Carl W. Ricketts

Carl W. Ricketts, 73, of Conway, died Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006.

A native of Clarksville, he was a son of the late Homer D. and Bertha Hurst Ricketts, retired Wal-Mart Distribution Center employee, Army veteran of the Korean War, and was preceded in death by two sisters, Vernell Blakslee and Jane Bradley; and two brothers, Lawrence and Bill Ricketts.

He is survived by five sisters, Norma Boen of Kansas City, Mo., Alice Treadway of Cabot, Jeannie Smith of Lamar, Barbara Freeling of North Little Rock, and Georgia Hale of Bald Knob; one brother, Robert Ricketts of Fort Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Cabin Creek Baptist Church at Lamar.

Cremation arrangements were under the direction of Roller McNutt Funeral Home of Conway.

Effie Bell Case

Effie Bell Case, 93, of Oark died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006, at Countryside Manor Nursing Home.

She was a member of the Full Gospel Church, daughter of the late Robert D. Eldridge and Mary Jane Eldridge Ritchie, and widow of Jasper H. Case.

Survivors are four sons, Tommy Case of Oark, Eugene Case of Tulsa, Okla., Harrison Case of Ozone, and Delmer Case of Clarksville; one brother, Dee Ritchie of Mulberry; two sisters, Gracie Key of Lamar and Clarie Saylor of California; ten grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6, at Roller-Cox Funeral Chapel with Rev. Harley McGuire, Rev. Utshie Martin and Rev. Johnnie Case officiating. Burial was in Case Cemetery at Fallsville.

Pallbearers were Ron Case, Don Wages, Roger Case, Rick Case, Steve Coonrod and Jeff Coonrod.

Laura Elizabeth Guston

Laura Elizabeth (Whim) Guston, 89, of Russellville, whose granddaughter, Jana Rice and husband, Johnny, reside in Coal Hill, died Monday, Oct. 30, 2006, at her home.

A daughter of the late Earl and Janie Foster Walker Wilson, she was born in Russellville, a retired sales clerk having been employed in downtown Russellville for many years by Jack ‘n Jill’s and Mack’s Department Store, a member of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Russellville, active in the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry, and was preceded in death by four brothers, Frank Wilson, Harry (Buddy) Wilson, Joe Wilson and Walter Wilson; and two sisters, Louise Hill and Virginia Powell.

Survivors include her children and spouses, Kenneth and Pat Guston of Russellville, Dean Jr. and Judy Guston of Houston, Texas, Nannette Dupree of Bedford, Texas, William Guston and fiancee, Melanie Marians, of Santa Monica, Calif., and Susie and Mark Gilbert of Russellville; one sister, Norma (Red) Rollans of Russellville; eight other grandchildren and spouses, Lisa and Jimmy Gamez of London, Joanna Guston of Dardanelle, Rusty and Michelle Olson, Matthew and Lisa Gilbert, Bryan Gilbert, and Nathan Gilbert, all of Russellville, Tisha and Dustin Kemp of Alexander, and Ray Wilkins of Houston, Texas; 11 great-grandchildren, Amanda Rice, Jessica Rudder, Chad Teal, Randon, River and Rylee Olson, Taylor and Sydnee Gamez, Ashtin and Brendan Gilbert and Ashlan Schaffer; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral was Thursday, Nov. 2, at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Rev. Steve Mosley officiating.

Burial was in Oakland Cemetery under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service.

Active pallbearers were Rusty Olson, Randon Olson, Matthew Gilbert, Bryan Gilbert, Nathan Gilbert, Chad Teal, Jimmy Gamez, David Rollans and Russell Rollans.

Honorary pallbearers were Mark Gilbert, Johnny Rice, James Rollans, Robert Frank Wilson, Johnny Wilson, Butch Wilson and Buck Wilson.

Frank Crabtree

Frank Crabtree, 79, of Ozark died Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006, at Mercy Hospital/Turner Memorial in Ozark.

A native of Coal Hill, he was a son of the late Robert Ernest and Vian Evans Crabtree, 1948 graduate of Hartman High School, U. S. Navy veteran of World War II and Korean War, and was preceded in death by three brothers, Arlice R. Crabtree, Billy Gene Crabtree, and Andy Lou Crabtree; and three sisters, Lila Faye Crabtree, Bobbie Lou Crabtree, and Reba M. Favre.

He is survived by three daughters, Pat McConnell and Pam Crosby, both of Yukon, Okla., and Vickie Chappell of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one sister, Micki Hart of Shirley; two brothers, Leon Crabtree of Ozark and Bernard Crabtree of Clarksville; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Graveside services and burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Coal Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Gary Don Edwards

Gary Don (Boo) Edwards, 25, of Coal Hill died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006, at Marlow, Okla.

He was employed in the boiler making industry.

Survivors include his wife, Heather McGuire Edwards; one daughter, Kaylee Edwards of Oklahoma; one son, Jonathan Edwards of Altus; one stepson, Jacob Flannery of Oklahoma; parents, Donna Sue and Gary Dale Edwards of Coal Hill; and two sisters, Toshia Williams of Coal Hill and Crystal Messer of North Carolina.

Funeral was at 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, at Roller-Cox Funeral Chapel with Rev. Gerald Morris officiating. Burial was in Coal Hill Cemetery.

Active pallbearers were Jason Reames, Jeremy Adams, Kevin Yates, James Linton, Larry Riley, and Jeremy Hatchett.

Honorary pallbearers were Boone Conquest, Brad Gomez, Randall Mayfield, Ray Slocum, and Timmy Long.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Lou Alice Walls

Lou Alice Freed Walls, 76, died Oct. 14, 2006, in Fresno, Calif.

She was a native of Hagarville.

Survivors include her husband, Joe Walls; one son; one daughter; two grandchildren; and an aunt, Ada Morgan of Clarksville.

Funeral was at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at John N. Lisle Chapel with Don Iciating of the Clovis First Assembly of God Church officiating.

Pallbearers were Billy H., Robert and Bobby Walls, and Tommy and Todd Graham.

Mildred J. Nichols

Mildred J. Nichols, 90, of Ozark, mother of Bobby Nichols of Clarksville, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2006, in Ozark.

A native of the Watalula Community, she was a daughter of the late William and Vesta Beck Waldron, widow of Jesse Nichols, Baptist, and was preceded in death by two grandson, Ricky Don Davis and Steven Wayne Standridge.

Survivors include two daughters, Elaine Davis of Jonesboro and Juanita Standridge of Van Buren; one other son, Glen Nichols of Pocola, Okla.; one sister; two brothers; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 30, at Shaffer Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. George Willis officiating. Burial was at Belt Cemetery north of Ozark.

Grandsons served as pallbearers.

May Mills Taylor

Mrs. May Mills Taylor, 92, of Clarksville passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2006, at her home after a lengthy illness. She was born March 28, 1914, in Spadra in Johnson County and was the daughter of Tom J. Mills and Maude May Mills. She was a lifelong resident of Johnson County, a graduate of Clarksville High School, the University of the Ozarks (formerly College of the Ozarks) and the University of Arkansas. She was an English teacher at Clarksville High School for many years until her retirement in 1979.

May was a member of the First United Methodist Church where she served on many committees through the years and was instrumental in the establishment of the Outreach Sunday School Class. She was a founding member and longtime chairman of the Arkansas River Valley Regional Library Commission with which the Johnson County Regional Library is affiliated. She was a member of the University of the Ozarks Alumni Association and served as president of the Johnson County Alumni Association. She received the University’s Alumni Legacy Award in 2003. She was a member of the Bell Grove (Ludwig, AR) Chapter of the Order of Easter Star, P.E.O. and Beta Sigma Phi sorority. For more than forty years she enjoyed membership in the Clarksville Supper Club and playing bridge with the same group of ladies.

On December 17,1938, she married Harve Taylor Jr., who preceded her in death in July, 1973. May is survived by sons, Harve Taylor III and wife, Loyce Ann of Clarksville, AR and Tom M. Taylor and wife, Sandi, of Tulsa, OK; grandsons, John Taylor and wife, Lisa, of Bentonville and Brian Taylor and fiancee, Christine Garner of Dallas, TX; granddaughters, Kim Taylor Hart and husband, Frank, of Little Rock, AR and Alison Taylor Hunt and husband, Chris, of Edmond, OK; ten great-grandchildren; one brother, Bill Mills of Arkadelphia, AR; one sister, Mary Jo Lofgren of Big Timber, MT; four sisters-in-law of Clarksville, AR; and many nieces and nephews. The Taylor family extends special appreciation and gratitude to May’s caregivers, Becky, Sue, Sandy, Jesalyn and Amber.

Visitation was from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, November 5, at Hardwicke Funeral Home. Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Monday, November 6, 2006, at First United Methodist Church in Clarksville with Rev. Steve Wingo and Rev. Phil Sturdy officiating. Interment was at Oakland Cemetery in Clarksville under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 535, Clarksville, AR 72830 or the University of the Ozarks Annual Scholarship Fund, 415 N. College Avenue, Clarksville, AR 72830.

Pallbearers were Robert Farris, Lynn Farris, Philip Taylor, Michael Hall, Michael Stiles, John Taylor, and Brian Taylor.

Robert R. Mills

Robert Russell Mills, 77, of Atkins died Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006, at his home.

A native of Dublin, he was a son of the late Richard Carter and Minnie Jewell Walker Mills, Army veteran of the Korean War, member of the Teamsters Union, lifetime member of Coal Hill VFW Post 8532, and was preceded in death by one son, Ronnie Mills; one grandchild, Robert Lewis Hoffman; and one brother, D. F. (Hoss) Mills.

Survivors include his wife, Louise Tipton Mills; one daughter, Paula Hoffman and husband, Ernest, of Atkins; one son, Richard Lee Mills of Atkins; two sisters, Cindy Crowder and Alice Felkins and husband, Bill, of Clarksville; and three grandchildren, Mary Kay Mills, Walter Lewis Hoffman II, and Daniel Joseph Hoffman, all of Atkins.

Graveside services and burial will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Union Grove Cemetery with Chaplain Tom Edwards officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Arkansas Department of Health Hospice, 404 North El Paso, Russellville, AR 72801.

Shirley S. Nelson

Shirley Sue Nelson, 66, of Springdale died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale.

She was a native of Clarksville, office clerk for several dental and medical offices, former teacher at Shilo School in Springdale, member of First Baptist Church in Springdale, and was preceded in death by her father, Wesley O. Scoggins.

Survivors include her husband, J. D. Nelson; four sons, Mark Nelson and wife, Janet, and Mike Nelson and wife, Lora, all of Springdale, Jonathan Nelson and wife, Karen, of Frisco, Texas, and Jeff Nelson and wife, Alicia, of Liberty, Mo.; one daughter, Kim Sexton and husband, Chip, of Van Buren, mother, Mary Helen Minor Scoggins McAlpine and stepfather, W. T., of Springdale; one brother, Wayne and wife, Sara, of Springdale; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6, at Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale with Rev. Charlie Foster officiating. Graveside services and burial followed at 3 p.m. at Stillwell Cemetery north of Clarksville.

Pallbearers were Larry Uptegraft, Ken Watson, Kenny Nelson, Levi Nelson, Nathan Skelton, and John Castleberry.