Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Arlene King Gates
Arlene LaVerne King Gates died Friday, March 19, 2010, at JRMC after a short illness. She was born Oct. 20, 1925, in Illinois. She graduated from Kankakee High School, Kankakee, Ill., and Michael Reese School of Nursing in Chicago, Ill. Her nursing career was spent working as an R.N. in state hospitals for the developmentally disabled. She was retired from Lanterman State Hospital in Pomona, CA. As a member of the Nurses Cadet Corp, she is listed on the monument in Washington, D.C., honoring nurses who served during WWII. She was an avid doll collector having at one point owned over 2500 dolls.
She is survived by her husband of 63½ years, Leslie O. Gates of Clarksville, AR, a daughter, Anita Gates of Laverne, CA., and daughter and son-in-law, Terry and Phil West of Clarksville, AR. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Christy Utterback and husband Bob, Clarksville, AR, Karen West, Magnolia, AR, Patrick West, Philadelphia, PA, and Joshua Gates of Laverne, CA. Great-grandchildren are Seth Boerstler, Gabe and James Utterback, Tyler, Kayla and Aaron Brown, all of Clarksville, AR, and Aaron, Andrew and Rebekah Utterback of Lexington, TN.
There will be no services or memorial. Her body was donated to the University of Arkansas Medical School for education and research.
The family requests donations to the charity of your choice.
Betty Ann Clark
Betty Ann (Chisem) Clark of Clarksville, Arkansas, left this earth on Friday, April 2, 2010, to be with family and friends who have gone before her.
Mrs. Clark was born June 9, 1938, in Parkin, Arkansas, to the late Ruby Mae (Bost) and Richard Edward Chisem. She was a Baptist and a retired CNA.
Mrs. Clark was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Edna Adean Chandler and Martha Jean Rojas; her first husband and father of her children, Leon Underwood; husband, Alfred (Dale) Clark.
She leaves behind her three children; daughter, Tina and husband, Billy Summit Sr. of Ola, Arkansas; two sons, Mike and wife, Terisa Underwood of Clarksville, Arkansas and Matthew and wife, Ashley Underwood of Lamar, Arkansas; stepdaughter, Gina Humpherys of West Memphis, Arkansas; two sisters, Ruby and husband, Dick Rugel of Batesville, Arkansas, Ludy and husband, Johnny Parks of Clarksville, Arkansas; two brothers, James and wife, Bea Chisem of Vandale, Arkansas, Richard and wife, Sherry Chisem of Parkin, Arkansas; six grandchildren, Ambrosia and husband, Jonathan Hartwick of Danville, Arkansas, Jeremy O'Neil of London, Arkansas, Christopher Bentley of Dardanelle, Arkansas, Laina Underwood of Dardanelle, Arkansas, Haley Underwood of Donie, Texas, Leon Underwood of Lamar, Arkansas; four grandchildren, Amy Rook of Conway, Arkansas, Billy Summit Jr. of Conway, Arkansas, Brian Humphreys and wife, Ashley Humphreys, of West Memphis, Arkansas; four great-grandchildren, Trestan Underwood, Thomas Faulk, Tyler Theriot of Danville, Arkansas, Alixander Moore of Dardanelle, Arkansas.
Memorial service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, April 10, 2010, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel, Clarksville, Arkansas. Reverend Amos Pledger officiating. Roller-Cox Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.
Dora E. Densberger
Dora Emogene Densberger, 91, of Clarksville died Sunday, April 4, 2010, at Clarksville Health and Rehab.
She was a native of Rockford, Ill., member of the Church of the Nazarene, and preceded in death by two sons, Donald and Glen Densberger; and one daughter, Kay Cordy.
She is survived by one daughter, Reta Wahl of Clarksville; grandchildren, Johnny and Angie Hogue of Hartman, Paul Wahl and Greg and Shari Lewis, all of Clarksville, Ronnie and Allissa Engleman of Coal Hill, and Troy and Missy Engleman of Heber Springs; 15 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
The body was cremated.
Local arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Edward Milton Willey
Edward Milton Willey, age 87, died April 3, 2010, at his home in Clarksville.
He was born in the Willey "weaning house" near Hunt, AR, March 7, 1923, to the late Edward D. and Allie (Stewart) Willey. Ed Milton graduated from Clarksville High School in 1942, after which he received specialized mechanical training at Spartan Vocational School. Prior to enlisting in the U.S. Navy, he married
his high school sweetheart, Anna Marie Payne, October 20, 1943. She preceded him in death in 2008.
He was assigned to the U.S.S. Millicoma, a fleet fueling tanker assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific fleet, which was part of the two year island-hopping campaign to the Japanese mainland. Ed Milton earned four battle stars, two of which for the conquest and invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was a member of the American Legion and VFW. After discharge, he returned to Johnson County, where he resided the rest of his life. He retired as owner of the Willey Construction and Ready-Mix Concrete Company in 1986. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Clarksville.
Ed Milton and Anna Marie spent many hours over the years turning their home and grounds into a showplace, where some 500 azaleas bloom each spring. Needing a hobby, in 1989, he took up wood-turning art. During the next 10 years, he produced almost 1, 000 pieces. The pride of his collection was those pieces made from native Arkansas Wood. He was a member of the Stateline Wood-turners and Mt. Home Wood-turners.
Survivors include a brother, Stewart Willey of Clarksville, two sisters, Letia Butler and Janis Harris of Ada, OK, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at 10 a.m. at the Roller-Cox Chapel with Kenneth Butler, a nephew, officiating. Burial was in Oakland cemetery at Clarksville.
Pallbearers were Norman Butler, Charles Butler, David Payne, Rick Richardson, Doug Miller, Pete Welch, and Jerry Cacy.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers, should be made to First Baptist Church or the First United Methodist Church, Clarksville, AR. Arrangements were under the care and direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home, Clarksville.
Geneva L. Childers
Geneva L. Childers passed from this life to her heavenly reward on March 30, 2010, at home.
She is survived by three sons, Larry McDowell of Van Buren, Tony and Francine Childers of Dardanelle, Jerry Don Childers of Clarksville. Five grandchildren, Jay and Michelle McDowell of Conway, Samantha Childers of Clarksville, Bobby and Mikelynn Childers, Traci and Stacey Noblett, and Julie Williams, all of Dardanelle. Four sisters and brothers-in-law, Lorene and Ray Payton, Marie and Bob Fuller and Fran and Bill Carter, all of Fort Smith, and Carol and Larry Huffstetler of Wichita, Kan.; one brother and sister-in-law, Duane and Ann Edwards of Coal Hill. She had three caregivers and friends, Pat Cannon, Rachel Johnson, and Louise Tucker. Six great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, along with an abundance of friends.
She was married
to Earl Childers on July 19, 1947. Earl preceded her in death on September 30, 2006. She was also preceded in death by her parents, John and Lilly Edwards, and her brother, John Edwards Jr.
She was known for her many talents and tireless energy. When Earl started the shaving business, she helped by driving a truck with him. She was a cook at the Clarksville Schools, a beautician, a seamstress, an award winning artist, and a wonderful down home southern cook as well as an avid bowler. She served as the leader of the women's ministry, sang in the choir, and taught Sunday school for many years at the Clarksville Assembly of God Church.
Arrangements were with Hardwicke Funeral Home in Clarksville. Visitation was from 6-8 Friday, April 2, and funeral at Clarksville First Assembly of God Church at 10 on Saturday, April 3, 2010. The services were officiated by Wesley Kendrick, long time family friend, and Rev. Dade Kindrix, former pastor and friend.
Burial was in Lamar cemetery.
Pallbearers were Levi Willis, Larry Willis, David Willis, Jim Rudder, Larry Rudder, and Ken Childers.
J.R. Owen
J.R. Owen, 88, of Russellville died Monday, April 5, 2010, surrounded by his family.
The son of Homer and Mollie Hutchins Owen, he was born February 21, 1922, in Dover. He and Elaine Hutcherson were married
on March 18, 1944, at South New Hope. During World War II, J.R. served in Europe and received the Good Conduct medal, the EAME with three bronze service stars and the Purple Heart. Following the war, he was deputy sheriff of Pope County. He joined Western Arkansas Telephone Company in 1955 serving as vice president of operations. The company later became ITC, CONTEL, and GTE, where he retired after 28 years. He was a member of the Rogers-Rye Post No. 2283 of the VFW, the Riggs-Hamilton Post of the American Legion, a member of the Order of the Purple Heart and past commander of the DAV. He was also a member of the Pottsville Masonic Lodge No. 333, the Little Rock Consistory, a member of the Scimitar Shrine, past president of the Arkansas Independent Telephone Association, member of the National Independent Telephone Association, and a founding board member of MARVA. He was an honorary member of the River Valley Squares. He enjoyed square dancing, hunting, fishing, watching the Cubs, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Duke University basketball team. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son-in-law, John Heritage.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine Hutcherson Owen of Russellville; two daughters, Pam Shaw and husband, Mike, of Clarksville and Deborah Heritage of Rockwall, Texas; a granddaughter, Brittany Shaw of Clarksville; a sister, Bea Dale of Russellville; a brother, Cecil Owen and wife, Emma, of Sikeston, Mo.; sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, 2010, at Humphrey Chapel. Mr. Jim Bob Humphrey will officiate. Burial will be at Pisgah cemetery at Pottsville by Humphrey Funeral Service. Full military honors will be provided by Rogers Rye Post No. 2283 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Visitation was from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Little Leaps Learning Academy, Scranton, AR, c/o Logan County Bank, Scranton, AR 72863.
Active pallbearers will be Kenny Lawson, Stan Butler, Jeff Humphrey, Dr. Chris Taylor, Curtis Taylor, John Jakubowski, Bill Eaton and Tom Hawkins.
Honorary pallbearers will be the former employees of Western Arkansas Telephone Company and Continental Telephone Company.
James K. Harris
James Kristopher Harris, 26, of Clarksville died Saturday, April 3, 2010, at his home.
He was a native of Clarksville and preceded in death by his grandfather, Edward Harris Sr.
Survivors include his wife, Sarah Harris; one daughter, Regann Harris of Clarksville; one son, Adam Harris of Clarksville; parents, Edward and Wilma Harris of Clarksville; grandparents, Rosemary Harris of Clarksville and Willie and Carolyn Kimbrell of Fort Smith; and one brother, Nathan Harris of Clarksville.
Private graveside services were held at Oakland cemetery with Rev. Tracy Julian officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
