Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
LaRue Westbrook
May 24, 1941 – August 6, 2009
LaRue Westbrook left this earthly place with the angels after a long and courageous battle with Huntington’s Disease. From the moment she tested positive for the gene that determines Huntington’s to her last breath, she put up a gallant fight and remained eternally optimistic and downright joyous up until the bitter end. She was a positive force who touched the lives of all those with whom she came in contact. LaRue was born on May 24, 1941 in Paris, Arkansas. She grew up in Clarksville, Arkansas and graduated from the University of Arkansas where she met the father of her children, Paul (Randy) Payne to whom she was married
for 13 years. LaRue spent most of her career helping and educating children; her specialty was early childhood development and learning disabilities. Her passion to be an advocate for those with little or no voice changed lives.
LaRue lived in Denton, Texas, for many years…a place she still considered home. She raised her children and met some of the most influential people of her life there. Later her life’s journey took her to Taos, New Mexico and eventually to San Marcos, Texas where she enjoyed a second career at one of the university bookstores. As the disease progressed and her ability to work diminished, she elected to return to her roots and live close to her best friend, her loving sister, Rebecca Plunkett in Fort Smith, Arkansas. LaRue spent the last four years, the most incredibly difficult days of our lives, at Greenhurst in Charleston, Arkansas where she received kindness, compassion and care until her last breath.
She is survived by her children, daughter Savanna Payne Bogardus and husband Tom of Austin, Texas; son Josh LaRue and wife Jamie of Silver Spring, Maryland; surrogate son Jeff Payne of Washington, DC; grandchildren Jackson and Katharine Bogardus and Iris LaRue; sister Rebecca Plunkett and husband Phillip of Fort Smith, Arkansas; brother Kent Westbrook, M.D. and wife Jonnie of Little Rock, Arkansas; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a network of life-long friends; Shelly Torres, Karen Parr and Anita Long.
LaRue will be dearly missed and remembered not only for the things she taught us but for the way she lived her life. She was gifted with the ease of making friends, helping those in need and living life by the Golden Rule. She instilled in her children compassion for others, love of life and learning and gentleness with nature. She loved to be spontaneous and have fun; camping and canoeing were some of her favorite passions. She loved to laugh and dance; we recall many Christmas celebrations dancing in the living room to holiday music. She loved good music (especially Bob Dylan with whom she shared a birthday, Joni Mitchell, Terri Hendrix, Talking Heads and Chicago ) and Mexican food! She loved her pets and we know LaRue will be united with Otis Dog once again! She loved her sister Rebecca most of all and together they not only survived life’s many challenges but lived every moment to the fullest; being a support and caretaker to each other in times of need. LaRue was always the hippest mom; wearing the most fashionable clothes and styles. She was always the most beautiful woman and turned heads wherever she went. She could manage to pull off her Neiman Marcus taste on a Wal-Mart budget. LaRue was one in a billion. There is no one like her. Our hearts are filled with sadness because we will miss her so much; but we find comfort that she is no longer suffering and is with the angels above.
A celebration of her life was shared by her family and friends at Smith Mortuary in Charleston, Arkansas on Monday, August 10, 2009 at 11:00 AM.
The family wishes to express special thanks to Mary Jane Christenberry and the exceptional staff at Greenhurst for their loving dedication and tenderness in caring for LaRue throughout her last years.
In lieu of flowers, those who desire may send a memorial donation to Huntington’s Disease Society of America in memory of LaRue Westbrook at HDSA.org or HDSA, 505 8th Avenue, Suite 902, New York, New York, 10018; or to a charity of your choice.
Gracie Einert
Gracie Einert, 87, of Lamar, Arkansas, died Saturday, August 8, 2009, at her home. She was born on January 16, 1922, at Spoke Plant, Arkansas. She was a retired poultry processing worker and a member of the Lighthouse Church in Clarksville.
She is survived by four daughters, Alma Holt and her husband, Paul, of Lamar, Myrna DeForest of Lamar, Linda White and her husband, Don, of Clarksville, and Betty Killough and her husband, Mike, of Knoxville; one sister, Clara Saylor of Fremont, California; one brother, Carlis Ritchie of Mulberry; eight grandchildren; and eleven great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles “Blackie” Key on April 3, 2009; three brothers; and five sisters.
The family received friends at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m., Monday, August 10, 2009. The funeral service was at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 11, 2009, at the Roller-Cox Funeral Chapel, with Reverend William Hickman officiating. Burial followed in the Mt. Vernon cemetery, in Clarksville.
Pallbearers were Jeff Roberson, Garry Wayne Roberson, Randy Warren, Gary Warren, Rickey Pitts, and Raimond Willis.
Arrangements were under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home (479) 754-2201.
Ada Faye Rush
Ada Faye Rush of Dover, whose daughter and son-in-law, Lenda and Troy Stone, reside at Lamar, died Thursday, April 22, 2010, at her home.
A native of Newton County, she was a daughter of the late William Asbury and Louisiana Standridge Rush, member of the Rogers-Rye Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2283 Ladies Auxiliary, and was preceded in death by one daughter, Brenda Dee Profitt Jones; and five brothers.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Sherry Profitt of Hector and John and Renee Profitt of Tulsa, Okla.; five other daughters, Sandra Hull and husband, Lloyd, of Dover, Anna Belle Aley and husband, Buddy, of Greenbrier, Myra Rush and Pamela Profitt, both of Dover, and Sheila Miller and husband, Rodney, of Russellville; one stepdaughter, Shirley Fine and husband, Ron, of Ohio; 26 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, April 26, at Shinn Funeral Service Chapel in Russellville with Rev. Jamie Burris and Gary Ledford officiating. Burial was in Pollard cemetery north of Dover.
Active pallbearers were grandchildren, Jamie Profitt, Bryan Bearden, Gary Ledford, Marc Stone, Zach Hunter, Stephen Hunter, Jessica Poynter and Sherry Hays.
Honorary pallbearers were also grandchildren, Nick Nelson, Todd Seaman, Jason Mikulin, Bill Clary, Terry Stone, Shawn Harris, Mike Hull and Kenny Stanek.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 126 Lakeview Circle, Russellville, AR 72802.
Alice Roylene Marvel
Alice Roylene Marvel, 74, of Princeton, Kan., died Tuesday, April 20, 2010, in Gardner, Kan.
She was a native of Hiawatha, Utah, daughter of the late Henry and Pearl Crombie Babcock, widow of Billy O. Marvel, member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was preceded in death by one son-in-law, John Tait Nelson.
She is survived by four daughters, Billie Diane Nelson of Coal Hill, Missy Marvel of Russellville, Debra Marvel Ryland of Princeton, Kan., and Terry Wilder of Great Bend, Kan.; one son, Barry Marvel of Shawnee, Kan.; one sister, Martie Rowley of Paonia, Colo.; 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Bishop Brad Scott officiating.
Burial was in Kendall cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Billie Diane Nelson, Debra Marvel Ryland, Edward Ryland, Kenneth Wilder, Shawn Marvel and Adam Shaddon.
Honorary pallbearers were Terry Wilder, Missy Marvel, Kyle Marvel, William Nelson and Jesse Nelson.
Memorials may be made to Hospice.
Arthur Darrel Beavers
Arthur Darrel Beavers, 86, of Clarksville died Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at the VA Hospital in Little Rock.
He was a son of the late Osmore L. and Minnie Bell Lewis Beavers, 30-year employee of Rockford Drop Forge, veteran of Air Force, member of Coal Hill Assembly of God Church and Coal Hill VFW, and was preceded in death by his wife, Faye Patton Beavers; one grandchild; two great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Orville Beavers and Junior Beavers.
He is survived by three daughters, Wilma Pruitt and husband, Charles, of Clarksville, Judy Ware and husband, David, of Rockford, Ill., and Sharon O'Sullivan and husband, Ronnie, of Byron, Ill.; one son, Buddy Beavers and wife, Barbara, of Coal Hill; one sister, Bonnie Parker and husband, J.B., of Yipsalanta, Mich.; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at the Coal Hill Assembly of God Church with Rev. John Kindrix and Rev. Tom Patton officiating.
Burial was in Lone Pine cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Chuck Beavers Jr., Kyle Pruitt, Billy Pruitt, Cody Foreman, Dustin Pruitt, and Darrell Coogan.
Honorary pallbearers were Ricky O'Sullivan, Michael Ferguson, Sean Ferguson, Chad Ware, Jeffery Pruitt, Justin Pruitt, Dalton Beavers, Dakota Beavers, Ayden, Randon Miller, Logan Ware, Dilan Culley, K.P. Harvey and Harold Harvey.
Bob Broomfield
Bob Broomfield, 77, of Bellflower, Calif., formerly of Johnson County, died Saturday, April 24, 2010, at his home.
He was a son of the late Albert and Rhoda Broomfield and was preceded in death by his first wife, Delia Gardner Broomfield; and one daughter, Diana Broomfield Chichester.
Survivors include his wife, Florence Broomfield; two sons, John Broomfield and wife, Debbie, of Hartman and Keith Broomfield and wife, Cindy, of Yucca Valley, Calif.; one daughter, Renee Harden and husband, Evan, of Buena Park, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
The body was cremated.
