Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Evelyn Saffeels
On Monday, June 24, 2002, Evelyn R. Saffeels departed this life at 77 years of age. Born on June 15, 1925, Evelyn was the daughter of Harry and Edna McIntosh of Clay County, Mo.
On February 2, 1947, Evelyn and Forest were marriage in Liberty, Mo. They were marriage for 44 years.
Evelyn and Forest moved to Van Buren, in the late 1960’s. They purchased a farm in Figure Five where they resided for many years. Evelyn was employed as a mortgage loan officer at Peoples Bank, Citizens Bank and later at Robinson Real Estate. Evelyn and Forest were members of St. John’s United Methodist Church and later were instrumental in the merger and building of Heritage United Methodist Church. Evelyn served on many committees of the church as well as helping to develop Heritage Happy Days Day Care Center.
Evelyn is survived by her closest relative a granddaughter, Pattie Smith of Van Buren, her husband, David and great-grandson Joshua Smith. She is also survived by a grandson, Harold Meyer of Murietta, Calif., three other granddaughters of Abilene, Texas, a daughter of Abilene, Texas, and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 27, at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren with burial at Gracelawn Cemetery, Van Buren, under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Benton Cone, Danny Rapier, Mark Chitwood, Glen Briley, Darrell Shook and Roy Rogers.
Steven Huntington
Steven Lee Huntington, 18, of Van Buren, died Saturday, June 22, 2002, at a local hospital. He was a graduate of Cedarville High School, employed by Accurate Machine & Service Co. and a student at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. He was a member of VICA at UAFS and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Survivors include his fiancee, Elisha Hickey of Van Buren; his parents, Steven and Susan Huntington of Van Buren; his mother, Charlotte Lindsey of Altus, Okla.; maternal grandmother, Peggy Sue Frost of Fort Smith; paternal grandmother, Kathryn Juanita Mayer of Muskogee; two sisters, Tonya Huntington of Van Buren and Crystal Ward of Muskogee; two brothers, Michael Mayer of Muskogee and Richard Dempsey Osburn of Sallisaw; and a stepbrother, Stephen Cooper of Van Buren.
Funeral service was held June 25 at Lewis Funeral Chapel in Fort Smith. Burial was at Honey Hill Cemetery in Stillwell.
Pallbearers were Joseph Drewey, Dustin Lamproe, Ronnie Harris, Thomas Terry, Darrell Hickey and Steve Shepard.
Roger Ridenour
Roger D. Ridenour, 41, of Rudy, died Tuesday, June 11, 2002, at a local hospital. He was a jet engine mechanic for Southern Jet in Raleigh, N.C. He was a graduate of Alma High School and attended Pigeon Creek Free Will Baptist Church in Mountainburg and Six Forks Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C.
Survivors include his parents, Sharon and Curtis Ridenour of Rudy; five brothers, Harry Ridenour and Jerry Ridenour, both of Rudy, Neal Ridenour of Uniontown, Reid Ridenour of Alma and Billy Ridenour of Fort Smith; aunts and uncles, Louise and Michael Gilmore of Nuevo, Calif., Dexton and Bernice Ridenour of Glen Allen, Va. and Donna and Bobby Newton of Sealy, Texas; three nieces and five nephews and several cousins.
Funeral service was held June 14 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel in Van Buren. Burial was at Mount McCurry Cemetery in Rudy.
Pallbearers were Barry Teague, Danny Taylor, Tommy Brammer, Jackie London, Terry Bibbs, Travis Poole and Myron Brammer.
Honorary pallbearers were Rudy Volunteer Fire Department and Angel Care E.M.T’s.
Calvin Holland
Calvin Oliver Holland, 60, of Van Buren, died Wednesday, June 12, 2002, at a local hospital. He was an Army National Guard veteran, a lifelong resident of Crawford County, worked in construction and was of the Methodist faith.
Survivors include two sisters, Lillian and her husband, Wylie Brewer of Cedarville and Mary Beth Houghton of Tacoma, Wash.; a brother, Teddy Holland of Muldrow; several nieces and nephews.
Graveside service was held June 16 at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Dale, David and John Brewer, Richard and Johnny Holland and C.J. Doengi.
Joe Benham Sr.
Joe Benham Sr., 60, of Mulberry, died Tuesday, June 13, 2002. He was a member of Mulberry First United Methodist Church, former owner of Benham Hardware, recorder and treasurer for 18 years, chairman of Mulberry Industrial Development for 20 years and a member of the board of directors Fireman Pension Fund. He was preceded in death by his wife, Roberta Benham.
Survivors include one daughter, Kathy Fox of Fort Smith; one son, Joe Benham Jr. of Fort Smith; three sisters, Betty Gregory of Mulberry, Joy Vinson and Pat Jones, both of Van Buren; two brother, John Benham of Alma and Dan Benham of Mountain Home; four grandchildren, Farrah Fox, Zackary Benham, David Harris and Sharon Harris.
Funeral service was held June 16 at Ocker Memorial Chapel. Burial was at New Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Fuenral Home of Alma.
Pallbearers were John Wilcox, Jeff Marvin, Al Lovett, Bill Douglas, Dick Douglas, David Partlow and David Harris.
Honorary pallbearers were the Mulberry Fire Department.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mulberry Fire Department, c/o Mulberry City Hall, Mulberry, AR 72947.
Inus Brown
Inus Brown, 72, of Van Buren, died Tuesday, June 11, 2002. She was a homemaker and attended New Life Pentecostal Church in Fort Smith.
Survivors include her husband, Charles; five daughters, Annette Thomas of Magazine, Brenda Eddings of Joiner, Barbara Clark of Buffalo, Okla., Becky Lee of Drasco and Renee Lee of Auburn, Ga.; a son, Tommy Carr of Van Buren; a brother, Reatus Strait of Van Buren; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held June 14 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel in Van Buren. Burial was at Gill Cemetery in Van Buren.
Pallbearers were her family.
Gene Rotert
Freda Imogene Spicer Rotert, 81, died Friday, May 24, 2002. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Van Buren.
Survivors include her husband, John; a daughter, Sondra Spears of Hampton, Ga.; a son, John D. Rotert of Van Buren; a sister, Ruby LeRose of Portage, Ind.; two grandsons, Brad Rotert of Van Buren and Scott Rotert of Fort Smith; and two great-grandchildren, Madison and Lucas Rotert, both of Fort Smith.
Funeral service was held May 28 at Ocker Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Burial was at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith.
