2/6/2008

Ann Raye Pool, 72, of Coal Hill died Friday, Feb. 1, 2008, at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith.

She was born Aug. 24, 1935, to Elbert and Lucy Hanson Pledger,  lifelong resident of Coal Hill, and was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Cody Rayburn and Summer Wilson.

Survivors include her husband of 45 years, James Pool; three daughters, Betty Adams and Dian Rayburn and husband, Danny, all of Coal Hill and Greta Wilson of Altus; one son, Calvin Pool and wife, Laura, of Russellville; four sisters, Melba Howe of Altus, Margaret Garner of Coal Hill, Sally Hollowell of Ozark and Patsy Young of Rudy; two brothers, Lee Pledger of Ozark and Tommy Pledger of Hartman; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, at the Hess Cemetery at Coal Hill with Rev. Amos Pledger officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Ozark.

Pallbearers were Ronnie Garner, Jerry Howe, Jessie Johnson, Robert Hollowell, Gerald Hollowell, and Josh Conquest.

Clara Rinke Hartman, 85, of Hannibal, N. Y., died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008, at Sunrise Nursing Home.

A native of Coal Hill, she was the daughter of the late William and Annie Risse Rinke, member of the Rosary Society at Our Lady of the Rosary in Hannibal, N. Y., employed by the government as an aircraft repairman during World War II, and was preceded in death by two brothers, William and Robert Rinke.

Survivors include her husband, Adam Hartman; four sons, Francis A. Hartman of Myrtle Beach, S. C., Frederick Hartman of Englishtown, N. J., Gerald Hartman of Lambertville, N. J., and Martin Beckwith of Oswego, N. Y.; and one grandson, Jason Hartman.

Funeral mass was recited on Jan. 14 at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Hannibal, N. Y., with Rev. Amedeo Guida officiating.

Burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fulton, N. Y., under the direction of Sugar Funeral Home of Fulton, N. Y.

Lonnie Lewis Nichols, 84, of Ozark, father of Becky Hatchett of Lamar, died Monday, Jan. 28, 2008, in Fort Smith.

He was a native of Franklin County, son of the late James and Vada Belt Nichols, self-employed, member of the Centerpoint Free Will Baptist Church, and was preceded in death by one daughter, Linda Kay Nichols.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Jo Battles Nichols; one other daughter, Elaine Bright of Alma; four sons, James Wayne Nichols and Michael Nichols, both of Ozark, Danny Nichols of Mulberry and Mark David Nichols of Alma; one sister, Gladys Brown of Forrest Hill, Calif.; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral was at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at Centerpoint Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. Hubert Staggs and Rev. Lloyd Shores officiating. 

Burial was in Rankin Cemetery at Ozark under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Lee and Samuel Bright, Brandon Nichols, David Brewer, Kevin Skolarski and Matt Walker.

Mamie Ernestine Hobbs, 89, of Hartman died Monday, Feb. 4, 2008, at her home.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eldon V. Hobbs; parents, General Sheridan and Sally Woodward Warren; daughter, Margie Hobbs Drum; and two brothers, Hartsel E. Warren and James E. Warren.

She is survived by two grandsons, Mark Drum of Hartman and Vaughn Drum of Pocola, Okla.; three great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services and burial will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at Spadra Cemetery with Vaughn Drum officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.

Max Bailey, 48, died Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008.

He was a son of the late J. L. (Jake) Bailey.

Survivors include his wife, Emily Martinez Bailey; children, Carl Stewart, Joey Stewart and wife, Suzette, Fabian Machuca, Jazzmin Bailey, Rosemary Williams and husband, Melvin, and Jennifer Ambrosen and husband, John; grandchildren, Madison Lozano, Haley Lozano, Morgan Williams, Myles Williams, Macey Williams, Courtney Gooden, Kayci Gooden, Nathan Ambrosen, and AnnaBella Ambrosen; mother,  Barbara Bailey; mother-in-law, Amelia (Wella) Martinez; brothers, Jess Bailey and wife, Kay, of Clarksville, Bob Bailey and wife, Nancy, of Clarksville; sisters, Polly Poynter of Clarksville and Sarah Nelson and husband, Tony, of Bastrop, La.; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Johnathan and Sean Nelson.

A memorial service was held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2. Arrangements were under the direction of Puente & Sons Funeral Chapels of New Braunfels, Texas.

Michael Wesley Thomas, 32, of London died Monday, Feb. 4, 2008, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.

He was a native of Houston, Texas, Baptist, and graduate of Westside High School.

Survivors are his wife, Courtney Thomas of Lamar; three daughters, Micha Thomas, Kylee Thomas, and Erica Zinke, all of Lamar; one son, Harley Duff of Lamar; father, Gerald Thomas of London; mother, Cheryll VanAken of Clarksville; grandmother, Sophia Thomas of Danville; two brothers, Randall Thomas of California and James Thomas of Hartman; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Hardwicke Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Spadra Cemetery.

Nicholas Perry, 24, died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008, at his home in Mounds, Okla.

A former resident of Clarksville, he was preceded in death by his grandmother, Mary Ann Pitts Ledbetter, formerly of Clarksville; and grandfather, Nathaniel (Sandy) Perry of Clarksville.

Survivors include one son, Jace Perry of Tulsa, Okla.; parents, Earnest Perry of Tulsa, Okla., and Polly and Robert Van Fleet of Mounds, Okla.; one brother, Marcus Perry of Tulsa, Okla.; one sister, Courtney Perry of Tulsa, Okla.; grandmother, Minnie McNeal of Tulsa, Okla.; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Funeral was Monday, Feb. 4, at Floral Havens Chapel in Broken Arrow, Okla.

Robert Howard Baskin, 94, of Clarksville died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.

A native of Coal Hill, he was a son of the late James Howard and Bess Hess Baskin, member of Harmony Presbyterian Church and Harmony Lodge No. 433, past president of Arkansas Pest Control Association, and was preceded in death by one brother, James Melvin Baskin.

Survivors include his wife, Lucille Bivins Baskin; two daughters, Roberta Coffee and husband, Jerry, and Rebecca Ritchie and husband, Douglas, all of Clarksville; one sister, Nan Baskin Faucett of Greers Ferry; three grandchildren, Wesley Baskin Coffee of Cabot, David Michael Coffee of Clarksville, and Michael Douglas Ritchie of Cedarville; and five great-grandchildren, Seth, Ethan, Sarah, Melissa and Jacob Coffee. 

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at the Harmony Presbyterian Church with Rev. Ron Jones officiating.

Burial will be in the Hess Cemetery at Coal Hill under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Wesley Baskin Coffee, David Michael Coffee, Michael Douglas Ritchie, Seth Coffee, Ethan Coffee, Jacob Coffee, and James Robert Faucett.

Susan Marie Holland, 51, of Clarksville died Monday, Feb. 4, 2008, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.

She was a daughter of the late Raymond and Billie (Myrtle) Hudspeth and an employee of the Johnson County Department of Human Services.

Survivors include her husband, George R. Holland; three sons, George Dewayne Holland and wife, Cindy, of Lamar, and Rodney Gene Holland and wife, Paula, and Ottis Steven Lee Holland and wife, Samantha, all of Clarksville; three sisters, Tiny Lira and Mona Hyatt, both of Clarksville, and Eva Obeirne of Marion; three brothers, Bobby Hudspeth of Knoxville, Leon Hudspeth of Clarksville, and Ronald Hudspeth of Dover; and eight grandchildren.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Amos Pledger officiating. Burial will be in Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Dewayne Holland, Steven Holland, Dusty Hampton, Clinton Seely, Henry Holt and Chris Lira.