Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Obituaries
John Frank Cheatham
John Frank“J. F .” Cheatham, 88, passed away on Jan. 1., 2017, at Cane Hill Residence in Cane Hill, Ark. He was born in Lincoln, Ark., on March 29, 1928, to Ear land Della Snodgrass Cheatham.
He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Dutch Mills, Ark. He moved to west Texas as a young adult where he married Jewel Clark, his wife of 64 years. He farmed in west Texas for 15 years before moving his family to Arkansas where he and Jewel continued to farm on their poultry and beef cattle farm near Cane Hill. He retired from the Washington County Road Department as road-grader operator and the State of Arkansas Highway Department, where he worked for 30 years, and shortly after he retired from farming.
He was preceded in death by his wife Jewel; his daughter Joy Batson; his parents; five sisters, Ida Mae Choate, Louetta Cheatham, Mary Cheatham, Francis Baer, and Helen Fritch; and three brothers, Elven Cheatham, Clyde Cheatham, and Vol Cheatham.
He is survived by two sons, Johnny Cheatham and wife Anna of Lincoln, Jody Cheatham and wife Darlene of Morrow, Ark., one son-inlaw Dale Batson of Farmington, Ark.; five grandchildren, Dean Cheatham and wife Misty, Karen Lipford and husband Keith, Lisa Rawls and husband Caleb, Brad Cheatham and wife Jennifer, Tara Abshier and husband Patrick; 13 great-grandchildren, Garret, Caleb and Allee Lipford, Derek, Hudson and Kate Cheatham, Alex, Eli, and Jude Abshier, Reagan, Reese, and Caris Rawls, and Titus Cheatham; two sisters, Pauline Batson and husband Jack, and Flossie Bequette; and one brother, Jackie Cheatham and wife Linda.
Funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, at Liberty Baptist Church in Dutch Mills. Burial was in the Dutch Mills Cemetery in Lincoln.
Pallbearers will be Brad Cheatham, Caleb Rawls, Dean Cheatham, Keith Lipford and Patrick Abshier.
Memorials may be made to the Liberty Baptist Church Building Fund.
Online guest book, www. luginbuel. com. Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove, Ark., is in charge of arrangements.
Donald Conner
Donald “Donnie” Conner, 60, of Summers, Ark., passed away Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, at Circle of Life Hospice Home in Springdale, Ark. He was born May 21, 1956, in Prairie Grove, Ark., the son of Paul Marvin and Juanita Lillian (Holt) Conner.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Janet Conner; four children, Jason Conner of Prairie Grove, Jared Conner and wife Lydia of Prairie Grove, Amanda Hester and husband Ben of Moore, Okla., and Daniel Conner and wife Brittney of Cincinnati, Ark.; one brother, Marvin “Slick” Conner and wife Paula of Morrow, Ark.; three sisters, Shirley Pinkerton and husband Wes, Aletta Caswell and husband Wayne and Oleta Danforth and husband David all of Lincoln, Ark.; seven grandchildren, Brodie Hester, Sydnie Walker, Maverick Conner, Dannie Jo Conner, Lilly Hester, Delanie Conner and Keyton Conner.
Funeral service was held at 2 p. m. Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove. Burial was in the White Rock Cemetery in Dutch Mills, Ark. and there was no graveside service.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Rd. Springdale, AR 72762 or the White Rock Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 193, Prairie Grove, AR 72753.
Online guest book, www. luginbuel. com. Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove was in charge of arrangements.
Saylor Grace Gragg
Saylor Grace Gragg, infant daughter of Darrick and Caitlin Pergeson Gragg was received into the loving arms of Jesus on Jan. 6, 2017.
She was p receded in death by grandparents, Johnny and Fern Davis, Robert Pergeson, Richard Gragg, Tommy Mills and Bob Dewitt.
She is survived by her parents; her grandparents, Rick and Lisa Gragg of West Fork, Ark., Keith and Beverly Pergeson, and Shelly and Ron Greninger all of Prairie Grove, Ark.; great-grandparents, Priscilla Pergeson of Prairie Grove, Hazel Gragg of Farmington, Ark., Hugh and Lois Richardson of West Fork, Matilda Mills of Prairie Grove and Opal Dewitt of Joplin, Mo.; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, at Luginbuel Chapel with burial in the Farmington Cemetery, and no graveside services were held.
Online Guestbook, www. luginbuel.com.
Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove was in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Jeanne Hays
Dorothy Jeanne Hays, 92, of Prairie Grove, Ark., died Jan. 2, 2017, at the Willard Walker Hospice Center in Fayetteville, Ark. She was born in Kansas City, Kan., on July 1, 1924.
She retired from Southwestern Bell after 35 years of dedicated service. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Prairie Grove and a member of the Senior Democrats of Northwest Arkansas.
She was preceded in death, by her parents, John Hays and Dorothy Mae Hays; and two stepbrothers, John Hays & Bob Hays, of Kansas.
She is survived by Marie Clark, friend of the home; and two nieces, Belinda Clark, Debbie Phipps, and husband Danny Phipps.
Friends and family are welcome to attend a Celebration of Life service, honoring Jeanne, at the First Presbyterian Church in Prairie Grove on Jan. 22, following the 11 a.m. church service. No other services are scheduled.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 208 E. Bush, Prairie Grove, AR 72753; Friends of Prairie Grove Pound, 314 E. Parks St, Prairie Grove, AR 72753; or the charity of your choice.
Gary Mathias
Gary Mathias, son of former Prairie Grove residents Bud and Be th Mathias, passed away at his home in Grove, Okla ., on Jan. 2, 2017, following his courageous battle with cancer and heart disease.
He was a 1953 graduate of Lincoln High School. Beloved friend to many, he was known for his beautiful wildlife carvings, his wit, and kindness toward others.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson.
He is survived by his wife Jan, three children, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, brother Lynn Mathias and wife Shirley, and many other caring family members and friends.
A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring in Grove. The family requests memorial donations for Gary be sent to Good Shepherd Hospice or First United Methodist Church, both in Grove.
Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove, Ark., is in charge of arrangements.
Robert McChristian
Robert ( Bob) Noble McChristian, 81, of Fayetteville, Ark., died Dec. 31, 2016, at Washington Regional Medical Center. He was born Sept. 26, 1935, in the Bohannan Mountain Community to Hobart and Ella Boyd McChristian.
He was a member of Center Street Church of Christ. He and a select group of friends started Woodrow Hunting Association. He retired from the Fayetteville Road Department after 21 years of service.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; and two sisters.
He is survived by his wife of 21 years, JoAnn Hall McChristian; two daughters, Rebecca Cash and husband Chuck of Rosston, Ark., and Kelly Swisher and husband David of Winslow, Ark.; two sisters, Connie Faye Robbins of Prairie Grove and Cleda Leichner of Fayetteville; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a host of friends.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, at Bohannan Mountain Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made to www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.
Kimberly Shepherd
Kimberly Shepherd , 56, of Prairie Grove, Ark., died Jan. 2, 2016, following a long battle with brain cancer. She was born Aug. 8, 1960, in Jonesboro, Ark., and lived for the past 17 years in Prairie Grove.
Her signature gift of joy, shown through her constant smiling, laughter, and joking around, will be forever remembered. She was a wonderful person who showed love to everyone she came in contact with. She was caring and beautiful inside and out. She loved life, her family and her friends. She will be greatly missed by those she loved and those who loved her.
She was preceded in death by her father, William Warren Byrd; and two sisters, Michele Byrd Hegwood and Gloria Byrd.
She is survived by her husband, Peter, of Prairie Grove; two daughters, Valarie Shepherd and Natalie Dill (Evan), both of Fayetteville; a son, Philip, of Fayetteville; a stepson, Alex, of Boone, N.C.; a grandson, Kellan Dill; her mother, Frances Byrd, of Jonesboro; her brother, Warren (Sammye), of Hanover, Md.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life memorial service was held Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at Moore’s Chapel Funeral Home in Fayetteville. To sign the online guest book, visit www. mooresfuneralchapel.com.