Dorothea Martha Kreipke Smith, 92, of Whittier, Calif., formerly of Lutherville, died Aug. 7, 2009.

She was born near Little Piney Creek to the late William and Katie Kreipke, was a longtime member of St. John's Lutheran Church in East Los Angeles, Calif., and was preceded in death by her husband; two sisters, Clara Blackwell of Clarksville and Lydia Hensley; and four brothers, Ed, Arnold, Martin and Ervin of Lamar.

She is survived by one son, Bruce; and one sister, Irene Tanner and husband, Don, of Wichita, Kan.

Funeral service was at 11 a.m. Aug. 14 at Hillside Chapel of Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, Calif., with Rev. Will Glade officiating.

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Jerry Wayne Burnett, 66, of Hartman died Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.

He was a native of Berkley, Calif., son of the late Kenneth and Mary Davis Burnett, and a truck driver.

Survivors include four sons, Jerry Dean Burnett of Clarksville, Jeff Burnett of  New Mexico, Joe Burnett of Van Buren, and James Robert Burnett of Bullhead City, Ariz.; two sisters, Velda Westman of Cresent City, Calif., and Diane Fortner of Fort Smith; one brother, Charles Burnett of Stonyford, Calif.; 17 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

The body was cremated. Local arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

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John Barnes Coleman, 60, of Russellville, whose son and daughter-in-law, Sean and Jennifer Coleman, reside in Clarksville, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

He was a native of La Crosse, Wis., son of the late John Steilow and Dorothy Anne Barnes Coleman, family therapist at Counseling Associates where he worked with children and a member of Central Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder. He was preceded in death by one sister, DeAnne Warren.

Other survivors include his wife, Cheryl Coleman; two granddaughters, Gwenyth and Madelyn Coleman; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Candy and Carl Conners of Maumelle and their children, Laura Bailey, Brooke Austin and Carl Conners II; and Jody and Randy Clark of La Crosse, Wis., and their son, Jon Coleman.

A memorial service was conducted by Shinn Funeral Service at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, at Central Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dave Schneider officiating.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P. O. Box 1653, Topeka, KS 66601-1653 or to Central Presbyterian Church, 400 W. Main St., Russellville, AR 72801.

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Judy Kay Graham, 49, of Coal Hill died Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident at the eastbound Exit 58 off ramp of I-40 on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 3.

She was born at Waterloo, Iowa, attended Cass Baptist Church, and was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Shannon.

Survivors include her father and stepmother, Robert and Lavonia Graham of Elk Run Heights, Iowa; one sister, Donna Smith of Coal Hill; one brother, Bobby Graham of Ozark; stepfather, Arthur Shannon of Altus; two stepsisters, Tina Phillips of Cedar Ridge, Colo., and Tiny Boswell of Dardanelle; and two stepbrothers, David Boswell of Elk Run Heights, Iowa, and W. H. Boswell of Altus.

The body was cremated. Local arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

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David Lee Vardaman of 2340 Maine Street, Quincy, Illinois passed away in his home on August 31, 2009 at 11:51 p.m.

David was born in Atkins, Arkansas to the late Otis and Lilly Irene Jones Vardaman on January 25, 1934. He grew up in Clarksville, Arkansas and was a member of the Clarksville Church of Christ. Graduating from Clarksville High School, he was an outstanding athlete in both football and basketball, making the All-State team his junior and senior year.

An Army veteran, he attended University of the Ozarks, Clarksville and graduated from Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma in 1959 with a double major in English and Speech  and a double minor in Political and Social Science. He was a resident actor with the Belfry Players, Williams Bay, Wisconsin the summer of 1957 and with the Corning Glass Center Players, Corning, New York the summer of 1958. He attended graduate school at the University of Arkansas and USC in Los Angeles, California.

In addition to teaching school, directing high school theater, and coaching football for 10 years in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri, David worked in the transportation industry for over 20 years.  He headed the export division for Lever Brothers in Los Angeles, was Terminal Manager of Interstate Systems in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and worked for a local company as well.

For many years he was an avid golfer, fisherman and photographer. He loved the poetry of William Shakespeare, Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Lee Masters and Robert Frost, among others.

He was the beloved husband of Lorna Grossman Vardaman, whom he married in Fayetteville, Arkansas on March 31, 1957, the father of two children, and grandfather to four. His children were his pride and joy. His family includes daughter, Wendy Vardaman, PhD and her husband, Thomas DuBois, PhD, of Madison, Wisconsin; one son, Lance Vardaman and his wife, Melisssa, of Macomb, Illinois; grandchildren, Conor (University of Boston), Greer and Brendan DuBois and Lily Vardaman; a brother, Leon Vardaman and his wife, Naomi, of Victoria, Texas; a sister, Pat Vardaman of Austin, Texas; a nephew, Leon O. Vardaman, his wife, Debbie, and their two children, Cory and Kelsey, of Inez, Texas.

David will be cremated and interment will be in the Oakland Cemetery in Clarksville, Arkansas. Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home in Macomb, Illinois and Hardwicke Funeral Home in Clarksville will handle arrangements. Interment and graveyard memorial service will be held in May, 2010 in Clarksville

For anyone wishing to honor David, the family suggest Memorials to Blessing Hospital Hospice Care, 14th and Broadway, Quincy, Illinois 62301, the Salvation Army, Quincy, Illinois or the charity of the donor's choice.

"Dad was loved by all that knew him and will live forever in our hearts."

So was I once myself a swinger of birches;

And so I dream of going back to be there.

-Robert Frost, "Birches"

You may sign the guest book and leave condolences online at clugston-tibbittsfh.com



E. E. Hudson, 82, of Russellville died Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at Legacy Lodge Nursing Home at Russellville, AR.

He was born May 7, 1927, at Clarksville, Arkansas, son of the late Elmer L. and Laura Harvey Hudson, 1944 graduate of Clarksville High School, 1949 graduate of The College of the Ozarks with a BS-Biology degree, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with M Ed, MS degrees, and served 1945-1947 with U. S. Navy, PhM3/c USN Hospital Corps. He taught school at Hackett Public Schools in 1949-1950, Fort Smith High School in 1950-1961, Arkansas Tech in 1961-1992, served as associate professor, department chairman and biology department chairman and was professor emeritus.

He served as president of Arkansas Conference of AAUP, member of Belle Point Lodge No. 20 in Fort Smith, member of Western Arkansas Consistory in Fort Smith, a 32nd degree Mason and served as president of Hudson family association in 1975-1976.

He was a seventh generation Arkansan, a descendant of Edward Hudson who fought with General Francis Marion at the Battle of Gutaw Springs, S. C., in the Revoluntary War. The family arrived in Arkansas in the early 1800s. Tradition says early Hudson ancestors discovered and named Diamond Cave in Newton County in the early 1800s when chasing a bear with dogs.

He is survived by two sisters, Mildred Hudson Blackburn of Russellville and Ilene Hudson Jones of Odessa, Texas; one sister-in-law, Naomi Hudson of Russellville; seven nieces; 11 great-nephews; four great-nieces; nine great-great-nephews; six great-great-nieces and one great-great-great-nephew.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9,  2009, at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel in Clarksville with Rev. Tom Walker officiating. Burial will be at Woodland Cemetery with graveside military honors.

Active pallbearers will be Justin Hudson, Ken Guston, Charles Oates, John David Farrell, Dr. Blake Stevenson, Dr. Dick Cahoon, Bret Stevenson and Ron Knost.

Honorary pallbearers will be Arkansas Tech University biology department staff and Wendell Self.

Visitation was held from 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Memorials may be made to Woodland Cemetery Association, P. O. Box 231, Clarksville, AR 72830 or E. E. Hudson Scholarship, ATU, Box 8820, Russellville, AR 72801-2222.


Born: May 24, 1915 in Franklin County AR and raised in Grenades Chapel. Attended school at Grenades Chapel.

Age: 94

Passed: Septemer 2, 2009

Son of the late James (Jim) and Hattie Nichols Hardcastle of Ozark, AR

Served in the Civil Conservation Corp. in the States of Arkansas and Idaho. Proudly served in the military during WWII, sailing from New York City and landing on the shores of LaHarve, France. Was in many major battles of the war including The Battle of the Buldge. Served in Germany, Belgium, France and England where he was rewarded several medals in recognition of his service, and was entitled to wear European African Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon, two overseas bars and Victory Ribbon. After returning home from the war he was able to pursue his dream of farming. He enrolled in "GI" school for farming, under the direction of Jimmy Styles of Hartman. He later purchased a farm in Franklin Co., AR. His main crop on the farm was peanuts and he raised many cattle.  He grew huge gardens and row crops and carried that love of gardening over into present time, being well known throughout Johnson County where he has supplied his many customers with fresh garden vegetables each summer.

Owned and operated Hardcastle General Merchandise Store in Franklin Co., AR for many years.

Preceded in death by his loving wife of 56 years Jewell Highfill Hardcastle; sisters, Ocena Sutliff of Paris, AR, Effie Hardcastle of Ozark, Ella Lovell, Ozark, Lena Parker of Ozark, Imogene Stouffer of Ozark; brothers, John Hardcastle of Coal Hill, Edward (Sonny) Hardcastle of Van Buren, and Everett Hardcastle of Fort Smith.

Charter member of Centerpoint Baptist Church and 40 plus year member and usher of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, Clarksville.

Lifetime member of the American Legion. Board member of the Salvation Army.

Survived by his loving wife of 11 years Anna Acord Hardcastle; two daughters and sons-in-law, Becky and Guy Cox of Conway and Regina and Raymond Williams of Fayetteville; one son, Larry Hardcastle of Pottsville; granddaughters, Teresa Williams Conquest and husband, Michael Conquest, of Lamar, AR, Brenda Williams Martin of Springdale, AR, Courtney Cox Nowotny and husband, Justin Nowotny, of Conway, Chrissy Hardcastle McCarley of Hodges, Alabama, Sabrina Hardcastle Kirkpatrick and husband, Barry, of  Hackett; grandsons, Brian Hammond of Clarksville, Kevin Williams of Fairbanks, Alaska and Safford, Arizona, and Travis Hardcastle of Fort Smith; great-grandchildren, Laura Conquest of Lamar, Summer Nicole Conquest of Rogers, Ashley Conquest Clement and husband, Tom Clement, Cheyenne Varnell, Jocelynn Martin and Emily Martin, all of Fayetteville, Brittany Williams of Safford, Arizona, Savannah Lopez, Marque Lopez of Safford, Arizona, Liam James Nowotny of Conway,  Grace, Tanner and Logan McCarley of Hodges, Alabama; one great-great-grandson, Colton Lee Clement of Fayetteville; one sister, Mary Hardcastle Opper of Quinlan, Texas; two stepdaughters, Mary Birkhahn of Lamar and Anita Pitts of Little Rock; two stepsons, Bill Acord and Glenn Acord of Clarksville; and also survived by his many loving friends at Landmark Church, numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Visitation will be held at Hardwicke Funeral Home on Monday, September 7, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Services will be held at Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Clarksville with Brother Kenneth Ashlock and Rev. Vernon Bass officiating on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 2:00 PM. Burial will be at Kendall Cemetery with military honors.

Active pallbearers will be Michael Conquest, Darrell Wheeler, Bill Stewart, Houston Pitts, Dale Caldwell, Bill Acord, Stephen Sosebee, Glenn Acord, and Mina Loy (Rip) Teal.

Honorary pallbearers will be Norman Fortney, Jerry Birkhahn, Kenneth Hardcastle, Don Hardcastle, Robert Sutliff, Terry Hardcastle, Terry Highfill, Tom Clement, Jimmy Ray Taylor, Peter James Opper, Mike Jacobs, Gary Jacobs, Billy Parker, Wayne Pyron, and Lester Stone.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, 504 East Cherry Street, Clarksville, AR 72830 or Department of Health Hospice, 1219 South Rogers, Clarksville, AR 72830.