Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Doris Eva Wylie Roach
Doris Eva Wylie Roach, 73, of Dover, died Friday, Oct. 20, 2006, at Russellville Nursing Center in Russellville.
A daughter of the late Homer and Florence Turnbow Wylie, she was born June 30, 1933, in Cabot. She was a Baptist and was retired from AVI (Arkansas Valley Industries). She was preceded in death by her husband, Earnest Roach; a brother, Lowman Wylie; and two sisters, Thelma Roach and Donie Goforth.
Survivors include a brother, F. E. “Pete” Wylie of Cabot; and several nephews and nieces and great nephews and nieces.
The funeral was held Monday, Oct. 23, 2006, at Shinn Chapel with the Rev. Bobby Judkins officiating. Burial was in the Linker Cemetery at Dover under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service.
Her nephews served as pallbearers.
The visitation will be from 5 – 6 p.m. on Sunday, at the funeral home.
Mary "Memmy" Larison
Mary “Memmy” Larison, 85, of Russellville died on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006 at her home.
She was born July 29, 1921, at Weston, Missouri to Clarence Lester and Dora Mae Harley Searcy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and a son, John W. Larison.
Survivors include her husband of 66 years, John Edward Larison of Russellville; a daughter, Mary Shinkowski of Russellville; four grandchildren, Valerie Roys and Wendy Andrews both of Russellville, Paula Shinkowski of Dover, and Michael Shinkowski of Magazine; nine great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
Arrangements are under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service.
A family conducted memorial service will be held at a later date in Weston, Missouri.
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, 61 Broadway, New York, New York 10006 or Arkansas Hospice, 2405 East Parkway, Suite 3, Russellville, Arkansas 72802.
Estalee Ford
Estalee Ford, 73, of Russellville, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006 at her home.
She was born Aug. 29, 1933, in Cave Creek and was the daughter of James William David and Leora Henson Carter.
She was an active lifetime member of Falling Water Church, was a loving mother and grandmother, a devoted Christian and a blessing to all that knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Leon Ford, three brothers, Alfred, Harvey and Richard Carter; three sisters, Neva Holt, Tressie Eddings and Lela Tennison; a granddaughter, Rebecca Allen; and a son-in-law, Wiley Allen.
Survivors include her husband of ten years, James Madewell of Berryville; a son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Donna Ford of Hattieville; five daughters and four sons-in-law, Barbara Woodruff of Russellville, Freida and Mike Grigsby of Pottsville, Patsy and Gene Kelly of Russellville, Sharon and Jay Barber of Hattieville and Donna and Dan Murphy of Russellville, one sister, Virlie Casey of Harrison; one sister-in-law, Irene Ford of Dover; 19 grandchildren, Randy Allen, Connie Halsted, Bobby Allen, Jason Grigsby, Brian Kelly, Laurie Boos, Stephanie Mathews, Randell Mathews, Kelley Barber, Angela Nicole Kierstead, Sarah Ford, Shonna Collins, Wesley Collins, Jared Murphy, Jessica Murphy, Genie Boyd, Tony Munson, Susie Nardi, Heidi Tillolson; 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 2, 2006, at the Free Pentecostal Falling Water Church with the Rev. Arnold Humphrey and Rev. Lester Chisum officiating. Burial will be in Moore Cemetery by Lemley Funeral Service.
Pallbearers will be Jared Murphy, Randy Allen, Bobby Allen, Jason Grigsby, Wesley Collins, Randell Mathews, and Jason Halsted.
Arrittia Duncan
Arrittia (Wolfe) Duncan, 94, of Hector, died Monday, Oct. 30, 2006 at her home.
The daughter of Monroe and Francis Dawson Wolfe, she was born May 26, 1912 in Sandtown. She was a homemaker and a 31 year member of the Hector Free Will Baptist Church. S
he was preceded in death by her husband, William Jefferson Duncan; her parents; a daughter, Wanda L. Duncan; a son, Charles E. Duncan; two brothers, Straudy Wolfe and S.T. Weaver; a sister, Waltena Erwin and several nieces and nephews.
Survivors include two sons, Arthur Duncan and wife, Mary, of Hector, Billy Duncan and wife, Natha, of Graham, Texas; six grandchildren, Debara Duncan Cooksey and husband, Eric, of Marrion, Ill., Scotty Duncan of Tyler, Texas, Charlotte Duncan Hiett and husband, Mark, of Dardanelle, Kenneth Duncan and wife, Kim, of Hector, Annette Duncan Munoz and husband, Richard, of Delta, Co., Angela Peckham of Colorado; twelve great grandchildren; a sister, Inez Flowers of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, (today) at Hector Free Will Baptist Churchwith Reverend Charles King and Reverend Gary Newport officiating. Burial will be at McFadden Cemetery at Dover, by Humphrey Funeral Service.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Dept. of Health Hospice; 404 North El Paso; Russellville, Ar. 72801.
Captola Haney
Captola Ring Haney, 81, of Atkins died Tuesday Oct. 24, 2006 at her home.
She was a homemaker, loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was born May 27, 1925 in Cleveland, the daughter of the late Ed and Vesta Ring of Morrilton. She was a member of Atkins United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Bob Haney of Atkins; four sons, Ralph D. Dollar and wife, Kathie, of Columbus, Miss., Robert Haney and wife, Becky, of Atkins, David Haney and wife, Missy, of Angleton, Texas, and Donald Haney of Atkins; three brothers, Ralph Ring and wife, Sadie, of Cleveland, Woody Ring and wife, Ada, of Center Ridge, and Dr. Gene D. Ring and wife, Bonnie, of Dardanelle; nine grandchildren, Robbie and Dustin Dollar of Columbus, Miss., Kirk Dollar of Birmingham, Ala.; Brannon Haney of Ozark, Brett Haney, Alan and Andrea Haney, and Tyler Haney of Atkins, and Sara Haney of Angleton, Texas; three great-grandchildren, Jackson Dollar of Columbus, Miss. and Will and Ross Haney of Ozark; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Friday at Lemley Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Robert Woody officiating. Burial was in Atkins City Cemetery by Lemley Funeral Service.
Pallbearers were nephews, Bruce Haney, Randy Haney, Robert McCollum, Jimmy Horton, Steve Ring, and Steve Pyle.
Memorials may be made to Atkins United Methodist Church, c/o Maribeth Durbin, 206 NW 17th Street, Atkins, Ar. 72823.
Anna Gillespie
Anna Marie Gillespie, 83, of Atkins, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006, at St. Mary's Hospital in Russellville.
She was born Aug. 21, 1923, in Russellville and was the daughter of the late Anthony and Mary Rose Hiegel Gillespie.
She was a lifelong member of the Church of Assumption Catholic Church in Atkins, a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Benedictine Oblate of Subiaco Abbey and was a frequent volunteer at the Atkins Nursing Home.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, John J. Gillespie and Thomas M. Gillespie and two sisters, Sabina Gillespie Ehemann and Sister Sabina, O.S.B. (Agnes) Gillespie.
Two brothers survive her, Patrick Gillespie of Salem, Ore. and Rev. Victor Gillespie of Subiaco.
Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2nd with Rosary Service following at 7 p.m. at Lemley Funeral Chapel.
Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at the Church of Assumption by Father Ernest Hardesty. Burial will be in the Atkins Catholic Cemetery by Lemley Funeral Service.
Pallbearers will be Roy Pitts, Keith Ehemann, Ryan Pitts, Michael Ehemann, Billy Ehemann, Virgil Duvall and Zachary Ehemann.
Memorials may be made to the Church of Assumption Renovation Fund, PO Box 337, Atkins, Ar. 72823 or to your favorite charity.
Bessie Collins
Bessie Alvatus Collins, 89, of Talihina, Okla. died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006 at the McAlester Regional Health Center in McAlester.
She was born Oct. 25, 1917 in Atkins to the late Merritt Young Austin and Betty Alvatus Sweeden Austin and was a homemaker. She married John Troy Collins on June 18, 1937 in Miami, Okla. and was happily married for 60 years.
Through the years Bessie worked alongside her husband and family, in later years retired as a homemaker. She recently celebrated her 89th birthday with her family. As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she loved her family and was a resident of Buffalo Valley for about 25 years. She enjoyed attending Yanush Assembly of God Church. She enjoyed doing work for the Lord. She passed away while visiting her son and family in McAlester, Okla.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John Troy Collins; a daughter, Betty Rowland; a son, Stanford Collins, three brothers, Stan Austin, S.Y. Austin, Merritt Austin Jr. and two sisters, Billie Murdock and Mary Melvin.
Survivors include a daughter, Letha Taylor of Bunch, Okla; two sons and daughters-in-law, John and Lucille Collins of Buffalo Valley, Okla. and James and Forrestene Collins of McAlester, Okla; a sister, Betty Copeland of Sherman, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Tressie Collins of Exeter, Calif. and Ruby Hamilton of Buffalo Valley, Okla.; 16 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; 16 great great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held at the Yanush Assembly of God Church in Yanush, Okla. on Monday, Nov. 6 with Chester Cooley and Alton Linker officiating. Burial was in the Laura McGee Cemetery in Buffalo Valley, Okla.
Pallbearers were Delbert Collins, Jarod Collins, Doyle Wayne Rowland, J.T. Collins, Wes Collins, Eugene Collins, J.R. Collins and Calvin Taylor.
Nellie Hankins
Nellie Marie "Billie" Hankins, 66, of Ola died Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, at St. Mary's Hospital in Russellville.
She was born June 7, 1940, in Manila, Ar., and was the daughter of Arthur and Bertha Chronister Ketchum. She was a member of the Grace Chapel Trinity Pentecostal Church of Russellville and enjoyed canning. She was "Mammie" to her grandchildren and Aunt "B" to her nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, Van Ray, Adam, Walter and Floyd Ketchum; and a sister, Irene Collins.
Survivors include her husband of 47 joy filled years, Jerry D. Hankins of Ola; two daughters and sons-in-law, Theresa and Wendell Schaeffer of Bluffton and Kimberly and Chris Jewell of Pottsville; two sons and daughters-in-law, Steven and Linda Hankins of St. Stephens, Ala., and Jerry I. and Melissa Hankins of Pottsville; grandchildren, Rachel Bull, John Schaeffer, Matt Hankins, Sheresa Hankins, Faith Jewell; great-grandchildren, Jalyn Bull and Jaycie Bull; a brother, Tommy Ketchum of Morristown, Tenn.; three sisters, Dorothy Myers of Chicago, Ill., Edith Howell of Russellville, Novella Wren of Russellville and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Saturday at the Grace Chapel Trinity Pentecostal Church with the Bro. Ben Whorton and Bro. Donald Mullins officiating. Burial was in Hudson Cemetery by Lemley Funeral Service.
Pallbearers were Matt Hankins, John Schaeffer, Jeremy Bull, Kurt Loyd, Raymond Hankins, and Michael Bunton. Honorary bearers were members of the Grace Chapel Trinity Pentecostal Church.
A.E Hemmer
A.E. "Doc" Hemmer, 85, of Atkins, died Friday, Nov. 10, 2006 at his home.
He was born Dec. 23, 1920 at Moreland to John and Mary Elizabeth Loveless Hemmer.
He was a World War II veteran in the United States Navy and was a member of the Atkins First Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Vada Clois Hemmer; a son, Stephen Allen Hemmer; a brother, Rayvell Hemmer and a sister, Cassie Duvall.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Karen Hemmer of Russellville and Rick and Debbie Hemmer of Russellville; two sisters, Callie Duvall of Atkins and Juanita Crites of Atkins; two grandchildren, Melissa Thomas of Russellville and Zak Hemmer of Conway and one great grandchild, Tristin Thomas of Russellville.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Shinn Chapel and officiated by the Rev. David Bond and the Rev. Jeff Cheatham. Burial was in Hudson Cemetery at Moreland, under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service.
Active Pallbearers were Don Duvall, Paul Duvall, Danny Hemmer, Kirby "Butch" Hemmer, Carroll Wayne Crites and Ronnie Tanner.
Honorary pallbearers were Bob Duvall, Terry Colburn, Jim Johnston and caregivers from Arkansas Hospice.
Memorials may be made to River Valley Hospice Center Building Fund; 2405 East Parkway, Suite 3, Russellville, Ar. 72802.
Gerald Foshee
Gerald Don Foshee, 45, of Center Ridge, died Monday, Nov. 13, 2006, in Little Rock.
He was employed with Telex communication. He was born May 5, 1961 in Morrilton, the son of Doyle and Betty Boren Foshee.
Survivors include his wife, Robin Flowers Foshee of Center Ridge; one daughter, Lacie Dohn Foshee of Russellville; one son, Zachary Burgess Foshee of Center Ridge; his parents, Doyle and Betty Foshee of Atkins; one brother, Dale Foshee of Atkins; two sisters, Susan Gardner of Russellville and Lori Ann Uekman of Bryant.
Funeral services will be Thursday 2 p.m. at Lemley Funeral Chapel with Rev. David Bishop and Jeff Howell officiating. Burial will be in Atkins City Cemetery by Lemley Funeral Service.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday.
Frances Modene Hill Sammons
Russellville lost a community icon in the passing of Frances Modene Hill Sammons, 92, on November 16, 2004, at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Homer Franklin and Jewell Hill, her husband, Donaghey George Sammons, and her sister, Almeda Elizabeth Hill.
She is survived by her two daughters, Donna Gosnell of Russellville, and Judy Capps of San Antonio, Texas, her most beloved “second daughter” Rebekah Kay Robinson Townsell of Conway, and nephew, Dr. Tom Robinson of Conway.
Known lovingly as “Neenaw” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she leaves a legacy of community service and commitment to Karl, Robert, Mandy and Greg Gosnell, Gieselle Holbrook, Don Austin, Jon and Mary Frances Capps and Julia Beldyga. Her pride and joy were her sixteen great grandchildren. They will miss her cards of encouragement and celebration with always some spending money tucked inside.
Frances was born in Dardanelle, on Sept. 13, 1912, and became a life-long resident of Russellville. She inherited her parent’s love and concern for her fellow citizens and her political expertise from her uncle, long-time Pope County Judge J. Quince Hill. A life-long dedicated Democrat, she was honored by receiving the Gussie Carnes Award, given annually to the Outstanding Democratic Woman of Arkansas. She was appointed in 1988 by then-Governor Bill Clinton to serve as one of six Arkansans on the Electoral College and represented the state’s Third Congressional District. She served as Pope County Revenue Collector for fifteen years, Justice of the Peace and first woman member of Pope County Quorum Court for many years.
Respectfully titled “Ms. Frances,” her telephone was filled with calls from her many political and social friends. The Pope County Health Center bears her name along with the late Marjorie Crabaugh for their tireless work and support. Long interested in the mental well being of her fellow citizens, she was one of the first people to serve on the Board of Directors for Counseling Associates. She was honored with a community service award for this work by the Arkansas Council of Community Mental Health Centers. One of her greatest pleasures was serving as an Arkansas delegate for the National Democratic Convention in 1980. Frances was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Ouachita Girl Scout Council, a lifetime member of the Arkansas Congress Parent-Teachers Association. Following her interest in the arts, she was a member of the Russellville Community Concert for twenty years. She had a special love for the boys in the Frances Hill Sammons Group Home and saw that they had a birthday cake and pizza each month to celebrate the boys’ birthdays. Next to her first passion for county government was her devotion to bridge. She was an accomplished player having earned Master points. Perhaps her own words denote her life: “Busy people are the ones who get the job done.” She leaves a wealth of friends whom she encountered along her life’s journey. She was also a member of First United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Women’s Circle.
The family would like to thank her special friends who gave joy and meaning to her life: Jimmy Lou Fisher, Dale Brown, Judge Jim Ed Gibson, Rexanne Oller, Katie Harris and Wilma Johnson. A thank you to Dr. Andrew Monfee and the angels who cared for her at Stella Manor and in ICU at St. Mary’s.
Thank you for being our Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. You will remain with us always in Spirit. We love you.
A memorial service was held Saturday at First United Methodist Church by Rev. Mackey Yokem. Burial will be private.
Her grandsons, Karl, Robert and Greg Gosnell, Don Austin and Jon Capps, served as pallbearers.
Katherine Tyson Shackleford
Katherine Tyson Shackleford, 82, of Atkins, died Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Russellville.
She was born Nov. 14, 1922, in Washington, Ar. and was the daughter of the late John and Jimmie Eugenia Reeves Tyson. She was President of the Economy EH Club and a member of the Hopewell Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Leonard Shackleford of Atkins, three daughters and sons-in-law, Eugenia and Bill Butler of North Little Rock, Lillian and Lee Crafton of Franklin, Tenn., Kathy and Ken Pippin of Russellville; a brother, Jewell Tyson of Little Rock; three grandchildren, Michelle Ward, Scott Butler and Laura Crafton and three great-grandchildren, Emily Ward, Parker Ward and Will Butler.
Funeral services were Monday at Lemley Funeral Chapel with Rev. David Bishop officiating. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery by Lemley Funeral Service.
Pallbearers were Sam Young, J. B. Murdoch, James Roy Tyson, Bill Pinion, Timm Murdoch and William H. Murdoch.
Memorials may be made to the Hopewell Baptist Church, c/o Sam Young, 1084 Murdoch Road, Atkins, Ar. 72823.
Jean Bancroft
Jean G. Bancroft, 53, of Atkins, died Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004 at her home following a long and arduous struggle with the debilitating symptoms of Lupus.
She was born June 19, 1951 in New Haven, Conn. After traveling the world, she earned a degree at Columbia Univesity, graduating magna cum laude. During her distinguished career, she was a clinical researcher in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University. While at Yale, she was on a team which received a National Institute of Mental Health Grant studying Multiple Persoality Disorders in Criminal Law. She was also employed by the Psychiatric Security Review Board of Connecticut and the Whiting Forensic Insittute and provided psychiatric services to legally insane patients in a maximum-security hospital. She was active in working with incarcerated adolescents convicted of felony crimes at the Manson Institute. After moving to Arkansas in 1993, she was employed at Delta Counseling Associates in Monticello and was the past Chair of the State of Arkansas Forensic Consortium for Law and Mental Health. Her last employment was in 2001 with Psychological Services in Russellville. Jean was a strong, loving and intelligent person who dedicated her life to helping others.
Her love for her friends and her animals brought her the greatest joy. She will be deeply missed.
She was preceded in death by her father, Sherman Rosenberg.
She is survived by her mother, Edith Jacobsen, Branford, Conn. and her goddaughter, Heather Kauffman, San Diego, Calif.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004 at Humphrey Chapel. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Steve A. Shry, Dr. Eric A. Shry, Samuel Shry, Dr. Stanley Lombardo, Dennis Duryea, Michael Treadway, Danny May.
The body will be cremated under the direction of Humphrey Funeral Service. Memorials may be made to Lupus Foundation of America, Arkansas Chapter, 220 Mockingbird, Hot Springs, AR 71913.
N. Sue Harmon
N. Sue Harmon, 71, of Hector, died Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004, at her home.
She was born Jan. 29, 1933, in Hampton, Virginia, to Crenshaw Greene and Nanny Catherine Hautz Hardy. She was a former employee of the United States government and Vance Title Company of Russellville.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include her husband, James E. Harmon; two sons and daughters-in-law, James Wayne and Susanne Roberson of Ramona, Calif., and Eric A. and Cheryl Roberson of McLean, Va.; two daughters and a son-in-law, Susan D. Roberson and her husband, Thomas Goad, of Dunn Loring, Va., and Lisa A. Harmon of Dardanelle; two brothers, Allen Hardy of Bakersfield, Calif., and Ralph Hardy of Springfield, Va.; two sisters, Joan Brown of Memphis, Tenn., and Pat Durr of Shreveport, La.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The body was cremated. Arrangements were by Shinn Funeral Service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Main Street Mission, 1800 East Main Street, Russellville, Ark 72801.
Bobby Gene Traffanstedt
Bobby Gene Traffanstedt, 72, of Atkins, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006.
He was born March 28, 1934 in Martinville, Ar., a son of Tharrel "Boots" Andrew Traffanstedt and Ola May Rainwater Traffanstedt. He was a truck driver and of the Church of Christ faith.
Mr. Traffanstedt was preceded in death by a sister, Sandra Cullum; a son, Raymond Keith Traffanstedt, and a grandson, David Heath Traffanstedt.
Survivors include, three sons, David Kelly Traffanstedt and wife, Donna, of Dardanelle, Kevin Gene Traffanstedt and wife, Marsha, of Decatur, Ill., and Bill Bob Traffanstedt and wife, Penny, of Atkins; two daughters, Christina Geater and husband, Tracy, of Dardanelle, and Patricia Scherer and husband, Allan, of Conway; one sister, Ellen Wharmund and husband, Roy, of Greenwood, SC; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Thursday at the Cove Chapel Presbyterian Church with Bro. Greg Hogan officiating. Burial was at Martinville Cemetery near Springfield, by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton.
Pallbearers were Lynn Keller, Eddie Sims, Jeff Holt, David Kelly Traffanstedt, Kevin Gene Traffanstedt, and Bill Bob Traffanstedt. Honorary pallbearers were his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Kenny Walker
Kenneth Troy Walker, 44, died Friday, Nov. 30, 2007.
He was born Nov. 12, 1963, in Salinas, Calif.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Mark Walker.
Survivors include a son, Joshua Walker of Pottsville; three daughters, Markie Walker of Pottsville, Holly Walker and Hanah Walker both of Russellville; his parents, Herman and Donna Walker of Pottsville; a brother, David Walker and his wife, Annette, of Dover and a sister, Diane Eakin of Russellville.
Funeral services were Monday at Lemley Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Danny Fudge officiating. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery by Lemley Funeral Service.
Pallbearers were Josh Walker, David Walker, Zach Walker, Jeremy Wilmoth, Justin Eakin, Mike Virden.
