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Ashley County, Arkansas Obituary Collection
GenealogyBuff.com - Ashley County, Arkansas Obituary Collection - Page 16
Posted By: GenealogyBuff.com
Date: Wednesday, 24 May 2023, at 3:56 a.m.
Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
ABRAHAM “ABE” SHAW
Funeral services for Abraham “Abe” Shaw, 80, of Crossett took place at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday) at Phillip Grove Baptist Church with Rev. John Childress officiating. Burial was in Phillip Grove Cemetery.
[Dated January 11, 2009]
Helen Little Sawyer
Helen Little Sawyer, 80, of Houston, TX, formerly of Crossett, died Friday, February 9, 2001. She was born on November 4, 1920, to William Carl and Bertha Gray Little. Mrs. Sawyer was a retired manager for Flair Dress Shop in Houston, TX, and a retired restaurant owner in Crossett. She was preceded in death by her husband, W. Farris Sawyer.
Survivors include one daughter, Paula Hamilton and husband Robert of Atascocita, TX; one step-daughter, Lottie Vincent and husband David of Sterlington, LA; two grandsons, Keith Welshimer of Palm Springs, CA, and David G. Vincent of Houston, TX; two granddaughters, Susan Hamilton of Atascocita, TX, and Cheri Ingram of Houston, TX; one great-grandson, Blake Ingram of Houston, TX; one brother, Jid Little of Mesquite, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were planned for 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 13, at Jones Funeral Home Chapel with Roy Craig and Wayne Wyatt officiating. Pallbearers were to be Ronnie Little, Bo Manion, David Little, Keith Welshimer, Wayne Wyatt, Jid Little, Harold Nelson, and Jimmy Little. Interment was to follow services at Pinewood Memorial Park under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Crossett.
Ovid T. Switzer, Sr.
Ovid T. Switzer, Sr., 97, of Crossett died Wednesday, February 7, 2001, at the Ashley County Convalescent Center in Wilmot. He was born February 21, 1903, to Fred H. and Lillie Switzer, members of the pioneer Ashley County family who came to the area from North Carolina in 1849 and purchased 2,000 acres of land southwest of what later became Crossett in the area of Sulfur Springs and Petersburg, then a thriving river-front community.
Mr. Switzer attended the Crossett school then housed in the Green building on Gates Avenue (Third Avenue) under Superintendent D. C. Hastings. He attended Mississippi State College from 1919 to 1921. Prior to becoming an attorney, he worked for C. W. Woods at a service station in North Crossett and was also employed at the Crossett Post Office under Postmaster Cammack.
He was admitted to the bar and became the first lawyer in private practice in Crossett in 1929. Because the town was whole owned and operated by The Crossett Company, only company employees were allowed to own a business. He overcame the opposition and, with the aid of his father, State Senator Fred Switzer, was given a corner of the mayor's office, then located in the natatorium. Living first in a YMCA apartment, he was later allowed a house on Third Street (Oak) next to the beanery. He later obtained Dr. Cammack's dental office in the Masonic building and kept his office there until after World War II when he moved to an office on Pine. He and his brother, W. P. "Billy" Switzer practiced there several years until he build the present office where his son, Bruce D. Switzer, now practices law.
Mr. Switzer served the county as deputy prosecutor for twelve years and as state senator from 1935-1938. In addition to his law practice, he was also active in many other business areas. He built and operated the Western Auto Associate Store, the Wagon Wheel Restaurant and the first modern motel in the area, complete with swimming pool. He also owned liquor stores in West and North Crossett when the county was wet. He build his home in West Crossett, paying for lumber from The Crossett Company largely with coupons collected from his customers who were paid in coupons by the company.
One of the greatest aspects of his life was his devotion to the Department of Parks and Tourism, of which he was a commissioner. For nearly 40 years, he was dedicated to the development of parks and recreational facilities with those facilities now a factor in attracting about 20 million visitors to the state each year.
In 1957, he began the Lake Chicot State Park project. Beginning with a $25,000 grant, the park site was cleared. He diligently continued the development of the park, obtaining more grants and appropriations until it has gained the reputation of one of the finest parks in the state. Until this project, Southeast Arkansas had no parks or facilities to attract tourists.
First appointed to the commission in 1953 by Governor Francis Cherry, he served during the tenures of Govs. Orval Faubus, Winthrop Rockefeller, David Pryor and Dale Bumpers until January, 1979. When his term expired, the other commission members asked the state legislature to make him a lifetime member to retain his experience and expertise. State Rep. N. B. "Nap" Murphy and State Senator George "Butch" Locke sponsored House and Senate resolutions designating Mr. Switzer as a life member of the Parks and Tourism Commission, which won unanimous approval. The resolutions became Act 213 of 1979, naming Mr. Switzer Commissioner Emeritus of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. In March, 1982, the Arkansas Academy for Tourism Achievement inducted Commissioner Switzer in to the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame as the first inductee.
He was a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and past president of the Ashley County Bar Association and the Southeast Arkansas Legal Institute, practicing law for 60 years. He was a Democrat and a charter member and past president of the Crossett Riding Club, a member of the Crossett Rotary Club and Prairie Country Club and a member of the First Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Marguerite Taylor Switzer and Chloe Courson Switzer; two brothers, Frank and W. P. "Billy" Switzer; a son, Roderick Switzer; and a grandson, Douglas Allen Switzer. Survivors include three sons, Ovid, Jr., Bruce and Phil; his long-time companion, Bettye Melton; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 10, in the Jones Funeral Home chapel in Crossett. Pallbearers were Tommy Strebeck, Gayle Deal, Gary Draper, Edgar Chesser, William E. Johnson and Richard Welch. Burial followed services at Pinewood Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Paul Sullins Library, Crossett Riding Club or Crossett Centennial Park Project.
W.C. Wigley
Mr. W.C. "Dub" Wigley died on January 9, 2001, in Crescent City, California. He was born and reared in Ashley County and was a former employee of the Ashley County Road crew under then County Judge L.W. Dew.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Doris H. Wigley, four children, eleven grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Burial was in Crescent City, CA.
February 7
Carl DeWitt Barnett
Carl DeWitt Barnett, 81, of Crossett died Monday, January 29, 2001, at the Ashley County Medical Center. Born August 15, 1919, to Benson and Lula Nancy Barnett, he was employed with Georgia-Pacific for 41 years. He was an U. S. Army veteran of World War II, touring in many countries including Africa where he drove a Jeep for General George Patton. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Crossett and served as an usher for many years.
Survivors include his wife, Judy Barnett; a daughter, Roberta Nutter; a brother, Lexie Barnett, all of Crossett; three grandchildren, Nanci Druey, Thomas McKay and Jim Nutter; nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 31, in the First Baptist Church. Pallbearers were J. B. Kelley, Tommy Hooks, Louis White, Bobby Richardson, Bob Cooper, Jack Allen and Dean Ray. Burial followed services at Pinewood Memorial Park Cemetery, directed by Jones Funeral Home of Crossett. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's research.
Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Ashley County, Arkansas Obituary Collection is maintained by GenealogyBuff with WebBBS 5.12.
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