Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Opal Idean Kesterson
Mrs. Opal Idean Pate Kesterson, age 78, resident of Dierks, died Monday, March 28, 2005 in Christus St. Michael Healthcare in Texarkana.
She was born Nov. 14, 1926 in Norman to Houston and Juella David Pate; was a homemaker; and a member of First Assembly of God Church in Dierks.
She is preceded in death by two brothers, Jay Pate and William Pate; and one grandson, David Evan White.
She is survived by her husband, Jessie E. Kesterson of Dierks; two daughters, Joan Manley of Dierks, Wanda White of Nashville; two sisters, Clydia Martindale of Texarkana and Bonnie Golden of Borger, Tex.; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 30 in First Assembly of God Church in Dierks with Bro. Henry Bateman officiating. Burial followed in Bethel cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in Dierks.
The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 at the funeral home in Dierks.
Fred C. "Bunk" Priest Jr.
Mr. Fred C. "Bunk" Priest, Jr., age 80, a resident of Fouke, Arkansas, died Wednesday, March 23, 2005 in a Texarkana Hospital.
He was born August 27, 1924 in Lockesburg, Arkansas to Fred C. Priest, Sr. and Minnie Bell Terry Priest. He was a logger and a Navy veteran of World War II.
Mr. Priest was preceded in death by one son Glen Priest, three sisters and two brothers.
He is survived by his former wife, Zella Mae Parker Priest and his companion of twenty-five years, Penny Browning; one son, Donald Ray Priest of White Cliffs, Ark.; three daughters, Kathy Ferguson of Dierks, Ark., Inez Frachiseur of Grannis, Ark. and Teresa McCloud of Dierks, Ark.; two sisters Flora Fay Brewer of Horatio, Ark., and Dot Kitts of Yakama, Wash.; two brothers, Edwin "Bud" Priest of Texarkana and and Nathan Priest of Devalls Bluff, Ark.; nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Priest were held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 26, 2005 in the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel in Dierks with Rev. J. W. Gilbert officiating. Burial followed in the Old Piney cemetery, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
The family were at the home of Kathy Ferguson, 126 Green Plains Rd., Dierks, Ark.
John C. Wade
John C. Wade, age 75, resident of Mineral Springs, died Tuesday, March 29, 2005 in Nashville.
He was born Sept. 27, 1929 in El Dorado to the late John J. and Blanche Synder Wade; was retired from Weyerhaeuser in Dierks; an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict; a Baptist; and a member of Oak Hill Masonic Lodge #393 in Dierks.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Billy James Wade and Steven Lynn Wade; and a brother, Elmer R. Wade.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Miller Wade of Mineral Springs; two sons, John Wade Jr. and Billy Lambert, both of Dierks; one daughter, Carolyn Taylor of Mineral Springs; one brother, Faye Wade of Albany, Ore.; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 31 in Green’s Chapel Church near Dierks with Calvin Parker officiating. Burial with Masonic rites followed in Green’s Chapel cemetery under the direction of Nashville Funeral Home.
Nellie Faye Brinkley
Nellie Faye Brinkley, age 90, resident of De Queen, died Monday, March 21, 2005 in De Queen Medical Center.
She was born Sept. 8, 1914 in Kensett; was active in First Baptist Church in Horatio, and was church pianist for over 25 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Otis T. Brinkley Jr.
She is survived by one son, Otis T. Brinkley III; two sisters, Helen Hosey of Mineral Springs and Midge Lahey of Denver, Colo.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 23 in First Baptist Church in Horatio with Rev. Coy Arnold officiating. Burial followed in Horatio cemetery, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the building fund of First Baptist Church in Horatio.
Dr. Gopal Vishnu Naik
DE QUEEN - Dr. Gopal Vishnu Naik, an obstetrician and gynecologist, died Tuesday at De Queen Medical Center. He had been in practice in De Queen since 1989. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vishnu and Indumati Naik of Mumbai (Bombay), India. He graduated Medical School from the University of Mumbai (Bombay), India in 1971. Upon emigrating to the United States in 1972, he completed his internship at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, IA in 1973. He went on to complete his residency training at Menorah Medical Center, through the University of Missouri, Kansas City in 1977.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, and a daughter Shyamala, both of De Queen; a son, Anand, of Olathe, KS; a sister, Raju of Mumbai, India; and several nieces and nephews. A private service was held Saturday at Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen. A public memorial will be held at the De Queen Country Club on Saturday, April 9th at 2:00 p.m. Per the wishes of the deceased, there was no public viewing.
Dr. Naik and his wife Mary moved to this community in December of 1989. Dr. Naik has been a tremendous asset to this community. An avid golfer and sports enthusiast, Dr. Naik followed closely the exploits of the Kansas City Chiefs football team. He was also a regular contributor to various worthy community causes, frequently sponsoring young ladies who wished to compete in beauty pageants and talent contests. He has helped a lot of people, touched many lives and will be sorely missed.
Gladys Mae Price
Gladys Mae Price, age 84, resident of De Queen, died Saturday, March 19, 2005 in De Queen Medical Center.
She was born May 6, 1920 in Swank, Okla., to Cleveland and Effie Turnbow Lyle; was a homemaker; and a member of De Queen Pentecost of God Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Price; and two sons, Doyle and Tommy Price.
She is survived by three daughters, Betty Warren and D.J. Browning, both of De Queen, and Doris Farley of Gillham; one brother, Jimmy Lyles of Wickes; three sisters, Faye Whitney of Lawton, Okla., Susie Freun of Hatfield, and Shirley Powell of Mena; 17 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 22 in Baker cemetery with Rev. Tim Bowlin officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
The family will be at the home of D.J. Browning, 124 Crestwood Drive, De Queen, and received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 21 at the funeral home.
Oleta Snelgrove
Mrs. Oleta Authula Crow Snelgrove, age 92, resident of Horatio, died Wednesday, March 30, 2005 in Brookewood Nursing Center.
She was born Jan. 22, 1913 at Foreman to William Francis and Carrie Mae Pullen Crow; was a member of First Baptist Church of Horatio; and a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, J.L. Snelgrove in 1967.
She is survived by one son, James Snelgrove of Jacksonville, Fla.; three daughters, Jeannie Willis and Syble Ferguson, both of Horatio, and Billie Price of Sullivan, Ill.; 16 grandchildren; and a number of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 2 in Old Center cemetery with Rev. Coy Arnold officiating, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen.
Ralph Cobb
Ralph Cobb, age 94, resident of Horatio, died Sunday, March 27, 2005 at his home.
He was born Aug. 13, 1910 in Ben Lomond to Howard Fletcher and Anna Spigner Cobb; was a farmer and a rancher; a member of Dilworth Cumberland Presbyterian Church; and an Army veteran.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor (Petey) Cobb; and one son, Marvin Ralph Cobb Jr.
He is survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 in Millwee cemetery with Rev. J.L. Walker officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
The family received friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 28 at the funeral home.
