William "Ed" Bilbrey
William "Ed" Bilbrey, 94, of Smithville, died Dec. 10, 2002, at Lawrence Hall Nursing Center in Walnut Ridge.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Higginbotham Funeral Service.
Patsy Sue Blackshear
Patsy Sue Blackshear, 53, of St. Charles, Mo., formerly of Walnut Ridge, died Dec. 6, 2002, at St. Joseph Hospital in St. Charles following a short illness.
Born April 24, 1949, in Walnut Ridge, she was a homemaker and was of the Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her father, Gus Hatfield.
Survivors include her husband, Vaughn Blackshear, whom she married July 9, 1966; a son, Gregory Blackshear, O'Fallon, Mo.; two daughters, Shelley Robertson, Jefferson City, Mo., and Stacey Blackshear, St. Charles; her mother, Mable Crossen Hatfield, Hoxie; three brothers, James Hatfield and Bill Hatfield, both of Hoxie, and Bob Hatfield, Batesville; four sisters, Peggy Hinshaw, Ravenden, Kay Thorshy, Danridge, Tenn., Jeri Davidson, Hoxie, and Sharon Barnhill, Portia; and five grandchildren, Emily Blackshear, Alex Blackshear, Olivia Blackshear, Elaine Robertson and Kari Robertson.
Funeral was Monday at 2 p.m. in Bryan Chapel with Donald Layne and Bro. Warner Allen officiating. Burial was in Lawrence Memorial Park under the direction of Bryan Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Brenton Hutstedler, Cody Davidson, Mark Hatfield, Jonathan Barnhill, Craig Clements, Billy Jones Jr., Dennis Reeves and Dane Adams.
John Roy Blankenship
John Roy Blankenship, 88, of Reyno, died Dec. 3, 2002, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro.
He was a retired manager of Thermogas in Walnut Ridge.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Matilda Justice Blankenship; his first wife, Lena Blankenship; his second wife, Thelma Blankenship; a brother; and a sister.
Survivors include two sons, Leroy Blankenship, Batesville, and Bill Blankenship, Bryant; three daughters, Barbara Hill, Bay, and Joyce Hughes and Connie Simkowiak, both of Jonesboro; three brothers, Vernon Blankenship, Reyno, Jim Blankenship, Pollard, and Robert Blankenship, Rockford, Ill.; four sisters, Kathrine Smith and Lorene Shepard, both of Corning, Dorothy O'Neal, McChessney Park, Ill., and Genny Holland, Belleville, Ill.; 15 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral was Saturday at 1 p.m. at McNabb Chapel in Pocahontas with Rev. Nevin Gnagey officiating. Burial was in Masonic Cemetery under the direction of McNabb Funeral Home of Pocahontas.
Pallbearers were Ben Blankenship, Mark Blankenship, Chad Hughes, Randy Hill, Randy Onstead and Brian Gilmer. Honorary pallbearers were Gary Nightingale, Ronnie Brand and Dewayne Hammett.
Kenneth W. Bottoms
Kenneth W. Bottoms, 81, of Pocahontas, died Dec. 2, 2002, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro.
Born Aug. 21, 1921, in Ravenden, he was the son of Walter and Nola Bragg Bottoms. He was a World War II Army veteran and a member of Pyburn Street Church of Christ. He was a well-known Randolph County funeral director, retiring from McNabb Funeral Home in 1998 after 50 years of service.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Connie Sue Barnett.
Survivors include his wife, Imogene Dobbs Bottoms; a sister, Agnes McNabb, Pocahontas; a granddaughter, Andrea Junkersfeld; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral was Dec. 4, at Pyburn Street Church of Christ with G.W. Allison, Terry Martin, Grant Killion and Joe Johnson officiating. Burial was in Masonic Cemetery under the direction of McNabb Funeral Home. Military honors were provided by the Promberger-Traw VFW Post 4556 Honor Guard.
Pallbearers were Marvin Oaks, Tim Junkersfeld, Josh Rutter, Don Wilson, Mitch Walton and Don Tillie.
Harold Frank Hogue
Harold Frank Hogue, 81, of Little Rock, father of Barbara McNeal of Walnut Ridge, died Dec. 5, 2002. Burial was Monday in Graceland Cemetery under the direction of Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Home.
Jessey E. Jones
Jessey E. Jones, 77, of Pocahontas, brother of Betty Sue Linebaugh of Hoxie, died Dec. 8, 2002, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro. Funeral is today at 2 p.m. at Pocahontas Missionary Baptist Church with James Coker officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Shiloh Cemetery under the direction of McNabb Funeral Home of Pocahontas.
Muriel D. Light
Muriel D. Light, 87, of Walnut Ridge, died Dec. 6, 2002, at the Lawrence Hall Nursing Center.
Born Oct. 3, 1915, at Egypt, she was the daughter of John Thomas and Fannie Mae Houghin Taylor. A lifetime resident of Lawrence County, she was a homemaker and a member of the Hopewell Assembly of God Church. She had resided at Lawrence Hall Nursing Center since March 2001.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Edward Light, on May 18, 1987, whom she married Oct. 4, 1933; a grandson, Christopher Light; a brother; and two sisters.
Survivors include four sons, Bill Light, Bono, Ben Light, Bogalusa, La., Larry Light, Alicia, and Laddy Light, El Dorado, Kan.; two daughters, Jean Light McKim, Alexander, and Marilyn Archer, Little Rock; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandcildren.
Graveside services were Monday at 10 a.m. in Strangers Home Cemetery with Scott Williams officiating. Bryan Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.
Deleta Inez Rush
Deleta Inez Rush, 60, of Walnut Ridge, died Dec. 9, 2002, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro, following a lengthy illness.
Born Feb. 12, 1942, in the Bramlett community, she was the daughter of Claude Kenneth and Gina Ida Luther Adams. She had worked as a sewing machine operator at Frolic Manufacturing and was also a homemaker and a member of First United Pentecostal Church in Walnut Ridge.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother.
Survivors include her husband, Billy Rush, whom she married Sept. 10, 1960; two daughters, Patricia Morris, Mountain Home, and Sandra Morgan, California; two sons, Randy Rush and Kenny Rush, both of Walnut Ridge; a brother, Kenneth Adams, Walnut Ridge; a sister, Mazie Hudson, Tuckerman; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral is Thursday at 2 p.m. at the First United Pentecostal Church in Walnut Ridge with Bros. Kelsie Haggard, Murphy Spurlock and Marty Spurlock officiating. Burial will be in Strangers Home Cemetery under the direction of Bryan Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be David Rush, Jason Morris, Daniel Morris, Nathan Hayes, Devin Morgan and Jason Arnold. Honorary pallbearers will be Joshua Mosley and Brock Spurlock.
Visitation is this evening from 6 to 8.
Mark White Stuart
Mark White Stuart, 44, of Walnut Ridge, died Dec. 4, 2002, near Corning.
Born at Searcy, he moved to Walnut Ridge in early life. He was a senior vice president and trust officer at First National Bank, a member of First United Methodist Church in Walnut Ridge and Walnut Ridge Kiwanis Club.
Survivors include his wife, Janet Lovelady Stuart; a daughter, Sara Stuart, of the home; a son, Zach Stuart, of the home; his parents, Fred and Dorothy Stuart, Walnut Ridge; and a brother, Fred Stuart Jr., Fort Smith.
A memorial service will be held today at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Walnut Ridge with Rev. Ron Newberry and J.P. Morgan officiating. A private burial will be held, with House-Gregg Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church or to Children's Homes of Paragould.
Carl L. Taylor
Carl L. Taylor, 71, of Walnut Ridge, died Dec. 3, 2002, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro.
Born in Samantha, Ala., he moved to Lawrence County 47 years ago and lived in Powhatan before moving to Walnut Ridge. He was a member of the Assembly of God.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sandra Lee Craig; a son, Tony Andrew Taylor; two brothers; and two sisters.
Survivors include his wife, Lula Taylor; four sons, David Taylor, Smithville, Roger Taylor, Powhatan, Terry Taylor, Batesville, and Donnie Taylor, Minturn; three daughters, Linda Taylor Webb, Savannah, Tenn., Judy Lynn Taylor McCain, Portia, and Vicky L. Taylor Rash, Pocahontas; two sisters, Mable Belcher and Opal Taylor, both of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; five brothers, Johnny Taylor, Lamar, J.B. Taylor, Rockford, Ill., Willie Taylor and Billy Taylor, both of Tuscaloosa, and Dillard Taylor, Walnut Ridge; 25 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral was Friday at 2 p.m. in the House-Gregg Chapel with Rev. Harold Russell officiating. Burial was in Powhatan Cemetery under the direction of House-Gregg Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Darren Rash, Andy Huttig, Tim Taylor, Ricky Watts, Travis Taylor, Matthew Taylor and Jessie Webb. Honorary pallbearers were Adam Morse and Justin Duley.
