James Robert Rinke
James Robert Rinke, 72, died Feb. 9, 2009, in Houston, Texas.
A native of Hartman, he was a son of the late Herbert and Lucille Schweppenstedde Rinke, 1954 graduate of Hartman High School and later that year moved with his family to Wichita, Kan. He also served in the Army Reserves. In 1955, he moved to Tulsa, Okla., and was employed by Texaco prior to being transferred to Houston, Texas, where he remained and retired. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Ronald Rinke, Ralph Rinke, and George Rinke.
Survivors include three sisters, Ruth (Don) Brown of Wagoner, Okla., and Wanda Snyder and Linda Buess, both of Wichita, Kan.; five brothers, Ernest Rinke and Russell Rinke, both of Wichita, Kan., William (Becky) Rinke of Wagoner, Okla., David (Alice) Rinke of Haysville, Kan., and Frank (Mary) Rinke of Derby, Kan.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life service was held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Smith Mortuary in Derby, Kan.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary Faith Center Building Fund, 2300 E. Meadowlark, Derby, KS 67037.
Jesse W. Donaldson
Jesse Walter Donaldson, 68, of Clarksville died Friday, March 20, 2009, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
He was a native of Clarksville, son of the late Boice and Elma Phillips Donaldson, graduate of Clarksville High School, attended Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, former member of the Clarksville City Council for 25 years, member and assistant chief of the Clarksville Fire Department for 41 years, and was preceded in death by his wife, Carla Handley Donaldson.
He is survived by one son, Greg Donaldson and wife, Emmy, of Clarksville; two grandchildren, Jace Donaldson and Greenlee Donaldson, both of Clarksville; and numerous cousins.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, March 23, at First Baptist Church in Clarksville with Rev. Billy Usery and Rev. Darrell Bridges officiating.
Burial was in Oakland Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Billy Helms, Larry Vanover, Jimmy Moore, Dutch Houston, Wesley Kendrick, Steve Brown, Floyd Pledger, and Rick Dailey.
Honorary pallbearers were present and retired members of the Clarksville Fire Department and present and retired members of the Clarksville Police Department.
Kathryn Rose Taylor
Kathryn Rose Taylor, 83, died Saturday, March 21, 2009.
She was a daughter of the late Alex M. and Rose Ritzman Skorez, native of St. Louis, Mo., widow of George Robert Taylor, and member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and the Christian Mothers Society.
Surviving are her children, Robert Taylor of Clarksville, Larry Taylor of Tallahassee, Fla., Richard Taylor of Cumming, Ga., and Karen Gist of New Orleans, La.; and six grandchildren.
Rosary was at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 25, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.
Pallbearers will be Kyle LaRocca, Nic Taylor, Matthew Taylor, Evan Gist, David Taylor, Garner Taylor, and Ron Taylor.
Katrina Dawn Hanson
Katrina Dawn Hanson, 28, of Clarksville died Monday, March 23, 2009, at her home.
She was a native of Ozark, daughter of the late Glenn H. and Lela J. Maxwell, and was preceded in death by one brother, Robert Maxwell, and one sister, Mary Maxwell.
Survivors include her fiancé, Charles Russell Smith II; one daughter, Mary Jane Kelly of Clarksville; two sons, Ian Thai Hanson and Charles Russell Smith III, both of Clarksville; three sisters, Shawndra L. Smith and husband, John, Latvana M. Davis and husband, Tim, and E. Katherine Basham and husband, Eric, all of Clarksville; one brother, Barry A. Russell Jr. and wife, Shela, of Clarksville; 16 nieces; and two great-nephews.
The body will be cremated and a memorial service will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Vicki D. Brown
Vicki D. Brown, 60, of Clarksville died Sunday, March 22, 2009, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
She was a daughter of the late Homer and Dorthy Johnson Clifton, Christian, and preceded in death by one brother, Larry Joe Clifton, and one sister, Patty Clifton.
She is survived by one daughter, Vickie L. Gunn of Bates City, Mo.; one son, Ronnie D. Brown of Odessa, Mo.; two sisters, Barbara Jean Miller of Rich Hill, Mo., and Jane Ikel of Clarksville; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and companion, Jerry Beaman.
The body was cremated.
Walter Harper
Walter (Butch) Harper, 60, of Lamar died Saturday, March 21, 2009, at his home.
He was a truck driver, Catholic, Vietnam War veteran, native of Waco, Texas, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter (Lucille Thomas) Harper Sr., and was preceded in death by one sister, Priscilla McElfish.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma Holt Harper; one son, Scott Harper of Lamar; four sisters, Kay Stone and Sandy Long of Enid, Okla., Mary Chronister of Hector, and Jan Riepenhoff of Casa; two brothers, John Harper of Florida and Ron Payne of West Fork; and one grandchild, Aubry Harper of Lamar.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel with Jeff Holt and Rev. Amos Pledger officiating. Burial was in Lamar Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Mike Holt, James Holt, Josh Holt, Evan Sams, Butch Thomas, Randy Chronister, Sonny Dobbs, Kenny Dobbs, Anthony Dobbs, and Josh McAnally.
Honorary pallbearers were River Valley By Products truck drivers and Shelly Turner.
Memorials
may be made to the American Cancer Research.
Clarence R. Williams
Clarence Russell Williams, Ed. D., 87, of Ozark died Tuesday, March 17, 2009, in Fort Smith.
He was the son of Solen E. and Nancy A. (Russell) Williams of Johnson County, Arkansas. He served in World War II as one of the first three aerial navigators in the U. S. Marine Corps. An educator, artist and musician, he received a bachelor of arts degree in music and literature from the University of the Ozarks, a master's degree in music from the University of Oklahoma and a doctorate in the fine arts from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. For ten years he taught choral music in public schools of Van Buren, AR and Vinita, OK, staging and directing many musical productions.
In 1957, he owned and operated a studio of photography in Ozark, AR and after 1961 taught music, speech, drama and debate as well as music theory while serving as director of the college choir and head of the department of music at the College of the Ozarks (now University of the Ozarks). In 1965 he became director of Harrison Regional Arts and Crafts Center and Educational Research and Development Center in Harrison, Arkansas. These experimental education programs served 29 school districts in seven counties and won state and national acclaim and awards, receiving special commendation from the U. S. Office of Education and were disseminated nation-wide. During this time, Williams also organized the North Arkansas Concert Association which developed into a community-wide project providing concerts for students and an annual series of evening concerts and cultural events such as the Saint Louis Symphony with Walter Susskind conducting; Ballet West; Norman Luboff Choir; Chet Atkins with the Springfield Youth Symphony and many others.
In the late 1970s Williams was highly instrumental in establishing the North Arkansas Community College which is now North Arkansas College, a four-year institution in Harrison. Serving as chairman of the steering committee, he organized a county-wide effort to provide the support needed to establish the college. He has served as writer-consultant for Silver Burdett/Ginn Publishers by providing guidelines for the instruction of musically gifted students. He also wrote for a number of historical and genealogical societies and has published a number of family histories which are now in special collections and archives throughout the country. He is listed in Arkansas Lives, Community Leaders of America, Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans, Dictionary of International Biography, Leaders in Education, Men of Achievement, National Social Directory, Personalities of the South, Two Thousand Men of Achievement and Who's Who in the South and Southwest. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church, Art Education Association, Music Educators' National Conference, Arkansas Art Center, Rotary International (past president, Ozark, AR), Phi Delta Kappa, North Central Arkansas Concert Association (executive director), and the Air Force Association.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Katala (Green) Williams; daughter, Anitra S. Fay and husband, Edgar Fay; son, Russell G. Williams; grandson, Matthew W. Fay and wife, Jessica; and granddaughters, Marissa Williams and Jessica Williams.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at Raymond Munger Memorial Chapel, University of the Ozarks Campus, Clarksville, Arkansas.
Graveside services and burial were at 11 a.m. Monday, March 23, at Highland Cemetery in Ozark. Arrangements were under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home. Prior to the funeral, visitation was held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Shaffer Funeral Home at 2315 W. Commercial in Ozark.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fort Smith Symphony, designated to the Clarence R. Williams Memorial Fund, P. O. Box 3151, Fort Smith, AR 72913.
(Paid Obituary)