Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1972
Obituaries from the year 2018
Douglas Arthur Johnson
Douglas Arthur Johnson, 65, passed away April 5th in West Fork. He was born February 26, 1953 in Arizona.
Douglas is survived by his children, and a hosts of extended family and friends.
Ivan Martin Marsh
Ivan Martin Marsh, 83, of Rogers, passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale, AR. Ivan was born to Blanche and John M. Marsh of Mt. Pleasant, OH. Ivan is preceded in death by his High School sweetheart and wife of 55 years, Carolyn (Evans) Marsh in 2009 and his brother John Marsh.
Ivan is survived by his loving family Mark (Janet), Michael (Paula) and Scott (Kim) and grandchildren Danielle, Trevor, Matthew, Taylor, Hannah and his loving niece Vicki and her family.
Ivan attended Martins Ferry H.S. where he was Class President and was a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. Ivan and Carolyn spent their years raising their busy sons and following Ivan’s career from coast to coast. Ivan was a coach and mentor to the many associates that he worked with throughout his career and well respected as a leader in the metals industry, especially related to the recycling of aluminum. As his career was coming to an end, he retired from Coors Brewing in Golden, CO as Vice President of Engineering Technology, but continued to consult for several years after.
Ivan loved spending time with his family, attending the numerous school activities and sporting events of his sons as they grew up and then his grandchildren later in life. He was an avid golfer and always enjoyed a day on the golf course.
At age 62, Ivan received a gift from God, as he was a recipient of a heart transplant. He enjoyed every day of the 21 years the new heart had given him. In that 21 years, he had the opportunity to see all 5 of his grandchildren graduate from college and enjoy some great days of golf at the various courses around Arkansas.
A service will be held in Rogers, AR at a future date after the family finalizes those arrangements. Email condolences can be made at eptingfuneralhome@gmail.com, in c/o Ivan Marsh.
Mavis Melissa Bates Smith
Mavis Melissa Bates Smith passed away peacefully on Friday, March 30 in Springdale, Arkansas at the age of 97. Services will be at McClain-Hays Funeral Home in Philadelphia, Mississippi on April 12, 2018. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. with the funeral service following at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Bethsaida Cemetery.
Mavis was born in the Beat Line community in Neshoba County in Mississippi on March 7, 1921, to Nettie Carter and Daniel Matthew Bates. After high school, she moved to Philadelphia to work as a bookkeeper for A. Deweese Lumber Co. She had fond memories of good times shared with Tom and Pete Deweese. Her keen math intellect served her well as she worked through the complicated systems of logging. She married Eldrew Smith on December 21, 1945, after he returned from World War II. They made their homes in the delta around Clarksdale, Mississippi before moving to Prattville, Alabama in 1973. Upon Drew's retirement, they returned to Neshoba County where they enjoyed being close to family, renewing old friendships, and being members at First Baptist Union. Following Drew's death in 1999, Mavis moved to Rogers, Arkansas to live near her two daughters. Wherever Mavis lived, her goal was to make her home an orderly place of love and comfort where people would be served delicious meals. She was an accomplished seamstress. As a senior adult, she became involved in needlework and quilting, resulting in some beautiful creations for her children and grandchildren.
Throughout the years, Mavis was a faithful follower of Christ. She always enjoyed a good sermon that gave her points to ponder and discuss during the week. She was active in WMU and ladies' Bible studies. She taught children in Sunday School and helped with youth socials and church fellowships. She enjoyed visiting the homebound and church members in nursing homes. In Rogers, she made wonderful friends at First Baptist Church Rogers, and at the Women's Shelter Thrift Store where she volunteered. She left a legacy of faith and service for her family to follow.
Mavis was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years Eldrew Smith in 1999; her parents; one brother, Francis M. Bates; three sisters, Jane Breland, Dot Winstead, and Mildred Wolverton; two half-brothers, Dovie and Virgil Bates; and three half-sisters Alvie Bates, Iris Sharp, and Lonie White.
Mavis is survived by two daughters, Doris Plitt and her husband Milton of Rogers, Arkansas, and Dawn Booth and her husband Terry of Dayton, Nevada; one sister, Lessie Williamson of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; two brothers-in-law, Don Wolverton, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Arlo Winstead of House, Mississippi; two sisters-in law, Marlene Lee and Janiece Cox, both of Louisiana; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mavis, affectionately called Nama and Miss Maybe, leaves two grandchildren, Matt Plitt and his wife Kaby of Danville, California, and Laren Plitt Campbell and her husband Aaron of Denton, Texas; a step-granddaughter, Julie Booth Ratner and her husband Joe of San Francisco. She loved watching her great-grandchildren, Maddie, Reagan, Drew, Luke, Darby, and Clark; and her step-great grandchildren, Sarah (Z), Ellie, and Adinah grow up. They all remember sweet times spent in her kitchen eating her delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies and sneaking orange slices she bought especially for their visits. She gave the best hugs of welcome to each of them! Faith and family were the heart of her life.
Memorials may be sent to: First Baptist Church Building Fund, 3364 West Pleasant Grove Road, Rogers, Arkansas 72758, Bethsaida Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, or St. Jude.
Frank Lundy
Frank Lundy, 71, of Rogers died March 29th in Bentonville. He was born July 15, 1946 in Gravette, Arkansas to Rawl and Wanda Lundy.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, sister; Rawlene Spear, and daughter; Laura Spoonemore.
Survivors include: daughter, Frankie Knudson and husband David of Rogers, one step-daughter; Sandy Brewer, of Missouri, six grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
Burial will be Friday, April 6th at 2pm at Fayetteville National Cemetery.
Rena Dee Stephenson
Rena Dee Stephenson passed from this life to join her Heavenly Father on March 29th in Bella Vista, AR. She was born in Leslie, Arkansas on May 22, 1931 to Hobah and Ora Stephenson. She and her identical twin sister Demo Lee demonstrated their strength and determination early on, surviving a birth weight of 2 pounds and 2 pounds 4 ounces, respectively, without hospitalization.
She attended Leslie public schools through high school, before enrolling at Arkansas State Teachers College with the aid of an academic scholarship: a one time payment of $50. After graduating with a degree in Home Economics, she taught school in Chidester, Arkansas and East St. Louis, Illinois before assuming her role as the world’s greatest stay at home mother to her four children in Aurora, Missouri. She was a talented cook & home decorator. She was a wise Sunday School teacher & she served on the local School Board before being appointed to the Missouri State School Board.
Rena was preceded in death by her parents, and brother Fowler Stephenson.
She is survived by her children, Thomas Arthur Morrison (Rhonda) of Aurora Missouri, Stephen Kem Morrison (Debbie) of Bentonville Arkansas, Vivian Lee Norman (David) of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Fowler Thaddeus Morrison (Elizabeth) of Van Buren, Arkansas. She is also survived by her three sisters Dorothy Chadwick, Mae McDaniel and Wordna Freeman of Leslie Arkansas, and Demo Lee Hampton of Benton Arkansas. She had nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.
She will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by all who knew her.
There will be no public service. Donations may be made in her name to her church, Village Bible Church or the church of your choice.
Frankie Lee Skelton
Frankie Lee Skelton, 63, of Fayetteville passed away March 25, 2018 at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. She was born October 28, 1954 in Fayetteville to Jessie James and Pearl (Kezele) Curry.
Frankie looked for the humor in everything and enjoyed thrift shopping, bluegrass music, caring for people in need of a meal or a place to sleep, watching Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, going to the casino and the movies, animals, kids (especially her grandkids), and fishing.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Skelton, her parents, and one brother, Roger Curry.
Survivors include her children: Don Harding and his fiancée, Traci Barrios, of Elkins and Melissa Tillman of Fayetteville; one step-daughter, Mary Brown and her husband Raymond of Lincoln; three grandchildren: Paige Harding, Jessie Skelton, and Waylon Tillman, all of Fayetteville; and four step-grandchildren: Alex, Mitchell, Caylee, and Nyles Brown, all of Lincoln.
A visitation for Frankie will be Thursday, March 29 at 3pm at Round Mountain Cemetery in Fayetteville, with graveside to follow at 4pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
Robert “Bob” Bruce Reid Jr.
Robert “Bob” Bruce Reid Jr., 86, of Bentonville died Thursday, March 22, 2018 at his residence. He was born June 25, 1931 in Akron, Ohio the son of Lucille and Robert Bruce Reid Sr.
He served in the United States Military. He volunteered for over seven years at the VA Hospital in Fayetteville. He served with the Honor Guard with American Legion Post #100 of Rogers. He served as Vice-Commander for many years with Post #100.
His hobbies included early in life flying with his private pilot license and in Tulsa he was a member of the “Experimental Aircraft Club” in the 1960’s. He loved looking at antique cars especially the Duesenberg Cars. He enjoyed listening to Classical Music and sailing early in his life.
Bob graduated with two degrees. The first degree he obtained in 1954 from Kent State University with a “Political Science.” Also later in life he completed the degree program with Missouri Southern University, where he earned a degree in “Accounting.”
Early in his life while attending college in Ohio he worked four summers on the Great Lakes, working on the cargo ships. During his professional career he was employed for 22 years with Shell Oil Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he worked in their legal department.
He was loved and attended The Wesleyan Nazarene Church located in Bentonville. He had lived in Bentonville since 1972 after moving from Tulsa.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Bob is survived by: his wife; Evy Reid of 62 years, whom he married August 13, 1955, one son; Robert Reid III, of Arizona, one daughter; Wendy Robin Frazier and her husband Monty, of Malaysia, one sister; Joyce Messusa and her husband Ed, of Georgia, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be: Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 10am at Wesleyan Nazarene Church located in Bentonville, with Pastor Melvin Waters officiating. Full military honors will be provided by the Northwest Arkansas Honor Guard.
Memorials may be sent to: Wesleyan Nazarene Church, PO Box 301, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.
