Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Russell Higgins
Mr. James Russell Higgins, age 64, resident of De Queen, died Wednesday, March 12, 2003 in the De Queen Regional Medical Center, De Queen.
He was born to Gordon and Illa Snider Higgins in Kellum Community of Gillham, Ark., on January 30, 1939. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gillham. Russell served in the U. S. Navy. He was retired water superintendent for the City of De Queen; retired Fire Chief of the De Queen Fire Department with 20 years service, a member of the Sevier County Rescue Unit, where he served as president, and was a gate attendant at Cossatot Reefs for the U. S Corps of Engineers. Russell enjoyed bowling, fishing, and hunting.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Gladys Tabor, and a granddaughter, Haylee Higgins.
He is survived by his wife, Reba Louise Higgins of De Queen; four sons and daughters-in-law: Windell and Denise Higgins of Mayflower, Ark.; Darren and Bobbi Higgins of De Queen; James, Jr. and Tracy Higgins of Lockesburg; and Guy Higgins of Spokane, Washington; three daughters and sons-in-law: Cindy and Brian Lewis of Salt Lake City, Utah; Twila and Danny Wolford of De Queen; Tina Higgins of Spokane, Washington; two foster daughters and their husbands: Gena and Brad Mahler of Reno, Nevada; and Tracy and Stan Aley of Spokane , Wash.; five brothers; Calvin Hern; Freeman Higgins; and Jimmy Higgins all of De Queen; Bobby Higgins of Jefferson, Texas; and Billy Higgins of Gillham, Ark.; two sisters: Jean Smith of Amarillo, Texas; and Belva Nipper of Watson, Okla.; twenty grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Russell Higgins were held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 15, 2003 in the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Oscar Ball officiating. Burial followed in the Millcreek cemetery, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home.
Robert "Jack" Bizzell
Robert Wilson "Jack" Bizzell, 87, passed away in the Little River Nursing Home on Sunday, March 23, 2003.
Mr. Bizzell was born on November 19, 1915, in Howard County, but resided in Lockesburg since 1925 as a member of the First Baptist Church, former president of the Sevier County Singing Convention, timber worker, and farmer.
He is survived by his son, Dale, and his wife, Nadine of Lockesburg; his two daughters, Velma Ruth Ayers of Ashdown; and Kathryn Crawford, and her husband, John, of Arkadelphia, eight grandchildren, and seven step-grandchildren; also Mrs. Pearl Bevill of Dierks; his sister; Ralph Bizzell of Fort Collins, Colo., his brother; and George Brown of De Queen, his step-brother. Many others are in his extended family.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Alice Phillips Bizzell and Sallie Dyer Bizzell, and a son, Kenneth.
Funeral services were Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Lockesburg at 2 p.m. with Rev. Wesley Blankenship and Rev. Johnny E. Ross officiating. Burial was at the Bellville cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home, De Queen. Visitation was Monday night at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m.
Paige Carruth
Paige Carruth, age 34, resident of Longview, Tex., died Wednesday, March 12, 2003.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 14.
He was born June 17, 1968 in Longview, Tex. He was predeceased by his paternal grandfather, H.B. Carruth.
He is survived by his wife, Teri Carruth of Longview, Tex.; three daughters, Kelly Carruth, Kelsey Carruth and Kayleigh Carruth, all of Longview, Tex.; his parents, Hugh and Carlene Carruth of Longview, Tex.; one brother, Matt Carruth of Plano, Tex.; one sister, Alyson Nagy of Plano, Tex.; his paternal grandmother, Lois Carruth of De Queen; and his maternal grandparents, Carl E. and Katherine Boyd of Little Rock.
Annie Lorene Watts
Annie Lorene Watts, age 83, resident of Broken Bow, Okla., died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003 in Broken Bow Nursing Home.
Graveside services were held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 in Eagletown cemetery with Bro. Anthony Burnett officiating, under the direction of Brumley-McCurtain Funeral Home of Broken Bow.
She was born Sept. 6, 1919 in Pleasant Hill, Okla., to Marvin and Mamie Lee Carroll Owens; and was affiliated with the Holiness Faith. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Olie Watts; and two sons, Jerry Watts and Doyle Wheeler.
She is survived by four sons, David Wheeler of Eagletown, Okla., Pete Wheeler of Grannis, Floyd Watts of De Queen, and Earnest Watts of Bokoma, Okla.; four daughters, Opal Wheeler of Ft. Worth, Tex., Margaret Ann Wheeler of Texarkana, Tex., Linda Watts of Mesquite, Tex., and Billie Blackburn of Haworth, Okla.; three brothers, Elvie Owens of Idabel, Okla., Henry Owens of Haworth, Okla., and Roy Owens of Wilton; one sister, Mamie McIntosh of Wilton; and a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Pearlie Elvira Weems
Pearlie Elvira Weems, age 98, resident of Foreman, died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2003 at her home.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8 in Campground cemetery with Leon Klitz, minister, officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
She was born May 22, 1905 in Little River County; and was a homemaker. She was predeceased by her parents, William and Polly Tipton Whisenhunt; and two sons, Edward Friend and Thurman Weems.
She is survived by one daughter, Neva Dell Smith of Foreman; one son, Glenn Friend of Sacramento, Calif.; two brothers, Melvin Whisenhunt and Elmer Whisenhunt, both of Foreman; five grandchildren; and a number of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Myrtle M. Cockrum
Myrtle M. Trimble Cockrum, age 87, resident of Brookewood Nursing Center in De Queen, died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2003.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14 in Pleasant Grove cemetery in Cove under the direction of Hall Funeral Home in Mena.
She was born May 24, 1916 in George. She was predeceased by one daughter, June Cockrum; and one son, Jim Cockrum.
She is survived by three sons, Dale Cockrum of Oregon, Burl Cockrum of Hot Springs and Glenn Cockrum of De Queen; 21 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Pansy Marie Knighten
Pansy Marie Conatser Knighten, age 72, of De Queen, died Sunday, March 16, 2003, in the Christus St. Michael Healthcare Center in Texarkana.
Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Knighten will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 18, 2003, in the Beacon Hill cemetery with Pastor Don Fortner officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home of De Queen.
She was born on January 14, 1931 in El Campo, Tex. to James and May Cook Hartzell. She was a retired caregiver and a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Henry Conatser, in 1969.
She is survived by her husband, O.J. Knighten of De Queen; her children: Jerry Conatser of Lockesburg, Joe Conatser of Mena, Ann Yocum of De Queen, Mary Holmes of De Queen and Mary Briggs of Fairfield Bay; her brothers: Paul Hartzell of Oregon and Jimmy Hartzell of Texas; 17 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews
The family will be at the home of Jeff and Mary Holmes, 611 West Heynecker in De Queen.
Beverly Jean Chapman
Mrs. Beverly Jean Wright Chapman, age 66, resident of Broken Bow, Okla., died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003 in Christus St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paris, Tex.
A date for the memorial service will be announced later by Wilkerson Funeral Home of De Queen.
She was born Nov. 6, 1936 in Holdenville, Okla.; was a medical technician; and a member of East Side Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.
She is survived by her husband, James Newt Chapman of Broken Bow, Okla.; two brothers, Jim Bob Wright of Dallas, Tex., and Jerry Wright of Celina, Tex.; one sister, Mitzi Lou Freeman of Eufala, Okla.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
