Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Gail Conlon Walker
Mrs. Gail Catherine Conlon Walker, age 85, resident of De Queen, Arkansas, passed peacefully from this life on Thursday, May 14, 2020 in the Little River Nursing and Rehab, Ashdown.
Gail was one of three children born to Joseph and Catherine Pilger Conlon on October 15, 1934 in Astoria, New York. She was a graduate of Bayside High School in Bayside, New York and worked as an administrative assistant to the head of advertising at Champion Papers in Manhattan before meeting the love of her life, Marion Elmer “Mike” Walker. Gail and Mike were joined in marriage on January 12, 1980 in Hampton Bays, New York. Gail was a faithful member of St. Barbara Catholic Church in De Queen and served with the St. Barbara Altar Society. She spent many years with the Hospital Auxiliary volunteering at the De Queen Medical Center. Gail enjoyed her time with her dogs, Princess, Gracie, Suzie and Jingles, but more than anything, she cherished the time spent with her family, church family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband of over 30 years, Mike Walker; and one sister, Patricia Kearns.
She leaves to cherish her memory, one sister, Carol Zaleski and husband Ed of Roanoke, Virginia; a step-son, Robert M. Walker and wife Peggy of York, South Carolina; nieces, Jennifer Kelly of Cortland Manor, New York and Floy Jean Driscoll of New Jersey; nephews, Shaun Brookhouse of Manchester, England and Kevin Kearn of Long Island, New York; special friends, Patty Sharp, Phyllis Bradley and Debbie Ernest; as well as, other relatives and a host of friends.
Private Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, May 23, 2020 at St. Barbara Catholic Church in De Queen with Father Ramses Mendieta officiating. Public graveside services will follow at 3:00 P.M., at Redmen Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., with reciting of Rosary at 7:00 P.M., Friday, May 22nd, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to St. Barbara Catholic Church in Mrs. Gail Walker’s memory.
The family wishes to extend their appreciation to the nurses and staff of Little River Nursing and Rehab, as well as, Hospice of Texarkana. Your love and kindness shown to Mrs. Gail has not gone unnoticed.
Due to current health concerns, the use of a mask and gloves is recommended during the time of visitation. Please refrain from hugging or touching one another and keep a comfortable distance of six (6) foot from one another while in the funeral home. Hand sanitizer will be available.
Brenda Sue Ridge Hightower
Brenda Sue Ridge Hightower, 68, of Redwater, Texas, died Sunday, May 10, 2020, in a Dallas, Texas, hospital with her children by her side.
Mrs. Hightower was born August 26, 1951, in Foreman, Ark., to Zenas and Nancy Langley. She was retired from Red River Army Depot DLA and was a member of Redwater United Methodist Church where she served as a Lay Minister, Sunday School teacher, Church Secretary and Jesus and Me coordinator. She was also a former member of Winthrop Baptist Church, Winthrop, Ark., where she taught Sunday School and was the Kindergarten instructor for the church’s academy. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald “Dee” Hightower in 2017 and her former husband, Ron Ridge in 2002.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Glenn and Sheila Ridge of Foreman and Clayton and Tara Ridge of Maud; two daughters and sons-in-law, Rhonda and Gary Morrow of Redwater and Alicia and James Knox of Chandler, AZ.; one brother, Billy Weathers of Nixa, Mo.; three sisters and three brothers-in-law, Marsha and Billy Nicholas and Sherry and Paul Cooper of Foreman and Nelda Wilbur and Jerry Roberts of Texarkana; three granddaughters and one grandson-in-law, Winter and Brandon Mireles and Brooke Morrow of Redwater and Presley Ridge of Foreman; four grandsons, Robert Morrow of Texarkana, Bryce Ridge of Maud and Nathan Knox and Caleb Knox of Chandler; and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, May 15, in Gravelly Cemetery, Foreman, with the Revs. Audie Dawson, Orville Farren and Mindy Zwirn officiating. Burial will be under direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home, De Queen.
A come-and-go viewing will be on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., at the funeral home.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”-3 John 1:4
Clora Elizabeth Hankins Holland
Ms. Clora Elizabeth Hankins Holland, age 76, a resident of St. Johns, Florida and a former resident of Gillham, Arkansas, died Sunday, May 10, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida.
She was born July 25, 1943 in De Queen, Arkansas. She was a retired teacher and a member of the Gillham Baptist Church.
Ms. Holland was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Nellie Carpenter Hankins; one sister, Maudie Hankins, and her former husband, Jack Holland.
She is survived by her daughter, Terresa Holland Cox; two grandsons, Steven Cox and Trevor Cox; her sister, Judy Hankins Kelly; two nephews, Peter (John) Kelly and Jason Kelly; one niece, Athena Kelly Welch formerly of De Queen, Arkansas and a number of grand nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Graveside funeral services for Ms. Holland will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 16, 2020 in Valley Cemetery with Bro. Jerry Hill officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
General viewing will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 15th at the funeral home.
Family requests that everyone remain safe and please, if possible, wear a face mask and practice social distancing for safety.
Evelyn Fern Head Bell
Mrs. Evelyn Fern Head Bell, age 78, a resident of Gillham, Arkansas, died Saturday, May 9, 2020 in Mena Regional Medical Center in Mena, Arkansas.
She was born May 21, 1941 in Arizona. She was a homemaker and enjoyed sewing, bowling and making dolls.
Mrs. Bell was preceded in death by her parents, C.L. and Maddie Head; one daughter, Terri Lynn Fariless; one son, Richard James Bell; two brothers, John Lee Head and Clifford Head; one sister, Opal Scott; and two grandsons, Ray Carl Bell and Richard Lee Bell.
She is survived by one daughter, Ronda Boerner; two sons, Troy Bell and Darryl Bell all of Gillham; and a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Bell will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at Valley Cemetery in Gillham with Cole Lancaster officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
General viewing will be held from 10:00 a.m., to 5:00 p.m., Monday, May 11th at the funeral home.
Jesse Gene Trusley
Jesse Gene Trusley, age 36, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas died Thursday, May 7, 2020, at his home.
He was born November 15, 1983, in De Queen. He attended Old Union Missionary Baptist Church. Jesse had a heart of gold. He would have done anything for anyone. He would have given his shirt off his back for anyone. He was always smiling. He will be missed by everyone dearly. God rest your soul Jesse Gene, fly high.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Billy Gene and Deborah Lavelle Roberts Trusley.
He is survived by three sisters, Elizabeth Ann Trusley, Regina Lavelle Trusley and Angela Renee Gonzalez all of De Queen; two aunts, Darla Lanicek and Diane Sims; four uncles, Larry Martz, Mark Sims, Jim Trusley, and Gene Lanicek; one nephew, Amado Gallardo, Jr.; one niece, Shayla Renee Quintana; and six cousins, Jamie Lee Roberts, Clifton Lee Roberts, Travis Ray Martz, Joseph Martz, Fernando Quintana, and Jody Roberts.
Graveside services for Mr. Trusley will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, May 11, 2020, at McHorse Cemetery with Jerrel Helms officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
Mr. Charles Ray “Charlie” Ward
Mr. Charles Ray “Charlie” Ward, age 78, of Rocky Face, GA, died Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at Cherokee Health and Rehab.
Mr. Ward was born April 14, 1942, in Dierks, Arkansas, son of the late Clifford Leander and Dora Lovell Worley Ward. He was Baptist by faith, and prior to his retirement, owned and operated Charles Ward Logging Company. In addition to his parents, Mr. Ward was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Rosalyn Ward; brother, Ernest Lee Ward; sister, Patricia Kelly; and a grandson, Scott Ward.
Survivors include his wife, Dianne Ward; sons, Dawayne Ward and Casey McClure; daughters, Lavelle Shaw, Margaret Ward, LeAnn Butler, and Mindy Neighbors; brothers, Clyde Ward, Thomas Ward, Clifton Ward, Earl Ward, and James Ward; sisters, Louise George and Linda Hulsey; grandchildren, Gina Ward, Lee Ward, Desaray Ward, Justin Ward, Kelsy Anderson, Nathan Ward, Clayton McClure, Cayden McClure, Mackenzie McClure, Joni Richardson, David Shaw, Johnny Shaw, Edward Tudor, Cody Cotner, Megan Chastain, Tyler Chastain, Tucker Chastain, Zachary Neighbors, Adam Neighbors, and Lexi Neighbors; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Due to the current health concerns for our community, visitation and funeral services for Mr. Ward will be held privately for the immediate family only. Interment will also be held privately at Fisher’s Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery. Rev. Ray Teems will officiate. Active pallbearers will be Cody Cotner, Danny Cotner, Seth Atkins, Jason Teems, Andy Hughes, and Christopher Atkins.
Billy Jake Williams
Mr. Billy Jake Williams, age 82, a resident of Eagletown, Oklahoma, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, May 7, 2020. He passed peacefully from this life at his home surrounded by his family.
Mr. Williams was born in De Queen, Arkansas, on December 17, 1937, to Lee Francis and Ada Ethel (Taylor) Williams. On July 18, 1960, Billy Jake married the love of his life, Dora Mae. They were blessed with four children, nine grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren.
During his life, Billy Jake served his country proudly with the Army National Guard and received an honorable discharge on April 28, 1959. He worked as a maintenance supervisor for Mountaire Corporation in DeQueen, Arkansas, and delivered propane for McCurtain County Propane Company, Broken Bow, Oklahoma, for over 32 years. He retired in 1998.
Billy Jake was preceded in death by his wife, Dora Mae Williams; his parents; his brother, Vess Williams; and his sister, Francis June Paul.
Mr. Williams is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Nancy Williams of Anna, Texas; three daughters and sons-in-law, Pam and Frankie Wright of Broken Bow, Teresa and Mike Davis of Eagletown, and Linda and Danny Ridenour of Broken Bow; nine grandchildren, Sara and Rob Spence, Jared Wright, Maegan and Josh Loux, Karanda Davis, Johnny Williams, Derek and Katie Davis, Joshua Ridenour, Bethany and Nate Sheeley, Matthew and LaDonna Williams, and Monica Williams.
Graveside services for Mr. Williams will be held at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 9, 2020, at the Eagletown Cemetery with Bro. Melvin Baker officiating. Burial will follow at Eagletown Cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home of DeQueen.
