Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1972
Dorothy Messick Tatum
Dorothy Messick Tatum, 91, of Rogers, Ark., formerly of Joplin, Mo., died Aug. 12, 2005, in Rogers. She was born April 5, 1914, in Joplin to Harvey Messick and Ruth Kutzli Messick.
She lived in Joplin until moving to Bella Vista in 2000. She married George Tatum on June 17, 1934, in Joplin.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Tatum in 1982, and her son, Ronald Tatum in 2001.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Linda Farris and Robert Farris of Bella Vista; five grandchildren, Mitch Farris of New York; Matt Farris and Marty Farris of California; Stacey Tatum of New Mexico and Jeff Tatum of Canada; six great-grandchildren, Jessica Farris, Lindsay Farris, Ryan Farris, Zachery Farris, Hayden Farris and Raven Tatum; daughter-in-law, Yvonne Tatum of New York; a special cousin, Barnis Farmer of Joplin; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held Aug. 16 at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin.
In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to Masonic Home of Missouri, 6033 Masonic Drive, Suite A, Columbia, MO 65202.
Richard Burley Wilson
Richard Burley Wilson, 86, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Aug. 9, 2005, at his home after a long battle with cancer. He was born Jan. 23, 1919, in Allentown, Pa., to Charles Henry Wilson and Eva Ethel Perry Wilson.
He had lived in Bella Vista for 23 years, moving from Pasadena, Texas. He was raised and educated in North Little Rock, Ark. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1942. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He married Patsy Burnside on May 29, 1946, in Collinsville, Okla. He was employed as a chemical engineer for Olin Corp., later Mobil Corp. The couple lived in Pasadena, Texas, then retired in 1982 and moved to Bella Vista.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Arleen Aldridge; and a brother, William Seth Wilson.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Patricia "Patsy" Burnside Wilson; two daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia Lee Peate and Don Peate of Severn, Md., and Nancy Susan Bennett and Kenneth Bennett of Humble, Texas; a brother, Charles Henry Wilson Jr. of Arkadelphia, Ark.; a sister, Dorothy Louise McDonald of Hemphill, Texas; and three grandchildren.
No services were planned.
Arrangements were by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.
William Henrici
William Henrici, 83, of Bella Vista, Ark., died June 30, 2005, at his home.
Arrangements are pending with Stockdale Funeral Services of Rogers, Ark.
Donald Leroy Kirby
Donald Leroy Kirby, 82, of Bella Vista, Ark., died June 25, 2005, at his home. He was born March 25, 1923, in Miltonvale, Kan., to Osbourn Eddy Kirby and Grace Dale Gorrell Kirby.
He grew up in Coffeyville, Kan. He married Mary Jane Lett on June 1, 1944, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He graduated from Kansas State University in Manhattan in 1950 with a civil engineering degree. He served in the military for more than 25 years from 1942 to 1967. He was on active duty with the U.S. Navy for 3 1/2 years during World War II and for five years during the Korean conflict, and the remainder of the time, he served in the Reserves. He retired as a captain in the U.S. Navy.
He was a mechanical engineer for many years, as a civilian, at the Naval Air Engineering Center in Philadelphia, Pa. He moved to northwest Arkansas in May 1988, from Haddonfield, N.J. He was a Methodist.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Mary Jane Lett Kirby; three sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Richard Leland Kirby and Eileen Kirby of Salisbury, Md., David Lawrence Kirby and Elizabeth Kirby of Rogers, Ark., and James Robert Kirby and Bonnie Kirby of Liberty, Mo.; a brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Vernon Kirby and Velma Kirby of Lee's Summit, Mo.; two sisters, Florence Kirby Schadt of Emporia, Kan., and Elinor Kirby Lewallen of Denver, Colo.; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial graveside service will be held at a later date in Coffeyville, Kan.
Jane Ann Milne
Jane Ann Milne, 73, of Bella Vista, Arkansas died June 23, 2005 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rogers, Ark. She was born in Chicago, Ill. April 26, 1932, to J. Ray and Avis Stephens Lambright.
At an early age she moved to Savannah, Mo. On Nov. 24, 1951 she married Harrison Milne of Oregon, Mo. She was school secretary at South Holt School in Oregon, Mo. for 17 years. She was a member of Oregon Methodist Church. She and Harrison moved to Bella Vista in 1989. She was an Associate member of the Bella Vista First United Methodist Church. She enjoyed her family, golf, traveling and sewing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Bill Lambright, Don Lambright and a grandson, Joel Showalter.
She is survived by her husband, Harrison Milne of Bella Vista, Ark.; two sons, Scott Milne of Oregon, Mo. and Jeff Milne of Lenexa, Kan.; one daughter, Terresa Showalter of Craig, Mo.; sister-in-laws, Betty Lambright of Maryville, Mo., Katherine Lambright and six grandchildren.
A funeral service was June 27, 2005 in the Oregon United Methodist Church, Oregon, Mo. under the direction of the Chamberlain Funeral Home. Local arrangements were by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Ark.
Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 2001 South Lindbergh, St. Louis, Mo. 64831 or to the Oregon United Methodist Church.
Gerald 'Dale' Widhalm
Gerald "Dale" Widhalm, 73, of Bella Vista, Ark., died June 28, 2005, at Northwest Medical Center of Benton County in Bentonville, Ark. He was born Feb. 23, 1932, in Hugo, Colo., to John Michael Widhalm and Iris June Daniel Widhalm.
He grew up on a ranch in Monte Vista, Colo., and graduated from Colorado State University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957. He was a forest ranger. He spent most of his career in Gunnison, Colo., and retired from Douglas, Wyo. He was on National Firefighting Teams.
He moved to Bella Vista in 1987 from Douglas, Wyo. He was a member of AARP, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, St. Bernard Catholic Church of Bella Vista and its Men's Club, and the Bella Vista American Legion. He was a life member of the Colorado State University Alumni Association and the Society of Range Management. He made toys in his wood shop for The Salvation Army. He was an avid Denver Broncos fan and enjoyed wildlife and gardening.
Survivors include his wife of almost 52 years, Barbara Widhalm; three sons and daughters-in-law, Eric Widhalm and Susan Widhalm of Fort Collins, Colo., Jere Widhalm and Eva Widhalm of Chesapeake, Va., and Chuck Widhalm and Carol Widhalm of Fairview, Texas; six brothers, Tom Widhalm, Mickey Widhalm and Paul Widhalm, all of Alamosa, Colo., Don Widhalm and Bill Widhalm, both of Thornton, Colo., and Ken Widhalm of Lexington Park, Md.; two sisters, Thelma Turney of Alamosa, Colo., and Patty Malouff of Monte Vista, Colo.; and seven grandchildren, Nic, Lori, Angela, Chris, Lukas, Kyle and Kasey.
A Mass of Resurrection was celebrated July 2, at St. Bernard Catholic Church of Bella Vista with Father Andrew Smith.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Bernard Catholic Church, 1 St. Bernard Lane, Bella Vista, AR 72715; to the Bella Vista Library, 11 Dickens Place, Bella Vista, AR 72714; or to a local Salvation Army.
Leonard F. Bluml
Leonard F. Bluml, 79, of Bella Vista, Ark., died July 17, 2005, at Highland Healthcare in Bella Vista. He was born July 11, 1926, in Alba, Iowa, to Ben Bluml and Mary Bluml.
He grew up on his family's farm and received his education in the Carroll, Iowa, area. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later in the U.S. Coast Guard, serving most of his time patrolling the Missouri River. He worked for Wilson & Co. in Omaha, Neb., and was employed as a sales rep for Newton Manufacturing Co. at the time of his death.
He married Donna Paris in 1990 at the United Lutheran Church in Bella Vista. He was active in his church, where he had served as head usher and was a member of the Men's Club. He enjoyed cooking and sharing stories of his adventures.
He was preceded in death by a sister and a brother.
Survivors include his wife, Donna Bluml; three sons; a daughter; four stepchildren; two brothers; two sisters; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held July 21 at the United Lutheran Church in Bella Vista.
Burial will be at a later date in Alba, Iowa.
Arrangements were by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.
