Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
William McCoy Fore
William McCoy Fore, 90, of Prescott died Sunday, July 29, 2001, at the Beverly Health Nursing Home in Prescott.
Fore was born March 11, 1911, in Nevada County.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Will Fore and Frances Fore of Nevada County; one brother, Herman Fore of Prescott; seven sisters, Doshie Bolls of Prescott, Hattie McBride of Cale, Dora Jordan of Prescott, Willie Spells Cox of Prescott, Lela Higgenbotham of Prescott, Lodema Owens of Modesto, Calif., and Louis Stewart of Los Angeles, Calif.
Fore finished grade school at Rocky Mound School and in 1929 entered high school at Laneburg, finishing in 1933.
On October 18, 1934 he decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy receiving boot training at the Naval Training Station at San Diego, Calif. He was selected honor man of his company of about 150 men. Fore was transferred to his first ship, the USS Breckinridge. He was promoted to Seaman second class which meant more privileges and then promoted to Seaman first class.
Fore enlisted in the Aviation Branch of the Navy. He was assigned to the Air Station for further training in ground forces and maintenance which included the upkeep and preservation of aircraft. He was then promoted to Chief Petty Officer and Aviation Chief Mechanic. After flying several hundred hours with the Navy, he applied for an received training as a flight engineer and later Naval air gunnery training. He was transferred to Jacksonville, Fla., for Advance Flight Training and finished third in his class as a qualified Naval Gunner. Fore was then assigned to the USS Baltimore, a heavy carrier.
After taking part in several sea and air battles, the Baltimore was relieved from the fleet for the President's staff.
Fore sought any squadron going overseas and was assigned to a 12-plane rescue squadron with his duties being sea and air rescue work. He was assigned to the South Pacific back in those old ‘Kitty Hawk' days. He flew 51 combat missions and was awarded the Air Medal with one gold star. He received three stars for his combat air crew wings. For each campaign he participated in he received one Battle Star.
His squadron received 12. It was credited with rescuing 131 men, most of them from very uncomfortable places to perform their duty.
Fore's squadron was a part of the rescue team covering the air force bombing with the atomic bomb. His squadron later moved right on into Tokyo Bay for the ceremonial singing of peace.
He had by this time logged 2, 700 hours of flying time with the U.S. Navy and in April, 1966, after convalescing leave and six months vacation, he was discharged.
He returned to the Navy Department in Florida to take a job as inspector of maintenance and material and was later transferred to North American Aircraft, Inc., for 24 months.
He then resigned from the Navy Department to take a job with Ford Motor Company, but was soon back to the Air Force Department at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona.
Through training courses and one year of college work, he received a Jet Engine Technical rating. At the age of 55, with 30 years service in two branches of the Armored Forces, he retired for the second time.
He is survived by one sister, Mildred Glass of Prescott.
Funeral services were held July 31, at the Shackelford Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in the Morris cemetery under the direction of Shackelford Funeral Home.
James Douglas Burley
James Douglas Burley, born July 30, 1931, to Bluford and Minnie Burley in Smackover, passed away July 30, 2001, in Kingwood, Texas surrounded by his loving family.
Burley moved to Prescott in 1943 where he graduated from Prescott High School. He went on to attend Southern Arkansas University and ultimately graduated from Oklahoma State in 1953. Upon graduation he went to work for Humble Oil and Refining Co. (later to become Exxon/Mobil) from which he later retired in 1986. He subsequently worked as an independent consultant for seven years.
Burley was on the original Steering Committee, which eventually formed Kingwood First Baptist Church. He went on to be its first Sunday School Director, first Chairman of the Deaconate and charter member of the church along with his wife, Peggy.
Burley is preceded in death by his parents, Bluford and Minnie Burley.
Survivors include his wife, Peggy McLelland Burley of Kingwood; daughter, Stephanie Demaree and her husband, Terry of Kingwood, sons, Brent Burley and his wife, Linda of Houston, and Ross Burley and his wife, Ramona of Kingwood; grandchildren, Jeremiah Burley, Christopher and Kimberly Demaree and Jake Burley.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, August 1, at Kingwood First Baptist Church with Dr. Dearing Garner officiating. Graveside services were held Friday, August 3, at the Liberty cemetery in Prescott with Bro. Ricky Burke officiating under the direction of Shackelford Funeral Home of Prescott.
Billie Pal Whitmarsh
Billie Pal Whitmarsh, 69 of Hope, died Friday, July 27, 2001 in Prescott.
Mrs. Whitmarsh was born February 20, 1932 in Nevada County to Grady Powell and Willa Corretta Beavert Cox. She received a Bachelor and Masters Degree from Henderson State University. She was a school teacher for 38 years and the 1st original principal of Beryl Henry School for 23 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Hope and Delta Kappa Gamma. She was a retired principal of Beryl Henry.
Survivors include her daughter, Donna Woodruff of Hope; two nephews, Dr. Stephen Edward Whitmarsh and Donald Bradley Whitmarsh and a niece, Pat Whitmarsh Farr and numerous cousins and friends.
Funeral services were held Sunday, July 29 in the Herndon Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Earl Cumbie and Rev. Larry Byer officiating. Burial followed in the Liberty cemetery under the direction of Herndon Funeral Home of Hope.
Patricia Wilbanks
Patricia Ann Allen Wilbanks, 52 of Little Rock, formerly of Bodcaw, died Thursday, August 2, 2001 at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock.
Mrs. Wilbanks was born September 30, 1948 in Camden, Arkansas to J.D. and Mary Marie Mullins Allen. She was a former secretary for Pulaski County School District and a Baptist. She was preceded in death by one brother, Anthony Allen.
Survivors include her husband, Lynn ‘Butch' Wilbanks of Little Rock; one son, Jason Wilbanks of Little Rock; one daughter, Julie Wilbanks of Little Rock; her parents, J.D. and Marie Mullins Allen of Bodcaw; one brother, Mike Allen and Jackie of Lincoln; one sister-in-law, Margaret Ann Whatley of Little Rock; one nephew of Andy Allen of Hot Springs; one niece of Amy Burtrum of Sprindale and two great nephews.
Funeral services were held Sunday, August 5 at Bodcaw #1 Baptist Church in Bodcaw with rEv. Ed Phillips and Rev. Tom Stevens officiating. Burial followed in the Bodcaw #1 cemetery in Bodcaw under the direction of Brazzel/Oakcrest Funeral Home of Hope. Memorials may be made to Bodcaw #1 cemetery Fund.
Claris White
Claris B. White of Waco, Texas, died August 26, 2001, in the St. Catherine Center in Waco, Texas.
She was born September 28, 1916, in Calhoun County, Arkansas, to Luther and Mary Talbot Blann.
She was a retired school teacher and a member of the First Baptist Church in Hampton. White taught many years at Cale in Nevada County; she retired from teaching while at Cale.
She is survived by her husband, Reid White of Waco, Texas; four daughters: Milinda Carter of Bearden; Brenda Watson of Midland, Texsas; Gail Prescott of Arlington, Va; and Marla Hendricks of Waco, Texas; and three grandchildren.
Grave side services were at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 29, 2001, at the Friendship cemetery near Hampton. Arrangements were by Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce.
Carl Brown
Carl A. Brown, 91, of Prescott, died Monday, September 3, 2001, at a Fayetteville Nursing Center.
He was born November 27, 1909, in Nevada County to Robert A and Donnie Mae Neal Brown.
He was a retired farmer. He was a member of Sweet Home United Methodist Church in Hempstead County.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bertha Askew Brown, by two sons, Charles and Imon Brown, and by two sisters.
His survivors include: Seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were 10 a.m., Thursday, September 6, 2001, Sweet Home cemetery, in Hempstead County, with Bill Laird officiating. Burial followed. Arrangements by Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott.
Family received friends Wednesday, September 5, 2001 from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Rita Crivello
Norita (Rita) Lamb Crivello, 67, of Shreveport, La., died August 12, 2005 at a Tyler Hospital from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on July 22.
A memorial service for Rita was be held Saturday, August 20, at 2 p.m. at Anderson Baptist Church south of Springhill, Ark. The service was conducted by life-long family friend, John Billingsley.
She was born March 11, 1938, in Hope. Her early life was spent in Prescott in the Pleasant Hill Community where she attended school until the school was relocated to Prescott. She graduated high school in Little Rock. She moved to Shreveport and began working for Walgreen Drug Store. After retiring from Walgreen, she began working for Wal-Mart where she retired earlier this year. Rita was a member of the Church of Christ.
Preceding her in death were her mother, Dorothy Ray Lamb Smith; her father, Lloyd Lamb; her beloved grandmother, Ethel Amanda Ray; stepfather, James L. Smith; brother, Eddie Lamb; infant brother, Steve Smith and nephew, Michael D. Welsh.
Those surviving Rita include her husband, Jeffery Crivello; sisters, Fran Sikes of Breckenridge, Texas, Betty Welsh, Elizabeth Sevier, Shelia Stone and Carla Humphreys of Texarkana; brothers, Charles Lamb of Brazoria, Texas, Doss Lamb of DeKalb, Texas, Dwayne Lamb and Kevin Smith of Red Oak, Texas and a host of other relatives and friends.
Rita will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all those whose life she touched. Memorials can be made to the Anderson Baptist Church, 214 Hempstead 7, Hope, Ark. 71801.
Keron Parks
Keron Oleta Parks, 79, of Blevins, died Thursday, September 6, 2001, at Medical Park Hospital.
She was born March 23, 1922, in Nevada County to Homer and Ella Jones Baker.
She was a housewife and a Baptist.
She was preceded in death by one son, Homer Allen Parks, and two brothers, Homer Charles Baker, Jr. and Jimmy Joe Baker.
Survivors include: her husband: Edmond L. Parks of Blevins; three sons: Edmond L. "Eddie" Parks, Jr. of Blevins, Freddie Parks, Sr. of Blevins, and Steven M. Parks of Prescott; four daughters: Bobbie Phillips of Prescott, Connie Paulette Jones of Fountain Valley, Calif., Judy Rose Parks of Garden Grove, Calif., and Nevada Faye Clark of Hope; two sisters: Clara Cagle of Denver, Colo., and Barbara Lynn Morrow of Nashville; and fifteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m., Sunday, September 9, 2001, at Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home Chapel in Prescott with Rev. Wade Hood officiating. Burial was in Liberty cemetery, Redland Community in Nevada County. Arrangements by Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott.
Family received friends on Saturday, September 8, from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Opal Barger
Mrs. Opal L. Dorman Barger, 74, of Arkadelphia, formerly of Hope, died Wednesday, September 21, 2005, in Baptist Medical Center in Arkadelphia.
She was born on March 9, 1931, in Bodcaw, to Amos Green and Lola Purtle Dorman. She was a homemaker and mother. She was a member of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Arkadelphia and former member of Unity Baptist Church in Hope.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Hugh Barger, who died in 1961.
Her survivors include two sons, Phillip Barger and Kay of Crossroads, Texas, and Bobby Barger and Tammy of Okolona; one daughter, Susan Barger of Calif.; one brother, G.W. Dorman of Bodcaw; three sisters, Ruby Vines and Jude Allen both of Bodcaw and Lola Allen of Hope; six grandchildren; Nick Koletes, Melissa Koletes, Travis Barger, Bobby Barger, Erica Barger and Bowe Barger; several brothers and sisters-in-laws and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were 3 p.m. Saturday, September 24, 2005, at Unity Baptist Church of Hope, with Rev. John Howard and Rev. I.V. Hight officiating. Burial was in Memory Gardens cemetery in Hope. Arrangements by Brazzel/Oakcrest Funeral Home of Hope.
Family received friends Friday, September 23, 2005, from 6-8 p.m. at Brazzel/Oakcrest Funeral Home in Hope.
