Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Esther B. Hightower
Esther Bly Hightower, 88, of Lamar died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Russellville.
She was a native of Johnson County and widow of J. D. Hightower.
Survivors include two daughters, Linda Hahn of Russellville and Carolyn Woodard of Miamisburg, Ohio; three grandchildren, Jeffrey Hahn, Jennifer Blasingame, and Scott Osborn; four great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at Hardwicke Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Carter cemetery.
Mildred Pierson Saxton
Mildred Pierson Saxton, 80, of Van Buren, formerly of Johnson County, died Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, at Summit Medical Center in Van Buren.
She was a daughter of the late Millard and Elma Houston Pierson, retired florist, and Baptist.
Survivors include her husband, Eugene Saxton; one daughter, Janice Murphy of Alma; two sons, Jerry Magby of Upland, Ind., and James Magby of Texas; two sisters, Tinnie Nowotny of Fort Smith and Gussie Watson of Clarksville; two brothers, Bill Pierson of Warsaw, Mo., and Barney Pierson of Mulberry; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Matt Nowotny officiating. Burial will be in Woodland cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Derek Mays, Jacob Boen, Kyle Fairfield, Kevin Fairfield, Klay Fairfield, and Jeremy Nowotny.
Polly Taylor Kennon
Mrs. Polly Taylor Kennon, 93, of Clarksville, AR, died Friday, October 9, 2009, at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Russellville. She was born December 20, 1915, in Ludwig, AR, to Harve and Mattie Taylor.
"Miss Polly" as she was commonly known, was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Dr. Harris Kennon; two sisters, Sue Nell Farris and Mildred Hall; three brothers, Harve Taylor Jr., Bob B. Taylor, and Phil Taylor.
Survivors are two sisters, Juanita Deeds of Clarksville, formerly of Fowler, CO, and Anna Jane Warren and husband, John W. Warren, of Clarksville; and one sister-in-law, Joanne Willett Taylor of Clarksville. Other survivors include five nieces; eight nephews; and a host of friends and former students.
A graduate of Central Baptist College and the University of the Ozarks, "Miss Polly" taught in schools at Ludwig, Branch and Clarksville, retiring after 38 years. She also gave piano lessons after school hours and on Saturdays. Her dedication extended to many other activities, including her life membership in the Arkansas Retired Teachers' Association; in her service, until a short time before her death, as the legislative chairman for the Johnson County Teachers' Association; and her work on the state legislative committee. Her commitment to education did not go unnoticed. In 1975, she was honored by the National Congress of Parents and Teachers for exceptional service to her school and community. Then at the beginning of the 1978-79 school year, the Johnson County Retired Teachers' Association declared a "Polly Kennon Day."
She was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarksville and was pianist for the Fellowship Sunday School class. Also, as an active member of the United Methodist Women, she served at various times as chairman of the Love-Joy Circle.
Other community affiliations included the University of the Ozarks Alumni Association, Eastern Star (50-year member), Kappa Kappa Iota, an education sorority; and the Johnson County Peach Festival Board for eight years.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct, 12, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarksville with Rev. Frank Clemmons and Rev. Carter Ferguson officiating.
Burial was in Oakland cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Robert Ed Farris, Lynn Taylor Farris, Michael Hall, Bob Taylor III, Harve Taylor III, Tom Mills Taylor, Jack Cline Jr., Philip Taylor Jr., and John Jason Cline.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 535, Clarksville, AR 72830, or the University of the Ozarks, 415 North College Avenue, Clarksville, AR 72830.
Arthur Brooks
Arthur Wayne (Possum) Brooks, 71, of Mulberry, father of Debbie Richardson of Clarksville, died Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, at the Van Buren hospital.
He was a native of Mulberry, son of the late Joseph Arthur and Letha Adell Moore Brooks, retired truck driver, and of the Assembly of God faith.
Survivors include his companion, Arlene Agee of Mulberry; one other daughter, Teresa Goodnoh of Mulberry; two grandchildren, Ryan Barnett and Dustin Goodnoh; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at Ocker Chapel of Alma with Rev. Aaron Medlock officiating. The body was cremated.
Barbara Lederman
Barbara Lederman, 72, of Lexa, whose son, Kenneth George Lederman Jr. and wife, Peggy Lynn, reside in Clarksville, died Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, in Memphis, Tenn.
She was born in West Helena to the late Curdy Perkins Jackson and Sara Nina Esther Holland Jackson and was a retired teller for Helena National Bank.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Kenneth Lederman Sr.; one other son, Curtis Charles Lederman of Lexa; one daughter, Nina Kathryn Herrington and husband, Stanley, of West Helena; four grandchildren, Ken B. Lederman, Amy K. Hamlett, Keysha LeAnn Wyssbrod, and Stan C. Herrington; two sisters, Betty Cullum of Paragould and Juanita Oxner of Jacksonville; one brother, C. P. Jackson of Benton; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in West Helena. Burial was at Sunset Memorial Park in West Helena.
Bobby Jack Covert
Our husband, brother, father and friend, Bobby Jack Covert, 74, of Altus, AR went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 29, 2009, in Fort Smith, AR.
He was born in the Greenwood Community south of Altus, AR on the first day of July, 1935, to the late John Mark Covert and Mary Bonnie Raney Covert. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Larry Leon Covert, and two sisters, Sybil Covert Smith and Juanita Covert Starr.
Bobby Jack lived most of his life in the Altus area except for his two tours of duty in the United States Army in Washington State. He served in D Battery, First Missle Batallion, 43rd Artillery, a part of the Ajax Missle Defense Program. Military honors included sharpshooter with rifle and expert with carbine (probably attributable to his hunting ducks, squirrels and other game in the Greenwood Bottoms during his youth.) He was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant in 1961.
Returning to Arkansas after the birth of their first child, Patricia, he was a truck driver until 1975 when he was elected to the position of Franklin County Circuit Clerk serving for two terms. He was self-employed in the wallpaper business until his retirement in 1999. Bobby Jack became a Christian early in life and answered the call to the ministry in 1992. As a member of the Mike Barber Prison Ministries, he conducted a ministry at the Franklin County Jail and then began ministering in state penitentiaries throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Eventually being certified to minister to death-row inmates. He was at the time of his death the pastor of Liberty Church near Altus, AR, a position he held for eight years.
He leaves a legacy of hard work, honesty, integrity and Christian love. His greatest delight was the bride of his youth, Alfreda, their children and grandchildren. We will honor him for his example and his faith, and we will miss him until we see him again.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, November 2, 2009, at Shaffer Funeral Home Chapel with burial at 1 p.m. at the National cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Alfreda Christine Parker Covert, originally from Grenades Chapel, AR; two daughters, Tricia Diane Pennington and husband, Michael, of Altus and Chris McCain and husband, Mack, of Ozark; one son, Mark Allen Covert of Altus, AR; two sisters, Johnnie Lois Covert Bartlett of Ozark and Betty Covert McDonald of Fort Smith; and grandchildren, Euticha Beth Pennington Hawkins and husband, Mark, of Glouschester, VA; Joseph Michael Pennington of Starkville, Miss; Gordon William McCain III of Fayetteville, AR; Emmarie McCain of Little Rock, AR; Zachary Allen Covert of Altus, AR; and Jacob (Jake) Covert of Altus, AR.
The family visited with friends from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, at Shaffer Funeral Home, 2315 W. Commercial, Ozark, AR.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Mike Barber Prison Ministries, P. O. Box 1086, DeSoto, TX 75123-1086; web address: www.makebarber.org
Brenda Fox
Brenda Fox, 44, of Lamar died Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Russellville.
She was a native of Crescent City, Calif., daughter of the late Floyd Olen Fox, employee of Bright Harvest Foods, and of the Seventh-day Adventist faith.
She is survived by one daughter, Ashley Nichole Melson of Lamar; one son, Adam Bagsby of Clarksville; mother, Bonnie Fox of Lamar; and one sister, Jeanette Deer and husband, Greg, of Washington.
Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Russell cemetery at Ozone with Pastor Ross Sawyer officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Carl Holland, Gary Ledford, JR Bagsby, Deven Bagsby, Johnny Bagsby, and Alan Chenault.
