Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Johnnie Payne
Johnnie Alvin Payne, 89, of Bee Branch, Arkansas, passed away Saturday, June 27, 2015. He was born Feb. 9, 1926, in Morganton, Arkansas, the youngest and last remaining descendant of Floyd R. and Jane (Baker) Payne.
Alvin was a carpenter and farmer by trade and a lifelong member of the Morganton Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jake Payne, Jim Payne and Kenneth Payne; sister, Nova Payne; and an infant daughter born on May 15, 1946.
Alvin leaves behind his loving wife of 71 years, Winnie Faye (Linn) Payne of the home; son Roger Dale Payne and wife Bonnie of Bee Branch; three grandsons, Dan and Christy Payne of Bee Branch, Bob and Ann Payne of Vilonia, Arkansas, and Brett and Krystal Payne of Heber Springs, Arkansas; eight great-grandchildren, Branden, Catey, Beth, Emily, Drew, Mary, Jacob and Kaylee; and a host of nieces, nephews, close friends and neighbors.
Pallbearers: Garold Rogers, Doug Cornelius, Don Pennington, Harvey Pennington, Jim Linn, and Ed Wood.
Honorary Pallbearers: Branden Payne, Drew Payne, and Jacob Payne.
Visitation will be 1 p.m. and funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2015, at Mount Zion General Baptist Church Bee Branch, Arkansas, with Pastor Dan Payne officiating. Burial will follow in Colony cemetery.
A special thank you to all of the Arkansas Hospice nurses and staff and the personal caregivers, Jennifer Brown, Samantha Rugama and Margie May for their care, love and support.
Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home Clinton, Arkansas.
Marylyn McCool
Marylyn McCool, 53, died June 11, 2015. She was born May 20, 1962. She is survived by her husband Tim McCool; daughter Lisa; grandchildren Pryden and Serena; parents Richard and Norma Knipple of Branson; one sister; and four brothers. There is an account at First Service Bank on behalf of Marylyn and any donations are greatly appreciated.
Emmett Bradford
Emmett Bradford, age 84, of Shirley, Arkansas, passed away on June 18, 2015 at his home. Born on March 31, 1931, in Shirley, Arkansas, he was the son of the late Claude and Effie Bradford.
Mr. Bradford was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Carol Bradford; his children Darrell Bradford of Shirley, Arkansas, Catherine Bradford Akers and her husband Ray of Cabot, Arkansas, Sue Bradford of Shirley, Arkansas, Rhonda Bradford Thompson of South Haven, Michigan, and Wanda Bradford Lowry and her husband Steve of Shirley, Arkansas; his stepchildren Randel Fluke of Chester, California, Michael Thompson and his wife Anita of Yakima, Washington, Daniel Thompson and his wife Sharon of Walla Walla, Washington, and Joel Thompson of Walla Walla, Washington; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Mr. Bradford is also survived by his other relatives and many friends.
Throughout your life you never expect to be the last one to join the rest of your family in Heaven, but our dad did just that! He never ever met a stranger, worked hard his whole life, loved having coffee with his kids and always made us chuckle by his love of Hazelnut Coffee Mate.
Visitation was Monday at the First General Baptist Church in Clinton, Arkansas, with funeral services at 2 p.m. Interment was in Eglantine cemetery in Shirley, Arkansas. Pallbearers are Joshua Akers, Billy Strickland, Mike Keys, James Fontaine, Bob Bradley and Eddie Wix. Memorial donations in honor of Mr. Bradford may be made to the Eglantine cemetery Fund.
Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home.
Irene Ramey
Irene Ramey, 86, of El Dorado, Arkansas, died Wednesday, June 10, 2015.
Born in Waverly, Missouri, in 1928 to Hobart and Bernice Harmon, Hazel Irene Ramey was raised in Evansville, Indiana. After graduation from Reitz High School she married
her childhood sweetheart Robert Ramey, a native of Crabtree. She was a devoted wife and dedicated mother to her two sons. Her love of family was exceeded only by her love of God. Robert and Irene moved in 1977 to El Dorado where Irene was involved as a teacher at Murmil Baptist Church for many years. In 1997 she and Robert joined The Master’s Builders, and traveled the country building churches and leading devotions.
She played the piano and organ in church, and along with her husband Robert, was a member of the Golden Keys gospel group that traveled to churches to sing, and gave Sunday afternoon concerts at Salem cemetery Decoration services for many years.
preceded in death by her parents and son Don, Irene is survived by her husband of 69 years Robert Ramey; son Bob Ramey and wife Cheryl; daughter-in-law Pat Ramey; grandchildren Heather Yonce and husband Cecil, and Ben Ramey; and great-grandchildren Rachel and Kyle DeVane.
Funeral service was Sunday, June 14, 2015, at Murmil Baptist Church. Interment was in Three Creeks Baptist Church cemetery.
Jack Allan Burbridge
Jack Allan Burbridge, 77, of Shirley, passed away May 16, 2015. He was born October 29, 1937, to Vern E. and Catherine Bailey Burbridge in Niles, Michigan. Jack was a member of Grace Church, loved motorcycles and his purpose in life was seeing souls saved. Known as “Happy Jack,” he was known for his work with the Motorcycle and Prison Ministries from Crime to Christ, Inc.
Jack is survived by wife Carolyn Burbridge; daughters Deborah Avenmarg, Jacklyn Schatz of Glendale, Arizona, Jackie Burbridge-Casey of Shirley, Arkansas; sons Mike Burbridge of Little Rock, Vern Burbridge II of Logan, Alabama, and Jody Martinez of Lakeland, Florida; sister Doris Shaum; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter, and many other family.
There will be a celebration of life for Jack on June 13 at Grace Church in Clinton at 2 p.m. Jack loved people and people loved Jack. The family requests in lieu of flowers that a donation be made in Jack’s memory to From Crime to Christ P.O. Box 1252 Fairfield Bay, AR 72088 to carry on his legacy. Arrangements by Clinton Funeral Service.
Guila Gay McHam
Guila Gay McHam, 64, of Cabot, Arkansas, passed away Friday, Aug. 14, 2015. She was born July 5, 1951, in Conway, Arkansas, to Jess Willard and Laverta Madge (Lewis) Baker.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Gloria Kay Baker; husband of her children, Wendell Lee Crawford (daughters, Jennifer and Carrie). She later married
James Alvin McHam and they were married
for 30 years, (son, Frank McHam).
She is survived by her daughters, Jennifer Fulks (Brent) of Morganton, Arkansas, and Carrie Schwandt (Martin) of Cabot, Arkansas; one stepson, Frank McHam (Melinda) of Bee Branch, Arkansas; six grandchildren, Sarah Blair Fulks, JW Lee, Allie Lee, Shasta Moseley, Wyatt McHam and Stormy McHam, and many close friends.
Gay loved visiting with friends and family, doing crossword puzzles, and gardening. She was of the Baptist faith.
Family will visit with Friends at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, and the Memorial Service will follow at 11 a.m. at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home Chapel Clinton, Arkansas, with Pastor Johnny Evans Jr. officiating. Cremation and memorial arrangements are under the care and direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Clinton.
Robert Boyd McKnight
Robert Boyd McKnight, 89, of Clinton, Arkansas, passed away Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. He was born Jan. 16, 1926, in Clinton, Arkansas, to Cowan William and Martha Jane (Crownover) McKnight and was the eighth of their 10 children.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ida Marie McKnight; his brothers, Howard, Fred, Elbert and Olen McKnight; his sisters, Erma Steele, May Ferguson and Billie Newborn; and nephews Tom Steele and George Stephens Jr.
After graduating from Clinton State Vocational Training School (Clinton High School), Bob served in the Army in the final years of World War II, and following the war, he returned to Arkansas and attended the University of Arkansas before transferring to Arkansas A&M in Monticello where he earned a degree in forestry.
Bob’s career in the timber industry took him to Idaho and Montana. While living in Bozeman, Montana, he met and married
Ida Marie Hubbard who had two teen-aged daughters, Margie and Linda, and they became a family. After retiring from their careers, Bob and Ida began spending the winter months in Clinton and the other half of the year in beautiful Montana, where Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, traveling, and other hobbies. They designed and built their retirement home together near where Bob grew up on the family farm in Clinton, and several years ago they decided to live in this home year-round. Bob and Ida enjoyed sharing hospitality in their home with family and friends, both in Montana and Clinton.
Surviving Bob are his sisters, Fairy Stephens of Heber Springs and Betty Bradford of Glendale, Arizona; brother-in-law Travis Newborn of Waukegan, Illinois; sister-in-law Twyla McKnight of Brentwood, Tennessee, as well as Ida’s daughters Margie Hubbard and Linda Davies (Roger) of Yuba City, California; and four grandchildren, Leo Hubbard (Annette) of Spokane, Washington, Chris Davies of British Columbia, and Sara and Alan Davies of California; and one great-grandson, Brandon Hubbard of Florida. Also surviving Bob are his nephews Howard McKnight Jr. of Sanford, North Carolina, Dr. Bill McKnight of Rogers, Jerry Ferguson of Phoenix, Arizona, Mark McKnight of Highland Village, Texas, Roger McKnight of Memphis, Tennessee, Randy McKnight of Brentwood, Tennessee, and Carlton Bradford of Tucson, Arizona. His nieces include Phyllis Peters of Charlotte, North Carolina, Annette Lewis of Ashland, Oregon, Dr. Marty Chinnery of Corpus Christi, Texas, Lynn Beatty of Conway, Kathleen Sanchez of Omaha, Nebraska, Joyce Patterson of Clinton, Debra Jones and Brenda Zeigler of Phoenix, Arizona, and Melissa Pankiewicz of Beach Park, Illinois, as well as their children and grandchildren, and many cousins. Bob made friends wherever he lived and they will miss him as well, with special recognition of his lifelong childhood friend, Chris Halbrook of Red Bluff, California. Following the death of his wife, the highlight of Bob’s day had become sharing lunch with his good friends at the Senior Center in Clinton.
His family wishes to thank the doctors and nursing staff of the Palliative Care Unit of McClellan Veterans Administration Hospital for the care and comfort they gave Bob in his final week of life.
To honor, remember, and celebrate the life of Bob McKnight, a memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7, at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home Chapel in Clinton. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. All of Bob’s friends and family are invited to attend.
Cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Clinton, Arkansas.
James Alfred Nicholson
James Alfred Nicholson, 82, of Clinton went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015.
Funeral services were 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Clinton with Bro. Tommy Acton officiating. Burial was in Culpepper cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Clinton, Arkansas.
Johnny Dwight Hartwick
Johnny Dwight Hartwick, 70, of Jasper passed away Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, after a battle with cancer. He was born July 28, 1945, to the late Archie and Gustay (Burroughs) Hartwick in Gravesville, Arkansas. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Ocie, Dee, Roscoe and Bill Hartwick; sisters, Sylvia Hartwick and Erma Jean Leonard; nephews, Kenny Leonard and Billy Don Leonard; sisters-in-law, Melba Hartwick and Blanche Ward.
He was the most gentle, loving, and supporting husband, father and grandfather. He was a U.S. Army veteran, ASU graduate, manufacturer, builder, farmer, business owner/operator and overall problem solver. He was of the Baptist Faith.
He is survived by his wife, Brenda Bell Hartwick; son, Jay (Nicole) Hartwick; daughter, Deanna Brewer; grandchildren, Colton Huggins, Braxton Varvil, Halle Brewer, Jackson Hartwick and Aimsley Hartwick; great-grandchild, Carter Huggins; sisters, Audrey Robinson and Lois Phipps; sisters-in-law, Deola Davis, Mary Clinton and Teresa Mooney and many other loving family members and friends.
Funeral service was 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Greenbrier with Rev. Gary Burdin officiating. Burial was in Holland cemetery in Gravesville with Steven Leonard, Stuart Leonard, Carroll D. Leonard, Jamie Leonard Barry Robinson and Mark Bell serving as pallbearers. Serving as honorary pallbearers were Danny Linn, Dwight Crider, Randy Crider, Michael Crider, Brian Bell and the Southside Class of ‘63.
Wilma Jane Wallace
Wilma Jane Wallace, 91, of Clinton, Arkansas, passed away Thursday, July 23, 2015. She was born July 6, 1924, in Searcy, Arkansas, to the late James Franklin and Sarah Lelia (Parks) Mann.
Wilma lived in Searcy, Arkansas, in the early years of her life. She moved to Heber Springs, Arkansas, in 1967. She moved to Clinton, Arkansas, in 2002, where she lived at Lefler Estates until her illness forced her to move to Ozark Health Nursing Center in 2010.
Wilma loved to cook for her family, sew, quilt, and make rabbits with dresses, garden, travel, swim, and sing. She loved to read the Bible, books and her daily newspaper. She loved flowers, watching the hummingbirds and birds. She loved to travel and would often sing “On the Road Again” as her theme song. She was a member of the Home Demonstration Club in Heber Springs and Clinton. Wilma was a member of First Baptist Church, Clinton, Arkansas. Wilma “let her light shine” to many friends and loved ones. She never met a stranger. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society at the Nursing Center. She was famous for saying “I love you more!” to anyone who visited her. Even through her illness, she adorned her famous trademarks: Red Lipstick, Red Fingernail Polish and her Jewelry.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, O.T. Wallace, Burnice Glover, James Mitchell and William F. Mitchell, grandson Ross Mitchell and one great-grandson, Benji Myers. Also preceding her in death were her brothers and sisters, Juanita Price, Woodrow W. Mann, Leo P. Mann, Calvin C. Mann, Irma J. Crowell, Betty L. Taylor and her half-sister, Delores (Dee) Brennan, and many nieces and nephews.
Wilma is survived by her children, William F. (Mitch) Mitchell Jr. (Janie), Judy A. Blanchard (John), Sarah J. Hutchins (Gary), James H. Glover (Reba), Linda J. Bailey, Barbara J. Smith (Kelvin), and Bernice Bonds (Keith). Also surviving her are her grandchildren, Ryan Mitchell (Stefanie), Connie Worthen, Tamala Glover, April Brown, Tracy Glover, Jimmy Glover, James Glover, Bernie Glover, Mitchell Byrd Jr., Melanie Smith, Lauren Smith, Garrett Smith, Lindsey Sierra (Anthony), Kylie Bonds and Lawson Bonds; great-grandchildren, Ratisha Wilkerson, Jonathan Uphold, William Mitchell, Gabbi Byrd, Brooke Byrd, Saylor Jane Sierra, Jeremiah Carpenter, Derrick Carpenter, Logan Fowler, Kirsten Kredio, Ariana Kredio, and Summer Pinnell. Wilma is also survived by her great-great-grandchildren, Hayden Wilkerson, Bryce Wilkerson, Chastin Carpenter and Kylee Kredio.
Pallbearers: Wilma’s Grandsons: Mitch Byrd, Ryan Mitchell, Lawson Bonds, Garrett Smith, Anthony Sierra, and Jonathan Uphold.
Honorary Pallbearers: John Blanchard, Carl Blanchard, Kelvin Smith, Keith Bonds, Gary Hutchins, Everett Wilkerson, and Ross Mitchell.
Funeral service was 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26, 2015, at First Baptist Church in Clinton, Arkansas, with Pastors Faron Rogers and Kirk Hardy officiating. Music was by Steve Trawick and Peggy Hardy.
Burial was in Cleburne County Memorial Gardens, Heber Springs, Arkansas. Visitation was Saturday, July 25, 2015, from 6-8 p.m. at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home Chapel, Clinton, Arkansas.
Memorials can be made to the Van Buren County Library, the Gideons, or the Ozark Health Nursing Activity Department.
Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home, Clinton, Arkansas.
