Dennis Duane Steele

Dennis Duane Steele, 48, of Clarksville died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, at UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock.

A native of Clarksville, he was a 1975 graduate of Clarksville High School, member of the Church of Christ, Johnson County Cattlemen’s Association, Franklin Masonic Lodge No. 9, and Shriners, 32nd degree Mason, a cattle farmer and building contractor.

Survivors include his wife, Lynn Gregory Steele; one daughter, Tiffany Steele of Clarksville; and parents, Duane and Allene Carey Steele of Clarksville.

Funeral was at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, at the Clarksville Church of Christ with John Ballard officiating.

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

Pallbearers were J.L. Richardson, Don McGee, Larry Price, Mike McGhee, Kenny Colvin and Mike Sexton.

Bobbie D. Yelton

Bobbie Darrel Yelton, 73, of Clarksville died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.

A native of El Reno, Okla., he was a son of the late Darrel E. and Iris Dewitta Jones Yelton, and retired firefighter.

Survivors include his wife, Pearl M. Yelton; two daughters, Denise Vento and husband, Dan, of San Jose, Calif., and Renee Morgan of Los Gator, Calif.; two stepsons, Stephen Noffsinger of Ft. Bragg, Calif., and Don Noffsinger of Clarksville; two stepdaughters, Pricilla Bradley and Susan Lang, both of Clarksville; and nine grandchildren, Steven Vento and Patrick Vento, both of California, Christy Morgan of North Carolina, Corinne Morgan of Alabama, Andrea Lang and Matthew Ferguson, both of Russellville, and Erika Lang, Kristin Ferguson and Michael Ferguson, all of Clarksville.

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

Crystal C. Martin

Crystal Cathleen Martin, 28, of Eureka, Calif., granddaughter of James R. B. Griffin of Clarksville, died Dec. 9, 2005, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Eureka, Calif.

She was a daughter of the late Vicky Sheffer.

Other survivors include her father and stepmother, Nolan and Patty Martin of Rogers; grandfather, Clifton Martin of Vinita, Okla.; grandmother, Geneva Lyman of Eureka, Calif.; stepgrandfathers, Clayton Freeman of Tulsa, Okla., and Tim Sheffer of Missouri; three brothers, Nolan Lee Martin II of Virginia Beach, Va., and Nicholas Martin and Nathan Martin, both of Bentonville; three sisters, Cherish Manzano of Browns Mills, N. J., Amanda Freeman of Eureka, Calif., and Patricia Martin of Rogers; and numerous nieces, cousins, aunts, and uncles.

Cremation was by Sanders Funeral Home in Eureka, Calif.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at Free Holiness Church in Springdale with Rev. Dorsey Martin officiating. Graveside services will follow at Oark Cemetery.

Francis J. Hardin

Francis Joseph (Cotney) Hardin, 97, of Russellville, formerly of Clarksville, died Monday, Dec. 12, 2005.

He was a native of the Spadra Community, son of the late James Newton and Genora Caroline Hardin, 1933 graduate of the University of the Ozarks, member of Central Presbyterian Church in Russellville, former accountant with the telephone company in Russellville and formerly owned and operated the Arkansas Valley Baking Company in Clarksville for several years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years Edna Wilson Hardin; four brothers, Willard Hardin, Jimmy Hardin, Robert Hardin, and Delmas Hardin; and two sisters, Virgie Hardin Ragon and Nelle Hardin Morgan.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary Ann Dailey of Florissant, Mo., and Kary Scarborough and husband, Bill, of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; one son, Bob Hardin and wife, Polly Scarlett, of Russellville; four grandsons, Greg Dailey of Mesa, Ariz., Matt Dailey and Aaron Dailey of Florissant, Mo., and Steve Scarborough of Belmont, Mass.; three granddaughters, Ginna Bird of Charles Town, W. Va., Kara Smith of Little Rock, and Emmy Brown of Springdale; and five great-grandchildren, Brett Dailey, Serena Dailey, Ian and Erik Bird, and Whit Smith.

A memorial service was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at the First Presbyterian Church in Clarksville with Rev. Lance Jones officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.

Memorials may be made to the Central Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 400 West Main Street, Russellville, AR 72801 or First Presbyterian Church, 212 College Avenue, Clarksville, AR 72830.

Gwin D. South

Gwin Deloris South, 67, of Hartman died Dec. 25, 2005, at her home.

She was a daughter of the late Ollie and Arizona Tucker Creekmore, Baptist, and preceded in death by one brother, M. C. Creekmore and one sister, Audie Creekmore.

Survivors include her husband, Jerry South; two daughters, Sharon Herndon and husband, Charlie, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Bonnie Reinholtz and husband, Kenneth, of Clarksville; four sons, Jerry South Jr. and wife, Vickie, of Fort Worth, Texas, Sammy South and wife, Tina, of Hartman, Ronnie South of Hope, N. M., and Billy South and wife, Jamie, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; two sisters, Betty Miller of Alabama and Ann Creekmore of St. Louis, Mo.; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

The body was cremated. Local arrangements were under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.

John S. Stutchman Sr.

John Stephen Stutchman Sr., 64, brother of Elaine Elkins of Clarksville, died Nov. 20, 2005, in Orlando, Fla.

He was a son of the late Raymond E. Stutchman, served in the United States Air Force for two years, owner and operator of sewing machine and vacuum stores and repairs, active in community affairs, sponsor of Little League games, was the recipient of the Community Service Awards and was made honorary deputy sheriff by Orange County Sheriff Lawson L. Lamar.

Survivors include his wife of 38 years Delores Stutchman; one daughter, Ginger Wright of Fort Smith; two sons, John Jr. and James Scott of Orlando, Fla.; mother, Eula Jane Stutchman Dasher; one brother, James Rae Stutchman of Russellville; two other sisters, Gloria Stutchman Clardy of Ozark, Kaye Weatherford and husband, Larry, and Marilyn Gray, all of Greenwood; and three grandchildren, Jacob, Nicklas and Gabriel Stutchman.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Merinda C. Simmons

Merinda Catherine Simmons, 92, of Deer died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005, at Newton County Nursing Home in Jasper.

She was a member of the United Baptist Church of Nail, daughter of the late Eli Joshua and Malinda Cowan Neal, and preceded in death by her husband of 57 years Loyd R. Simmons; two daughters, Fern and Eudola Carney; one grandson, Larry Carney; one brother; and four sisters.

Survivors include three daughters, Shirley Patrick of Elkins, Ruby Hernandez of Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Charlene Tschirhart of Raytown, Mo.; two sons, Wyman and Burl Simmons, both of Springdale; 23 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and 22 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Nail Baptist Church with Rev. Bobby Young officiating.

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

Active pallbearers will be Randy Simmons, Rick Simmons, Everett Simmons, Jamie Patrick, Gary Carney and Terry Carney.

Honorary pallbearers will be great-grandsons.

Paul Martin

Leslie Paul Martin, 85, of Paris died Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005, in Paris.

He was a native of Harrison, retired vice president and board member of Hale-Halsell Grocery Company in Tulsa, Okla., Navy veteran of World War II, 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Grotto and Paris First Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Lucille Vardaman Wells Martin, formerly of Coal Hill; two daughters, Linda Martin of Falls Church, Va., and Paula Rutherford of Alexandria, Va.; one stepdaughter, Sandra Friddle of Fort Smith; two stepsons, John Paul and James Wells, both of Paris; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral was at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at Paris First Baptist Church with Dr. Edgar Pierce officiating. Burial was at Oakwood Cemetery under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home of Paris.

Pallbearers were Creed, Colby, Craig and Kirby Wells, Cody Friddle and Doug and Mike Rutherford.

Memorials may be made to Paris First Baptist Church Life Center, P. O. Box 567, Paris, AR 72855.