1/16/2008

Bobby Lee Melton, 72, of Clarksville died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008, at his home.

He was a native of Odessa, Texas, retired pipe line employee, son of the late Robert L. and Annie Martin Melton, and was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Nancy Lorene Melton; and three brothers, Jake Dennis, Carl Dennis, and Acey Dennis.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Holt Melton; five daughters, Jackie Coulter and husband, Larry, Bonita Long and husband, Mark, and Laquita Hogue and husband, Raymond, all of Lamar, Debbie Shay and husband, Wesley, of Knoxville, and Pam Blasczyk and husband, Steve, of Russellville; five sons, Bobby Neal Melton of Austin, Texas, Earnest and Brady Duff, both of Clarksville, Gary Duff and wife, Michelle, of Subiaco, and Dan Duff of Lamar; one brother, Earl Dennis of Orlando, Fla.; 24 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Don Erwin and Rev. Eddie Birdsong officiating. Burial was in Knoxville Cemetery.

Active pallbearers were Earnest Duff, Gary Duff, Brady Duff, Dan Duff, Greg Holman, and Blake Otwell.

Honorary pallbearers were Carl Melton, Ted Melton, Verlon Harris, and Dean Hughes.

Memorials may be made to the Department of Health-Hospice, 22 Sherwood Plaza, Clarksville, AR 72830.

Ernest Christopher Graves, 93, died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, in Broken Arrow, Okla.

He was a native of the Ludwig area, son of the late Daniel Franklin and Mary Ann Darnell Graves, and member of First Free Will Baptist Church, Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and First United Methodist Church, all in Tulsa, Okla. He was a retired lumber mill employee in Clarksville, riverter, electrician, crane carrier, and mechanic, and was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Glynn Overbey Graves, and one daughter, Glenda Christine Graves.

He is survived by one daughter, Mary Jo Bridges and husband, David; one grandson, David Christopher Bridges and wife, Jennifer Lynne; one granddaughter, Jolyn Murrin and husband, Jeff; and four great-grandchildren, Zachary Joseph Hyatt, Tyler James Duncan, Cecily Josephine Murrin, and Samantha Pearl Bridges.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18, at the Church of the Shepherd United Methodist Church followed by burial at 3 p.m. at Lamar Cemetery under the direction of Moore’s Eastlawn Chapel.

Floyd James Hignite, 86, of Clarksville died Friday, Jan. 11, 2008, at Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville.

He was a son of the late John Thomas and Janie Ritchie Hignite, retired iron worker, in 1936 was the first to establish a mail route from Ozone to Oark, service member of C. C. C. of Locke Hollow at Ozone in 1938, World War II Army veteran, member of Iron Worker Local 75 of Phoenix, Ariz., for 55 years and a member of the Clarksville Airport Commission. He was preceded in death by one brother, Charlie Hignite.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Marie Burlage Hignite; three daughters, Judy Marie Hignite of Fayetteville, Joan Frances Hignite Guinn of Sanford, Fla., and Marlene Juanita Bennett of Paradise Valley, Ariz.; two sons, Sonny John Hignite of Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla., and Jerry Floyd Hignite of Los Angeles, Calif.; two sisters, Amy Lois Hignite of Hartman and Bessie Langdon of Ozone; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Graveside services and burial were at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 14, at Oakland Cemetery with Father William Wewers officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.

James Olen Handley, 87, died Jan. 7, 2008, at Comfort Care Retirement Center in Furth, Germany.

A native of the Spadra Community near Clarksville, he was a son of the late Eual C. and Permelia Moore Handley, attended Spadra, Hays Chapel and Clarksville schools, where he graduated, member of Hays Chapel Methodist Church,  served in the U. S. Navy, former owner and operator of a small dairy, served as a military policeman with the U. S. Army in Berlin, Germany, and was a former sergeant and weapons and munitions instructor in the Nuremberg-Furth area in Germany prior to owning and operating a real estate, insurance, car and apartment rental agency with offices both in Nuremberg and Furth. He was preceded in death by one brother, Chester L. Handley.

Survivors include his wife, Inje Handley;  three daughters, Carla Handley Donaldson of Clarksville, Angela Handley Klorwein of Erlengen, Germany, and Karen Handley Baffour of Munich, Germany; two sons, David E. Handley of Clarksville and James O. Handley Jr. of Berlin, Germany; two brothers, Robert E. Handley of Clarksville and Johnnie Handley of Lamar; five grandchildren, Korona Handley of Erlengen, Germany, Greg Donaldson, Danina Bateman and Jeremy Handley, all of Clarksville, and Martin Handley of New Mexico; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Burial was at Waldfriedhof Virndorf Cemetery in Furth, Germany.

John Wesley Barker, 64, of Clarksville died Friday, Jan. 11, 2008, at his home.

He was a veteran of the U. S. Army and son of the late Martin Robert and Dorothy Fitzmaurice Barker.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Purdy Barker; one daughter, Jennifer Sanderson of North Carolina; three sons, John Wesley Barker III of Florida, and Steve Barker and Scott Barker, both of Texas; two brothers, Henry Barker of Ohio and Martin Barker of Texas; and three grandchildren.

Rosary was at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel with Father William Wewers officiating. Graveside services and burial were at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith.

Memorials may be made to the John Wesley Barker Memorial Fund, c/o Triangle Memorial Fund, 4813 Emperor Boulevard, Durham, N. C. 27703.

Another angel has entered the gates of Heaven. On January 9, 2008, Omer Steve Williamson, 87, of Mabelvale, Arkansas, (formerly of Hartman, Arkansas) passed away peacefully from this earth while surrounded by his family and was welcomed into his Lord’s arms. He was born December 17, 1920, in Van Buren, Arkansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Ed and Gladys Williamson; two brothers, Curtis Williamson and George Williamson; and three sisters, Matha King, Wilma Williamson and Irene Wells.

He is survived by his wife and “Sweetheart” of 70 1/2 years, Geneva Bell Williamson; two sons, Tom Williamson of Mabelvale, Arkansas, and Carl Williamson (Wendy) of Prim, Arkansas; two granddaughters, Lori Hartwick (Robert) of Mabelvale, Arkansas, and Amber Beale of Salt Lake City, Utah; one grandson, Shawn Williamson (Minette) of Bossier City, Louisiana; one great-grandson, Kevin Williamson of Bossier City, Louisiana; and one great-granddaughter, Abigail Beale of Salt Lake City, Utah.

A Sergeant in the U. S. Army, he served in the Pacific Theater during World War II from September 14,1944 until February 12, 1946, at which time he received an honorable discharge. He spent a number of years singing tenor with his father, mother and his siblings and also with the Blackard Quartet of Johnson County, Arkansas. Mr. Williamson retired from Teletype in 1984 where he was employed as a tool and die maker. He enjoyed trout fishing, crossword puzzles and being surrounded by his family. He never met a stranger, and everyone he met was always touched by his sweet spirit. He was a devoted husband, father and “Papa” and will be deeply missed.

The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to the following staffs for their outstanding care and support during the past few months: Arkansas Hospice, Southwest Nursing Home and Residential Care Facility, Southwest Regional Medical Center, UAMS, and St. Vincent Hospital.

The family also wishes to express thanks to Dr. Michael Z. Chesser for his continued love and care for our family over the past few years.

A memorial graveside service is scheduled for Saturday, January 19, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. at Hess Cemetery (Hwy. 164) near Coal Hill, Arkansas. Arrangements are by Hardwicke Funeral Home in Clarksville, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Arkansas Hospice, Inc., 5600 W. 12th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204 or to the Humane Society of Pulaski County, 14600 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72210.

Orvil J. T. Pitts, 70, of Hartman died Friday, Jan. 11, 2008, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.

He was a native of Clarksville, son of the late Orvil E. and Vanah Smiley Pitts, Baptist, and served in the Army National Guard for several years.

Survivors include his wife, Jo Ellen Goodin Pitts; five daughters, Patricia Carter and Karen Pitts, both of Hartman, Linda Pitts and Cathy Pitts, both of Dallas, Texas, and Amanda Combs of Springdale; four sons, Larry Pitts of Clarksville, Terry Pitts and Rickey Pitts, both of Knoxville, and David Pitts of Hartman; three brothers, Roy Pitts of Springdale, Barney Pitts of Coal Hill, and Billy Pitts of Oark; 23 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral was at 2:30 Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Fernwood Assembly of God Church with Rev. Eddie Birdsong officiating. 

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

October 11, 1933 — January 12, 2008

Margaret Eileen (Peggy) Dickerson, 74, of Clarksville died Saturday, January 12, 2008, at her home.

Peggy was born October 11, 1933, in Hollywood, California to Alice and Zoe Thurman. She dedicated her life to her family; she was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her passions included decorating, reading, dancing and playing bridge. In her final years, Peggy touched us all with her strength and perseverance.

Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Dickerson; and two brothers, Jack Thurman and Kent Thurman.

Survivors include three sons, Chuck Dickerson of Frisco, Texas, Billy Dickerson and wife, Marian, of Clarksville and Jim Dickerson and wife, Susan, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; three daughters, De Ann Blackard and husband, Jeff, of Clarksville, Dana Plugge and husband, Charlie, of Clarksville, and Dinah Dickerson of Fayetteville; two sisters, Midge Cornwell of San Antonio, Texas, and Barbara Dickerson of Houston, Texas; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarksville with Rev. David Hanshaw, pastor, officiating.

Burial was at Woodland Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Michael Dickerson, Chris Dickerson, Greg Dickerson, Wesley Plugge, Thomas Plugge, Wyatt Blackard, and Phillip Dickerson.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Oklahoma and Arkansas Chapter, Inc., 320 North Greenwood Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901, or to the Johnson County Hospice Unit, 22 Sherwood Plaza, Clarksville, AR 72830.

Reesie Alidee James Patterson, 92, of Clarksville died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, at the Methodist Nursing Home in Fort Smith.

She was a beautician, widow of Virgil Patterson, daughter of the late Luther and Byance Phelps James, and member of Cherry Street Baptist Church.

She is survived by two daughters, Marilyn Edwards and husband, George, of Fayetteville and Norma Lee Hook of Clarksville; one son, Mickey Don Patterson and wife, Judy, of Greenwood; one sister, LaQuita Hanik of Clarksville; one brother, Fred James of Kentucky; six grandchildren, Denise Davis and Jeff Edwards of Fayetteville, Kim Hook and Kelly Chavers of Clarksville, Blake Patterson of Fayetteville, and Sarah Perreault of Lakeville, Minn.; and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home with Rev. Bill Vanmeter officiating. Burial will be in Hartman Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Monroe Johnson, Johnnie Johnson, Randy Carter, Lawrence Carter, David Chavers, Jim Walters, Jeff Cole, and Tom Davenport.

Virginia Elaine Perkins, 80, of Clarksville died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, at Clarksville Convalescent Home.

She was a daughter of the late Clyde and Edna McSherry Guthrie, widow of Raymond R. Perkins, and was involved in Little League Baseball, the Los Angeles County Fair for many years during the summer and was a dorm mother at Cal-Poly. She was preceded in death by one son, Raymond Roland Perkins Jr.; and two daughters, Charlette Annette Perkins and Shelia Ann Perkins.

Survivors include two daughters, Frances E. Coney and Pamela Kay Reynolds, both of Clarksville; one son, William Edward Perkins of Irigon, Ore.; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

The body was cremated.

Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 2405 E. Parkway, Suite #3, Russellville, AR 72802.

Wiley L. Frost, 84, of Clarksville died Monday, Jan. 14, 2008, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.

He was a son of the late Robert Delon and Martha Ona King Frost, member of the Clarksville First United Methodist Church, Marine veteran of World War II, retired senior lineman of Arkansas Power and Light, and was preceded in death by his wives, Hazel Campbell and Donna Gates; one sister, Neva Frost Blackard; and two brothers, Norman Frost and John Robert Frost.

He is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Joan Frost and Mike Gray-Ehnert of Waupaca, Wis.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Roger and Bobbi Frost of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and John and Julia Frost of Clarksville; stepchildren, Brian Gates of Carson City, Nev., Debbie and Andy Neal of Russellville, and Deloros Meinders of Fort Dodge, Iowa; five grandchildren, Russell Frost, Sean Gray-Ehnert, Stephen Frost, Stephanie Frost and Robert Frost; and one stepgrandchild, Ashley White.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarksville with Rev. David Hanshaw officiating.

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

Active pallbearers will be Dan Chapman, Bill Eakin, Ben Jacobs, Steve Morgan, Larry Morse, and Kendrick Prewitt.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Friendship Sunday School Class of the Clarksville First United Methodist Church and Harold Lewis.

Visitation will be from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Life Building, P. O. Box 535, Clarksville, AR 72830.