OBITUARIES
Lester Franklin Brace
Lester Franklin Brace, 75, of Avoca, Ark., died April 22, 2017, in his home, surrounded by those he loved. He was born in 1941 to Ernest Brace and Elsie Guyll Brace.
Mr. Brace was a celebrated local musician and often performed his favorite hymns or songs he had written at his home church. He was a restraunteur and owned several local restaurants. He also owned an appliance repair business for several years.
He loved the Lord and spent time daily reading and studying the Bible. He loved to watch and play sports, going to Silver Dollar City, watching westerns, and just spending time with family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Michael Brace; and a granddaughter, Casey Brace.
Survivors are his wife of 41 years, Debbie Martinez Brace, of the home; and five children, Timothy Brace and his wife Alana, Kevin Brace and his wife Sharla, and Matt Brace, all of Avoca, Jeff Brace of Pineville, Mo., and Rachel Brace Ramos and her husband Roger, of Rogers; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Annabell Elders of Hunstville, Glenda Mulkey and Betty Townzen, both of Avoca, and Janet Henson of Rogers; and three brothers, James Guyll of Avoca, Billy Brace of Avoca, and Thomas Brace of Rogers.
Graveside services were at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, in Walnut Hill Cemetery in Garfield, Ark.
Flowers and condolences can be sent to Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers (www.rollinsfuneral.com).
Rose Ann Ross Ford
Rose Ann Ross Ford, 80, of Alford, died April 14, 2017. She was born in Garfield, Ark., on May 21, 1936.
She was a resident of Alford, Fla., for 12 years moving there from Fairhope, Ala. She loved her family fiercely and loyally. Rose also loved helping others, reading, flowers and gardening.
She was preceeded in death by her parents, Howard Ross and Dorothy Ellis Ross; and brother Tom Ross.
Survivors are her husband, Joseph Ford, of Compass Lake, Fla.; daughters, Karen Cluster of Robertsdale, Ala., and Kris Clayton and husband, Wayne, of Compass Lake, Fla.; sons, Matthew Ford, Marshall Ford, Mitchell Ford and wife, Staci, all of Roseville, Calif.; brothers, David Ross and wife, Donna, of Claremore, Okla.; Bob Ross and wife Cathy of Rogers, Ark.; grandchildren, Sarah Frank and husband, D.J., Ryan Cluster, Chelsea Cluster, Makenna Ford, Miley Ford, Makai Ford, Chris Wallace and husband, David; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins.
A memorial will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 7, in the Garfield Church of Christ.
Love offerings may be made to the charity of choice.
Darlene Rose Fryer
Darlene Rose Fryer, 60, of Rogers, Ark., died April 24, 2017, at Circle of Life Hospice Home, Bentonville, Ark. She was born Dec. 23, 1956, in Fayetteville, Ark., to J.B. Dozier and Phyllis Bauder Dozier.
Darlene married Scott Fryer on Aug. 12, 2004, in Pea Ridge, Ark. She worked and retired from McKee Foods in Gentry, Ark., and then attended Ecclesia College in Springdale for a year.
She was preceded in death by her parents, J.B and Phyllis Dozier.
Survivors are her husband, Scott Fryer of Rogers; three daughters, Tracy Bell and husband Roderick of Lowell, N.C., Crissa McMahan and husband Jason of Easley, S.C., and Kimberly Perez of Gastonia, N.C.; seven grandchildren; nine siblings; numerous nieces and nephews; her motherin-law, Carol Fryer of Rogers; and their daughters, Anna Lynn Fryer and Elizabeth Rose Fryer.
Visitation was 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 27, 2017, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, with Pastor Dorothy Wall officiating.
Burial was in Bell Cemetery, Watts, Okla.
To sign the online guestbook, visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.
Sheila Arlene Harlan
Sheila Arlene Harlan, 76, of Holiday Island, died April 24, 2017, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. She was born Feb. 8, 1941, in Eureka Springs, Ark., to Howard and Oneida Bell (Lake) Higgins.
She was the wife of the late Ronald “Ronnie” Harlan who preceded her in death in April 2010.
Sheila was a life-long resident of the area, living most of her years in Rogers. She met Ronnie at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church near Avoca, Ark., where they were married in 1958.
Her favorite pastimes were flower gardening and bass fishing. Sheila was also a great cook, an avid reader and a fan of classic movies, especially Westerns.
She was a devout Christian who served within the Southern Baptist church community for many years. Because of her gifted soprano voice, she was oftentimes asked to lead the church song service or direct Vacation Bible School music programs.
Survivors include her son, Anthony “Tony” Harlan and daughter, Rhonda Mills, both of Ponca, Ark.; grandson, Braden Townsley of Rogers; brother, Gerald Higgins and his wife, Norma, of Garfield; brother, Dennis and his wife, Suzy of Springdale; and five nephews.
A graveside service was held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 28, 2017, in Rogers City Cemetery, where friends of Sheila and her family are invited to join in honoring her memory.
Because Sheila’s greatest passion was fishing and spending time on the river or lake, memorial donations can be made in her honor to the Buffalo River Foundation and its watershed protection effort at www.buffaloriver foundation.org.
Online condolences may be made at www.rollinsfuneral.com.
Lora Elizabeth McGee Little
Lora Elizabeth McGee Little, 38, of Bella Vista, died Friday, April 28, at M.D. Anderson
Hospital in Houston, Texas, after a 16-month battle with cancer.
She was born Oct. 3, 1978, in Blytheville, Ark., to John and Debbie McGee of Bella Vista.
She lived in Missouri with her family before moving to Bella Vista where she started school in the Bentonville School District. She later attended a year of junior high school at Batesville Southside, but subsequently moved back to Bentonville by the end of her eighth grade year.
She was a 1997 graduate of Bentonville High School, where she was an honor graduate and won honors on the track and cross country teams. A University of Arkansas student in the school of architecture, she graduated from the U of A with a Bachelor of Science in 2001. Before graduating, she married her high school sweetheart, Christopher Little, who also attended the University.
Her initial employment was with French Architecture of Bentonville where she worked until the birth of her first child, Ava Elizabeth Little, in 2003. Choosing to be a stay at home mom, Lora left the architecture business behind and later became a mother to Collin Christopher Little in 2009, and then Henry Nathan Little in 2013.
Lora was a consultant with Thrive Life, before being diagnosed in January of 2016 with cancer.
Lora was known for her generosity, kindness, grace, gentleness and love for those who knew her. She made friends easily and even picked up several new close friends among the people that attended her in the several lengthy hospital stays. Nurses and staff marveled how she could endure so much pain and suffering but still be warm and cheerful to those she encountered. The last thoughts she was able to speak before her passing was her love for her family and the need for everyone to be thanked who helped her and her family in the final months.
Lora was known for her great love of family, always looking forward to family reunions and gatherings and she treasured her grandparents, aunts and uncles, and all members of her extended family. She developed and lived among a very wide circle of friends and was loved dearly by a great many people. Her faith and allegiance to the Lord has been a great comfort to those who know she now resides in heaven. She put on Christ in baptism as a young teen and remained faithful throughout her life, worshiping at the church of Christ in Bentonville.
Survivors are her husband, Christopher Little, of the home; a daughter, Ava, 13; sons, Collin, 8, and Henry, 3; her parents, John and Debbie McGee of Bella Vista; a brother, Wesley McGee and wife, Bailey, of Decatur, and their children Josiah, Anna, Noah, Isaiah, Elijah, Silas, Lydia and Grace; maternal grandparents Troy and Joan Almand of Bentonville. In addition, she leaves behind a great many cousins and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents John and Wanda McGee of Monett.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 5, in the Bentonville Church of Christ Lodge, located behind the worship center.
Services will be held this at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 6, in the Bentonville Church of Christ worship center on North Walton Boulevard with retired minister Walton Hook delivering the eulogy.
Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery north of Pea Ridge in a private family ceremony.
A special fund for the Little children is being set up at Arvest Bank with the account number to be established by May 3. Any Arvest Bank will be available for taking the donation once the account number is established. For those wishing to mail a donation, it may be sent it to Lora Little’s Children, P.O. Box 2132, Bentonville, AR 72712, writing “Lora’s Childrens Fund” on the payee line.
Arrangements are by Benton County Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made to www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com.
JoAnn McCool
JoAnn McCool, 71, of Bentonville, died Thursday, April 27, at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville.
She was born May
6, 1945, in Seligman,
Mo. to Jess Columbus
Corn and Lillie May Horn Corn.
In 1963, she graduated from South West High School in Washburn, Mo., and married Sherman McCool June 7, 1963. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Pea Ridge.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Delaina Saylor; and four brothers Ellis, L.B., Eugene and Bill Corn.
Survivors are her husband Sherman McCool of the home; two daughters, Deborah Palarino (Nicholas) of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Deidre Hendricks of Rogers; one brother, John Corn (Joann) of Seligman, Mo.; four sisters, Dovie Mathis (Hank) of Butterfield, Mo., Vela Hall and Doris Eggleston, both of Washburn, and Elsie Hignite (Frank) of Rogers; and six grandchildren, Riley Vanlaningham, Lauren & Nathan Palarino, Hunter and Lilly Hendricks, and Austin Saylor. There was no visitation. Graveside service was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, at Pea Ridge Cemetery.
Arrangements were by Sisco Funeral Home of Pea Ridge.
Online condolences may be made at siscofuneral home.net.