Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
De Wayne Houser
Mr. De Wayne Houser, age 87, a resident of Lockesburg, Arkansas died Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at his home.
He was born July 7, 1929 in Lockesburg. He was a retired logging contractor and a U.S. Army veteran.
Mr. Houser was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Adel Dowdle Houser; a sister, LaWanda Baird; and a grandson, Christopher Heath Cannon.
He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Greg and Jessica Houser of Lockesburg, and “Sambo” and Donnetta Houser of Foreman, Arkansas; two daughters and a son-in-law, Jennie Houser of Ashdown, Arkansas and Sally and Michael Terrell of Branson, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Susan Teeter, Falon Johnson, Laken Plunk, Tyler Houser, Bailee Houser, Summer Terrell, and Corey Terrell; eight great grandchildren, a nephew and his wife, Archie and Sharon Dorsey; and friends and other relatives.
Graveside funeral services for Mr. Houser will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 6, 2017 in the Coulter Cemetery in Lockesburg with Rev. Wesley Blankenship officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at the funeral home.
Marguerite E. Mitchell
Mrs. Marguerite E. Mitchell, age 101, a resident of Arlington, Texas died Friday, June 30, 2017, in Arlington.
She was born February, 19, 1916, in Joplin, Missouri. She was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John A. Mitchell; her parents; three sons, John Mitchell, William Mitchell, and Charles Mitchell; and a daughter, Rose Ferguson.
Survivors include four sons, James Mitchell, Paul Mitchell, Ronald Mitchell, and David Mitchell; four daughters Martha Smith, Mary Haire, Erna Lee Duffy, and Diane Mitchell; and 37 grandchildren.
There will be a private service for family.
Helen Jeanette Gary Wray
Mrs. Helen Jeanette Gary Wray, age 88, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas died Thursday, June 29, 2017, in De Queen.
She was born March 26, 1929, in Crowley, Louisiana to Aurelie and Amy Primeaux Gary. She was a cook in several area businesses, a seamstress, and attended Rose Hill Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James Donald "Jimmy" Wray; her daughters, Harriett Sue Rogers and Jennifer Jean Wray Wright; and five brothers who were all WWII veterans.
Survivors include one daughter, Linda Rogers Miller of De Queen; three sons and daughters-in-law, Raymond and Mary Sue Rogers of De Queen, James and Lisa Wray also of De Queen, and Charlie and Tracey Wray of Ringgold, Louisiana; a sister Lorena Mire of Kapland, Louisiana; and a number of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Wray will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, July 2, 2017 in the Mt. Ida Cemetery Pavilion with Lamar Austin officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m., July 1st at the funeral home.
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Kenneth Lee "Klee" Lawson
Kenneth Lee Lawson (KLEE) entered this world on December 3rd 1940 the son of Flora Faye Priest and Luther Lawson and slid sideways into the grave on the eve of June 27th 2017, body thoroughly used up, waving his casino calloused hand at this world. He finally hit the jackpot.
Klee is preceded in death by his mother and father and one of his greatest accomplishments, a son Tal Allen Lawson.
He leaves to cherish his memory his brother Fred Lawson and wife Mentha, his sister Sue Whitaker, his daughters Debbie Irvan and husband Jr. Dana Vance and his pride and joy, his grandchildren, Farrah, Cade, and Finn Lee Vance who he shared his love of the woods, cigars, and scratch offs with. The mother of his children Jayne Lawson, Two ex- wives Sharon Smart and Iva Willis, two sons Jason and Scott McClain, and special friends Bobby Vance, Johnny Dodson and Connie Pannel. A special Aunt Dot. And a host of half siblings, nieces, nephews, friends, associates, and partners in crime.
Klee never met a stranger and his escapades were legendary. Klee loved the Lord and at times attended church at the Horatio First Assembly where he was known for napping and talking loudly. He was an avid outdoorsmen and knew every rock, tree, river and dirt road in Sevier and Little River counties. He could out fish, out hunt, out dance, and out lie everyone we knew. He loved people the best way he knew how by entertaining them with a story or a song. He managed to stay friends with 3 ex-wives which is a huge feat.
A Memorial of his life will be held at the J L Walker Fellowship Hall on Monday July 3rd at 2:00 pm. Bring your memories and stories of Klee. The family requests donations be made to any local senior citizens center.
Roy L. Loper
Mr. Roy L. Loper, age 90, a resident of Oxnard, California, died Thursday, June 22, 2017, at his home.
Mr. Loper was born January 11, 1927, in Ringgold, Texas. He was a warehouseman having retired from the U.S. Civil Service in Port Hueneme Naval Base in California, a member of the Port Hueneme VFW and a U.S. Army World War II veteran.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith Ruth Pearson Loper; parents, Lewis Edward and Rachel Adline York Loper; one son, Gary (Butch) Bright; one daughter, Vada E. Smith and a grandson, John M. Rimel.
He is survived by two daughters, Patricia A. Anderson of Pauline, South Carolina and Sharon L. Harvey of Oxnard; eight grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Loper will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday July 1, 2017, at Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Wesley Blankenship officiating. Burial will follow in the Redmen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9:30-10:00 a.m., Saturday July 1st at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517. support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Donate
Mr. Ben Neeley, Jr.
Mr. Ben Harrison Neeley, Jr., age 74, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas, died Tuesday, June 27, 2017 in Wadley Regional Medical Center, Texarkana, Texas.
He was born to Ben Harrison Neeley, Sr., and Billie Jean McQuerter Neeley in Long Beach, California on January 6, 1943. He was a 1961 graduate of De Queen High School, and former owner of Neeley's Welding. He was a Christian and a member of the De Queen Church of Christ, where he served as a deacon. He enjoyed bowling, gardening, working , and cherished the time spent with family, especially his granddaughter, and his Great-grandsons.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and an infant brother, Larry Neeley.
He is survived by his wife of over 53 years, Sue Bradley Neeley of De Queen, a daughter and son-in-law, Tammy Michelle and Kevin Phipps of De Queen, a granddaughter, Meagan and her husband Johnny Daley of De Queen, two great-grandsons, Jordan Hunger and Elijah Harrison Daley of De Queen, a brother and sister-in-aw, Rodger and Teresa Neeley of De Queen, two special cousins, Nancy Gore and Cheryl Higgins both of De Queen, and a number of nieces and nephews, as well as his brothers and sisters in Christ.
Funeral Services for Mr. Neeley will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, June 30, 2017 in the chandler Funeral Home with Toney Stowers and Bobby Tatum, Ministers officiating. Burial will follow in the Chapel Hill Cemetery, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home. Visitation will be Thursday, June 29th from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. in Chandler Funeral Home.
Lawanda Pauline Wise Farley
Lawanda Pauline Wise Farley, age 75, a resident of Gillham, Arkansas died Saturday, June 24, 2017, in De Queen.
She was born March 15, 1942 in the Kellum Community near Gillham. She was a homemaker, business owner, farmer and a member of the Gillham First Baptist Church.
Mrs. Farley was preceded in death by her parents, Olin Wise and Ona “Sis” Higgins and her husband, John E. Farley.
She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Jane Frachiseur Farley of Gillham; two daughters, Kathy Graham of Ft. Smith and Karen January of Fayetteville, Arkansas; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, three step grandchildren, four step great-grandchildren two step great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Farley will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, 2017, in the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Millcreek Cemetery near Gillham, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 27th at the funeral home.
