Avis B. Hightower
Avis Bivins Hightower, 101, of Hartman died Friday, Jan. 23, 2009, in Russellville.
She was a daughter of the late Wes and Myrtle Stokes Bivins, widow of Carl Hightower, and was preceded in death by three sisters, Ocie Bivins, Verna Bivins Brown, and Ima Bivins.
She is survived by three sisters, Lucille Bivins Baskin of Clarksville, Iola Bivins Powell of Katy, Texas, and Betty Jo Bivins Fowler of Hartman; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at Hardwicke Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Regina Turner officiating. Burial was in West Mount Zion Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Gerald Barichter, Joe Fowler, Mike Fowler, Ben Alfred Hardgrave, David Coffee, and Brian Henderson.
Charles Roberts
Charles Roberts, 72, of Tulsa, Okla., died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in Tulsa, Okla.
He was a native of Hartman, son of the late Vince and Viola Luman Roberts, graduate of Hartman High School, employed as a delivery man and salesperson for various milk companies for 41 years, and was preceded in death by one grandson, Dale Bryan Roberts.
Survivors include his wife, Sonja Cline Roberts; two sons, Charles Emery Roberts and Michael Roberts, both of Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers, Geary Roberts and Larry Roberts, both of Hartman; four grandchildren, Brandon Roberts, Mitchell Roberts, Kirk Roberts, and Angela Brown, all of Oklahoma; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Hardwicke Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Don Alexander officiating. Burial was in Hartman Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Brandon Roberts, Kirk Roberts, Roy Roberts, Jeff Brown, Mike Reeves, and Robert Bartlett.
Darliss D. Vestal
Darliss Jeanne Daniel Vestal, 56, of Montesano, Wash., died Friday, Jan. 9, 2009.
She was a native of Olympia, Wash., attended grammar school in McCleary, Wash., and graduated salutatorian from Elma High School in 1971. She attended the Wishkah Valley Community Church and was a retired employee of the state of Washington in the Department of Social and Health Services after 30 years service.
She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Galen M. Vestal; one son, Wesley Vestal of the home; mother, Wilma Daniel of McCleary, Wash.; two brothers, Dan Daniel and wife, Angie, and Gary Daniel and wife, Connie, all of McCleary, Wash.; one sister, Donna Jones and husband, Richard, of McCleary, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Among the local survivors are one uncle, Devaughn Hale and wife, Lavania, of Lamar; and two aunts, Wanda Daniel Pearson and Nita Daniel Lewis and husband, Herman, of Clarksville.
Funeral was at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Assembly of God Church in McCleary, Wash., with burial at the McCleary Cemetery followed by a time of remembrance gathering at the Wishkah Valley Community Church.
Memorials may be made to Wishkah Valley Community Church Building Fund, 4281 Wishkah Road, Aberdeen, WA 98520.
Donald Hammon Sr.
Donald Preston Hammon Sr., 86, of Westminster, Calif., whose son, John Hammon Sr. and wife, Sherry, reside in Oark, died Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
He was a World War II Navy veteran having served on the US R-9 submarine followed by a career in the oil fields where he invented a scrapper used in drilling oil wells. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Evva Jeane Hammon; one brother, Ed; and two sisters, Alice and Grace.
He is survived by two other sons, Donald Hammon Jr. and wife, Angela, and Glenn Hammon and wife, Michelle, all of California; five grandchildren, Donna Hammon of Clarksville, Teri Arnold and Hannah Hammon, both of California, and Johnny Hammon and wife, Ginger, and Elyse Maag and husband, Philip, all of Oark; six great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; and one stepgreat-great-grandchild.
Cremation services were provided by the Neptune Society.
Ellis Lee Eversole
Ellis Lee Eversole, 84, of South Haven, Mich. died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
A native of Yale, he was a son of the late John D. and Esther Hill Eversole, and farmer.
Survivors include his wife, Fanny Berry Eversole; four daughters, Glenda Adams of Springdale, Glois Picht of Lockesburg, Jane Watson and husband, Ray, of Liberty, Mo., and Joyce Langham and husband, Byron, of Cave Springs; two sons, Ellis Eversole Jr. and wife, Debbie, of Highfill and Danny Eversole and wife, Debbie, of Rogers; 14 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and the mother of his children, Euca Faye Easley of Hiwasse.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Yale Church with Rev. Amos Pledger officiating.
Burial was in Yale Cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Garry Adams, Erwin Harp, Kevin Eden, Gene Thompson, Michael Langham, Caleb Langham, and Daniel Eversole.
Fred Albert Harmon Jr.
Fred Albert Harmon Jr., 84, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, at his home in Portageville, Mo.
A native of Lamar, he was a son of the late Alberta (Bradley) and Fred Albert Harmon Sr., member of the First Baptist Church in Portageville, Mo., U. S. Army and Air Force veteran of World War II having served in the Philippines, retired employee of the University of Missouri Delta Center and Noranda Aluminum, and was preceded in death by one son, Steve Harmon; one grandson, Christopher Hall; and two sisters, Hazel Anthony and Mary Gentry.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Thelma Lucille Owens Harmon; one son, Stan Harmon and wife, Joan, of Aiken, S. C.; daughter-in-law, Lisa Harmon Beasley of Brandon, Miss.; one brother, Bob Harmon of Gile Bend, Ariz.; two sisters, Imogene Uptain of Concord, Calif., and Josephine Tate of Oran, Mo.; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several cousins in the Johnson County area including the Holman, Harmon and George Bradley families, Sally Ladd, Patricia Higgins, and Louise Hayes.
Funeral was at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at First Baptist Church in Portageville, Mo., followed by burial with full military rites at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo.
Memorials may be made to Steve Harmon Bible Memorial Fund, c/o First Baptist Church, 608 DeLisle Street, Portageville, MO 63837.
George Park Sr.
George Park Sr., 82, of Quitman died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, at his home.
A native of Clarksville, he was a son of the late Eugene and Mattie Godwin Park, graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in agriculture, U. S. Navy veteran of World War II, member of the Holland Masonic Lodge at Quitman, and member of the Heber Springs First United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir. He was preceded in death by one son, Marvin E. Park; and six brothers and sisters.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Margaret Ann Roberts Park; one son, George Park Jr. and wife, Diana, of Cypress, Texas; two daughters, Janet Jones and husband, T. J., of Denver, Colo., and Mary Ellison of St. Charles, Mo.; one sister, Flo Darnell of Heber Springs; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at the First United Methodist Church in Heber Springs under the direction of Olmstead Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church and/or One Book Foundation, c/o First United Methodist Church, 11th and Pine Streets, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Luella C. Welborn
Luella Colleen Welborn, 82, of Lamar died Friday, Jan. 23, 2009, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
She was a native of Oakland, Calif., daughter of the late Baxter J. and Luella L. Hartman Coffey, widow of William Pickens Welborn, and member of Lamar Methodist Church.
She is survived by one daughter, Luella C. Williams of Plaquemine, La.; three sons, Michael L. Welborn of Little Rock, Robert S. Welborn of Benton, and William P. Welborn of Kansas City, Mo.; 16 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Robert D. Welborn officiating. Burial will be in Lamar Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be James Calloway, David Welborn, Jonathan Welborn, Preston Welborn, Brian Forehand, and Tristin Williams.
Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Welborn, Robert Welborn, William Welborn, and Dean Castleberry.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the American Emphysema Foundation.
Mary Harris
Mary Bernice Harris, 79, of Dardanelle, sister of Edward Hudson of Knoxville and Charles Hudson of London, died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, at Dardanelle Nursing Center.
She was a native of St. Charles, daughter of the late Leo and Gracie Arnold Hudson, widow of Orbie Lute; and was preceded in death by one daughter, Brenda; and one grandson, Ricky Williams.
Other survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, George and Susan Lute of Jacksonville; one sister, Elsie Lockard; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Gravel Ridge Cemetery with Bill Harris officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Cornwell Funeral Home.
Sammie Lee Melson
Sammie Lee Melson, 81, of Ozone died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009 .
He was a farmer, son of the late Jasper and Anna Elizabeth Kimbriel Melson, and was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jane Wood Melson; one grandson, Jeffrey Criss; one sister, Lossie Wood; and one brother, J. L. Melson.
He is survived by three daughters, Edith Willis and husband, Everett (Ebb), Judy Criss and husband, J. E., and Wanda Criss and husband, Ernest, all of Ozone; two sons, Roy Melson of Oark and Kenneth Melson of Ozone; two brothers, Paul Melson of Wesley and James Melson of Altus; three sisters, Lucy Ritchie of Carrollton, Mo., Mary Russell of Van Buren, and Flarncie Sloan of Wesley; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at Mossville Church with Rev. Bobby Young officiating.
Burial was in Mossville Cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Everett (Ebb) Willis, J. E. Criss, Ernest Criss, Ben Wesley, Sam Fields, and Brad Snow.
Honorary pallbearers were Jody Melson, Jamie Willis, Dustin Criss, and Kaleb Melson.
Wanda B. Smith
Wanda B. Smith, 87, of Lindenhurst, Ill., died Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, at Victory Lakes Continuing Care Center.
She was a native of Hartman, daughter of the late Claude V. and Lizzie Douthit Smith, former employee of Parkview Metals in Chicago, Ill., former resident of Elmwood Park, Ill., prior to moving to Antioch, Ill., in 1982, where she attended the United Methodist Church and was employed by Nu-Way Speaker Products until retirement. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Waldo, Mitch, and Michael; one nephew, Ken; and one sister-in-law, Gloria.
Survivors include one brother, Claude Smith; and nephews and nieces, Claude "Mike" (Ann), Dennis (Brandie), Jim (Sandy), Patrick (Dawne), Walda-Gaye (Bob), Ellen Renee and Mitchell.
Funeral was at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Strang Funeral Home in Antioch, Ill., with Rev. Barbara Good officiating.
Burial will be in West Mount Zion Cemetery near Hartman.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
Zearl Watson
Zearl Watson, 92, of Clarksville died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, at Countryside Manor Nursing Home.
He was born in the Spadra Community, the son of the late John and Anna Stumbaugh Watson, member of the Clarksville Church of Christ where he served as deacon for several years, retired Missouri Pacific Railroad employee, lifetime member of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Ways, and was preceded in death by two brothers, Orville Watson and Noel Watson; and an infant sister.
Survivors include his wife, Alma Wadley Watson; one son, Zearl David Watson and wife, Betty, of Searcy; two grandchildren, David Watson and wife, April, of Knoxville, Tenn., and Zac Watson of Rochester Hills, Mich.; and two great-grandchildren, Mackenzie Watson and Josiah Zearl Watson, both of Knoxville, Tenn.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at the Clarksville Church of Christ with John Ballard, Todd Rabalais and Bob Frost officiating.
Burial was in Oakland Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Elvin Brown, Stan Brown, Norman Sexton, Robert Bartlett, David Watson and Zac Watson.
Honorary pallbearers were Joe Willie Perry and Paul Martin.