Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Elizabeth J. Owens
Elizabeth Jordon Owens, 101, of Clarksville died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003, at Clarksville Convalescent Home.
She was a native of the Spadra Community, daughter of the late Jaine and Edith Jordon, widow of Robert Owens, and was preceded in death by one daughter, Zerita Louise Willis.
She is survived by three grandchildren, Larry Willis of Denver, Colo., Denise Wilson of Russellville, and Margie Gordon of Clarksville; five great-grandchildren, Tonya Mitchell, Tyrone Willis, Steven Willis and Latasha Willis, all of Clarksville, and Heath Willis of Florida; and three great-great-grandchildren, Kya Mitchell, Ayanna Willis and Cameron Willis.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel with Rev. Dave Dodson officiating. Burial was in Oakland cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Phillip Cotton, York Sims, Patrick Baker, Albert Bagsby, Joe Perry, and Claude May.
Honorary pallbearers were Sam Scott, Floyd Chenault and Johnny Bagsby.
Grover E. Criss
Grover Ernest Criss, 81, of Lake Isabella, Calif., died Monday, Oct. 20, 2003, at his home.
He was a native of Johnson County, son of the late Steve and Noma Sparks Criss, grew up in Johnson and Newton counties, and was a World War II veteran having served in the Signal Corps of the United States Army. Following the war, he went to California where he was employed by Pioneer Flintkote for 35 years prior to retiring in 1979. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church of Lake Isabella. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Raymond, Roy, Lee and Bill Criss; and three sisters, Minnie Hayes, Sarah Harderson, and Mary Criss.
Survivors include his wife of approximately 55 years, Mary Beth Criss; one brother, Johnnie Aaron Criss Sr. of Huntsville; two sisters, Rosie Cummins of Catalpa and Vellar Mooney of Clarksville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral was Friday, Oct. 24, at the Landmark Baptist Church in Lake Isabella with burial following in Kern River Valley cemetery in Wofford Heights.
Harmon C. Walker
Harmon C. (Bob) Walker died Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003, at Glendora, Calif.
He was a native of the Spadra Community, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Walker, retired builder and contractor, attended Emmanuel Baptist Church in Azusa, Calif., where he ministered to the residents of Emmanuel Convalescent Center for many years, and was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Walker.
Survivors include one sister, Jo Anne Jacobs of Benton; one half-brother, M. W. Walker of Michigan; one half-sister, Frances Reddock of Texas; one stepdaughter, Jacqueline Watkins of California; and numerous nephews and nieces including Charlotte Ededington.
Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Oakdale cemetery
Justin Todd Clayborn
Justin Todd Clayborn, 20, of Charleston died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2003, near Charleston.
He was a native of Clarksville and machinist with United Fabricators in Fort Smith.
Survivors include his father, Richard Clayborn of Altus; mother, Donna Clayborn, and stepfather, Johnny Harris, both of Charleston; maternal grandparents, Ervin and Sue Hurt of Alix; paternal grandmother, Ann Bly of Lamar; and one brother, Blake Clayborn of Charleston.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, at Smith Mortuary Chapel in Charleston with Rev. Vern Wilson officiating. Burial was at Island cemetery northeast of Lavaca.
Pallbearers were Greg Donald, Wesley Campbell, Lance Shepard, Ben Hatcher, Josh Clark and John Duty.
Orilla R. Langston
Orilla Reeves Langston, 85, of Charleston, formerly of Coal Hill, died Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003, at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith.
A native of Hartman, she was a daughter of the late James Cravens and Fanny Roberts Reeves, widow of Homer A. Langston Sr., and member of Lavaca First Baptist Church. She graduated from Hartman High School with honors at the age of 16, was employed in a poultry processing plant in Clarksville for several years, was the first woman inspector and continued to work as an inspector with the U. S. Department of Agriculature until her retirement. She was preceded in death by one grandchild, Lori; two sisters, Virginia Stallings and Ethel Ford; and three brothers, George Reeves, Pinkey Reeves, and James (Kaig) Reeves.
Survivors include two sons, Tony Langston and Jim Langston, both of Fort Smith; one brother, Amos Reeves of Hartman; three grandchildren, Landa Dauphinais of Greenwood, Carol Langston of Olympia, Wash., and David Langston of Seattle, Wash.; five great-grandchildren, Holly Dauphinais, Emily Dauphinais and Landan Dauphinais, all of Greenwood, and James David Schossow and April Schossow, both of Fort Smith; and one great-great-grandchild, Caleb Schossow of Fort Smith.
Funeral was at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel with Dr. Grant Ethridge officiating. Burial was in Coal Hill cemetery.
Pallbearers were Mike Reeves, Jim Reeves, Johnny Chrisman, Larry Guthrie, James David Schossow, Drew Dauphinais, Linda Collins, and Linda Marvel Marhis.
Randy Curtis
Randy Curtis, 47, of Clarksville died Monday, Nov. 10, 2003, at his home.
He was a native of Charleston, son of the late Russell Curtis, and an employee of Nulyne Company at Knoxville.
He is survived by one son, Rusty Curtis of San Diego, Calif.; mother, Betty Curtis of Clarksville; one sister, Kathey Day of Altus; and one brother, Robert Curtis of Knoxville.
Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at the Oakland cemetery with Rev. David Zeiler officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Johnny Dalton, Buddy Pickett, Eugene Zeiler, Bill Ross, Mike Harvey, and Bob DeWinter.
Honorary pallbearers were Randy DeWinter, Ronnie Roberts, Tony Marvel, and Bucky Childers.
Judge Richard Gardner
Judge Richard E. Gardner Jr., 62, of Russellville died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003, at his home.
The son of the late Dr. Ellis and Betty Lemley Gardner, he was born Sept. 30, 1941, in New Orleans, La. He was a 1959 graduate of Russellville High School and a 1963 graduate of Arkansas Tech University where he played center on the 1960 and 1961 AIC football conference championship teams.
He was a Viet Nam veteran of the United States Army. Following military service, he received his juris doctorate from the University of Tulsa and returned to Russellville in 1969, where he joined the law practice of his uncle, Charles Gardner, and Robert Hays Williams. He continued in that practice along with Steve Gardner and Robert Hardin for 19 years. In 1989, he was appointed circuit chancery (juvenile) judge for Pope, Johnson and Franklin counties by then Governor Bill Clinton. He served since 1991 as the elected circuit judge for the 5th Judicial District, Position 2 (formerly called chancery-probate judge). He was a member of the Arkansas Judicial Council, Pope County, Arkansas and American Bar Associations.
He was a lifetime member of the VFW and a member of the Russellville Chamber of Commerce. He had been a member of the Russellville Rotary Club and served on the board of directors of the Arkansas River Valley Boys and Girls Club. He was a member and past president of the Russellville Country Club and a lifetime member of the Central Presbyterian Church where he had served as a deacon.
Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Jackie Gardner; two daughters and sons-in-law, Marice and Steve Greenberg of New York City, N. Y., and Erin and Brandon Flammang of Fayetteville; one sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Barry Erwin of Monroe, La.; one brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Guy and Brigita Gardner of Little Rock; and an uncle and aunt, Bill and Wadena Lemley of Russellville.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at Central Presbyterian Church with Rev. Kenyon Kalvesmaki officiating.
A private burial was held under the direction of Humphrey Funeral Service.
Memorials may be made to the Central Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 400 West Main Street, Russellville, AR 72801.
Bernice O. Champion
Bernice Odean Champion, 68, of Altus died Monday, Nov. 10, 2003, at her home.
She was a daughter of the late Arthur Cilvester and Ollie Idena Halpain Champion, Baptist, and was preceded in death by one son, Chris Dierene.
She is survived by six daughters, Di Ann Martin, Jessica L. Barnett, and Teresa Dierene, all of Clarksville, Pat Atkins of Conroe, Texas, and Linda Hayes and Brenda Blake, both of Mesa, Ariz.; three sons, Bobby D. Langston of Bakersfield, Calif., and Mike Dierene and Jeffrey Dierene, both of Amarillo, Texas; three sisters, Beatrice Holzman of Cecil, Betty Burcham of Ozark, and Pat Woods of Rogers; two brothers, Vester Ray Champion of Ratcliff and A. C. Champion of Van Buren; 17 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Roller-Cox Chapel.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at Roller-Cox Chapel.
Ben D. Robertson
Ben David Robertson, 78, of Clarksville died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
He was a native of Clarksville, son of the late Steven O. and Rachel Evans Robertson, member of Union Grove Baptist Church, 1943 graduate of Clarksville High School, World War II Army veteran and served in the 103rd Infantry Division, cattle farmer and retired bus driver for Clarksville Schools.
Survivors include his widow, Melba Robertson; one daughter, Becky J. Robertson of Manteca, Calif.; one son, Steven Robertson of Clarksville; two sisters, Edith Walton of Clarksville and Bernelle Tate of Houston, Texas; one brother, Argus Robertson of Tulsa, Okla.; three grandchildren, Wendy King, Kim Lambert and Jeanette Lambert, all of Manteca, Calif.; and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at Union Grove cemetery with Rev. Burnett King officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Dale Meek, Donald Meek, Bob Hurley, C. O. Blackard, Ben Alfred Hardgrave, and Duane Steele.
