OBITUARIES
Larry Duane Banks
Larry Duane Banks, 66, of Purdy, Mo. died Dec. 19 at Mercy Hospital in Cassville, Mo. He was born Aug. 22, 1949, in McDonald County, Mo., to Lott Armon Banks and Aline Patterson Banks.
He attended school in Washburn, Mo., and worked at the Dept. of Energy at Rocky Flats in Colorado as a machinist, supporting all branches of the military building weapons.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Wallace and Ronald Banks; and a sister, Sharon Banks.
Survivors are two daughters, Mindy Banks of Englewood, Colo., and Mallory Banks of Loveland, Colo.; three sisters, Darlene Endecott (Gary) of Raymore, Mo., Anita Roll (Marvin) of Republic, Mo., and Brenda Doepke (Matt) of Pea Ridge.
No services are planned at this time.
Arrangements are by Sisco Funeral Home in Pea Ridge.
Online condolences at siscofuneralhome.net.
Doyle Blackburn
Doyle Blackburn, 81, of Nixa, Mo., died in his home Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015. He was born Nov. 18, 1934, in Rogers, Ark., to Raymond and Bird (Adams) Blackburn.
Mr. Blackburn graduated from Pea Ridge High School in 1953.
He and Marcella Hawkins were married Oct. 19, 1973. An electrician, he worked for Roper Electric and was a member of IBEW. He served as electrical foreman at 3-M in Springfield from 1982 until retirement in 1997. Doyle loved spending time with his family, and was an avid fisherman.
Survivors include his wife Marcella; two children, Jean Edwards of Springfield and Jim Blackburn of the Philippine Islands; two step-children Phillip Hawkins and wife Gretchen of Republic, and Tina Mooneyham of Nixa; six grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; a sister Mona Christie of Springfield; and a brother David Blackburn and wife Pat of Springfield.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. Monday until service time.
Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, in Adams Funeral Home, Nixa.
Burial will follow in Rivermonte Memorial Gardens.
Online condolences at adamsfuneralhome.net.
James D. Blazi
James D. Blazi, 82, of Rogers, died Dec. 15, 2015. He was born Sept. 12, 1933, in Ft. Worth, Texas, to Charles and Mary Elizabeth Dillon Blazi.
Mr. Blazi owned and operated Central Sign, was a member of the Catholic Church and served in the United States Navy.
Survivors include his children James A. Blazi of Phoenix, Ariz., Mary Burns of Garfield, Roseann Sejkora of El Cajon, Calif., Thomas Blazi of Gravette and Paul Blazi of El Cajon, Calif.; granddaughter and caregiver Angel Salter; nine grandchildren; and 11 greatgrandchildren.
Memorial services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th, Rogers.
Private interment was in the Fayetteville National Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Rogers, Ark.
Online condolences tobentoncountyfuneralhome.com.
James ‘Rex’ Fortner
James “Rex” Fortner, 68, of Garfield, died at his home on Dec. 19, 2015. He was born at home in St. Joe, Ark., to Otto Isom and Jessie Osler Elam Fortner on Feb. 8, 1947.
He grew up in Harrison, Ark., and graduated from Harrison High School in 1966. He joined the U.S. Navy the same year where he was an aviation structural mechanic and served aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. He returned home in 1967 and married Judith Ann Richey in Lead Hill, Ark. Upon completion of his military duty, Rex attended Arkansas Tech University where he graduated with a bachelors degree in Parks Management. He, his wife, Judy, and their three children moved to Rogers in 1974; and after serving one year as director of the Boy’s Club, went on to become superintendent of Parks for the City of Rogers until his retirement in 2006.
He enjoyed farming, horses, camping with his family and grandchildren and after retirement became proficient at making saddles and doing leatherwork.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Ray Fortner of Lakewood, Calif.; two sisters, Nadine Davenport of Morrilton, Ark., and Myrtlee Anderson of Holyrood, Kan.; and a daughter-in-law, Kim Fortner.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Judy; daughter, Chrissie Doyle (Jamey); two sons, Brad Fortner (Tammy) and Jason Fortner, all of Garfield; 10 grandchildren, who were the light of his life: Sara Salisbury (Jess) of Farmington, Spencer and Sadie Doyle, Jessica, Emma, Lilly, Bradley, Brently, Madison, and Mallory Fortner, all of Garfield; three sisters: Ellen Langston (Bob) of Holyrood, Kan., Lucy Dart of Harrison and Judy Dart (Paul) of Harrison; and a brother, Charles Fortner (Wanda) of Pindall, Ark.
Visitation was at Rollins Funeral Home Tuesday, Dec. 22.
Service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday Pea Ridge Free Will Baptist Church on Lee Town Road.
Burial will be private in the Fortner Family Cemetery.
Arrangements by Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers (RollinsFuneral.com).
Rose Mary Marquess
Rose Mary Marquess, 90, of Garfield, died Dec. 20 at Legacy Hospice in Bentonville. She was born Sept. 15, 1925, in Garfield to Louis Schooley and Belle Faulkner Schooley.
She enjoyed fishing, reading, doing crossword puzzles and helping others.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, G.H. Marquess; eight brothers; and a sister.
Survivors include her daughter, Barbara Sanford and husband Kenneth of Garfield; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are set for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, at Ruddick Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Sisco Funeral Home in Pea Ridge.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity or someone in need of your choice.
Online condolences at siscofuneralhome.net.
Ruth Ann Roughton
Ruth Ann Roughton, 72, of Pineville, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 18, 2015, in Bentonville. She was born Jan. 22, 1943, in Bentonville to Arthur and Adeamae McNelly Moore.
Ruth Ann was a dedicated pastor’s wife and loving mother and grandmother. She was a devoted Christian and a member of Harbor of Praise Church in Bentonville.
She treasured her grandchildren, spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoyed crocheting, watching football and working crossword puzzles.
Survivors include her husband, pastor Roy Roughton of the home, they were married Dec. 21, 1961; six children, Arthur Roughton and wife Karen of Bentonville, Brian Roughton and wife Raychelle of Pineville, Tony Roughton and wife Crystal of Pineville, Richard Roughton and wife Robbi of Anderson, Frank Roughton of Pea Ridge and Michelle Lewis and husband Ben of Centerton; her brother, Robert Moore of Washburn; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation was Tuesday at Harbor of Praise Church.
Funeral service is at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, at Harbor of Praise Church, in Bentonville, with pastor Ronald Roughton and the Rev. Orville Brandon officiating.
Interment will follow in the Oaks Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th, Rogers.
Online condolences tobentoncountyfuneralhome.com.
Vondeleete Lucille Summey
Vondeleete Lucille Summey, 86, of Wichita, Kan., died Dec. 19 in Goddard, Kan. She was born Jan. 16, 1929, in Greensburg, Kan., to Edgar W. Stephenson and Gladys Mary Davison Stephenson.
Vondeleete worked her entire life for Southwestern Bell. She moved to Pea Ridge in 1986 and lived seven years before moving to Pratt, Kan., to make her home. Vondeleete’s name was derived from Vaughn De Leath a popular female singer in the 1920s. She served on the Pratt Regional Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary and was a member at the United Methodist Church in Pratt.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Summey; a brother, Donald Stephenson and a sister-in-law, Darlene Stephenson.
Survivors include a nephew, Donald Murphy of Wichita, Kan., and a niece, Pam Smith of Burlington, Kan.
Graveside service was Tuesday, Dec., 22 at Mountain Community Cemetery.
Arrangements are with Sisco Funeral Home in Pea Ridge.
Online condolences at siscofuneralhome.net.
Max Walker
Max Walker, 95, of Pea Ridge, died Friday, Dec. 18, at Concordia Nursing Home in Bella Vista. He was born Jan. 22, 1920, in Pea Ridge.
Mr. Walker served in U.S Army from January 1943 until discharge in November 1945. He made the D-Day landing on Omaha Beach with the 29th Infantry Division and was critically injured on Aug. 1, 1945. Over the last 70 years, Max actively served the Pea Ridge community as a rural letter carrier and member of the Pea Ridge United Methodist Church, VFW, Lions Club, and numerous other civic organizations.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Mildred Walker; a daughter, Betty Greene; and numerous siblings.
Survivors are a son-inlaw, Haryle Greene of Pea Ridge; two grandsons, Travis Greene of Rogers and Matt Greene of O’Fallon, Ill.; and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside service was Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Pea Ridge Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Sisco Funeral Home in Pea Ridge.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pea Ridge Veterans Memorial, c/o Sisco Funeral Home, P.O. Box 54, Pea Ridge, AR. 72751
Online condolences at siscofuneralhome.net.
James ‘Pete’ Woodard
James “Pete” Woodard, 80, of Rogers died Saturday, Dec. 19, at his home. He was born May 11, 1935, in Harrison.
He moved to Rogers in 1951 to make his home. He was a member of the Army National Guard and was employed by Hudson Foods Hatchery for 23 years as manager in poultry and husbandry and later as supervisor of grounds keeping for 11 years. He loved being outdoors, mowing and gardening, and also enjoyed woodworking. He was a member of Eastside Assembly of God Church.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters.
Survivors include his wife Shirley of the home; one daughter, Mitzi Lynn Erickson and Bruce of Mesquite, Texas; one son, David N. Woodard and Wendy of Rogers; one brother, William N. Woodard of Springdale; four granddaughters Jessica, Kayla, Tya and Amanda; and five great-grandchildren Tristen, Marlie, Pennie, Alyssa and Luna.
Cremation was by Sisco Funeral Home of Pea Ridge.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Online condolences at siscofuneralhome.net.