OBITUARIES
William Murphy Jones Jr.
William Murphy Jones Jr., 81, of Pine Bluff, Ark., died April
25, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. He was born
Jan. 11, 1936, to William
Murphy
Jones Sr. and Dorris Nolley Jones in Hamburg, Ark.
He was reared and received his early education in Hamburg, graduating from Hamburg High School in 1954. Growing up as a Boy Scout, he became an Eagle Scout and was a member of the Order of The Arrow. He started his stamp collection with National Wildlife Federation “wildlife stamps,” a conservation packet that was prepared for the 1953 Boy Scout Jamboree. He attended a Junior Conservation Camp where he learned more about fishing and hunting and about living in the outdoors. In the summer of 1953 he attended Arkansas Boys State.
After high school graduation, he started his college education by entering a co-op program with Georgia Tech where he worked three months at Crossett Paper Mill and went to school three months.
In 1957, he married Marguerite “Sissy” Robinson and their marriage was blessed with two children, Mary Virginia (Ginger) Jones Cheatham and William (Bill) Murphy Jones III.
On Jan. 2, 1958, he and Sissy moved to Atlanta where he attended and graduated from Georgia Tech University. While at Tech he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He obtained his electrical engineering degree, with honors and accepted a job with AP&L, which later became Middle South Services (Entergy) in Pine Bluff. While at Entergy, he had an opportunity to work as an electrical engineer for the distribution company ESCOM in Johannesburg, South Africa, for five years. After returning from Africa he rejoined the family business as secretary/treasurer, became an integral part of advertising/marketing with the expanded growth of Sissy’s Log Cabin. He was past president of the Arkansas Antiques Association, and an active member of various jewelry associations.
He was a faithful member of Lakeside United Methodist Church for over 50 years where he served on the Board of Trustees. He loved being a member of the Wesley Sunday School class where he served as president for more than 20 years. He always had a special place in his heart for the Watson First United Methodist Church which he often visited. He was a previous board member of the Salvation Army, Kiwanis and Rotary Club. He was a long-time sponsor of Babe Ruth Baseball league at Taylor Field and was inducted into the Babe Ruth Hall of Fame and also sponsored the Torii Hunter Baseball Foundation Scholarship at UAPB in Pine Bluff. He was past president of American Baseball League at Pine Bluff.
He loved nature and outdoors which included hunting and fishing at their hunting club, Split River (in the Delta) with his family and friends. He spent many hours on his back patio watching and feeding his birds and tending to his flower gardens. Most of all, he cherished his family, loved life and people.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother Dr. George Samuel “Sam” Jones.
Survivors are his wife, Marguerite “Sissy” Robinson Jones; daughter, Mary Virginia Cheatham (Kevin) of Pine Bluff; son, William M. Jones III (Sharri) of Pine Bluff; brother, Barry Crisman “Cris” Jones (Eleanor) of Pea Ridge, Ark.; two sisters, Charlotte Virginia McKiever (W.J.) of Monticello, Ark., and Angela Nolley Shelton (Gary) of Little Rock, Ark.; nine grandchildren, Amanda (Mandi) Robinson Motes, Michael Thomas Motes, Mary McGeorge Motes, Marlee Jones Motes, Daniel Marion Cheatham, Shelby Clayton Cheatham, William Murphy Jones IV, Wyatt Champion Jones and Joe Wayne Cook Jr.(Blair).
Visitation was 5-7 Sunday, April 30, in Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Home.
Funeral services were at 2:30 p.m. Monday, May 1, 2017, at Lakeside United Methodist Church with the Rev. Steve Wingo and Pamela Jean Estes officiating.
The committal service was at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 1, 2017, at Gillett Cemetery in Gillett, Ark., preceding the services at Lakeside.
The family wishes to thank his devoted caretakers Dorothy Joshua, Kathleen Stinnett, Khadijah Boyd, Roxanne Hedden, James Baker, Hospice Angels, Arkansas Cancer Institute and Dr. Sue Frigon for their excellent care.
The family has asked that those wishing to leave a lasting memorial consider Lakeside United Methodist Church, 1500 South Olive, Pine Bluff, AR 71601, the Salvation Army, or Baseball Program Taylor Field, P.O. Box 6654, Pine Bluff, AR 71611.
Online condolences: www.ralphrobinsonand son.com.
Ruby A. Oliver
Ruby A. Oliver, 93, of Garfield, Ark., died May 1, 2017, in Rogers, Ark. She was born March 23, 1924, in Pryor, Okla., to Frank and Dorothy William Smith.
She was a member of Eastside Assembly of God Church in Bentonville, Ark.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Sidney, and a son, Robert.
Survivors are her children, Deloris Bailey (James), Charles Oliver (Anna), both of Rogers and Mary DeShields (Donnie) of Garfield; 11 grandchildren; and many greatgrandchildren and greatgreat-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Eastside Assembly of God Church in Bentonville with Pastor Robert Ward officiating.
Arrangements are by Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th, Rogers.
Online condolences to www.bentoncountyfuneral home.com
Pauline Schell Ruddick
Pauline Schell Ruddick, 100, of Pea Ridge, Ark., died Monday,
May 1, 2017, at Earlene
Howard
Hospice
Home in Springdale,
Ark. She was born
Dec. 29, 1916, at Powell, Mo., to John Schell and Sarah Jane Evans Schell.
She moved with her family to Pea Ridge in 1917. She graduated from Pea Ridge High School. On Feb. 2, 1937, she married Harry Russell Ruddick.
She was owner and operator of Pauline’s Beauty Shop in downtown Pea Ridge for 23 years, retiring in 1983. She was a life-long member of Garfield Church of Christ.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, four brothers and three sisters.
Survivors are one daughter, Glenda Burleson (Howard) of Rogers, Ark.; three sons, Gary Ruddick (Wanda) of Bakersfield, Calif., Johnny Ruddick (Sue) of Gravette, Ark., and Kent Ruddick (Celia) of Garfield, Ark.; 11 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 4, in Sisco Funeral Home in Pea Ridge.
Service was held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 5, at Garfield Church of Christ.
Burial was in Buttram Chapel Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made at siscofuneral home.net.
Mark Shipman
Mark Shipman, 49, of Seligman, Mo., died April 18, 2017, in his home.
He was a Baptist believer. He served nine years in the Army National Guard and was deployed during the Desert Storm Conflict. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley Townsend; brother, William Shipman; and two nieces.
Survivors are his sisters, Teresa Taylor, Deborah Arducan, Cynthia Oxford and Julie Cook; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial service was at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at Epting Funeral Home in Bentonville, Ark.
Martin Darren Todd
Martin Darren Todd, 55, of Pea Ridge died April 29 at his home. He was born July 19, 1961, at Hamburg, Iowa, to Jerry Earl Todd and Norma Mae Flactiff Todd.
He was a furnace operator at Superior Wheels, enjoyed playing stringed instruments, and was a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs. He attended Pentecostal Church of God in Rogers.
He was preceded in death by his father; his wife, Wendy Todd; a stepson, Ronnie Reed; and one sister, Laura Mae Todd.
Survivors are his mother, Norma Todd of Pea Ridge; one son, James Todd of Bentonville; one daughter, Jennifer Todd of Springdale; two step-children, Henry Reed and Shawnda Reed, both of Washburn, Mo.; one brother, Jerry Todd of Pea Ridge; one sister, Shelly Spear and husband Richard of Gravette; and several grandchildren. There is no visitation. Graveside services are set for 1 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Pea Ridge Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jerry Todd, c/o Sisco Funeral Home, P.O. Box 54, Pea Ridge, AR. 72751
Online condolences may be made to siscofuneral home.net.
John Thomas Wills
John Thomas Wills, 64, of Garfield, Ark., died Tuesday, May 2,
2017, at Mercy Hospital in Rogers,
Ark. He was born Feb. 16,
1953, in Liberal, Kan., to Raymond Howard Wills and Esther Lela Fast Wills.
He moved to Garfield from Derby, Kan., in December 2016 to make his home. He retired from Ametek Advanced Industries in Wichita, Kan. He enjoyed studying theology, biblical studies and watching movies. He loved fishing, camping, the mountains of Arkansas and attended Garfield Church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister.
Survivors are his wife, Kathy Jo Wills of the home; two sons, Timothy Wills and wife Grace of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Morgan Wills of Derby, Kan.; a daughter, Andrea McKay and husband Gary of Wichita, Kan.; two brothers, Carl Wills of Camp Verde, Ariz., and Loyd Wills of Haysville, Kan.; and one grandchild.
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 9, at Smith Mortuary Chapel in Derby.
Local arrangements were by Sisco Funeral Home in Pea Ridge, Ark.
Online condolences may be made at siscofuneral home.net.