Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Jimmy Lee Huff
Jimmy Lee Huff, 54, of Cecil, died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, in Fort Smith.
He was a native of Camp Roberts, Calif., truck driver and son of the late Wade Huff.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra Bartlett Huff; one daughter, Kelly Huff of Van Buren; two sons, Lerner Huff of Cecil and Joshua Huff of Dubai; mother and stepfather, Betty and John Zachery of Coal Hill; three sisters, Patsy Phillips of California, and Barbara Bartlett and Betty Ann Reynolds, both of Coal Hill; two brothers, Gary Huff of Joplin, Mo., and Johnny Zachery of Clarksville; and one grandchild.
A memorial service was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Calvary Baptist Church in Ozark with Rev. Coyce Couch officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Ozark.
The body was cremated.
Joseph Williams
Joseph (Tink) Williams, 98, of Clarksville died Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
A native of the Stone Hill Community in Johnson County, he was a son of the late Jim and Emma Smart Williams, retired farmer and coal miner, Army veteran of World War II, member of Coal Hill Church of Christ, Bunch Walton Post No. 22 of the American Legion, Harmony Masonic Lodge No. 433, and River Valley Chapter No. 49 York Rite Bodies at Russellville, life member of Clarksville Chapter No. 172 Order of the Eastern Star, former member of the Johnson County Old Coal Belt Baseball League, and was preceded in death by his wife, Lorene Hooten Williams.
He is survived by three nephews, Duane Steele, Carl Williams and Ancil Williams, all of Clarksville; and one niece, Benita Williams Maddoux of Claremore, Okla.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel with John Ballard officiating. Burial was in Union Grove cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Dale Meek, Donald Meek, Bob Hurley, Benny Hardgrave, C. O. Blackard, and Don Dougan.
Honorary pallbearers were John Harvey, Gene Koerdt, Claud Dougan, and K. P. Harvey.
Katherine Riddell
Katherine McNabb Riddell, 89, of Clarksville died Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, at Clarksville Convalescent Home.
She was a daughter of Alvin and Ada McNabb, a lifelong member of Clarksville Presbyterian Church, and involved with the American Cancer Society, the Johnson Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, and several other civic groups, and had an active interest in music and painting. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Lois Whitworth and Betty Drake; and two children, Marian Cargile and Forrest Riddell.
She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Wendell Riddell; one son, Mark of Seattle, Wash.; two sisters, Jeanne Peters of Clemson, S. C., and Louise Sims of Clinton, Iowa; four grandchildren, Eden Riddell Hennessy and Marc Riddell, both of Seattle, Wash., Kevin Cargile of Sugarland, Texas, and Jason Cargile of Oceanside, Calif.; and several great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
A memorial service is planned on Dec. 10 at the Clarksville Presbyterian Church.
Mary Ann Ervin
Mary Ann Ervin, 80, of Ozark, grandmother of Jarron Cassidy Crawley of Clarksville, died Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007, at Ozark.
She was a daughter of the late Lawrence and Edna Fern Spears Rambo, native of Charleston, member of the First United Methodist Church in Ozark, United Methodist Women, TTT Society and Democratic party, and was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Floyd Ervin Sr.; one son, Floyd Ervin Jr.; one sister, Margaret Rambo Ward; and one niece, Pamela Ward Morlan.
She is survived by one daughter, Candace Ann Ervin Crawley of Ozark; one son, Lawrence Garner Ervin of Ozark; four other grandchildren, Brandi Harris and husband, James, of Ozark, Sonya Lea Johnson of Las Vegas, Nev., Arthur Thomas Ervin of Fort Smith, and Sarah Michelle Ervin of Conway; four great-grandchildren, Jake Teer of Ozark, Kyla Johnson of Las Vegas, Nev., Sadie Harris of Ozark, and Alex Ervin of Fort Smith; and one brother-in-law, Roger Ward of Fort Smith.
Graveside services and burial were at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Highland cemetery with Lonnie Turner officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Ozark.
Active pallbearers were Lonnie Turner, Kennith Smith, Robert Via, James Harris, Joe Powell, and Wallace Alston.
Honorary pallbearers were Roger Ward, Sue King, Tracy Shrum, Theresa Epperson, Connie Eckelhoff, Jonell Collins, Crystal Hall, Richard Varner, Margarella Armbruster and Peachtree Hospice staff.
Memorials may be made to Ozark First United Methodist Church Handbell Choir.
Richard Harris
Richard Harris, 64, of Madera, Calif., died Monday, Oct. 29, 2007, in a Madera hospital.
A native of Sanger, Calif., he was a machinist in the mould shop at Madera Glass for 30 years, reserve deputy sheriff, volunteer firefighter, member of the Madera Bass Club and president of AFGWU Local No. 19 for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ollie and Minnie Harris of Madera, Calif.; father-in-law, Gilbert Carter of Fresno, Calif.; and stepfather-in-law, Tate Mayfield of Clarksville.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Susan Harris; one son, Travis Harris and wife, Fawn, of Corcoran, Calif.; one daughter, Mindy Barela and husband, Tommy, of Merced, Calif.; two brothers, David Harris of Madera, Calif., and Randy Harris and wife, Sherry, of Ohio; three sisters, Darlene Ryan and husband, Harold, Diane Zeiler and husband, David, and Chris Harrold and husband, Gary, all of Madera, Calif.; four grandchildren, Andrew Barela, Bryce Harris, Collin Harris, and Koda Harris; mother-in-law, Pauline Mayfield of Clarksville; brother-in-law, Gilbert Carter Jr. and wife, Michelle, of Fresno, Calif.; sister-in-law, Sandy Smith and husband, Darryl, of Madera, Calif.; 17 nieces and nephews; and 11 great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral was at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at Jay Chapel in Madera, Calif.
Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.
Verna Waterman
Verna Waterman, 75, of Dover died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, at her home.
She was a native of Treat and daughter of the late Dave Waterman.
Survivors include one daughter, Wanda Vaughan and husband, Darrell, of Dover; mother, Stella Waterman of Dover; four grandchildren, Tammie Sotomayor and husband, Al, of Russellville, Theresa McCain and husband, Todd, of Clarksville, TaWanna Barefield and husband, Ralph, of Russellville, and Tina Bryant and husband, Brad, of Russellville; 12 great-grandchildren, Allison and Alexa Sotomayor of Russellville, Dustin, Chris and Logan Foster and Joseph and Brooklyn McCain of Clarksville, Samantha and Zachary Barefield of Russellville, Brianna Basinger, and Kristina and Haylee Bryant of Russellville; two brothers, W. D. Waterman and wife, Charlotte of Ria vista, Calif., and Kenneth Waterman and wife, Tina, of Potts Town, Pa.; one sister, Virginia Merritt and husband, Bob, of Russellville; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Humphrey Chapel followed by burial at the Treat cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Todd McCain, Brad Bryant, Ralph Barefield, Dustin Foster, Chris Foster, Joseph McCain and Zachary Barefield.
Honorary pallbearers were Bob Merritt, Al Sotomayor, Allison Sotomayor, Alexa Sotomayor, Brooklyn McCain, Logan Foster, Samantha Barefield, Brianna Basinger, Kristina Bryant and Haylee Bryant.
Ralph J. Cowan
Ralph J. (Buster) Cowan, 92, of Central City, Arkansas died on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 in his home in Central City.
Ralph Cowan, the son of Arthur and Nora Hammons Cowan of Oark, Arkansas was born on July 28, 1915. Ralph was a 1936 graduate of Clarksville, Arkansas High School, in a class of 74 graduates.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Nora Cowan; first wife, Gladys Langdon Cowan; son, Rodney Cowan; brother, Ernest Cowan; and sisters, Grace Croft, Myrtle Brown and Betty J. Matherly.
He was a member of Goddard United Methodist Church, Fort Smith, Arkansas and also served as a Certified Lay Speaker within the Fort Smith United Methodist District.
Ralph was a proud, fifty plus year member of the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry in the Valley of the Fort Smith Orient of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
During World War II, Ralph was honored with the meritorious Civilian Service Award from the U. S. Navy Department for outstanding construction work. And later, as a general contractor, Ralph was responsible for the building of well over 50 public schools in the Los Angeles, California area.
Upon retiring, he enjoyed a second career as vice president for construction of the internationally known Sea World in Florida, from 1972 until 1980.
Ralph (Buster) Cowan is survived by his wife, Helen L. Cowan of Central City, Arkansas; one daughter, Leah L. Udwin, and four grandchildren, Whitney, Trevor, Camden and Benjamin Udwin, all of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and a brother, G. W. Cowan of Crossville, Tennessee.
Ralph is also survived by his extended family; Helen's son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Fran Callaway of Bristow, Oklahoma; grandson, Trey H. Callaway and his wife, Nancy, of Woodland Hills, California; granddaughter, Kendell L. Mooney and her husband, Terry, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and four great-grandchildren, Clementine, Crockett and Cosmo Callaway, and Collin P. Mooney; plus a host of nieces, nephews and close friends.
Services for Ralph Cowan were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 3, 2007, at Goddard United Methodist Church, 1922 Dodson Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas and were officiated by the Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith. Ralph's final resting place will be in the Arkansas mountain country of his birth, a place of natural beauty that he cherished his entire life, Oark, Arkansas.
Family visited with friends Friday, November 2, 2007, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Ralph's three grandsons, Trevor, Camden and Benjamin Udwin, along with their father, Victor Udwin, of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Honorary pallbearers were the Wesley Sunday School Class of Goddard United Methodist Church.
Memorial contributions in honor of Ralph J. (Buster) Cowan's life may be made to Goddard United Methodist Church, 1922 Dodson Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901 or to the Oark cemetery Fund, c/o Don Vaught, HC 62, Box 106, Ozone, Arkansas 72854.
