Bernice O. Champion

Bernice Odean Champion, 68, of Altus died Monday, Nov. 10, 2003, at her home.

She was a daughter of the late Arthur Cilvester and Ollie Idena Halpain Champion, Baptist, and was preceded in death by one son, Chris Dierene.

She is survived by six daughters, Di Ann Martin, Jessica L. Barnett, and Teresa Dierene, all of Clarksville, Pat Atkins of Conroe, Texas, and Linda Hayes and Brenda Blake, both of Mesa, Ariz.; three sons, Bobby D. Langston of Bakersfield, Calif., and Mike Dierene and Jeffrey Dierene, both of Amarillo, Texas; three sisters, Beatrice Holzman of Cecil, Betty Burcham of Ozark, and Pat Woods of Rogers; two brothers, Vester Ray Champion of Ratcliff and A. C. Champion of Van Buren; 17 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Roller-Cox Chapel.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at Roller-Cox Chapel.

Ben D. Robertson

Ben David Robertson, 78, of Clarksville died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.

He was a native of Clarksville, son of the late Steven O. and Rachel Evans Robertson, member of Union Grove Baptist Church, 1943 graduate of Clarksville High School, World War II Army veteran and served in the 103rd Infantry Division, cattle farmer and retired bus driver for Clarksville Schools.

Survivors include his widow, Melba Robertson; one daughter, Becky J. Robertson of Manteca, Calif.; one son, Steven Robertson of Clarksville; two sisters, Edith Walton of Clarksville and Bernelle Tate of Houston, Texas; one brother, Argus Robertson of Tulsa, Okla.; three grandchildren, Wendy King, Kim Lambert and Jeanette Lambert, all of Manteca, Calif.; and four great-grandchildren.

Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at Union Grove Cemetery with Rev. Burnett King officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Dale Meek, Donald Meek, Bob Hurley, C. O. Blackard, Ben Alfred Hardgrave, and Duane Steele.

Curtis West

Curtis West, 79, of McGehee, whose son and daughter-in-law, Glen and Vickie West reside in Clarksville, died Friday, Nov. 7, 2003, at Clarksville Convalescent Home.

He was a native of Gould, son of the late Charles and Imogene Holtoff West, retired parts manager for Crow Burlingame, member of McGehee First Baptist Church, served in the Navy during World War II, and was preceded in death by his wife, Cassie West.

Other survivors include two brothers, Frank West of Wichita, Kan., and Ray West of Huntsville, Texas; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at McGehee Cemetery with Dr. Tommy Cunningham officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Griffin Funeral Service of McGehee.

Edgar G. Phaneuf Jr.

Edgar George Phaneuf Jr., 71, of Hagarville died Monday, Nov. 10, 2003, at his home.

He was a truck driver for OK-Food Market, Navy veteran, Catholic, son of the late Edgar G. and Mary I. Cooper Phaneuf, and was preceded in death by two sisters, Edna Snyder and Betty Thiele; and one brother, James Phaneuf.

He is survived by two daughters, Vici Bennett of Orlando, Fla., and Hope Phaneuf of Russellville; four sisters, Rose M. Daniel of Hagarville, Shirley Cole of Clarksville, and Nancy L. Hume and Mary J. Wyneger, both of Baltimore, Md.; two brothers, Ralph W. Phaneuf and Joseph R. Phaneuf, both of Baltimore, Md.; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Roller-Cox Chapel with Rev. Amos Pledger officiating. The body will be cremated.

Ruth E. Bailey

Ruth Evelyn Bailey, 88, of Clarksville died Friday, Nov. 7, 2003.

She was a daughter of the late J. T. (John Thomas) Moore and Dovie Jane Bailey, a Baptist and assisted her son, the late Jerry Bailey, with the Boy Scouts for 30-plus years. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Elizabeth and Helen Wallace.

She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Sharon Bailey of Clarksville; three grandchildren and spouses, Angela and Herb Vaught of Clarksville, Tammy Pearson of Chesterfield, Va., and Melodye and Russell Stickely of Clarksville; seven great-grandchildren, Cody Vaught, Alexandria Vaught, Nick Helms, Collin Pearson, Katie Pearson, Brittney Stickley, and Quincey Stickley.

Graveside services and burial were at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at Oakland Cemetery with Rev. Amos Pledger officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Hospice, Arkansas Department of Health, 1708 West C Place, Russellville, AR 72801.

Shirley Kaye Phillips

Shirley Kaye Phillips, 67, of Lawton, Okla., died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003.

She was born in Clarksville to Charles and Iola Wolverton Holloway, grew up in Clarksville and graduated from Clarksville High School in 1953. She attended the University of the Ozarks and graduated from North Texas University in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in music. She married Don Phillips on June 3, 1956, in Clarksville and they moved to Lawton, Okla., in 1957, then to Tulsa, Okla., in 1961, and back to Lawton, Okla., in 1962. She taught music at several elementary schools in Lawton including Jefferson, Pecan Grove and Hoover before retiring. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Lawton, Okla., and was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Gary Phillips, who died on April 9, 2000; and one brother, Loren Holloway.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Toni Phillips of Fort Worth, Texas; and two grandchildren, Brent and Brad Phillips, both of Fort Worth, Texas.

Funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Henry MaGee of Clarksville officiating. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Thirl N. Willis

Thirl Nathaniel Willis, 64, of Clarksville died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003, at AMI St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville.

He was a native of Clarksville, son of the late Damond and Annie Kathryn Reed Willis, member of the Clarksville Church of Christ, employee of Acme Brick Company, Marine veteran, and was preceded in death by his wife, Theresa Willis.

Survivors include two daughters, Theresa Ann Mitchell of The Colony, Texas, and Rose P. Willis of Dallas, Texas; two sons, Thirl Willis Jr. of Fort Smith and Glenn Willis of Clarksville; six sisters, Bonita Johnson of McAlester, Okla., Gladys Scott, Myrtle Marsh, Mary West and Clara Perry, all of Clarksville, and Mamie Blake of Memphis, Tenn.; five brothers, Tommy Willis, Don Willis, Virgil Willis, and Spencer Willis, all of Clarksville, and Cornelius Willis of Russellville; stepmother, Mattie Willis of Russellville; five grandchildren, Sophia Onyeugbo of Dallas, Texas, Willis Ray Webster of Little Rock, Hayley Willis of Clarksville and Timothy Ryan Webster of The Colony, Texas; and one great-grandchild, Matthew Nathaniel Grand Demauro of Dallas, Texas.

Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10, at the Clarksville Church of Christ with Rev. Lloyd Chenault officiating.

Burial was in Oakland Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Active pallbearers were Clifford May, George Pierre, Earl May, Phillip Cotton, Albert Bagsby, Allen Chenault, Gaylen Scott, and Patrick Baker.

Honorary pallbearers were John West, Floyd Chenault, Paul Toran, William Cotton, Aubrey Thomas, and William Reed Jr.