Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Paul Hunnicutt
Paul Hunnicutt, 61, of Russellville, brother of Richard Hunnicutt of Knoxville, died Saturday, May 1, 2010, at his home.
He was born in Lawton, Okla., to Roy and Vesta Millwood Hunnicutt, 1966 graduate of Plainview-Rover High School, served in the U.S. Navy where he received training in aviation mechanics and maintained the P3 for the Navy in Vietnam and was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. He completed a bachelor of science degree in psychology and a minor in sociology from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville in 1975, and was employed as a commodities buyer for National Home Centers prior to retirement this year. He was a member of First Free Will Baptist Church where he was a Sunday school teacher and a member of the choir.
Survivors include his wife, Jannine Grossman Hunnicutt; two daughters, Teresa Lyon and husband, Greg, of Lancaster, Pa., and Kelly Prince and husband, Vince, of Van Buren; six grandsons, Dusten Russell, Adam Prince, and Malachi, Evan, Brennan and Simeon Lyon; one other brother, David Hunnicutt of Cadillac, Mich.; and two sisters, Sandra Morris of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Kay Bailey of Madison, Va.
A ceremony celebrating his life was at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, at First Free Will Baptist Church with Pastor Blaine Rogers officiating.
Burial was in Rest Haven Memorial Park under the direction of Humphrey Funeral Service of Russellville.
Full military honors were provided by the Rogers-Rye Post 2283 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Active pallbearers were Russell Thomas, Earl Steen, Jay Griffin, Carroll Jones, Dick Eubanks and Danny Russell.
Honorary pallbearers were Bryan Hunnicutt, Dusten Russell, Adam Prince, Rick Delcamp and Vince Prince.
Memorials may be made to First Free Will Baptist Church, Panama Missions Fund, 1103 E. L St., Russellville, AR 72801.
David Alan Sykes
David Alan Sykes, 69, died Tuesday, June 15, 2010, in Tulsa, Okla.
He was a native of Clarksville, son of Ralph and Sue Adkins Sykes, Clarksville High School graduate, served in the United States Army Reserves, and was employed as a welder in the oil industry.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Harrington Hicks Sykes; one daughter, Kimberly Sykes of Broken Arrow, Okla.; one son, Mark Alan Sykes of Broken Arrow, Okla.; two stepdaughters, Sarah Elaine Hicks and Shannon Elizabeth Hicks; two sisters, Sandra Simms and husband, Bobby, of Montgomery, Ala., and Sue Ann May of Houston, Texas; and one step grandchild, Jacob Gribble.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 26, at the Holman cemetery northeast of Lamar.
Memorials may be made to Therapetics, 9433 E. 51st, Suite J, Tulsa, OK 74145.
Marie Peters
Marie Peters, 86, of Clarksville died Wednesday, June 16, 2010, at Countryside Manor Nursing Home.
She was a native of Bean Station, Tenn., graduate of Bean Station (Tennessee) High School, registered nurse in the United States Army Nurses Corps during World War II, and was a former employee of Area Agency on Aging.
Survivors include one daughter, Pam Warren of Anchorage, Alaska; and two sons, Ernest D. Peters Jr. of Clarksville and Loren Peters of Austin, Texas.
A memorial service was held at 10 a.m. Monday, June 21, at Hardwicke Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Amos Pledger officiating.
Velda Fern Roland
Velda Fern Roland, 75, of Ozark, mother of Wanda Parton of Hunt, died Wednesday, June 16, 2010, at Ozark.
She was a native of the Adams Community in Franklin County, daughter of the late Fred and Ruth Walker Hans, widow of LeeRoy Roland, attended Cass Baptist Church, and was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Nikki Parton; one brother, Bobby Hans; and one sister, Norma Leaver.
Survivors include two other daughters, Carrol Reagan of Mulberry and Billie Jo Hall of Ozark; five sons, LeeRoy Roland Jr., Jimmy Roland, Teddy Roland Sr., Frank Roland and Harold Roland, all of Ozark; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 19, at Hixon cemetery with Rev. Morris Boseman officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Ozark.
Honorary pallbearers were Cody Muerrel, Matt Dailey, David Freeman, Kevin Reagan, Eugene Hagler, Brian Hall, Mike Parton, and Jack Sossaman.
Hal Don Sears
Hal Don Sears died Monday, June 14, 2010, in Lawrence, Kan.
He was born in 1942 to Lowry and Evelyn Jones Sears on Turkey Mountain near Clarksville and joined the Marines in 1960, where he played the French horn in the Marine Band until 1964. After completing his service with the Marines, he attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and in 1966 he moved to St. Louis, Mo., where he received a degree in history from the University of Missouri. In 1969, he was awarded a Danforth Fellowship and moved to California to study at Stanford University and from there he went to Santa Cruz to study natural medicine, herbs and wild-crafting prior to moving to Lawrence, Kan., where he joined the Community Mercantile Co-Op in 1982 and became a vitamin and herbal supplements specialist until his retirement in 2005. He was a writer, an avid reader, and a member of St. John's Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Davida Sears; two daughters, Laurel Birdsong Sears and Saida Cora Bonfield; and grandchildren, Mercury Faye and Greer Posey, all of Lawrence, Kan.; and two sisters, Rochelle Sears of Phoenix, Ariz., and Phyllis Hogue of Katy, Texas.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Friday, June 18, at St. John's Catholic Church in Lawrence, Kan.
Huie Bird
Huie Bird, 75, of Clarksville, passed away peacefully at his home, June 19, 2010.
He was born on February 25, 1935 in Birdtown, Arkansas.
He was the youngest of ten children to Rosa Gordon Bird and Samuel Porter Bird.
After attending high school in Center Ridge, he began his career as a dragline operator at the age of 18. He worked in many areas of the country, including Oklahoma, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Arkansas. In addition, he worked for nine years on the Eastern Coast of the United States for American Dredging Company, dredging bay areas in New Jersy, New York, Maine, and New Hampshire. In 1969 he moved his family back to Arkansas, settling in Johnson County. He and his wife, Doris, purchased the Hartman store and later opened Birds’ Drive- In Restaurant & Recreation. During this time he was also employed by Garland and Peabody Coal Company as a dragline operator. In 1978 they sold their Hartman businesses, and decided to pursue their dreams of owning and operating a motel. At this time, they purchased their first motel, an independent property known as The Caprice Motor Inn in Clarksville. This also included a restaurant and service station. Mr. Bird continued working for Peabody until 1980, and then focused full time on his new career in the hospitality industry. Over the past 32 years, they have owned and successfully operated 12 different franchised hotels, including properties in Oklahoma and Missouri, as well as Arkansas. Currently, Birds’ Hospitality, Inc. owns and operates the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express & Suites of Clarksville and the Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Best Western Inn, all of Russellville. Mr. Bird was passionate about property development and throughout the years received many prestigious awards recognizing his successes and achievements.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Doris Bird; two daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy and Dan Cogan, and Nancy and Jim Rogers, all of Clarksville; three granddaughters, Chivon Cogan, Caitlin Rogers, and Crystal Martinez, and her husband, Rolando Martinez, as well as three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and nine older siblings, Esther McNew, Elbert “Eb” Bird, Ruth Bird, Fay “Slim” Bird, Ralph Bird, Imogene French, Robert “Tip” Bird, Dewey Bird, and Roy Lane Bird.
Arrangements are under the care of Hardwicke Funeral Home in Clarksville.
Visitation was held at Hardwicke Chapel on Monday, June 21, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The funeral service took place at Cherry Street Baptist Church in Clarksville, where Mr. Bird was a member, on Tuesday June 22, at 10:00 a.m., with Rev. Bill Milam and Rev. Jeff Brewer officiating and burial following at Oakland cemetery.
Pallbearers were Mike Wilson, Don Highfill, Ronnie Ashlock, Terry Blackard, Ben Powell, John Burke, and Steven Sosebee.
Honorary pallbearers were Paul Cogan, Harold Lewis, C.O. Blackard, Toby Wilson, Roy Goodin, Dr. John Werner & Don Johnson.
Memorials may be made to the University of the Ozarks, 415 North Collage Avenue, Clarksville, AR 72830 or Cherry Street Baptist Church, P.O. Box 378, Clarksville, AR 72830
Helen Perry
Helen Perry, 92, of Clarksville died Friday, June 18, 2010, at Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith.
A native of Clarksville, she was a daughter of the late Mack and Lula Harvey Newton, widow of Lafayette Perry Jr., member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Clarksville and St. James Baptist Church in Fort Smith, former employee of the late Mr. and Mrs. E. K. Johnson for many years, and was preceded in death by one daughter, Myrtle Rollie; and one grandson, Anthony Smart.
She is survived by one daughter, Helen Wells of Fort Smith; two sons, Robert Newton of New York and Lafayette Perry III and wife, Clara, of Clarksville; eight grandchildren, Samuel Smart and wife, Pam, of Kansas City, Kan., Carl Smart and wife, Shelby, of Springfield, Mo., Lenny West and wife, Vivian, of Tulsa, Okla., Lisa Culver and husband, Steven, LaRonya West and Timothy West, all of Fort Smith, and Lytesa Addison and Annie Torres and husband, Andre, all of Clarksville; 20 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 23, at Hardwicke Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gary Hinkle officiating. Burial will be in Oakland cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Lenny West, Timothy West, Samuel Smart, Carl Smart, William Franklin, Walter Ross, and Curtis Smart.
Honorary pallbearers will be John West, Patrick Baker, Sam Scott, Leroy Cotton, Don Willis, Glenn Addison, Virgil Willis, William Reed Jr., Dave Dodson, J.T. West and Jeffrey West.
