Craig Adkins

Craig Adkins, 35, of Fort Smith died Sunday, June 16, 2002, in Fort Smith.

A native of Fort Smith, he was a brick mason for Adkins Masonry, son of the late Georgeann Russell Adkins and grandson of the late Lee and Emogene Adkins of Coal Hill.

Survivors include his father, Ronnie Adkins of Fort Smith, formerly of Coal Hill; and one brother, Stan Douglas Adkins of Fort Smith.

Funeral was at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 19, at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Smith with Rev. Dale Thompson officiating. Burial was at Steep Hill Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Steve Hurst, Marty Hurst, Wesley Hurst, Kilo Adkins and Shad Adkins.

Denver V. Casey

Denver Verlon Casey, 87, of Olympia, Wash., died Wednesday, June 12, 2002, at Puget Sound Health Center in Olympia, Wash.

A native of Woods Mountain, he was a son of the late A. Y. and Fannie Casey, a farmer in Arkansas for a number of years prior to moving to Washington where he was employed for Simpson Plywood in McCleary and Shelton as a grader until retirement. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Olympia, Wash., and was preceded in death by eight siblings.

Survivors include his widow, Lorene Matthews Casey; two daughters and sons-in-law, Joyce and Don Killough of Krum, Texas, and Deni and Cliff Vinsonhaler of Chico, Calif.; five grandchildren and spouses, Lori and Dary Shelton of Krum, Texas, Lee Ann and Brad Winkler of Carman, Manitoba, Canada, Joy Dawn and Ryan Nelson of Krum, Texas, Danae and John Steadman, Tara and Jeff Vandermate, and Whitney Luper, all of Chico, Calif.; stepgrandchildren, Devon and Aaron Vinsonhaler of Chico, Calif.; 15 great-grandchildren; one stepgreat-granddaughter; one sister, Bernice Parsons of Tecumseh, Okla.; one sister-in-law, Marcie Martin of Clarksville; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Bob McGuire and Rickey Casey of Clarksville.

Funeral was at 11 a.m. Monday, June 17, at Olympic Funeral Home with Don Killough and Paul Portley officiating.

Active pallbearers were Bobby Lumpkin, Tony McConnell, Ryan Nelson, Whitney Luper, Guy Adams, and Bill Duggins.

Honorary pallbearers were member of the Church of Christ in Olympia, Wash.

Eula Jane Baker

Eula Jane Baker, 82, of Altus died Saturday, June 29, 2002, at the Ozark Nursing Home.

She was a retired nurse and clerk at Ozark Hospital, member of the Order of the Eastern Star, daughter of the late William A. and Willie E. Sanders Baker, and was preceded in death by two brothers, Dennis Baker and Byron D. Baker.

She is survived by three nieces, Sherian Rose Bramlett of Altus, Francis Thompson of Kansas City, Kan., and Wilma Johnson of Fort Smith.

Funeral was at 2 p.m. Monday, July 1, at Roller-Cox Chapel with Rev. C. G. Fisher officiating. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery at Paris.

Pallbearers were Robert Bramlett, Terry Masingale, Harold McFadden, Elwood Thompson, Kipp Upton, and Harold Williams.

Elta H. Cochran

Elta Hazel Cochran, 86, of Tulsa, Okla., formerly of Johnson County, died Friday, June 28, 2002, in Tulsa, Okla.

She was a native of Newton County, daughter of the late Lonzo and Bell Plumlee Cowell, and widow of Loys Cochran.

Survivors are three sons, Doug Cochran and Danny Cochran, both of Tulsa, Okla., and Orin Lee Cochran of Elsinore, Calif.; two sisters, Wilma Self of Clarksville and Mable Theibes of Salem, Ore.; and seven grandchildren.

Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, at Pollard Cemetery at Dover under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

G. M. Gerstenberger

Gwendolyn Marie Gerstenberger, 49, of Pierce, Colo., sister of Dr. Terry Kerbs of Clarksville, died Saturday, June 29, 2002, at her home.

She was a native of Fort Collins, Colo., daughter of the late Robert Kerbs, graduate of Highland High School in Ault, Colo., member of the Pierce Methodist Church where she was pianist, former employee of Weld County Social Services and was employed at Larimer County Social Services.

Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Dawn and Larry Bash of Fort Collins, Colo.; mother, Doris Batman Kerbs of Pierce, Colo.; and one sister, Kay Byers of Iowa.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 5, at Pierce United Methodist Church with burial in Roselawn Cemetery in Fort Collins, Colo.

Memorials may be made to the Pierce Methodist Church and/or the Animal Shelter, c/o Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 West 28th Street, Greeley, CO 80634.

Phil W. Taylor

Phil W. Taylor, 70, of Clarksville died Tuesday, June 25, 2002, at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith.

He was a native of Clarksville, son of the late Mattie (Park) and Harve J. Taylor Sr., 1950 graduate of Clarksville High School, and a 1954 graduate of The College of the Ozarks (now University of the Ozarks) with a degree in business administration.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he served on the administrative board and as Sunday school superintendent, a member of the Clarksville Lions Club for 37 years and was the recipient of the "Lion of the Year" award and the Melvin Jones Fellowship award, the highest Lion award, and Belle Grove Lodge No. 410 of which he, along with other family members, donated land for the construction of the Ludwig Masonic building.

He entered the Armed Forces on Sept. 13, 1955, and received basic training at Camp Chaffee before going to Van Nuys, Calif. After discharge from the service, he returned to Clarksville and taught school at Coal Hill for seven years before entering the insurance business where he was owner-operator of Phil Taylor Insurance Agency for 43 years.

He served as president of the Johnson County Teachers Association, the Chamber of Commerce for one year, the Johnson County 4-H Foundation for seven years, the Johnson County Hospital Board from 1972-77 at which time the site was selected for the new facility, the Johnson County Library Board for ten years, the Clarksville School Board, the Johnson County Industrial Development Committee, was a volunteer coordinator of the Green Thumb program for 23 years, member of the University of the Ozarks Booster Club, and was the recipient of the Chamber of Commerce Pillar of Progress award in 1996.

He was elected to the Arkansas Valley Electric Board in 1963 where he served until May 2002, and the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation Board in 1981, where he served as secretary-treasurer, vice chairman, and chairman and on the executive committee from 1988-90 and audit committee from 1999-2002.

He attended the first peach festival held at Ludwig and was selected to serve as marshall of the peach festival parade in 1999.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harve Taylor Jr. and Bob B. Taylor; one sister, Sue Nelle Farris; and three brothers-in-law, Edmond Farris, Dr. H. H. Kennon, and Howard Deeds.

Survivors include his widow, Joanne Willett Taylor; one son and daughter-in-law, Philip and Melody Taylor of Clarksville; two granddaughters, Tegan Taylor and Bethany Taylor, both of Clarksville; four sisters and two brothers-in-law, Juanita Deeds of Fowler, Colo., Polly Kennon of Clarksville, Anna Jane and John Warren of Baton Rouge, La., and Mildred and J. H. Hall of Clarksville; one sister-in-law, May Taylor of Clarksville; five nieces, Mary Jane Stubbs of Shawnee Mission, Kan., Karen Gilley of College Station, Texas, Patty Sue Stiles of Bentonville, Marilyn Crumbley of Atlanta, Ga., and Mitzi Carol Link of Birmingham, Ala.; seven nephews, Robert Ed Farris of Lamar, Lynn Farris of North Little Rock, Tom Taylor of Tulsa, Okla., and Harve Taylor III, Jackie Cline, John M. Hall and Bobby Taylor, all of Clarksville, and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 29, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarksville with Rev. Frank Clemmons officiating.

Burial was in Oakland Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home. Masonic graveside services were by Belle Grove Lodge No. 410.

Active pallbearers were Harve Taylor III, Tom Taylor, Bobby Taylor, Robert Ed Farris, John M. Hall, Jackie Cline, Lynn Farris, Wesley Farris, and Michael Stiles.

Honorary pallbearers were the Methodist Men’s Bible Class, Arkansas Valley Electric and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation board and employees, Clarksville Lions Club, Tom Doss, Leroy Douglas, Joe Hurst, Roy Holben, Walt Looper, Paul Blackard, Robert Ferguson, and Jon Newton.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church,P. O. Box 535, Clarksville, AR 72830, Johnson County Public Library, #2 Taylor Circle, Clarksville, AR 72830, or Clarksville Lions Club Eyeglasses Fund, P. O. Box 288, Clarksville, AR 72830.