Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1972
Betty L. Modrak
Betty L. Modrak, 72, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Dec. 5, 2005, at her home. She was born Dec. 21, 1932, in McDonough County, Ill., to William J. Herche and Mabel M. Peterson Herche.
She moved to Bella Vista in February 2001 from Louisiana, Mo. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bella Vista and the Bella Vista Bluebird Society.
She was preceded in death by two husbands, Edward M. Rosser, in March 1977, and Gerald R. Modrak, in April 1992; and a brother, Richard Herche.
Survivors include a stepson, David Modrak of Sunnyvale, Calif.; two stepdaughters, Lee Rosser of South Glens Falls, N.Y., and Georgette Fernandez of San Jose, Calif.; and seven grandchildren, Devon, Paul, E.J., Michelle, Matthew, Philip and Shannon.
Graveside funeral services were held Dec. 7 at the West Camden Cemetery in Camden, Ill.
Arrangements were by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorial Processing Center, P.O. Box 1653, Topeka, KS 66601-1653; or to the American Cancer Society, in care of Dorothy J. Mortensen, 4 Kensington Lane, Bella Vista, AR 72714.
Lynn 'Rich' Joseph Richardson
He was raised and educated in Louisiana. He was a graduate of the University of Southwest Louisiana, Oklahoma University and the University of Southern California.
He married Jacquelyn Ruth Dorr on Aug. 27, 1955, in New Iberia, La. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. He taught as a business professor at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo. He retired and moved to Arkansas in 1985 and moved to Bella Vista in 2002. He was an avid golfer.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, "Jackie" Jacquelyn Richardson; a son, Patrick "PJ" Joseph Dorr Richardson of Ouray, Colo.; two daughters and a son-in-law, Vickie Lynn Richardson of Bella Vista, and Pattie Johnson and Jeff Johnson of Park City, Utah; a brother and sister-in-law, Melvin Leon Richardson and Rosemary Richardson of New Iberia, La.; and three grandchildren, Benjamin Davis, Connor Benton Johnson and Holland Stephan-Richardson.
A Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated Dec. 13 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bella Vista with Father Andrew Smith.
Arrangements were by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Diana Lynn Tucker
Chief Master Sgt. Diana Lynn Tucker, 51, of Rogers, Ark., died Dec. 3, 2005. She was born Dec. 27, 1953, in Shreveport, La.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Beulah Mae Mitchell; her maternal grandparents, Effie and Edward Schrader; and an uncle, Eddie Schrader.
Survivors include two sons and a daughter-in-law, Shawn G. Tucker and Kristy A. Nguyen-Tucker of Bentonville, Ark., and Kyle E. Tucker of Bella Vista, Ark.; an uncle and aunt, Walter Schrader and Virginia Schrader of Lowell, Ark.; and a granddaughter, Kyleigh R. Tucker of Bentonville.
Funeral services were held Dec. 8 at the First Baptist Church in Lowell, Ark., with Pastor Gary Thomas and Lt. Col. Thomas Smith of Shreveport, La.
Burial was at the Rogers Cemetery.
Arrangements were under the direction of Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Rogers.
Clayton White
Clayton White, 63, of Rocky Branch, Ark., died Dec. 10, 2005, at his home. He was born Dec. 17, 1941, in Anahuac, Texas, to Cleo White and Maxine White.
In 1992, he and his wife, Frieda Crowley White, purchased Tanglewood Lodge, which they operated until 2003. He enjoyed woodworking, playing golf and spending time with his family. He lived in Augusta, Kan., for several years where he owned and operated a doughnut shop.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Jewell Lieker.
Survivors include his wife, Frieda Crowley White, of the home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Bill White and Gayle White of Bentonville, Ark., Bobby White and Amy White of Bella Vista, Ark.; three daughters and sons-in-law, Lucy Letney and Albert Letney, Beth Chambers and Jerry Chambers, and B.J. Whitlow and David Whitlow, all of Rogers, Ark.; three step-children, Mitchel Crowley of Siloam Springs, Ark., Carrie Filtinberger of Kansas and Shannon Hettenbach, both of Kansas; three sisters, Jenette White, Bobbie Mays and Linda Noss, all of Kansas; 18 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Services were held Dec. 14, 2005, at Rollins Funeral Chapel in Rogers with Robert Meeks and Don Terry. Burial was in Rogers Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Zach White, Scott White, David White, Cody Letney, Allen Whitlow and Ben Garrett.
Allene Elizabeth Browning
Allene Elizabeth Browning, 91, of Topeka, Kan., died Dec. 8, 2004, at a Topeka nursing home. She was born Jan. 26, 1913, in Decatur, Ark., to John H. Setser and Emma Rice Setser.
She grew up in Benton County, Ark., and graduated from Decatur High School in 1931. She married Howard W. Browning on July 17, 1937, in Concordia, Kan. She and her husband were charter members of the Bella Vista Baptist Church in Bella Vista, Ark. She was most recently a member of the West Side Baptist Church in Topeka.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard W. Browning, on March 30, 1982; a daughter-in-law, Carole Browning; two brothers; and four sisters.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Janice Mauck and Douglas Mauck of Topeka; a son, Stephen D. Browning of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; three granddaughters, Melissa Emmert of Lexington, Ky., Andrea Mauck of Topeka and Lauren Browning of Port St. Lucie; four great-granddaughters, Jayna McFarland of Lawrence, Kan., and Suzanne Emmert, Maribeth Emmert and Laura Emmert, all of Lexington; and a sister, Frances Morton of Little Rock, Ark.
A memorial service was held Dec. 11 at the West Side Baptist Church in Topeka. Family and friends met in the church parlor prior to the service.
Burial of cremains will be Jan. 8, in Decatur, Ark.
Arrangements are by Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home of Topeka.
Memorials may be made to the music fund of the West Side Baptist Church, Topeka; or to the Bella Vista Baptist Church, Bella Vista, Ark.
Helen Jane VanDeMoortel
She moved to Bella Vista in 2001 from Nacogdoches, Texas, to be close to her daughter. She was a Catholic. She was an avid reader and enjoyed painting, sewing and playing cards, especially cribbage.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Thomas Flood, in 1962; her second husband, Bob VanDeMoortel, in 1988; a brother, Dean Fell; and a grandchild, Scott Thomas Mollica.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, June Flood Matalavage and Ron Matalavage of Annandale, Va., and Carol Mollica and Tony Mollica of Bella Vista; two stepsons, Richard VanDeMoortel of Tucson, Ariz., and David VanDeMoortel of Austin, Texas; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
A memorial mass was celebrated Dec. 13 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bella Vista with Father Andrew Smith.
Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bella Vista Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 5248, Bella Vista Ark. 72714.
