Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Richard Curry Blake, Jr.
Richard Curry Blake, Jr., age 83, of Little Rock died 
May 12, 2004. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and an ordained deacon with the Gaston Avenue Baptist Church in Dallas. He was an avid fisherman.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; one daughter, Nica Clipp of Little Rock, one son Byron Carr of Prosperity, SC; one brother Clay B. Blake of Hueytown, AL; 6 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Friday, May 14, at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Ruebel Funeral Home with Rev. Ed Simpson officiating.
Ida Jewel Blackburn
Ida Jewel Blackburn, 89 of Little Rock died Saturday (Jan. 31, 2004). She was born
Sept. 21, 1914 in Little Rock to the late J.D. and Laura Baxley Reed. She was also preceded in death by her husband Ray T. Blackburn. She was a devoted homemaker and traveled extensively with her husband. She is survived by one sister, Laura Virginia Good and her husband Harry of Little Rock.
A graveside service will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday (Feb. 2, 2004) at Salem Cemetery
(Saline Co. off Hwy. 367) under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Little Rock Northwest Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Mary Olive Black
Mary Olive Black, 80, of Little Rock, died on Sunday, February 8, 2004. She was a kind, generous and loving lady who loved life and lived it to the fullest. She was a member of the Anglican Church, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Little Rock Music Coterie and the Country Club of Little Rock.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. H. Thurston Black, and her parents, Ronald Derrick Ackerman and Katie L. Ackerman. She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Black requested that she be cremated and that her remains be interred next to her husband in the Bowling Family Cemetery
in Leroy, Alabama. Graveside service will be held on Monday, February 23rd, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. in Leroy. Local arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Baptist Health Foundation, Pulaski County Humane Society or Central Arkansas Rescue Efforts for Animals, Inc.
Lucie McDonnell Davis
Lucie McDonnell Davis, 88, of Little Rock, died Wednesday, December 29, 2004. She was born
in Altheimer on January 14, 1916, the daughter of the late Gus and Lucie McDonnell. She taught second grade at Jefferson Elementary until her retirement. Before and after retiring, she was an avid bridge player, playing at least twice a week with her bridge clubs. She was a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church where she volunteered until her health prevented her from working.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Fred McDonnell, Gus McDonnell, and Philip McDonnell.
Survivors include a daughter, Mary Davis Wetzel and her husband Tripp of Little Rock; grandchildren, Lucie Wetzel of Los Angeles, CA, Luke Wetzel and Claire Wetzel, both of Little Rock.
The family wishes to acknowledge the kindness of her neighborhood friends, bridge club members, and fellow church members.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 31, 2004 at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church with Rev. Lynn Lindsey officiating. Graveside service will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Graceland Cemetery
in Pine Bluff. Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home..
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church or the Pulaski County Humane Society.
Edna Laurie (Hurt) Crow
Edna Laurie (Hurt) Crow, 89, widow of Arthur Daniel Crow, of 1433 Dennison Avenue, Staunton, died Friday (January 16, 2004) at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg, VA. She was born
on April 24, 1914 in Doddridge, Arkansas, a daughter of the late Edward E. and Lola Belle (Atchison) Hurt.
Mrs. Crow was a homemaker and had previously spent several years as a house parent at the Arkansas School for the Deaf. She had been a Sunday School teacher for many years at First Baptist Church, Little Rock, and was a member of First Baptist Church in Staunton, VA. Family members include a daughter and son-in-law, Alice Belle and Wayne Frick of Staunton; two nieces, Sylvia Moore and Charlene Boykin, both of West Palm Beach, FL; three great nephews, Alan Craig and William Craig of Benton, AR, and Steven Craig of El Dorado, AR; a great niece, Jackie Gerlis of Benton, AR; and numerous great-great nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be conducted at 4 p.m. Tuesday, January 20 in the Chapel of Henry Funeral Home, Staunton, VA. Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 24 at Roselawn Memorial Park, Little Rock, AR by Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that those desiring, may send memorials to the ASD Museum Fund at Arkansas School for the Deaf, 2400 West Markham, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.
Bessie Jo Dame Croonquist
Bessie Jo Dame Croonquist, age 89, of Mesquite, TX went to be with the lord on Jan. 8, 2003. Born October 4, 1914 at Walnut Ridge, AR. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Mesquite, TX, Rebsamen Regional Hospital Auxiliary, and N.C.O Wives Club, Jacksonville, AR.
Bessie has joined her husband, Perry Thomas Vernond Croonquist, who preceded her in death.
She is survived by her son, William Nils Croonquist and his wife Susan of Mesquite, one brother, L. B. Dame and his wife Reba of Conway and ten nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 13 at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham, Little Rock, AR. with Rev. Ron Raines officiating. Interment
will follow at Little Rock National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.
Lorraine Albert Cranford
Lorraine Albert Cranford, 86, of Little Rock, died Friday, December 3, 2004 at U.A.M.S. Medical Center. She was born
in Steubenville, Ohio on September 4, 1918 to the late Henri and Arthurine VanKlempette Albert. She was a teacher of dance, and was the founder of the former Ballet Arkansas.
Survivors include a daughter, Suzanne Cranford Shankle and husband Robert of Dallas, TX; grandchildren, Stasia Burk and husband Cody of Little Rock, Trevan Price and wife Christine of Dallas, TX, Ronny Shankle, and Pique Shankle both of Dallas, TX.
Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 6, at Ruebel Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 7, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church with the Reverend Rocky Profitt officiating. A reception will follow in the church hall. Graveside services will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Smyers Cemetery
near Perryville; and two great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society, Arkansas Festival Ballet, or the Arkansas Academy of Dance.
Charles S. Copeland
Charles S. Copeland, 86, of Little Rock, died Monday, March 22, 2004 Mr. Copeland was a former resident of Good Shepherd Retirement Center. He was born
to Harry and Lula Thomas Copeland, January 27, 1918, in Barlow, KY.
Mr. Copeland was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Julia M. Copeland, a son Richard Copeland, a brother, Rev. Harry T. Copeland, a sister, Ruby Cook and step-brother, Marvin Bumgarner. He is survived by a son James Copeland of Louisville, KY, a daughter, Carol Freebairn of Little Rock, and grandchildren, John Freebairn of Dallas, TX, Amy Skinner of Little Rock and one great-grandchild.
Following service in the United States Army during World War II, Mr. Copeland was in the retail furniture business for more than 40 years in Mayfield and Paducah, KY. He was a member of the First Baptist church of Paducah for over 54 years.
A visitation will be held at 9:00 a.m. Friday at the Milner & Orr Funeral Home in Lone Oak, KY followed by a funeral service at 9:30 a.m. in their chapel. Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery
in Mayfield, KY. Local arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Ecumenical Retirement Center, 2701 Aldersgate Rd. Little Rock, AR 72205.
Arthur Mae Clayton Woodard
Arthur Mae Clayton Woodard, age 90, of Little Rock, AR, died May 13, 2004. Mrs. Woodard was born
on October 12, 1913 in Tillar, AR. She was the daughter of the late Lee Arthur Clayton and Maggie Mae Duncan Clayton.
She was a member of St. James Methodist Church. She was a graduate of Tillar High School and Henderson State College in Arkadelphia. She taught for many years at McGhee Public School.
Mrs. Woodard is preceded in death by her husband, J.D. Woodard; her parents and brothers, Fred, Howard, Vance, Chelsey, Bert and Ralph Clayton; two sisters, Bessie Stephens and Marguerite Clayton.
Survivors include; one sister, Anne Clayton of Natchez, MS and a host of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Monday, May 17, at Tillar Cemetery
with the Rev. Jeff Kinley officiating.
Pallbearers are Johnny Clayton, Bucky Clayton, Drew Basham, Chuck Basham, Charlie Basham and Ike Roland.
