., at the age of 90. A native Mississippian, Helen grew up in Monticello, Ark. After graduating from Monticello High School, she was a student at University of Arkansas, Monticello, formerly Arkansas A & M. She later taught school for five years.

In 1951, she married Lloyd C. Howard. They were married almost 69 years. With Lloyd being with oil companies, they were transferred numerous times and lived in many locations. In 1972, they moved to Rogers, Ark., having left corporate life to begin new careers. Helen had always wanted to own a children’s clothing shop and her dream was realized in the formation of “The Children’s Shop”, which she had for 20 years and retired, as Lloyd did. They had fun travelling and “doing as they wanted to do”, as long as health permitted.

Helen was a member of First United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard L. Dickinson and Hazel Hammock Dickinson and her brother, Richard L. Dickinson Jr.

She is survived by her husband, Lloyd C. Howard; son, Richard Howard and his wife Shiela of Cave Springs; daughter, Karen Albares and husband Andy of Foreman, Ark.; grandchildren, Jennifer Laurent of Shreveport, La., Rich Howard and wife Nancee of Cave Springs, Ark., Jason Howard of Hot Springs, Ark., Trip Hawkins and Candace Ripley of Foreman, Ark., and Kaitlyn Flanagan and husband Zach of Texarkana, Ark.; and great-grandchildren, Jaxson Hawkins, Aubree Hawkins, Melanie Flanagan, Ben Flanagan, and soon to be here Gracie Kate Howard; step-grandchildren, Tara McCabe of Centerton, Ark., Terese Turner and husband Jeb of Bentonville, Ark.; and seven step-great-grandchildren, Zachary McCabe, Mason Muellenberg, Seth, Luke, Cole, Cam and Hallie Turner.

A memorial celebration of Helen’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 19 at Rogers First United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rogers First United Methodist Church, the American Heart Association, or the American Cancer Society.

FAYETTEVILLE — Ralph

N. Butler, 79. of Fayetteville, passed away Friday, February 14, 2020 in Fayetteville. He was born November 3, 1940 in Swifton, Ark., to Ethelbert and Gladys Koller Butler.

He was preceded in death

by his parents; four brothers, Doug, Johnny, Ellsworth and Paul Butler; and one infant sister, Virginia Martha Butler.

Ralph enjoyed sitting on his porch, gardening and fishing. He was an avid Razorback baseball fan. He worked in the maintenance department at Walmart on MLK for 29 years. Ralph loved his job and his coworkers. He was an honest man who would give you the shirt off his back. His only request was “just don’t lie to me.” Ralph wasn’t scared of anyone, “except for his wife”!

He is survived by a son, Bill Butler and wife, Kimberly of Siloam Springs; a son, Michael Butler of Fayetteville; a brother, Lonnie Butler; two sisters, Anna Lou Smith and Violet Jones; six grandchildren, Jared, Joshua (wife Kameron), Jeremy (wife Erin), Aiden, Austin (wife Natalie) and Victoria Butler; and six great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at Beard’s Chapel.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at Beard’s Chapel with Pastor Eric Howerton and Lisa Grogan Duncan officiating. Interment will follow in Kings Cemetery under the direction of Beard’s Chapel.

Condolences at www. beardsfuneralchapel.com.

ROGERS — Agnes

Elizabeth Cochran, 94, of Rogers, died Saturday, February 15, 2020 at Jamestown Health and Rehab in Rogers. A daughter of Emmett and Mable LeFan Hamilton, she was born April 15, 1925 in Hector and was a Hector High School Class of 1943 graduate. She was a Cafeteria Manager and worked for the Russellville School District. She was the oldest member of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She was also a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Women and the Pope County Riding Club. She enjoyed gardening and yard work, cooking, reading, jigsaw puzzles and spending time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lelus Cochran; her parents; three sisters, Emogene Coffman; Kathleen Goates and Bobbie Kinslow; three infant daughters, Lela Beth Cochran; Rita Gay and Veta Kay Cochran.

Agnes leaves to cherish her memory a son, Steve Cochran (Michele); two grandsons, Wyatt and Matt Cochran, all of Rogers; and a sister, Marcy Butler of North Little Rock.

Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at The First Cumberland Presbyterian in Russellville. Rev. Steve Mosley will officiate. Burial will be at Rest Haven Memorial Park in Russellville by Humphrey Funeral Service. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., on Tuesday, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1200 N Arkansas

Ave., Russellville, Ark., 72801. Internet obituary and on-line guest book are available at www.humphreyfuneral.com.

SPRINGDALE — Carl

Richard Bell, age 79, of Springdale, Ark., entered the gates of Heaven on Sunday, February 16, 2020. He was born on March 11, 1940, in Van Buren, Ark., to Fletcher and Mary Elizabeth (Jamison) Bell.

Carl was an all-around athlete (except football because his daddy said no) excelling in track, basketball, baseball, and golf. He also refereed and later in life took up fishing (Annie was always better). Just out of high school, he attended spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates and many years later was invited to play on the senior pro golf tour but turned it down. He achieved 11 hole-in-ones (that’s not a typo and that’s not miniature golf) during his life!

His mad math skills morphed into computer programming where he wrote computer code like no one’s business. He worked his way up in data processing with Tyson and Wal-Mart. He became the Data Processing Manager for both Hudson Foods and George’s, from where he retired. He could hold up those old manila hole-punch cards and tell you what it meant and what it would do.

Carl loved the Lord, having served as a Deacon, and was a member of Elmdale Baptist Church in Springdale.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 42 years, Donna Lou (Briley) Bell; and brothers, Jimmy and Johnnie Bell.

He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Annie (Rice) Bell; children, Kevin (Lisa) Bell, Jeff Bell, Carla (Todd) Phillips, and Simone (Derrel) Brock; grandchildren, Ashley (Aaron) Peeples, Matthew (Haley) Phillips, Madison Phillips, and Lane Brock; great-grandchildren, Morgan, Carson, and Hudson; and sister Mary Beth Coble and brother Gene Bell.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 19 at 2 p.m. at Elmdale Baptist Church with visitation beginning at noon. Burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery. Arrangements are by Nelson Berna Funeral Home. Memorials may be made in Carl’s memory to Elmdale Baptist Church, 1700 W. Huntsville Ave., Springdale, Ark., 72762. To place an online tribute, visit www.nelsonberna.com.

LITTLE ROCK — Helen

Constance Cheatham, 90, of Little Rock passed away on Saturday, February 15, 2020. She was born in Copeland, Ark., on July 17, 1929 to Roy and Ethel (Crenshaw) Tester. Helen was a Financial Aid Officer with the University of Kansas.

She is survived by her husband, Willis Cheatham of Little Rock; sons, Larry Cheatham (Shelia) of Tulsa, Okla., Rodney Cheatham (Therese) of Little Rock; brother, Kenton Tester (Wanda) of Clinton, Ark.; sister, Margorie Malone (Bobby) of Harrison, Ark., sister-inlaw, Opal Tester of Conway, Ark.; grandchildren, Zachary Cheatham (Emily), Samantha Pruitt (Matt), Erin Fox, (Shannon) and Hayley Ochs (Justin). She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, Keith Tester, Shirley Henderson, Juanita Williams, and Roy Tester, Jr.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 29 at Little Rock Funeral Home with Mr. Chuck Monan and Mr. John Phillips officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the services starting at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to, Partners in Progress, Windsong Church of Christ, 3 Windsong Dr., North Little Rock, Ark., 72113, Southern Christian Children’s Home, 100 East Harding St., Morrilton, Ark., 72110, Harding University, 915 E. Market Avenue, Searcy, Ark., 72149 or to Carpenter Place Children’s Home, 1501 N. Meridian Avenue, Wichita, Kan., 67203.

Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200. Helen’s online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome. com.

AMES, Iowa — Patricia

Ann Thompson, age 83, died peacefully on February 14, 2020 in Ames, Iowa.

Patricia (Pat) was born on December 2, 1936 in Brooklyn, N.Y., to parents Ann and Herbert Fee. She graduated from Paul D. Schreiber Senior High School, Port Washington, N.Y., in 1953. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in Interior Design in 1958.

Throughout her life, Pat worked as a secretary for Gulf Oil, General Telephone and Electronics Corporation, and most recently worked as a legal secretary for General Electric, retiring in 1983.

In her retirement, Pat attended classes at the University of Arkansas for Make-Up and Stage Design, and of note was the make-up artist for a documentary portraying the Civil War Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas.

In 1981, Pat married H. Franklin Thompson in Ridgefield, Conn. After her husband retired from General Electric in 1984, they moved to Fayetteville, Ark. They moved to Ames, Iowa in 2004.

Pat enjoyed ceramics, and other crafts. She was an avid game-player, and would play hours of Parcheesi and Monopoly with her granddaughter, Morgan Dunn. In addition, Pat was very proud of serving as editor of the Green Hills Chimes Newsletter for 11 years.

Pat was remembered by all with having a wonderful sense of humor and a gentle soul, always willing to lend an ear.

Pat is survived by her sons, James Brew of Colorado and Mark Thompson of Florida; her daughter, Pam Dunn of Iowa; her grandsons Sean Dunn, Evan Thompson, and her granddaughter Morgan Dunn. She was preceded in death by her husband of 26 years, H. Franklin Thompson.

Pat will be buried alongside her husband, Franklin, in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Arrangements are by Luginbuel Funeral Home.

Online guestbook: www. luginbuel.com.