Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Ralph McKnight
Ralph McKnight, age 73 of Russellville died 
Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009, at his home.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, at the Shinn Chapel. Burial will be in the Old Baptist Cemetery
near Center Valley under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
William Hull
William “Bill” Hull, 79, of Hector died Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009 at Arkansas Hospice in Little Rock.
The son of William and Maggie Tilley Hull, he was born
Dec. 14, 1929 in Scottsville, Ark.
Funeral will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, at Langford Cemetery
in Scottsville. Reverend Herbert Tilley will officiate. Burial will follow by Humphrey Funeral Service.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9 at the funeral home.
Johnnie Tapp
Johnnie M. Chappell Tapp, 84, a resident of Russellville, died Monday, Sept. 7, 2009, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center.
She was born
Dec. 23, 1924, in Havana to James Henry and Ruth Robbins Chappell. She was preceded in death by a son, Ronald Dean Tapp; three brothers; and a sister.
Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Gene Tapp of Russellville; a son, Eugene Tapp of Russellville; a daughter-in-law; four sisters; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Graveside service and burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, at Moore’s Chapel Cemetery
in Waveland under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service.
The visitation room will be open until 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Robert Bewley
Robert Cecil “Bigun” Bewley of Waverly, Kan., was born
July 2, 1948, in Russellville to Aaron Vester Bewley Jr., and Hilda Marriott-Bewley. Robert passed peacefully with his family by his side Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at the Kansas City Hospice House.
Robert’s love and generosity for his family and numerous friends was endless. He was deeply involved in his stepchildren, nieces, nephews and grandchildren’s lives. He was their champion. Robert left this life with one last act of love and kindness by giving the gift of sight through a donation to the Heartland Lyon Eye Bank.
By trade Robert was a pipe fitter, carpenter and horseman. He was involved in many associations including the Coffee County Rural Water Board, American Quarter Horse, National Cutting Horse, and United States Team Roping Championships. In addition, he was a longtime supporter of both Kansas and Arkansas high school rodeo. His love for horses was shared with everyone he knew. Robert worked with prominent horse trainers Jack Newton, Lanny Ashley, Cletus Hulling, John Wilkins, David Kerr and Bob Hurley. He cowboyed for Nolke Ranch in west Texas and Mescalero Apache reservation in New Mexico.
He was preceded in death by his father, Aaron Vester Bewley Jr.; stepfather, Wilbert Combs; stepsister, Ruth Branch; and brother, Steve Bewley.
Robert is survived by his wife, Nola Hively-Bewley; mother, Hilda Bewley-Combs; brother, Alan Bewley; stepbrother, Wes Combs; stepsisters, Eileen Coker, Louise King and Mary Hamilton; stepson, Seth Hively; stepdaughter, Angela Mohajir-Charlton; stepdaughter-in-law, Renee Hively; stepson-in-law, Jerry Charlton; nieces, Amanda and Jessica Bewley; nephews, Gary Wayne Bewley and James Darter; sister-in-law, Shawna Shepherd; grandchildren, Skyler and Rawlin Hively, and Jacob Mohajir; great-nephews, Brandon Bewley and Gavin Williams; and great-niece, Alexis Hargrove.
Two celebrations of Robert’s life will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, at the Saint Francis Xavier Parish Hall, Burlington, Kan., followed by 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 at The First Baptist Church, Pottsville.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Robert Bewley Kansas High School Rodeo Association Memorial and sent in care of Citizen’s State Bank, 407 Arrowhead Street, New Strawn, KS 66839-8964.
Johnnie Shelton
Johnnie Murl Shelton, 66, of Russellville, went to be with the Lord on Aug. 14, 2009, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center following a long battle with diabetes.
A daughter of the late Pete and Johnnie Duvall McCurrie, she was born
Nov. 7, 1942, at home in what was called the old Staffard house in Gumlog. She lived her entire life not a mile from where she was born. On Jan. 15, 1962, she married
Allen (Spider) Shelton.
She worked for the Hudson Brothers egg farm and loved to camp with family and spend time with family and friends. She was a Christian and a member of Pine Hill Community Church where she enjoyed attending until she was no longer able. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and a sister, Vida Pearl McCurrie Davis.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Rusty and Tracy Shelton and Petey and Shelia Shelton, all of Russellville; a grandson, Russell Shelton of Russellville; two granddaughters, Tiffany and Destiny Shelton, both of Russellville; a step-granddaughter, Kimberly Langrell of Russellville; a brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Brenda McCurrie of Russellville; two nephews: Matt McCurrie and his wife, Clarrissa, of Russellville; and Carmon McCurrie of Atlanta, Ga.; two nieces, Joyce Laub and her husband, John, and Eugenia McCurrie, all of Atkins; three great-nephews, three great-nieces and many more family and friends.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Happy Valley Assembly of God, officiated by the Rev. Hank Duvall. Burial will be at Shady Grave Cemetery
near Atkins by Shinn Funeral Service.
Active pallbearers are Gene McCurrie, Matt McCurrie, Junior Simmons, Clifford Duvall, Junior Taylor and John Laub.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Nathan Romine
Nathan P. Romine, 82, of Moreland died Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009, at North Logan County Mercy Hospital.
He was born
Oct. 3, 1926, in Pottsville, the son of James Harding and Lillie Edwards Romine.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bill Romine; sister, Charlotte Woodard; and daughter, Edna Louise Romine.
Nathan was a retired labor superintendent in northern California. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a lifetime member of the V.F.W.
He is survived by his daughter, Joyce Walker of Dover; son, James Romine of Russellville; brother, Bobby Romine of Russellville; sister, Louise Rone of Kansas City, Mo.; four grandchildren, Sherry Tucker of Dover, Donna Earnest of Hector, Josh Romine of Russellville and Jacob Romine of Memphis; six great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside service and burial with military honors will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Rest Haven Memorial Park, Nora Earnest officiating. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Monday at Lemley Funeral Service.
Members of the Rogers-Rye V.F.W. Post 2283 Honor Squad will serve as pallbearers.
Renee Davis
C. Renee Davis, 53, of Russellville died Friday, Aug. 14, 2009, at her home.
Daughter of the late Tommy Lee and Marjorie Eleanor Boyle Hicks, she was born
Nov. 18, 1955, in Manitou Springs, Co. She was a former office manager, taught computer graphics and was owner of a computer site, the Yakker Friends.
She was also preceded in death by a son, Robert Jack Davis, and a daughter, Amanda Jeanette Davis.
Survivors include her husband, Joe Davis; a son and daughter-in-law, William and Cassy Davis of Russellville; a daughter and son-in-law, Michelle Renee and Russell Reedy of Dardanelle; a brother and sister-in-law, Tommy and Peggy Hicks of Jacksonville, Fla.; a sister and brother-in-law, Leona Mae and Ricky Plunkett of Tupelo, Miss.; and three grandchildren: Logan William Davis, Ariel Nicole Deckert and Maxwell “Auggie” Prince.
Service arrangements are private.
Mike Simpson
Mike Simpson, 59, of Casa died Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, at River Valley Medical Center. He was born
July 3, 1950, at Beaumont, Ky., to Charles and Dolly Shives Simpson. He was a poultry farmer for Wayne Farms. He attended the Hickory Grove First Baptist Church and had his Pastors Certificate to preach nondenominational churches. He was a devoted Christian, a hard-working farmer, a gifted musician, a horseman, a beloved daddy, a treasured papa and a devoted husband and partner. Mike was always there to help his fellow man with a quick smile and an uplifting word. He treasured his family and thought his grandchildren hung the moon and stars. He was John Wayne in our eyes and left us way too soon. The world lost a great man, but heaven gained a perfect angel. Wait on us at the feet of Jesus. He is preceded in death by his father, Charles Simpson, and a brother, Fred Simpson.
Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Minnie Simpson, of Casa; children and spouses, Janice and Hoss Yates of Rover, Jennifer and Jeff Little of Dardanelle, David and Trisha Simpson of Edmonton, Ky.; mother, Dolly Simpson of Florence, Ky.; sister and brother-in-law, Tammy and Gary Gipson of Louisville; grandchildren, Drew Brent, Zachary Brent, Lucas Coffman, Kassidy Coffman, Cole Yates, Katie Yates, Samantha Little, Mirinda Little, Haley Simpson, Erica Simpson, Scotty Woosley and wife Jenny, Amanda Woosley; great-grandchildren, Kloie Yates, Katlen Walker, Anna Bell Walker, Emma Woosley; aunt and uncle, Joyce and Atwell Shives of Kentucky.
Memorial services will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 17, 2009, at Hickory Grove First Freewill Baptist Church in Casa.
Cremation arrangements by Cornwell Funeral Home in Dardanelle.
