Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Luther Jestice
Luther (Bud) Jestice, 89, of Hartman died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, at the Veterans Hospital in Fayetteville.
He was a native of Havana, son of the late William and Maude Spivey Jestice, World War II Army sergeant, member of the First Infantry participating in the Normandy Invasion on Omaha Beach, North Africa invasion and the invasion of Sicily, recipient of two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star, farmer, bus driver for Havana School for 19 years, member of Boyce-Woods Post 3141 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and First Baptist Church in Centerville, and was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Frame Jestice.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Jestice of Scranton; one son and daughter-in-law, Billy and Donna Jestice of Hartman; two daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia and Jim Stokes of Franklin, Tenn., and Darlene and Dave Deal of Baton Rouge, La.; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at Cornwell Funeral Home Chapel in Danville with John McCourt and Dave Deal officiating. Burial was in Havana cemetery with military honors by Boyce-Woods Post 3141 of the VFW.
Mary Lou Kinder
Mary Lou Kinder, 61, a former resident of Clarksville, died Dec. 25, 2008, in Denver, Colo.
She was a native of Peoria, Ill., daughter of the late Clarence Lee and Darlene Wagner, graduate of the University of the Ozarks, former teacher at both Clarksville and Lamar public schools having taught for a total of 32 years, one of the first teachers of the gifted children in the state of Arkansas, was instrumental in the creation of the LIGHTS program, a curriculum that taught primary school aged children creative problem solving skills, and was an active member in the First United Methodist Church in Clarksville.
She is survived by one son, Kyle Kinder; one daughter, Kara Kinder; and three sisters, Shirley Luby, Judy Phillips Jones and Nancy Hurt.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarksville. Burial will be by cremation.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Patrick V. Pledger
Patrick V. Pledger, 63, of Longview, Texas, formerly of Clarksville, died Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, at his home.
He was a native of Coal Hill, son of the late Vernon and Rhea Ogden Pledger, employed in the maintenance department of a fire sprinkler company in Longview, Texas, and was preceded in death by one stepson, Maroy Mackie.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Pledger; two daughters, Melissa Cady and husband, Craig, of Liberty City, Texas, and Shelia Mackie of Longview, Texas; one son, Gary Pledger of Fort Worth, Texas; two brothers, Rev. Amos Pledger of Clarksville and Floyd Pledger and wife, Linda, of Clarksville; and three sisters, Iva Henderson and husband, Donnie, of Lamar, Etta Hamilton and husband, Burton, of Westmoreland, Tenn., and Inez Selby of Russellville.
The body was cremated.
Paul Andrews
Paul D. Andrews, 54, of Dover, brother of Gladys Warren of Clarksville, died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009.
He was a native of Crook County, Ore., son of the late Gladys (Brown) and Alfred Andrews Jr., Baptist, and aircraft engineer.
Survivors are one son, David Manuel Andrews of Ohio; two brothers, Alfred Wayne Andrews of Jefferson, Mo., and Jimmy Ray Andrews of Los Angeles, Calif.; and three other sisters, Brenda Doyle of Dover, Betty Andrews of Russellville and Mary Turner of Wichita, Kan.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at Shinn Funeral Service Chapel in Russellville with Rev. Blaine Rogers officiating. Burial was in McFadden cemetery at Dover.
Active pallbearers were Eric Hanks, Larry Doyle, Raymond Turner, Bob Morris, Larry Madden and Bob Warren.
Honorary pallbearers were Keyle Ramondos and Wayne McAlister.
Walter Purdion
Walter (Blue) Purdion, 63, of Clarksville died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, at St. Vincent Medical Center in Little Rock.
He was a native of Chaneyville, La., son of the late George and Laurina Jones Purdion, produce vendor, and was preceded in death by one sister and five brothers.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Purdion; one daughter, Billie Jo Purdion of Clarksville; two sons, Walter D. Purdion and Troy Lesinkski, both of Clarksville; four stepchildren, Shane DuPuy, Johnny DuPuy, Marie Dauzat and Tammy Merrall; three sisters, Dorothy (Dot) Thompson of Houston, Texas, Carolyn Baker of Clarksville, and Lula Evans of Houston, Texas; one brother, Emmitt Purdion of Clarksville; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; 11 step grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel with Roy Shook and Jerry Self officiating. Burial will be in Louisiana.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Avis B. Hightower
Avis Bivins Hightower, 101, of Hartman died Friday, Jan. 23, 2009, in Russellville.
She was a daughter of the late Wes and Myrtle Stokes Bivins, widow of Carl Hightower, and was preceded in death by three sisters, Ocie Bivins, Verna Bivins Brown, and Ima Bivins.
She is survived by three sisters, Lucille Bivins Baskin of Clarksville, Iola Bivins Powell of Katy, Texas, and Betty Jo Bivins Fowler of Hartman; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at Hardwicke Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Regina Turner officiating. Burial was in West Mount Zion cemetery.
Pallbearers were Gerald Barichter, Joe Fowler, Mike Fowler, Ben Alfred Hardgrave, David Coffee, and Brian Henderson.
Charles Roberts
Charles Roberts, 72, of Tulsa, Okla., died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in Tulsa, Okla.
He was a native of Hartman, son of the late Vince and Viola Luman Roberts, graduate of Hartman High School, employed as a delivery man and salesperson for various milk companies for 41 years, and was preceded in death by one grandson, Dale Bryan Roberts.
Survivors include his wife, Sonja Cline Roberts; two sons, Charles Emery Roberts and Michael Roberts, both of Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers, Geary Roberts and Larry Roberts, both of Hartman; four grandchildren, Brandon Roberts, Mitchell Roberts, Kirk Roberts, and Angela Brown, all of Oklahoma; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Hardwicke Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Don Alexander officiating. Burial was in Hartman cemetery.
Pallbearers were Brandon Roberts, Kirk Roberts, Roy Roberts, Jeff Brown, Mike Reeves, and Robert Bartlett.
Darliss D. Vestal
Darliss Jeanne Daniel Vestal, 56, of Montesano, Wash., died Friday, Jan. 9, 2009.
She was a native of Olympia, Wash., attended grammar school in McCleary, Wash., and graduated salutatorian from Elma High School in 1971. She attended the Wishkah Valley Community Church and was a retired employee of the state of Washington in the Department of Social and Health Services after 30 years service.
She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Galen M. Vestal; one son, Wesley Vestal of the home; mother, Wilma Daniel of McCleary, Wash.; two brothers, Dan Daniel and wife, Angie, and Gary Daniel and wife, Connie, all of McCleary, Wash.; one sister, Donna Jones and husband, Richard, of McCleary, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Among the local survivors are one uncle, Devaughn Hale and wife, Lavania, of Lamar; and two aunts, Wanda Daniel Pearson and Nita Daniel Lewis and husband, Herman, of Clarksville.
Funeral was at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Assembly of God Church in McCleary, Wash., with burial at the McCleary cemetery followed by a time of remembrance gathering at the Wishkah Valley Community Church.
Memorials may be made to Wishkah Valley Community Church Building Fund, 4281 Wishkah Road, Aberdeen, WA 98520.
