Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Sheryl Billings
Sheryl Hildreth Billings 61, of Clinton, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at the Ozark Health Nursing Center. Sheryl was born in St. Clair Shores, Mich., to John and Deloris Hildreth and resided in Michigan for 46 years.
She had three children and volunteered at school and church while they were growing up. She moved to Arkansas in 1998 once her children were grown. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1976 and was extremely strong throughout its progression. With all of its ups and downs, Sheryl always had a smile on her face and was a fantastic mother, daughter, sister, and friend to so many.
Sheryl is survived by her three children: Holly (Lloyd) Sova of Ohio, Scott (Donna) Billings of Michigan and Raymond J. (April) Billings of Arkansas; eight grandchildren: Lora, Molly, Dakota, Cooper, Maddeline, Connor, Carrson, and Jenna; and brother John (Lynn) Hildreth III of South Carolina.
Special thanks go to Ozark Health Nursing Center and White River for taking great care of her and helping her to keep her independence as long as possible.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or Ozark Health Nursing Center in Clinton. Visitation at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Clinton on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 5-8 p.m. with the funeral service on Wednesday morning at 10:00. Final resting place will be at the Old Liberty cemetery in Cleveland, Ark. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Clinton.
Ralph Goff
Ralph Randel Goff, 80, of Bee Branch, Ark., passed away Thursday, March 13, 2014, at the Arkansas Hospice in Little Rock. Born in Quitman on Feb. 3, 1934, he was the son of the late Jimmy and Stella Johnson Goff.
Mr. Goff worked as a dairy farmer, and proudly served our country in the United States Army.
He is survived by his wife, Voicy Mae Goff of Bee Branch; two sons, Gary Goff and wife Karen of Mandan, N.D., and Randel Ralph Goff of Springdale; one daughter, Brenda Evans and husband Dwight of Rose Bud; and four grandchildren, Ethan Evans and wife Ashley, Tristen Evans, Austen Goff, and Isaac Goff. He is also survived by other relatives and many friends.
Visitation was March 15 at Olmstead Funeral Home and graveside services were 2 p.m. Sunday, March 16, at the Rose Bud cemetery. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home.
David Howard
David Howard, 90, of Decatur, Ark., died March 10, 2014, at his home. Born Sept. 13, 1923, on Lute Mountain, in Shirley, Ark., he was son of William Henry Howard and Tilly Crabtree Howard.
David married
Brenda Joyce Huyck on Oct. 28, 1961, in Clinton, Ark. He worked as a poultry farmer for Tyson’s and Peterson Industries. David loved children, especially his grandchildren, and hunting and gardening. He loved to observe all wildlife. David attended Springtown Pentecostal Church, Springtown, Ark.
He was preceded in death by his wife; one grandson, Noah Howard; two sisters, Irene Howard and Lena Watts; and two infant brothers.
Survivors include his three sons, Gary Howard and wife Michelle of Decatur, Ark., Brad Howard of Muldrow, Okla., and Joseph Howard of Noel, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and one sister, Edna Duncan of Springdale, Ark.
Funeral services were 2 p.m. Friday, March 14, 2014, at Springtown Pentecostal Church, Springtown, Ark., with Pastor Mark Rotramel officiating. Burial was in Springtown cemetery. Arrangements by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Ark.
Darrell Austin
Darrell Patrick Austin Sr., 51, of Scotland passed away March 10, 2014. Born Feb. 18, 1963, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Charles E. Austin and JoAnn Cordle, Darrell ran his own company as a contract painter.
Darrell is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Darrell P. Austin Jr. and wife Shannan of Cleveland, Ark.; two stepsons, Charles F. Hudson and wife Shelley, and James M. Hudson. Also surviving are his mother, JoAnn Cordel of Clinton; two brothers, Thomas Austin of North Carolina and Jimmy Austin of Clinton; one sister, Lisa Johnson of North Carolina and nephew Christopher Austin of North Carolina. Darrell is proceeded in death by his wife, Vickie Lynn Austin, his father, and twin sister, Peggy Sue Lewter.
Services were Thursday, March 14, 2014, at the Hattieville Family Worship Center with Brother Danny Ward officiating. Services entrusted to Clinton Funeral Service.
Peggy Cottey
Peggy Ann (Foster) Cottey passed away on the evening of Feb. 24, 2014, in Russellville, Ark. She was born on Jan. 9, 1941, in Emerson, Ark.
Mrs. Cottey was preceded in death by both of her parents, Jennie Belle (Cochran) and Walter J. Foster of Emerson, Ark.; her older sister, Wynnelle (Foster) Hines of Emerson, Ark.; her youngest son, John B. Cottey of Clinton, Ark.; and her grandson, Patrick J. Wood of Little Rock, Ark. She is survived by her husband, James H. Cottey and her older son, Mark F. Cottey, both of Clinton, Ark.; her daughter, Jami E. (Cottey) Wood; two of her grandsons, Christopher B. Wood and Benjamin B. Wood, all of Greenwood, Ark.; her younger sister, Terry L. (Foster) Cauley; her niece, Jenifer A. Cauley; and her great-niece, Vivianne Cauley-Alonzo, all of Jacksonville, Ark.
Mrs. Cottey was the Valedictorian graduate of Emerson High School in 1958, where she received a scholarship in English for Centenary College, in Shreveport, La., and attended there for two years. She completed her Bachelors of Art in English in 1961 at the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville, Ark., where she met and married
James H. Cottey Jr., her husband of nearly 53 years.
In 1991, she continued her education and received a Master’s Degree in English from University of Central Arkansas, in Conway, Ark.
In 1968, Mrs. Cottey began a career in teaching Jr. High English in Helena, Ark.; three years in the Helena Public Schools and two years at De Soto, a private academy. She taught one year, 1973-74, at an inner-city school in Richmond, Va. In 1977, she began teaching for Shirley Public Schools in Shirley, Ark., in other subject areas. She became SHS’s English teacher for grades 10, 11, and 12 in 1982 and continued teaching for another 31 years.
Her life-long passion was teaching literacy and grammar but it grew to be much more. She learned the importance of teaching life-lessons to her students, for it would be everlasting. She encouraged them to follow their dreams, to find their niche in life, and to never be afraid of change. Many of her students remember Mrs. Cottey for her usage of unique phrases, which they have solely named, “Cotteyisms.” One of the more commonly used “Cotteyism” is “Every story is a success story,” for she truly believed this of all of her students. She was recently honored with “The Outstanding Teacher of the Year” award from KARK, Channel 4 of Little Rock, Ark. Her favorite quote comes from the poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, “And gladly he would learn, and gladly teach,” for she felt it applied to her.
Mrs. Cottey’s family will hold a private memorial service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to one of her favorite charities: Van Buren County Food Bank or Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
James Dunn
James L. Dunn, 88, of Kansas City, Kansas, passed away Sunday, March 9, 2014. He was born Sept. 28, 1925, in Dardanelle, Ark., to Robert Lee and Elizabeth Sara (Chesser) Dunn.
He married
Elise Viola Ingram on Nov. 11, 1948, in Little Rock, Ark. James last worked as a Optician from 1963 through 1988 at Gerry Optical in Kansas City. He was a loving father, husband, Christian and devoted family man.
Survivors include his wife Viola Dunn, sons Alvin, Calvin, and Larry Dunn, and daughter Linda McFadden; nine grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Friday, March 14, 2014, at Pleasant Grove cemetery, Scotland, Ark. The family requests that donations be made to The Pleasant Grove cemetery Fund Scotland, Ark. Funeral arrangements are by Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Clinton, Ark.
Marie Camacho
Marie M. Camacho, 92, of Clinton, Ark., went home to be with her Lord Friday, Feb. 28, 2014. She was born April 8, 1921,. in Spokane, Wash., to Fred and Mary (Stebner) Krier.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph F. Camacho; son, Jerry L. Stone; and brother, Bernie Krier.
She is survived by her daughter, Sharon M. Smith of Clinton, Ark., three granddaughters, Crystal Olveda, Tavake Leota, and Terisa Martinez; three sisters, Lorena Baglas, Dorothy Snider and Betty Muth, all of California; and many friends.
Cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Clinton, Ark.
Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones, 62, of Scotland, Ark., departed this life with his family at his side Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. He was born June 30, 1951, in Eugene, Ore., to Keith Wallace and Mildred (Williams) Jones.
Jerry had worked for Coca-Cola for over 30 years and was well respected in his line of work and made many friends.
Jerry was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his mother, Mildred Jones; daughter, Audrea (Royce) Collins and son, Rodney (Amaris) Harrison, both of Scotland, Ark.; three brothers, Wallace (Jewel) of Russellville, Ark., Glen (Diane) Wisconsin, and Michael (Lynnette) of Springfield, Ark.; two sisters, Brenda of Cordova, Tenn., and Barbara of Cabot, Ark.; his best friend and grandson, Braeton Keith Collins of Scotland, Ark.; numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and many friends including Dewayne (Brianna) Holt of Scotland, Ark.
Pallbearers: brothers Wallace Jones, Glen Jones, Michael Jones, nephews Christopher Jones, and Andy Jones and son-in-law Royce Collins. Alternate Pallbearers: cousins Tommy Lindsey and Ronnie Lindsey.
Visitation was Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014, at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home Chapel Clinton, Arkansas. Graveside service and burial were Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, in Pleasant Grove cemetery, Scotland, Ark., with Brother Darrell Black officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Clinton, Ark.
Emma Hutson
Emma Jean Hutson, 94, of Clinton, Ark., passed away Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. She was born Nov. 26, 1919, in Shirley, Ark., to Walter and Sephrona (Harper) Baker. Emma was a member of the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church Shirley, Ark.
Emma worked at various jobs in her younger years. One job she was especially proud of was working in the Mission Inn in Riverside, Calif., when Fielder was stationed at the Army Base. She served donuts to the soldiers before they shipped out.
When Fielder returned from the war, he and Emma started a dairy farm in Clinton, and worked together for many years.
Emma and Fielder had no children and she was devoted to helping her family of six brothers and sisters in any way she could. She loved her friends and neighbors and always had a big smile when they came to visit. She was a very talented seamstress. Her greatest enjoyment was all her animals, and especially her horses and dogs.
She will always be remembered as a loving person who loved her family deeply. She was a strong, caring person to all and had an unbelievable tenacious spirit which stayed with her until the end.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Fielder Hutson; two brothers, Dean Baker and Aaron Baker; a sister, Merle Bonds; and a nephew, Dr. Timothy Baker.
She is survived by her two sisters, Freeda Nichols and husband Darrel of Clinton, Ark., and Kathryn Yvonne Hall and husband Billy of Moreno Valley, Calif.; brother, John W. Baker of Clinton, Ark.; and nine nieces, Lorie Baker Wicklund and husband Larry, Justice Karen Baker and husband David Hogue, Donna Bonds Ricketts and husband Harvey, Linda Bonds Lewis and husband James, Tanya Baker Finch and husband Brad, JaDawn Baker Perez and husband John, Tammy Nichols Mykel and husband Kevin, Tracy Nichols Broadwater and husband Dennis, Dianne Hall Jacobs and husband Brett; 10 nephews, Ken Baker, Brad Baker and wife Hilary, Max Bonds and wife Kathie, Sid Bonds and wife Sheila, Randy Baker and wife Cheryl, Ronny Baker and wife Karla, Greg Nichols and wife Tammy, Steve Nichols and wife Angela, Mike Hall, Tim Hall and wife Kristen. She also has several great nieces and nephews and nine great-great nieces and nephews, whom she loved so very much just as they also love her.
Pallbearers: Drew Baker, Adam Baker, Caleb Nichols, Logan Nichols, Evan Hogue, and Aaron Hogue. Honorary Pallbearers: Ralph Bryant, Lonnie Baker, Jay Cullum, Ted Jones, Darrel Allen, Larry Huie, and Don Nunley.
Visitation was Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, and funeral service were 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014, at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home Chapel, Clinton, Ark. Burial was in Weaver cemetery Shirley, Ark. Funeral arrangements by Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Clinton.
