Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Robert Raydell Bell
Robert Raydell Bell, age 84, resident of De Queen, died Monday, January 5, 2004 in Christus St. Michael Healthcare Center at Texarkana, Tex.
He was born February 16, 1919 in Lockesburg, Ark.,to Sager and Hattie Johnson Bell.
He was a pressman for the De Queen Bee for 31 years and also had several custodial jobs. He was a member of Lewis Temple Church of God in Christ and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
He was predeceased by his wife, Emmer Jean Clayton Bell; two daughters, Marilyn Bell Ollison and Thelma Bell Brown; and a sister, Frankie Lewis.
He is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Helen Bell of Lockesburg, Edward and Pearl Bell of Riverside, Calif., Don and Linda Bell of Ashdown; two daughters and sons-in-law, Gloria and Don Caldwell and Bessie and Herman Brown, both of De Queen; six sisters, Adell Rogers of Sacramento, Calif., Mavis Counts of Detroit, Mich., Clara Drake of Denver, Colo., Callie Mills of Richmond, Va., Mary Gregory of Sacramento, Calif., and Frances Jackson of Lockesburg; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Bell will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 10, 2004 at the Lewis Temple Church of God in Christ with Rev. E. A. Edwards officiating. Burial will follow in Sandhill cemetery, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home of De Queen.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, January 9, 2004 at the funeral home.
Rose Beryl Reese
Mrs. Rose Beryl Cothren Reese, age 88, resident of Dierks, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004 in De Queen Regional Medical Center.
She was born Friday, July 9, 1915 in Center Point to V.P. and Dora Payne Cothren; was a business owner in Dierks since 1946; and a member of Holly Creek Baptist Church where she served as organist for many years. She was predeceased by her husband, R.C. Reese; and one brother, Duncan Cothren.
She is survived by one daughter, Rose Diane Deere of Dierks; two brothers, Archie Cothren and V.W. Cothren, both of Dierks; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5 in Holly Creek Baptist Church with Lowell Lites, Tommy Mounts and Larry Allbritton officiating. Burial followed in Center Point cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
The family received friends from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4 at the chapel in Dierks.
Robert A. Bishop
Robert A. Bishop, age 89, was called home on December 6, 2003. Mr. Bishop was born November 20, 1914 in Dermott, Arkansas.
He began his teaching career in 1940 after completing a Masters degree at the University of Arkansas. He first taught as well as coached football at Arkansas City High School then went on to become Superintendent of Schools at Wilmar, Arkansas before moving to Lockesburg in 1948.
Mr. Bishop completed 25 years of distinguished service as superintendent of Lockesburg schools before his retirement in 1973.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Eddye Marion Bishop.
Survivors include his son, Bob Ed Bishop and wife, Patricia; five grandchildren, Soon Lee Bishop Pils, Steven, Michael and Bradley Bishop, Shawn Bishop and wife, Jenny; and one great-granddaughter, Amaya Bishop; three sisters, Louise Dennington, Mary Nell Crowder and Mildred Barham; and one brother, William Bishop.
He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and community.
Services were held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, December 12, 2003 at First United Methodist Church of Lockesburg with Reverend J. R. Callicott and Lynn McClure officiating. Burial was in Coulter Memorial Gardens, Lockesburg, under direction of Nashville Funeral Home.
Ruth Harrison Bales
Ruth Harrison Bales, age 75, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003 in Homestead Manor Nursing Home in Stamps.
Graveside memorial and internment services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 in Lakeside cemetery at Stamps, under the direction of Smith Burial Association of Stamps.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Belleville cemetery Association, P.O. Box 41, Lockesburg, AR 71846 or the American Cancer Society.
Mary Frances Copelin
Mary Frances Copelin, age 87, resident of Mena, died Friday, Dec. 19, 2003 in Mena.
She was born Dec. 8, 1916 in De Queen to the late Conley Pickens “Dock” and Lyda Elliott Williams; was co-owner of Cope’s Auto Sales; and a member of First Assembly of God Church. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Ward Copelin; her parents; and two sons, Huey Wayne Copelin and Robert Lee Copelin.
She is survived by a son, Steve Copelin of Mena; a daughter, Joyce Liles of Mena; a sister, Anne Bunyard of De Queen; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and three nephews.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22 in First Assembly of God Church at Mena with Bro. Ron Tilley and Bro. Mike Shaddon officiating. Burial followed in Concord cemetery in Ink under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena.
Ralph Spencer, Jr.
Mr. Ralph Spencer, Jr., age 64, a resident of Horatio, Ark., died Saturday, December 27, 2003 in De Queen Regional Medical Center.
He was born March 15, 1939, in Tulsa, Okla. to Ralph C. and Lillian Kennamer Spencer. He was a maintenance worker and was a U.S. Navy veteran.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Thompson Spencer of Horatio; two sons, Tim Spencer of Pryor, Okla., and Mark Spencer of Tulsa, Okla.; a daughter and son-in-law, Laurie and Gary Burton of Justin, Tex.; a sister and brother-in-law, Bonnie and Carl Farley of Collinsville, Okla.; five grandchildren, Tiffany Farmer, Wesley Burton, Trisha Burton, Scott Burton, and Kristen Burton; three great-grandchildren, Brittany Conn, Madison Farmer and Caden Farmer; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Cecil Bradford Miller
Cecil Bradford Miller, age 75, resident of De Queen, died Monday, Dec. 15, 2003 at his home.
He was born Dec. 12, 1928 to Joseph L. and Gertrude Speart Miller; was retired from the U.S. Air Force and also from CCCUA where he taught electricity and electronics; and was a member of First Baptist Church and the VFW.
He is survived by his wife, Clarene Bagwell Brewer Miller of De Queen; one son, Joseph L. Miller of Las Vegas, Nev.; two daughters, Monya Wilkins of Lake Lure, NC, and Jennifer Sharp of Bloomington, Ill.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Cremation arrangements were under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen.
Archie B. Bell
Mr. Archie B. Bell, age 83, resident of De Queen, died Wednesday, March 9, 2005, in the De Queen Medical Center.
He was born to Richard James and Emma L. Autrey Bell at De Queen, on February 22, 1922. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army, was retired from the D.&E.T.O.;&E.; Railroad, where he served as a conductor. He was a member of the Memorial Missionary Baptist Church and enjoyed fishing and traveling.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, his twin, Josephine B. Vaughn in 1962, and Betty Bell Anderson in 1999; his step-daughter, Gail McGraw; and his wife, Ima in 2002.
He is survived by two step-daughters, Myria Smith of De Queen; and Shari Clark of Texarkana, Tex.; one brother, Lawrence R. Bell of De Queen; two sisters, Pauline B. Penney and Patsy Ann Hall all of De Queen; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services for Mr. Archie Bell were held at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 12, 2005 in the Redmen cemetery with Rev. Joe Carlton officiating, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home. The family received friends at the funeral home on Friday, March 11, from 6 to 8 p.m.
