Avis C. Day

Avis Laverne Cowan Day, 86, of Heath, Ohio, died Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003.

A native of Harmony, she was a daughter of the late George Monroe and Cornelia Rhea Cowan, widow of Virgil Hansell Day, former beautician in Mrs. A. B. Roster Beauty Shop, Baptist Sunday School teacher, Brownie Troop leader, taught painting, and was a Red Cross volunteer. She was preceded in death by five sisters and one brother.

She is survived by two daughters, Jerry Powell of Newark, Ohio, and Jacquelyn Shrock of Heath, Ohio; one brother, Audra M. Cowan of Fort Smith; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral was at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, at Henderson, Van Atta & Johnson Funeral Home Chapel in Newark, Ohio, with burial at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Heath, Ohio.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Central Ohio, 1984-A Coffman Road, Newark, OH 43055.

Albert P. Hutchinson

Albert Page (Hutch) Hutchinson, 90, a former resident of Clarksville, died Dec. 19, 2002, at Kah Tai Care Center in Port Townsend, Wash.

He was a native of Water Valley, Miss., son of the late William Thomas and Donnie Page Hutchinson, and in 1931, joined the U. S. Navy as a pharmacist mate of the Medical Service Corps. He served at the naval hospital in Portsmouth, Va., and in the Panama Canal Zone. He was assigned to the naval hospital in Pearl Harbor during the Dec. 7, 1941, attack and in September 1950, he was in the 1st Medical Battalion that accompanied the 1st Marine Division during the Inchon Landing and later the liberation of Seoul, Korea. He retired as a lieutenant commander in 1961, and later was employed for Skousen Tax Service as an income tax consultant in San Diego, Calif.

He was an active member of the United Church of Christ in Paradise Hills where he served as president of the congregation for 12 years. For two years he was the moderator of the Association of the United Church of Christ for all San Diego. When he moved to Port Townsend, Wash., in 1988, he joined the congregation of Trinity United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helene Lucille McMakin Hutchinson; and one sister, Laura Clark Torzeski of Clarksville.

Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Charles Abbott of Port Townsend, Wash.; one grandson, Emanuel Abbott of Port Orchard, Wash.; one sister-in-law, Sara Hemphill of Martinez, Ga.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held on Jan. 11 at Trinity United Methodist Church with Rev. Wendell Ankeny officiating. Burial was in Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Townsend, Wash.

Memorials may be made to The Parkinson Foundation, 1501 N.W. Ninth Ave., Dept. P, Miami, FL 33136.

Gregory I. Johnson

Gregory Isaac Johnson, 11, of Conway died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2003, at the Conway Human Development Center.

He was a native of Russellville and preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Bernell Johnson.

Survivors are his father and stepmother, Tim and Tricia West Johnson of the Augsburg Community; mother and stepfather, Sandy and James Chance of Hector; one brother, Travis Johnson of Hector; one sister, Roxanne Johnson of Hector; one stepbrother, Jerrod Palmer of the Augsburg Community; paternal grandmother, Vyonne Johnson of Pottsville; maternal grandparents, George and Gwin Driskill of Hector; great-grandmother, Roxie Carr Blakely of Stockton, Calif.; aunt, Deana Riley of Hector; and an uncle, Allen Driskill.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the Hector Assembly of God Church with Rev. Dean Caldwell and Rev. C. K. Bull officiating.

Burial will be in the Walnut Grove Cemetery at Hector under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.

Active pallbearers will be Travis Johnson, Nathan Gray, Ryan Gray, and Allen Driskill.

Honorary pallbearers will be the staff of the Conway Human Development Center.

Memorials may be made to the Conway Human Development Center, 150 East Siebenmorgen Road, Conway, AR 72032-4000.

John D. Eichenberger

John David Eichenberger, 23, of Morrilton died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003, at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Morrilton, 1998 graduate of Morrilton High School and former student of UACCM, member of Thespian, Beta, Science and Math clubs, Governor’s School nominee, football trainer for the Morrilton High School Devil Dogs and a Morrilton Devil Dog football commentator for several years on the local cable access channel.

He was preceded in death by maternal grandmother, Naomi Ruth White Starkey; paternal great-grandparents, Odus Earl Dickerson, Gladys Lee Dickerson, and Frank and Florence Eichenberger; maternal great-grandparents, S. Q. and Gertrude Starkey and Rev. Henry and Gertrude White; and honorary grandfather, Dennis Massey.

Survivors include his parents, Earle and Pat Starkey Eichenberger of Morrilton; one brother, Les Miller of Morrilton; paternal grandparents, Frank and Sue Eichenberger of Morrilton; maternal grandfather, Carlos Starkey of Conway; uncles and aunts, Gary and Glynda Starkey of Salina, Okla., David and Kathy Eichenberger of Russellville, and Bob and Tracy Eichenberger of Russellville.

Funeral was at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at the First Baptist Church in Morrilton with burial to follow at Elmwood Cemetery under the direction of Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton.

Active pallbearers were Shane Atkinson, Jim Bowles, Cole Thomas, Tom Stephens, Chris Starkey, Jonathan Starkey, Mike Jackson and Scott James.

Honorary pallbearers were the 1991-1997 Morrilton Devil Dog football players and the staff of Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Morrilton Building Fund, 200 East Church Street, Morrilton, AR 72210.

James Eddie Warren

James Eddie Warren, 73, of Clarksville died Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003, at his home.

He was an electrician and son of the late General Sheridan and Sarah Melissa Woodward Warren.

Survivors include his widow, Norma Lee Bailey Warren; two daughters, Ann Williams and Rosalie McClelland, both of the Spadra Community; one sister, Mamie Hobbs of Hartman; one brother and sister-in-law, Roland and Joyce Dobbs of Spadra; and three grandchildren.

A private graveside service was held at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17, at the Spadra Cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.

Mae Elkins Hyden

Mae Elkins Hyden, 94, of Clarksville died Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.

She was a native of Clarksville, daughter of the late Claude and Hannah King Elkins, widow of Otis L. Hyden, and attended Woodland Baptist Church.

She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Harold Dane and Elaine Hyden of Clarksville; one sister, Ruby Elkins Coffee of Clarksville; two sisters-in-law, Bea Elkins and Artie Elkins, both of Clarksville; one grandson and spouse, Steven Dane and Laura Hyden of Clarksville; one granddaughter, Anna L. Hyden of Clarksville; and two great-grandchildren, Zachary Dane Hyden and Riley Paige Hyden, both of Clarksville.

Funeral was at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel with Rev. Sam Howell and Rev. Michael Sawyer officiating. Burial was in Liberty Hill Cemetery at Hunt.

Pallbearers were Roy L. Elkins, Kenny Elkins, David Hyden, James Hyden, Dr. Jack Patterson, Walter Nowotny, Jerry Scoggins, and Kenneth Coffee.

Melvin F. Hoeffer

Melvin F. Hoeffer, 84, of Tulsa, Okla., formerly of Hartman, died Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2003, at Oklahoma Veteran Center in Claremore, Okla.

A native of Stillwater, Okla., he was a son of the late Forrest and Ethel Miller Hoeffer, graduate of Stillwater High School, Army veteran of World War II, a retired sales manager for a dairy company, and was preceded in death by his first wife, Freida Brokop Hoeffer.

Survivors include his widow, Juanita Hoeffer; two daughters and sons-in-law, Lynda and Jim Arango of Ogden, Utah, and Tari and Tom Smith of Duncan, Okla.; one son and daughter-in-law, Forrest M. and Helen M. Hoeffer of Hartman; six granddaughters; and nine great-grandchildren.

Graveside services and burial were at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17, at the West Mount Zion Cemetery near Hartman with Rev. Lance Jones officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Mary Head Russell

Mary Hilda Head Russell, 94, of Germantown, Tenn., sister-in-law of Jessie Head of Lamar, died Thursday, Feb. 6, 2003.

She was a daughter of the late Robert B. and Lillie Hackett Head, widow of Fred W. Russell, former resident of North Little Rock, member of the AARP and the United Methodist Church of North Little Rock, where she was a member of the Kings Daughters, Sunday school class and the Blackburn Circle. She was a lifetime member of Florence Chapter No. 15 Order of the Eastern Star where she was a past worthy matron. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert A. Head and James R. Head; and two sisters, Florence Hall and Chlorene Williams.

Survivors are one sister, Lillie Jean Heller of Germantown, Tenn.; eight nieces, Mary Jess Dorman of Springdale, Margaret Ann Deaver of Fort Smith, Bobbie Hamill and Sharon Curtis, both of Lamar, Martha Jean Edison of Russellville, Jo Ellen Banhart of Van Buren, and Suzanne Carpenter of Tennesse; one nephew, Richard Williams of Saline, Mich.; several great-niece and great-nephews; and one other sister-in-law, Juanita Head of Russellville.

Roller-Owens Funeral Service was in charge with burial in Edgewood Memorial Park in North Little Rock on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Serving as pallbearers were great-grandnephews.

Rondle Leon Cross

Rondle Leon Cross, 67, of Clarksville died Monday, Feb. 17, 2003, at Fort Smith.

He was a truck driver for JR Trucking, Army veteran, member of the Mt. Home Freewill Baptist Church, son of the late James Vernon Cross, and was preceded in death by one grandson, David Raymond Guthrie.

Survivors include his widow, Betty Ann Davis Cross; one daughter, Susan Hall of Hartman; three sons, Steven Cross of Clarksville, Chris Cross of Conway, and Johnny Cross of Wichita, Kan.; three stepchildren, Loretta Kinslow of Russellville, George Handley of Atkins and Mrs. Gary Don (Iris) Felkins of Hartman; mother, Reba Dorthy Wilkie Cross of Oklahoma City, Okla.; five brothers, Floyd Cross, Bill Cross, Larry Cross, Loren Cross and David Cross, all of Oklahoma City, Okla.; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at the Mt. Home Freewill Baptist Church with Rev. David Zeiler officiating.

Burial will be in the Minnow Creek Cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.

Active pallbearers will be Irvin Collier, Buster Chronister, Bob Hall, Dick Jones, Troy Taylor, and Ken Smithee.

Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Don Felkins and Danny Weatherl.

Visitation will be held from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home.

Rufus A. Holt

Rufus A. Holt, 86, of Mulberry, brother of Josie Lea Brown of Clarksville, died Friday, Feb. 7, 2003, in a Fort Smith hospital.

He was a native of Alma, farmer, Baptist, and a Pope Cemetery board member.

He was preceded in death by one son, Rufus A. Holt Jr.; parents, Rev. Alvis and Jessie Travis Holt; one sister, Icia Watkins; and one granddaughter, Jessica Holt.

Other survivors are his wife of 68 years, Hazel Campbell Holt; three daughters, Willie Jones of Mulberry, Wilma McDaniel of Owasso, Okla., and Marilyn Marshall of Dyer; two sons, Jesse Holt of Ringgold, Ga., and Rev. David Holt, D.V.M., of Ozark; 18 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral was at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, at Ocker Funeral Home in Alma with Rev. David Holt and Rev. Steve Sawrie officiating. Burial was at Pope Cemetery in Mulberry.

Grandsons served as active pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers were Herman Kimes, Bert Mettler, Thell Morse, Tommy and Johnny Holt, Wesley Riggs, Kenneth Wilson, Wayne Anstine, Delmer Watkins, Glenn Brandenburg, Kirksey Davis, and Robert Miller.

Memorials may be made to the Rufus A. Holt Memorial Scholarship Fund at Mountainburg High School.

Shawny Lee Smith

Shawny Lee Hatch Smith, 32, of Cheyenne, Wyo., died Friday, Feb. 7, 2003.

She was a native of Laramie, Wyo., and attended schools there until 1986, when her family relocated to Clarksville and she attended Clarksville and Lamar schools. She moved back to Wyoming in October 2000, and was an employee of Gro bet in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Survivors are one son, Jarret Perren, 9, of Clarksville; one daughter, Darien Smith, 7, of Lamar; mother, Lynda V. Hatch of Lamar; one sister, Jackie L. Hatch of Cheyenne, Wyo.; two nephews, Joshua and Travis Hatch of Cheyenne, Wyo.; one niece, Amanda Hatch of Cheyenne, Wyo.; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

A memorial service will be held Feb. 23 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Clarksville with Pastor Ken Blundell officiating. The body was cremated with ashes to be buried with her father at Minnow Creek at a later date.

Vida Stroud Henley

Vida Uona Stroud Henley, 95, of Benton died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2003, at her home.

She was a native of Van Buren County, daughter of the late Ira and Cora Bost Stroud, and a member of the Highway Church of Christ in Benton.

She and her late husband, Odas Edgar (Edd) Henley, were the owners/operators of a store and service station in Lamar for 30 years until their retirement. While living in Lamar, they were members of a gospel quartet, The Gospel Harmoneers," who performed at singing engagements at various locations including a weekly radio broadcast.

She worked as a matron at the Southern Christian Home in Morrilton for two years and wrote the community news for Cedar Creek West in the sy0cf1 Morrilton Democrat sy0cf1 for many years. She was preceded in death by one brother, Bynum B. Stroud; and five sisters, Florence Willcutt, Neva Jo Stroud, Pauline Stroud and two infants.

Survivors are two daughters, Donna Mays of Benton and June Brents of Olive Branch, Miss.; two sisters, Essie Brown of Oregon and Orba Lee Santini of Little Rock; three grandchildren, Bruce Brents of Germantown, Tenn., Greg Mays of Benton and Gulf Shores, Ala., and Kim Sternisha of Olive Branch, Miss.; four great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Clay and Kristy Brents and Rachel Sternisha; one great-great-granddaughter, Jasmine Brents; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Roller-Ballard Funeral Home Chapel in Benton with Hascal Coop officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Highway Church of Christ Building Fund.