Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Dr. Stephen A. Trana
Dr. Stephen A. Trana, 61, of Monticello, Ark., died Nov. 30, 2008. He was born in Dearborn, Mich., Feb. 8, 1947, the son of Gordon and Alma Trana. He was a professor of music at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Ark.
He is survived by: his wife, Carol Michael Trana; his daughter, Rachel Trana, of Chicago, Ill.; his son Ethan Trana of Los Angeles, Calif.; his brother-in-law, Samuel Michael of Monticello; his parents, Gordon and Alma Trana of Cherokee Village, Ark.; his sister, Karen Starr, and husband Chris of Warrenville, Ill.; his sister-in-law, Shirlee McDaniel and husband, Ron of Houston, Texas; and five nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by: a nephew, Christian Jensen Starr.
Memorial services were Dec. 5 at First United Methodist Church of Monticello with Rev. Bill Eason and Rev. Ed Wyers officiating. Memorials may be made to the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Little Rock; the CARTI Foundation, Little Rock; Drew Memorial Hospital, Monticello; First United Methodist Church Monticello; Drew County Developmental Disabilities Council Inc., Monticello.
Charles Porter
Charles Hailmann Porter, 75, of Mammoth Spring, Ark., died Dec. 11, 2008, at his residence. He was born on July 16, 1933, in Camp, Ark., the son of the late John William Porter and Thelma (Stewart) Porter.
He was a member of the Masons. He served in the U.S. Navy and his last promotion was at the rank of E7 Chief Petty Officer. After he served his country for 21 years he drove a truck for Valley Steel Company. He was a Pentecostal by faith.
He is survived by: his wife, Yvonia (Traw) Porter of the home; sons, William Charles and Suzzane Porter of California and Lee and Catherine Porter of Ohio; daughters, Debra and Randle Baldridge of Arkansas, Patricia and Tommy Love of Arkansas, Pamela and Mark Wiseman of Texas, and Penelope and J.J. Counts of Arkansas; sisters, Ann Brown of Illinois, Mary Strauser of Texas, Margaret Manes of Arkansas, Johna Miller, Jane Wyatt of Missouri and Norma Herbold of Missouri; 17 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; brothers, David Porter, Robert Dale Porter, and Danny Porter; sisters, Ethal Hendrick and Judy Porter; a son, Raymond Porter; and two grandchildren, Christina Baldridge and Roger Emmit Baldridge.
Funeral services were held Dec. 17 at the Tri-County Funeral Home in Highland, Ark., with burial service following the funeral at Perry Cemetery in Hardy, Ark. Minister Tom Sauer officiated. Arrangements were under the direction of the Tri-County Funeral Home in Highland.
Jesse Howard Sanders
Jesse Howard Sanders, of Byron, Ark., son of the late Jake Washington Sanders and Maggie Pruett Sanders were born Feb. 14, 1919, in Dolph, Ark. He died Dec. 12, 2008, at his home in Salem, at the age of 89.
He was united in marriage to Theda Bray on Nov. 22, 1941, at Byron. To this union three children were born. He was a farmer and was of the Presbyterian faith.
Survivors include: his wife, Theda, of the family home; his daughters, Linda Switzer and husband Paul of Byron and Donna Sanders and husband Rickey of Viola; his grandchildren; Kevin Sanders, Christy Ashley and husband Billy, Brian Sanders, Tina Goodman and husband Shane, David Sanders and Jill Williams and husband Keith; two great-grandchildren; many nieces; nephews; and friends.
He was preceded in death by his son, Howard Lee Sanders; great-granddaughter, Kennedy Sanders; brothers, Noble, Noel (Shorty) Jack and R.C. Sanders; sisters, Goldie Soden, Opal Combs, Mertie Ninemire, Billie Brown and Rosalee Sanders; and his father and mother.
Funeral services were held Dec. 15 at Cox-Blevins Chapel in Salem with burial following in the Byron Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of the Cox-Blevins Funeral Home of Salem.
Robert J. "Bob" Murphy
Robert J. "Bob" Murphy, 74, of Cherokee Village, Ark., formerly of Ramsey, Ill., died Dec. 9, 2008, at White River Medical Center in Batesville, Ark. He was born Aug. 29, 1934, at Ramsey, son of William Frank- lin "Willie" Murphy and Mabel Gladys (Meyerholz) Murphy.
He was married June 10, 1956, in Ramsey, Ill., to Carolyn S. Walter. He retired after being employed as a pipe fitter-welder. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Cherokee Village, the Golf Association of Cherokee Village and the Country Golf Association in Clearwater, Fla.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Survivors include: his wife Carolyn of Cherokee Village, Ark.; two sons, Mark Murphy and Annette of Decatur, Ill., and Gary Murphy and Lisa of Fairview Heights, Ill.; one brother, Kenneth Murphy and Scottie of Athens, Texas; two sisters, Betty Wollerman and Kenneth of Ramsey, Ill., and Ester Hill and David of Vandalia, Ill.; and one grandson, Garrett Murphy of Fairview Heights, Ill.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Graveside services were held Dec. 13 at the Mt. Carmel Cemetery in rural Ramsey, Ill., with Rev. Richard Hill officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Miller Funeral Home of Vandalia, Ill.
Joseph McKenzie
Joseph Richard McKenzie Sr., 73, of Mammoth Spring, Ark., was born Dec. 30, 1934, in St. Louis, Mo., and died Dec. 6, 2008, at his home.
He is survived by: his wife, Melvina McKenzie of the home; four sons, Joseph Lee McKenzie Jr. of Ft. Worth, Texas, Dennis Dwayne McKenzie of Thayer, Mo., Lonnie Dale James McKenzie of Cherokee Village, Ark., Ronald Patrick McKenzie of Mammoth Spring; one daughter, Sherrie Lynn Clark of Thayer; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, Daniel A. McKenzie and Garnett Aldina Smith McKenzie; and a daughter, Denna Lou McKenzie.
Memorial services were held Dec. 9, in the Clary Chapel in Mammoth Spring with Mikey Clark officiating.
Chester F. Hawkins
Chester F. Hawkins, 86, of Vilonia, Ark., died Dec. 9, 2008, in Little Rock, Ark. He was born May 13, 1922, in Phillipsburg, Mo., to the late Thomas and Rosie Hawkins.
Chester was a U.S. Marine Corp Veteran of WWII and a former sheriff of Oregon County, Mo.
He is survived by: his wife of 62 years, Ruth Marie Hawkins; twin brother, Lester Hawkins (Jean) of Belmont, Calif.; daughters, Melba McKeehan (John) and Kathryn Clark; son, Travis Hawkins (Deborah); five grandchildren, Daniel McKeehan (Mandy), Angela Williams (Blake), Misty Granade (Stephen), Courtney Hawkins and Crystal Chisholm (Eric); nine great-grandchildren; and a large extended family and friends.
Graveside services were held Dec. 13 at Cypress Valley Cemetery in Vilonia with Rev. Belinda Price officiating.
Arrangements were under the direction of Moore's Cabot Funeral Home.
George Earl Huff
George Earl Huff, 86, of Cherokee Village, Ark., died Dec. 16, 2008, at White River Medical Center in Batesville, Ark. He was the son of the late George Huff and the late Vida (Robertson) Huff.
Earl retired from the state of Indiana as an entomologist. He served in the Army during WWII. He was a member of the Masons, American Legion and the Lion's Club.
He is survived by: his wife, Marjorie Huff; son, Richard D. Huff of Australia; a daughter, Paula English of Cherokee Village; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in the spring in Indiana. Local arrangements are being handled by Heath Funeral Home, Oak Hill Chapel of Highland, Ark.
