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3/27/2002

Arley M. Bailey


Graveside services and burial for Arley M. Bailey, 76, who died Wednesday, March 20, 2002, in Mannford, Okla., were at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at the Sherrellville Cemetery following a service at 10 a.m. at Mark Griffith Memorial Funeral Home-Riverside Chapel in Sand Springs, Okla. Rev. Dan Larremore officiated.

He was a native of Estelene, Texas, member of Christian Renewal Church in Sapulpa, Okla., and owner of Arley’s Pest Control.

Survivors are his widow, Mary Sherrell Bailey of the home, formerly of Johnson County; one son and daughter-in-law, Clint and Marsha Bailey of Mannford, Okla.; one brother, Jim Crawford of Sapulpa, Okla.; one sister, Shirley Lee of Bristow, Okla.; six grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Col. Bill Hightower Sr.


Retired Air Force Col. John William (Bill) Hightower Sr., 62, died March 7, 2002.

He was a son of the late Martha Raye Shores Hightower, 1958 graduate of Ardmore (Oklahoma) High School, and obtained a bachelor of arts degree from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.

He served 28 years plus in the United States Air Force, was a senior commander pilot, served tours of duty in Vietnam, Japan, Philippines and Korea, and was the Air Force attache for the U. S. Embassy in Lima, Peru. He was awarded the distinguished flying cross with two oak leaf clusters, defense meritorious service medal with three oak leaf clusters, air medal with 21 bronze stars, Air Force commendation medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army commendation medal, distinguished presidential unit citation with three oak leaf clusters, joint meritorious unit medal, Vietnam campaign medal, Vietnam service medal with six bronze stars and the legion of merit. Upon his retirement, he returned to Ardmore where he served as the executive director with the Ardmore Main Street Authority.

He was a member of the Military Order of Daedalions, past president of Southern Oklahoma Retired Officers Association, Rotary Club, Mason, Defense Intelligence Agency Alumni, and the Confederate Air Force.

Survivors are his widow, Deanne Roring Hightower; two sons, James Quinton and John William Hightower Jr., both of Ardmore, Okla.; two daughters and one son-in-law, Lori Elizabeth Hightower of Ardmore, Okla., and Amy Rayeanne and Billy Jack Eaves of Wilson, Okla.; one grandson, Billy Jack Eaves Jr. of Wilson, Okla.; father, Quinton Hightower of Duncan, Okla.; one brother, Robert Hightower of Little Rock; aunt, Elizabeth Murphy of Ardmore, Okla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral was at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Robert Gorrell officiating. Burial with military honors was at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Billy Middleton


Billy Middleton, 30, of Clarksville died Sunday, March 24, 2002, in Garden City, Ga.

He was a native of Russellville, steel construction commercial building employee, and was preceded in death by his grandparents, Rosie and Dena Middleton; and one sister, Michele Denise Middleton.

Survivors include his widow, Wendy Suzanne Middleton; one daughter, Shelli Middleton of Roland, Okla.; one son, Slade Middleton of Clarksville; parents, John and Anna Myers of London and William and Paula Middleton of Yukon, Okla.; grandparents, Harvey and Faye Severn of Decatur; sister and brother-in-law, Debra and Bill England of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one brother, Michael Middleton of Yukon, Okla., and father-in-law and mother-in-law, James and Debra Decker of Clarksville.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 30, at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel with Rev. Wayne Drain officiating. Burial will be in Hess Cemetery at Coal Hill.

Pallbearers will be David Lee Dunlap, R. D. Dunlap, Michael Lee Shepherd, Larry James Smith, Jody Smith, Jimmy Jack Butler, David Bruce Dunlap Jr., Daniel Wayne Dunlap Jr., and Andy Butler.

Visitation will be from 7-8 p.m. Friday, March 29, at Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Coyle E. James


Coyle E. James, 80, of Gravois Mills, Mo., died Monday, March 18, 2002, at his home.

He was a son of the late Luther James and Byance Phelps James, Army veteran of World War II, member of Hartman Lodge, and General Motors Corporation employee.

Survivors include his widow, Pauline Fetters James; three daughters, Jo Ann Cole of Hartman, Kathryn Macial of Kansas City, Mo., and Jeanne James of Gravois Mills, Mo.; two sons, Paul James of Kansas City, Mo, and Coyle James Jr. of DeSoto, Kan.; two sisters, Reesie Patterson and Laquita Hanik, both of Clarksville; one brother, Fred James of Benton, Ky.; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial graveside services, masonic rites, and burial were at 11 a.m. Friday, March 22, at Hartman Cemetery with Rev. Bill Usery officiating. Local arrangements were under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.

Eva A. Haviland


Eva A. Haviland, 75, of Lamar died Monday, March 25, 2002, at AMI St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville.

She was a native of Dearborn, Mich., daughter of the late Ralph and Alta Jones Neeley, widow of Rex Haviland, and a Baptist.

She is survived by two daughters, Emma Searight of Lamar and Beverly Mooney of Clarksville; two sons, Charles Haviland of Muldrow, Okla., and Louis Haviland of Fort Smith; two sisters, Annabell Baughman and Bertha Covey, both of Indiana; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Graveside services and burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 29, at Lamar Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Faye E. Ford


Faye E. Ford, 83, of Clarksville died Tuesday, March 19, 2002, at her home.

A native of Magazine, she was a daughter of the late Boodie James and Hazel Dell Kern Mikles, widow of James Randolph Ford, graduate of Magazine High School, attended the University of the Ozarks, member of TTT Society and Johnson County Senior Democrats, 50-year member of Clarksville Chapter No. 172 Order of the Eastern Star, charter member of Clarksville Supper Club, and was preceded in death by one grandson, Thorpe Hamilton III.

She is survived by three daughters, Connie Hamilton of Clarksville, Marilyn Brian of Hot Springs, and Penny Smith of Russellville; five grandchildren, Savannah Taylor of Clarksville, Michele Wood of Springdale, James Traylor of Sherwood, Melissa Carter of Roland, Okla., and Elizabeth Bruns of Fayetteville; and nine great-grandchildren.

Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at Oakland Cemetery with Rev. Lowell Eaton officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Honorary pallbearers were Trever Wood, Ty Wood, Keaton Hamilton, Paul Taylor, Josh Bruns, James Traylor, Fred Wood, and Bert Burris.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church,
P. O. Box 535, Clarksville, AR or the University of the Ozarks, 415 North College Avenue, Clarksville, AR 72830.

Geraldine Gwartney


Geraldine Walker Gwartney, 69, a native of Clarksville, died March 17, 2002, in Carmichael, Calif.

She was preceded in death by one son, Rex.

Survivors are one son, Steven; one daughter, Luanne Calafiore; three grandchildren, Rex Jr., Lindsay, and Jeremy; one great-grandchild, Anthony; mother, Margaret Walker; one brother and sister-in-law, John and Delores Walker; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Virginia and Jack King, Patricia and George Menchaca, and Dorothy Kendall; and numerous nieces and nephews.

No services were held.

Memorials may be made to the cancer research of the donor’s choice.

Harmon Cossey


Harmon Cossey, 85, of Coal Hill died Thursday, March 14, 2002, in a Fort Smith hospital.

A native of Newton County, he was a son of the late William Andrew and Effie Horn Cossey, veteran of World War II, retired master carpenter and a member of the DAV, Johnson County Senior Activity Center, and Coal Hill Baptist Church.

Survivors are his widow, Geneva Norris Cossey; two sons, David C. Wilker Sr. of Waterford, Calif., and Harmon Ray Cossey Sr. of Clovis, Calif.; one daughter, Barbara Lukinovich of Merritt Island, Fla.; one sister, Rosamund Cossey of Clarksville; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, at the U. S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith with Rev. Donald Youker officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.

James R. Crask


James R. Crask, 72, of Clarksville died Tuesday, March 19, 2002, at his home.

He was a native of Owensboro, Ky., formerly of Evansville, Ind., son of the late Wesley Crask; Catholic, and a machinist.

Survivors include his widow, Ruth I. Crask; four daughters and sons-in-law, Beckie and Jim Dodge and Kelly and Ken Stibal, all of Apple Valley, Calif., Annalee and Royell Storing of Clarksville, and Nancy and Garry Matheny of Rumania; one son and daughter-in-law, James G. and Kathryn Crask of Colorado Springs, Colo.; mother, Mary Martine Lynxwiler of Evansville, Ind.; two sisters, Cora Sue Preske of Evansville, Ind., and Rose Layman of Yreka, Calif.; two brothers, Charles Bristow of Tucson, Ariz., and Joseph Bristow of Owensboro, Ky.; one aunt, Dorothy Wells of Yuma, Ariz.; 21 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; 18 nieces; and seven nephews.

Funeral will be in Evansville, Ind., with burial in Bethabra Cemetery in Folsonville, Ind. Local arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Judy Sullivan Feller


Funeral for Judy Sullivan Feller, 56, of Barling, who died Thursday, March 14, 2002, was at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Smith with Rev. Steve Holyfield officiating. Burial was at Coal Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Crisis Center for Women, 401 Lexington Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901.

She was a daughter of the late Weda Faye Brasher Sullivan, native of San Diego, Calif., and member of Barling United Methodist Church.

Survivors include two sons, Wade and Marshal Fender, both of Fort Smith; father, Bill Sullivan of Fort Smith, formerly of Coal Hill; and one brother, Larry Sullivan of Fort Smith.

Lavell Kyle


Lavell Kyle, 70, of Hartman died Tuesday, March 19, 2002, at UAMS Hospital in Little Rock.

She was a native of Hartman, daughter of the late Joseph Clyde and Virginia Reeves Stallings, widow of James E. Kyle, Methodist, cook at Westside School at Coal Hill, member of Coal Hill VFW Auxiliary, and was preceded in death by one daughter, Joyce Crowson; and one brother, J. D. Stallings.

She is survived by two sons, Bruce Kyle of Madison, Ala., and James Allen Kyle of Russellville; three sisters, Lawana Douthit, Fannie Jean Fowler and Joan Stiles, all of Hartman; one brother, Conrad Stallings of Bonita, La.; and three grandchildren, Chena Crowson of Hartman, and Rachel Kyle and Mikayla Kyle, both of Madison, Ala.

Funeral was at 2 p.m. Friday, March 22, at the Hartman Methodist Church with Rev. Chris Rink officiating.

Burial was at West Mount Zion Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Tommy Garner, Randy Pointer, Mike Wilson, Mike Reeves, Larry Hogue and Jim Reeves.

Margie S. Crowder


Margie Spencer Crowder, 100, of Russellville died Monday, March 18, 2002, at AMI St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

A native of Rudy, she was a daughter of the late Lewis Dee and Rachel Madeline Coleman Spencer, member of Lamar United Methodist Church, former 29-year plus employee of Mack’s & Rephan’s Department Store in Russellville, past matron and former member of London Chapter No. 549 Order of the Eastern Star, and member of the Senior Citizens Club and the American Association of Retired Persons. She was preceded in death by one son, Hobert Edwin Crowder; and two sisters, Nellie Spencer and Virgie Spencer Barger.

Survivors include one daughter-in-law, Virgie George Crowder of North Bend, Ore.; three grandchildren, Linda Crowder Manous of Coos Bay, Ore., Brenda Manous Tetreault of Dover, Del., and Joshua Levi Manous of Portland, Ore.; one great-grandson, Harrison Michael Tetreault of Dover, Del.; one nephew, Ray Paul Barger of Oregon; two nieces and nephews-in-law, Ann and Bill Park of Clarksville and Louise and Wilburn Williams of Illinois; and two caregivers, Barbara Capehart and Elizabeth Guston, both of Russellville.

Funeral was at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at Shinn Funeral Service Chapel in Russellville with burial in Lamar Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers were members of the Order of Eastern Star.

Memorials may be made to the Order of Eastern Star Benevolence Fund.

Nancy L. Melton


Nancy Lorene Melton, 65, of Knoxville died Tuesday, March 19, 2002, at her home.

She was a member of Cabin Creek Baptist Church, daughter of the late Marvin Perry Estepp, and was preceded in death by one sister, Judy Vay Fulfer.

Survivors include her husband, Bobby Lee Melton; three daughters, Jacqueline Ann Coulter of Lamar, Deborah Mae Shay of Knoxville, and Pamela Sue Blasczyk of Russellville; one son, Bobby Neal Melton of Knoxville; mother, Vera Mae Skelton Estepp of Clarksville; two brothers, Jack Edward Estepp of Rogers and Marvin Perry Estepp Jr. of Texas; ten grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral was at 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 22, at Roller-Cox Chapel with Rev. Clyde Vire officiating. Burial was in Knoxville Cemetery.

Active pallbearers were Terry Shaffer, Wesley Shay, Todd Watson, Lonnie Mize, Damon White, and Steve Blasczyk.

Honorary pallbeares were Larry Coulter and Kristopher Melton.

Orville N. Rogers


Orville Noah Rogers, 74, of Clarksville died Thursday, March 21, 2002, at St. Vincent Hospital in Little Rock.

He was a Navy veteran, member of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, retired employee of Roller-Cox Funeral Home, son of the late Orville Noah and Mary Rosencran Rogers, and was preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Stotts and Carolyn Rogers.

Survivors include his widow, Murieta Miracle Rogers; one daughter, Dona Arlene Caldwell of Sheridan; two sons, Charles Irvin Sanford of Kansas City, Mo., and Larry Eugene Rogers of Dardanelle; one brother, Robert Eugene Rogers of Moline, Ill.; and six grandchildren.

Funeral was at 2 p.m. Monday, March 25, at the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Vernon Bass officiating.

Burial was in Mt. Airy Cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Rip Teal, Wendall Lee, Ronnie Ashlock, Ronnie Sexton, Duane Steele, and Milton Teal.

Robert Lightner Jr.


Robert E. Lightner Jr., 43, of Hartman died Tuesday, March 26, 2002, at his home.

A native of Oklahoma City, Okla., he was a member of Stillwell Bible Baptist Church and a wood carver.

Survivors are his parents, Robert and Maxine Lightner of Hartman; two sisters, Sheryl Killough of Coal Hill and Debby Lightner of Oklahoma City, Okla.; three nephews, Jessy Blackburn of Coal Hill and Eric Crofford and Gary Crofford, both of Oklahoma City, Okla.; two nieces, Cherice Goleman and Amy Killough, both of Coal Hill; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday, March 29, at Stillwell Bible Baptist Church with burial in Bethlehem Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Sally J. Warren


Sally Jane Wheeler Adams Warren, 89, of Ozone died Sunday, March 24, 2002, at her home.

She was a member of Salus Free Holiness Church, daughter of the late John and Mary Jane Hampton Wheeler, and widow of Oral Henry Adams and Manley D. Warren.

She was preceded in death by one son, Arnold Warren; one sister, Hazel Wheeler; five brothers, Finis Wheeler, Edward Wheeler, Lester Wheeler, Henry Wheeler, and Bonds Wheeler; two grandson, Curtis Plummer and David Plummer; one great-grandson, Kyle Shahan; and one son-in-law, George Murray.

Survivors include eight daughters and six sons-in-law, Lillian Murray of Lamar, Eileen and Gailard Hopkins of Udall, Kan., Iva and Carl Sory and Violet Adams, all of Ozone, Ava and Kenny Provance of Adair, Okla., Nadene and David Clayton of Indianapolis, Ind., Darlene and Don Sullivan of Plainfield, Ind., and Patty and George McElhany of Clayton, Ind.; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Robert (Bud) and Betty Adams and Leroy (Lee) and Janette Adams, all of Udall, Kan., and James (Jim) Adams of McPherson, Kan.; two stepdaughters, Irene Raymond of Elk City, Kan., and Juanita Brinkman of Coffeyville, Kan.; five stepsons, Hartsel Warren and Bobby Warren, both of Clarksville, Argus (Doc) Warren of Lamar, Delbert Warren of Belfair, Wash., and Kenny Warren of Quinlan, Texas; one sister, Emoline Tennison of Lurton; five brothers, Sam Wheeler and George Wheeler, both of Parkville, Mo., James Wheeler of Russellville, Zelmer Wheeler of Log Hall, and Raymond Wheeler of Dover; 31 grandchildren; 59 great-grandchildren; 18 great-great-grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; and nine stepgreat-grandchildren.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, at Salus Free Holiness Church with Rev. Robert Boen officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at Udall Cemetery in Udall, Kan. Arrangements are under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.

Active pallbearers will be Tom Murray, Doug Plummer, Michael Adams, Donnie Terry, Jim Shahan, and Lance Hopkins.

Honorary pallbearers will be Brad Adams, Aaron Adams, Joshua McElhany and grandsons.

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