Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Grover Eugene Bidwell
Grover Eugene Bidwell, age 84, a resident of Gillham, Arkansas, died Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at his home.
He was born June 11, 1929 in Barstow, Texas. He completed high school and took college courses at Schreiner Institute in Kerrville, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1946 and served during the Korean War and was in the Marine Reserve Unit in Texarkana until his discharge. He attended University of Southern Arkansas in Magnolia and later graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1957.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Grover Cleveland and Eugenia Boggs Bidwell and four brothers, Robert Bidwell, Jack Bidwell, David Bidwell and Jay Bidwell.
Mr. Bidwell is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Nella Bidwell of El Dorado, AR; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Camilla and Jack Butler of Burnet, TX and Kathryn and Jim Delap of Prairie Grove, AR; six nephews and five nieces; and two sisters-in-law, Noemi Bidwell Goodwin of Amarillo, TX and Dorothy Bidwell of Oceanside, CA.
The family wishes to thank his many, many friends in the De Queen and Gillham area who cared for him in his last months and special friend from Dallas, Texas.
Memorials may be made to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation, 18251 Quantico Gateway Dr., Triangle, VA 22172 or on-line at www.toysfortots.org or the Sevier County Library, 200 W. Stilwell Ave. De Queen, AR 71832.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at Mount Holly Cemetery on H1y 160 near Magnolia. A reception will follow in Mount Holly Church.
Rodney Jerome Laughlin
Rodney Jerome Laughlin, age 51, a resident of De Queen, died Thursday, May 15, 2014 in De Queen.
He was born April 18, 1963 in California. He worked for Pilgrim’s Pride. He accepted Christ as his Savior in January 2013 and was a member of Grace Baptist Church in De Queen.
Mr. Laughlin was preceded in death by his parents, Warren Lee and Maxine Busby Laughlin.
He is survived by six sisters and four brothers-in-law, Cynthia and Cenobil Castaneda and Judy and Stanley Myers all of De Queen, Arkansas, Sheila Waldon of South Carolina, Paula and John Ferraro of California, Linda Laughlin of Arkansas and Teressa and Larry Baugus of South Carolina; one brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Janice Dearing of Illinois and a number of nieces and nephews. He dearly loved his cat, Tails and two dogs, Carlito and Scrappy.
A Memorial service for Mr. Laughlin will be held at 6:00 p.m., Friday, May 30, 2014 in the Grace Baptist Church with Rev. Tim Johnson officiating.
Cremation arrangements by Wilkerson Funeral Home.
Mr. Jerry Hackworth
Mr. Jerry Hackworth, age 71, of Cove, Arkansas, passed away Sunday, May 18, 2014 in Ft. Smith.
He was born December 19, 1942, the son the of the late Richard Hackworth and the late Bertha Shaw Hackworth in Crowder, Oklahoma. He was married for many happy years to the late Mary Loftis. He was a truck driver by trade and was a member of the Pleasant Grove Church of the Nazarene. He was a loving father, great-grandfather and friend. He will be greatly missed.
He is survived by two sons, Kenny Wayne Hackworth of Cove, Arkansas and Eddie Hackworth of Cove, Arkansas; one daughter, Geraldine Hackworth of Talihina, Oklahoma; one sister: Cledith Wilcher of Wickes, Arkansas; 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Bertha Hackworth, his wife, Mary Hackworth, a daughter, Judy James, a son, Jerry Lee Hackworth, and a sister, Edith Clark, and a brother, Bill Hackworth.
Graveside services will be Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Crystal Hill Cemetery with Brother Steve Bradley officiating. Visitation will be general. Arrangements are under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home
Mrs. Lavonne Stokes Thompson
Mrs. Lavonne Stokes Thompson, age 68, a resident of Dierks, Arkansas, died Sunday, May 18, 2014 in Dierks Health and Rehab.
She was born March 10, 1946 in Dierks. She was retired from Pilgrim’s Pride and attended the Assembly of God Church.
Mrs. Thompson was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Mabel Brummett Stokes; her husband, Haskell Thompson; two brothers, Emmett Stokes and Billy Ray Stokes and one sister, Athlene Short.
She is survived by one son, Tony Thompson of Dierks; one sister, Christine Minx and friend, Jimmy Matney of Horatio, AR; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jimmy Don and Dorothy Stokes and Jr. and Cheryl Stokes all of Dierks; special friend, Tooter Edens and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside Funeral services for Mrs. Thompson will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 21, 2014 in the Fellowship Cemetery with Craig Chambers officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in Dierks.
The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 20th at the funeral home in Dierks.
Donald House
Donald House, age 72, of Dierks, died Friday, May 16, 2014.
He was born on July 2, 1941, near Newhope, the son of Albert O. House and Iva Myrtle Green House. On December 24, 1959, he married Dianne Knowles House who preceded him in death on October 24, 1992. He was also preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Kristina House; two brothers, Thomas House and Cloyce House; and one infant sister, Rose Byrle House.
Donald was Missionary Baptist in his faith and worked in the log woods. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and hunting. He assisted people with transportation to their appointments and he adored his family.
He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Belinda House of Dierks; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Angie and George Crump of Waldron, Sally and Paul Maish of DeQueen, Rhonda and Nathan Jameson of Cove and Gail House of Hatfield; eleven grandchildren and their spouses, Heather and Robert Salmon, Holly and Ryan Byford, Steven House, Beth House, Madison House, Jessica and Miguel Santiago, Brian Lopez, Joshua Lopez, Nick Jameson, Ursela House and Jay House; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, May 21, 2014 in the New Hope Free Will Baptist Church with Bro. George Crump officiating.
Visitation will be Tuesday evening, 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.
Interment will be in the Bissell Chapel Cemetery under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood.
Pallbearers will be Steven House, Kevin Fox, Dewayne House, Keith House, Ryan Byford and Robert Salmon.
Honorary pallbearers will be Greg Smith, Joe Hill, Brian Lopez, Josh Lopez and Nick Jameson.
Daniel Raymond Limke
Daniel Raymond Limke, 71, of Foreman, Arkansas passed away May 15, 2014.
He served in the U.S. Navy, was a Vietnam veteran, a craftsman, and a farmer who worked beside his friends at Ashgrove Cement Company for 27 years.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa to Leon and Alberta Limke, Dan was one of nine children. After marrying Donna Shirey in 1963, he started a family and moved from West Des Moines, Iowa to De Queen in 1977. He loved coaching little league, carpentry, classic rock, raising animals, and good home cooking. He was happiest when he was creating something or working outdoors, enjoying the peaceful beauty of his home and land. "Anything worth doing is worth doing right" is a phrase he lived by he took pride in a job well done.
Most of all, Dan loved his family - his wife of nearly 51 years, Donna, and his children, Dan Limke II of Little Rock; Paul Limke and wife April of Hot Springs; and daughter Karen Huffines and her husband Paul of Texarkana. Granddaughters Camryn Limke, Peyton Limke, Taelor Geraci, Carley Geraci and Kim Brand were his pride and joy.
A private family memorial will be held at a later date. The family asks that donations be made in Dan's name to Sevier County Youth Baseball, PO Box 823, De Queen, AR., 71832.
Thelma Lucille Gray Belcher
Mrs. Thelma Lucille Gray Belcher, age 92, a resident of Lockesburg, Arkansas, died Wednesday, May 14, 2014 in De Queen, Arkansas.
She was born to Henry Forest and Bertha Ann Frazier Gray in Moberly, Missouri, on April 27, 1922. She was a retired poultry farmer, and a homemaker. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lockesburg, Arkansas, and enjoyed reading, jigsaw puzzles, and card games.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, Mildred McBride, and Donald Gray, her husband of over 56 years, Harold Allen Belcher, and a daughter, Cathy Cole.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Wayne Williamson of De Queen, Two grandchildren, Brian, and his wife, Kimmie Williamson of Bauxite, Arkansas, and Amber and her husband, Steven Wagner of De Queen, three great-grandchildren, Avery and Sutton Williamson, and Mabry Wagner, a sister, Maxine Thomas of Huntington Woods, Michigan, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Lucille Belcher will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, May 17th in the Belleville Cemetery Pavilion with Sam Young officiating. Burial will follow in the Belleville Cemetery, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen. The family will be at the family home in Lockesburg. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Lockesburg Youth Summer Camp Fund, P. O. Box 53, Lockesburg, AR 71832
