George M. Taylor Jr.
George M. Taylor Jr., 78, of Clarksville died March 23, 2009, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
He was a native of Clarksville, son of the late George M. and Lou Elkins Taylor, graduate of Fort Smith High School and the University of Arkansas, member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, Overland Park Host Lions Club, Abdullah Shrine, Scottish Rites, Dwight Cowle American Legion Post, and the First Presbyterian Church in Clarksville, served in the U. S. Navy, and retired after 36 years as a pharmaceutical representative for Proctor & Gamble.
Survivors include his wife, Gaye Taylor; one son, George M. (Kristi) Taylor III of Evansville, Ind.; one daughter, Stephanie Taylor of Kansas City, Kan.; two stepsons, James (Florence) Johnson of Springdale and Robert Johnson of Jacksonville, Fla; seven grandchildren, Lauren and Erin Taylor, Eric (Lisa) Johnson, Rachel (David) McWhorter, Nicole Ascheman, Jessica Johnson and Robert Johnson; and one great-grandchild, Tyler Johnson.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Marci Ward officiating.
Burial was in Mt. Airy Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Lonnie Qualls, Eugene Harris, Bill Porter, Billy Dickerson, Bill Holder, Doug Belote, Charles Burcham, and Denton Tumbleson.
Honorary pallbearers were Winston Hardin and Henry Walton.
Gladys Mae Sparks
Gladys Mae Sparks, 87, of Clarksville died Friday, March 27, 2009, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
She was a native of Newton County, daughter of the late Pete and Myrtle Mae Harris Holt, widow of Russell Ernest Sparks; and was preceded in death by three sons, Robert Duane Holt, Roy (Sonny) Sparks, and Michael Wayne Joseph Sparks; two sisters, Jewel Holt and Opal Spitler; and three brothers, Gene Holt, Elmer Holt, and Richard Holt.
She is survived by six daughters, Jimmie F. Peters of Fayetteville, Thelma Jean Atkins of Peggs, Okla., Sylvia Smith of Lincoln, and Brenda Sue Higgs, Linda Lou Wood, and Ronda Lee Sparks, all of Clarksville; two sons, Carl Lee Sexton of Barling and Billy Dean Sparks of Booneville; one sister, Ruby Holt of Dennison, Texas; one brother, Wilburn Holt of Idaho; one stepchild, Troy Sparks of Dardanelle; 23 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, at New Hope Church of the Nazarene in Clarksville with Rev. Glenn Newton officiating.
Burial was in Annie's Chapel Cemetery east of Hagarville under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Grandsons served as pallbearers.
Levon (Dutch) Betnar
Levon (Dutch) Betnar, 78, of Clarksville died Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
He was a native of Pettigrew, son of the late Glen and Myrtle Hamilton Betnar, member of Trinity Chapel Pentecostal Church of God, King's Men, and Senior A.R.M., and retired employee of Bibler Brothers after 27 years of service.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Betnar; one daughter, Diana Sue Cowell and husband, Gerald, of Clarksville; two sons, Larry Betnar of Fort Smith and Ronnie Betnar and wife, Karen, of Clarksville; one sister, Shirley Walker of Clarksville; one brother, Leon Betnar of Clarksville; three grandchildren, Jamie Williams, Callie Pratt and Noel Betnar, all of Clarksville; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Friday, March 27, at Trinity Chapel Pentecostal Church of God with Rev. Terry Schlinker officiating.
Burial was in Oakland Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Gary Johnson, Gary Wilson, Frank Patton, Gary Dickerson, Don Mefford, and Ron Reed.
Honorary pallbearers were Neal Schlinker and Daniel Shipley.
Louise May Farmer
Louise May Farmer, 80, of Clarksville died Sunday, March 29, 2009, at Countryside Manor Nursing Home at Lamar.
She was a native of Gary, Ind., daughter of the late Francis B. and Gladys Brown Smith, widow of Ulysses (Joe) Farmer, and was preceded in death by one daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth Bailey; one brother; and one sister.
She is survived by one daughter, Lana Winchell of Clarksville; two sons, Butch Farmer of Oark and Brian Farmer of Fort Smith; two sisters, Lois Reed of Georgia and Dorothy Aimes of Florida; one brother, Duane Smith of Arizona; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
The body was cremated.
Local arrangements were under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Ollie Collins
Ollie Collins of Fort Smith died Monday, March 23, 2009, in Fort Smith.
She was a daughter of the late Felix and Nancy Willis, widow of Alvin Edward Collins, attended Evangel Temple, and was preceded in death by one son, Robert Lavon Collins; two sisters, Annis Melson and Melvina Martin; and two brothers, William (Buster) Willis and Denver Willis.
Survivors include one daughter, Rita Smith and husband, Greg, of Pocola, Okla.; three brothers, Levi Willis of Clarksville, Dennis Willis of Oark, and Edwin Willis of Knoxville; one sister, Sylvia Norman of Chandler, Okla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral was at noon Thursday, March 26, at Fentress Mortuary Chapel with burial following at the U. S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith.
Active pallbearers were nephews, Rev. Larry Willis, Dwain Melson, Rev. Doyle Martin, Rev. Doug Martin, Tommy Gregory and John Collins.
Honorary pallbearers were nieces and nephews.
Paul N. Rachel
Paul N. Rachel, 94, of Springdale, formerly of Lamar, died Friday, March 27, 2009, at the Circle of Life Hospice House in Springdale.
He was a native of Russellville, son of the late Walter Adam and Lillie Catherine Bramlet Rachel, member of the Church of Christ at Johnson, former sawmill operator in Pope and Johnson counties for many years, former member of the Lamar Church of Christ where he served as elder and Sunday school teacher for many years, and was preceded in death by his first wife, Mildred Lucille Pitman Rachel; four brothers; and four sisters.
Survivors include his wife of 17 years, Vernell (Nell) Selby Rachel; three daughters and sons-in-law, Wanda and Phillip Sanders of Springdale, Bonita and Alan Johnson of Little Rock, and Joyce and Leon Strope of Fayetteville; one stepson, Ron Selby and wife, Lisa, of Sherwood; one sister, Sybil Lloyd of Georgetown, Texas; five grandchildren, Alnita Carroll, Stacie Holloway, Emily Johnson, Tammy Morrison, and Kevin Strope; two stepgrandsons, Jared and Joshua Selby; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Monday, March 30, at the Lamar Church of Christ with Dale G. Brown officiating.
Burial was in Lamar Cemetery under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.
Active pallbearers were Kevin Strope, Levi Strope, Russell Keck, Jared Selby, Phillip Carroll, John Holloway, Juuso Jankama and Joshua Selby.
Honorary pallbearers were Don Tanner, Selby Brown, Edwin Shinn, and Gerald (Butch) Baurichter.
Memorials may be made to the Johnson Church of Christ Building Fund, 5602 Elmore Street, Springdale, AR 72762 or the Circle of Life Hospice House, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR 72762.
Mildred Hubbard
Mildred Irene Rogers Hubbard, 85, of Clarksville died Sunday, March 29, 2009, at Clarksville Health and Rehabilitation Center.
She was a daughter of the late Charles and Alice Rogers, widow of Robert Lee Hubbard, Baptist, and preceded in death by siblings, Harold Rogers and Jane Bunting.
Survivors include two daughters, Linda Hearn and Diana Eden; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services and burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander with Eddie Rogers officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.