Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Frank C. Enoch
Frank C. Enoch of New Smyrna Beach, Florida departed this life November 15, 2021. The most important threads that ran through his life were dedication to God and family. He was married to the love of his life, Beulah Taylor Enoch for 62 years, until her death in 2008.
Frank was born in Lockesburg, Arkansas on December 30, 1925, to William (Dolph) and Maude Bennett Enoch. After his father died when Frank was 17, he ran the farm, which was the largest chicken producer for the U.S. Army in the county. After WWII, he served in Germany in the Army of Occupation, then he received his Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Arkansas, majoring in Accounting and Economics. In the Army during the Korean Conflict, he did some of the earliest non-scientific work using computers. Subsequently, he was instrumental in the introduction of computers in the life insurance industry.
With all his accomplishments, Frank always put God first, then his family, through family reunions, campouts, and fishing trips. He exhibited great intelligence and integrity, and a powerful work ethic. He was an avid reader and loved building and repairing. He and Beulah retired to Texarkana, near their family farms, where he enjoyed serving at Beech Street First Baptist Church, the Friendship Center, and the Gideons. After the passing of Beulah, he moved to New Smyrna Beach near his daughter, Sandra. There he loved the Florida weather, its cuisine, and walking on the beach.
Frank leaves behind to cherish his memory his son, Jerry Enoch, with wife Wen Xin; his daughters, Katy Panek (husband Ralph Panek), Carol Enoch, and Selena Enoch; son, John Enoch; and two great-grand-children; beloved daughter, Sandra Enoch, who was his companion and then caregiver for the 13 years after Beulah’s passing; daughter, Susan Giurato, with husband Tony; daughter, Jessica Canerday (husband John Eric Canerday); son, A.J. Giurato (wife Natalie Giurato); and three great-grand-children. He is also mourned by many loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Guy, Clayton, Rosamond McDonald, Raymond, Jack, Curtis, Aubrey, James, and Nell Miller.
The Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at Texarkana Funeral Home, Arkansas. Dr. Steeger will officiate at the funeral home and the brief graveside service, followed by a reception.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:00 – 2:00 PM, one hour prior to the service.
Mrs. Lois Jones
Lois Pauline (Loyd) Jones, age 102, a resident of Grannis, Arkansas passed away on December 7, 2021, at her home.
She was born July 28, 1919, in the Baker Community near Wickes, Arkansas. She was member of the Wickes Pentecostal Church of God, and adored attending church, traveling – especially to the “Holy Land”, continuing her life-long saga of journals, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Obie Othea Jones; her parents: Paul and Rachel Loyd; three brothers: A.P. Loyd, Paul Loyd, and Freddie Loyd; one sister: Violet (Wylie) Baker; and two grandchildren: Rachel Sparks and Andrew Walker.
She is survived by one brother: Leon Loyd of Wickes, Arkansas; four daughters: Joyce Sparks and husband Wayne, Mary Sparks and husband Jimmy, Alice Walker and husband Sammy, and Sheila Bagley, all of Grannis, Arkansas; one son: Larry Jones of Waco, Texas; eight grandchildren: Jason Sparks and wife Brandy, John Sparks and wife Denise, Nathan Sparks, DeAnn Tollett and husband Tony, Gloria Pritchett and husband Billy, Jeremy Bagley and wife Stella, Karen Walker, and Jade Wiederhoeft and husband Josh; sixteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Jones was the epitome of unconditional love. She loved her family more than anything and enjoyed spending time with them. She loved her family more than anything and enjoyed spending time with them. She loved to tell stories of the past: how when she was a little girl she and her family would travel by wagon to McCallister, Oklahoma, and would stop and stay the night with strangers who would welcome and feed them; how she was alive during the Great Depression, but she didn’t know it was a “depression”, because everyone was poor; how all four of her brothers fought in WWII and all returned home; how the first time she met her future husband, Obie, all she noticed was that one of his socks had lost the elastic and kept falling down; how she was a teacher for 40 years and could still recall the students that she had; and how she had gotten to travel to Israel and was enamored with Gideon’s Spring. There are so many memories and stories she told that the family will cherish and hold in their hearts forever. We will miss the hand-written birthday cards and words of wisdom, Grandma Jones. You have been our rock.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Lois Jones will be held at 2:00 P.M., Sunday, December 12, 2021, in the Wickes Pentecostal Church of God with Bro. Chris Burke officiating. Interment will follow at Baker Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Saturday, at the funeral home. Arrangements are entrusted to Chandler Funeral Home of De Queen.
Mrs. Wilma Pressley
Mrs. Wilma Lou Simpson Pressley, age 82, a resident of Eagletown, departed this life Friday, December 3, 2021, in a Dallas, Texas Hospital.
She was the oldest of two daughters born to Benjamin Franklin and Janie Elizabeth Slabaugh Simpson. Mrs. Pressley was born March 8, 1939 in Oklahoma. She was a high school graduate and went on to complete her education in Junior College. She married the love of her life,
James L. “T.Bone” Pressley. Wilma loved her Lord and was a member of the Church of Christ. She enjoyed reading, old country music and attending singings at the Broken Bow Mainstreet on Friday and Saturday nights.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband of over 45 years, T.Bone Pressley, and her sister, Wannette Hendricks.
Wilma is survived by two sisters-in-law, Lula Pressley of Ashdown, and Marilyn Pressley of De Queen, nieces, nephews and many friends to numerous to count.
Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Wilma Pressley will be held at 10:00 A.M., Monday, December 13, 2021, in the West Otis Cemetery, Horatio, Arkansas, with Leon Klitz officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M., until service time Monday, at the cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Chandler Funeral Home of De Queen.
Shane Eugene Blankenship
Shane Eugene Blankenship, age 24, a resident of Lewisville, Texas went to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 5, 2021, in Lewisville.
Shane was born on June 26, 1997, in De Queen, Arkansas, to Shannon Blankenship and Lee Ann (Ferguson) Thrasher.
He was a graduate of De Queen High School in De Queen, Arkansas. While in High School, Shane was a member of the Archery Team and won numerous awards. He continued his education at CCC U of A. Shane was an entrepreneur, starting with his photography business, Point Blank Photography, and then Lost and Found Collectives. Lost and Found Collectives was his most recent adventure and passion. It was a refurbishing business that he was very enthusiastic about. The business started with a vision to take discarded and broken pieces and transform them into masterpieces. Shane’s creativity led him to many adventures in life. Shane excelled with design and planning events. He could find the beauty in everything. Shane had the ability to make something wonderful out of nothing.
Shane had a beautiful spirit, a heart of gold, and was always ready to receive and give love. He was ready to help others in any situation. Shane will always be remembered for his contagious laughter, great hugs, and ability to console and reach others. Not only did he have a love for people, he had a love for animals, He rescued many, including his beloved dog, Lou Lou. She was his companion and friends for years. Shane was previously a member of the Sevier County Humane Society.
Shane liked to cook, draw, hike, play video games, the outdoors, and spending time with his family and friends.
Shane leaves to cherish his memory his father, Shannon Blankenship and wife Charlotte Blankenship, of De Queen, Arkansas; his mother, Lee Ann Thrasher and husband Galen Thrasher, of Lockesburg, Arkansas; his brother, Garrett Dixon of Lockesburg, Arkansas; his fiancé Victoria Batson and soon-to-be baby girl, Noa Estelle Blankenship, of Lewisville, Texas; his grandparents, Steve and Debbie Blankenship of De Queen, Arkansas, and Gary and Cynthia Ferguson of Garvin, Oklahoma; great-grandmothers, Alice Stuart of Modesto, California, Evadene Blankenship of Oakdale, California, and Valda Jo Ferguson of De Queen, Arkansas; uncles and aunts, Jason Blankenship of De Queen, Arkansas, Jeremy and Sammi Gibbs of Lockesburg, Arkansas, Jessie and Sara Turner of Kemp, Texas, Ryan and Stacie Evans of Valliant, Oklahoma, and Melissa Patrick of De Queen, Arkansas; cousins, Justin Blankenship of Yukon, Oklahoma, Jacob Blankenship of Yukon, Oklahoma, Trevor Blankenship of De Queen, Arkansas, Stevieah and Jesson Turner of Kemp, Texas, Jaxon and Jagger Gibbs of Lockesburg, Arkansas, Kalin Smith of Valliant, Oklahoma, Joseph Bailey Watkins of Durant, Oklahoma, and Ryder Evans of Valliant, Oklahoma; as well as other countless family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Marilyn Ferguson, and great-grandparents, Harold Eugene Blankenship, Sam Stuart, Bill Ferguson, William Branson, and Estalee Branson.
Funeral Services for Mr. Shane Blankenship will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, December 11, 2021, in the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Duane Alspaw officiating. Burial will follow at Coulter Memorial Gardens in Lockesburg. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Friday, at the funeral home. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Chandler Funeral Home of De Queen.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial be made to First State Bank of De Queen, to be placed in the account for Shane’s soon-to-be baby girl, Noa.
Joe Allen Vance
Joe Allen Vance was born April 12th, 1952, in De Queen, Arkansas to Marvelon and Modena Vance. Joe passed from this life surrounded by his loving family on December 5th, 2021. Joe lived his life one quarter mile at a time. Running and gunning for the first 55 years. The later years he did a complete 180. He got out of prison and immersed himself in recovery and doing God’s business. He mentored prisoners, he helped launch and lead DFA Celebrate Recovery and was instrumental in launching the RSAT program, which is a jail-based recovery program, the first of its kind in Sevier County. Many people have been touched by Joe’s generosity. Joe had a heart for sinners because he knew that they make the best saints. Like Saul on the road to Damascus in Acts: Joe left prison and saw the light and became a new creature. Joe is preceded in death by his parents, a brother Steve Vance and sister Melinda Mitchell, and a special sister-in-law Sarah Vanhoose. He is survived by the loves of his life his wife Hattie, his daughters Melissa Vance, Kadra & Michael Van Slyke and Amanda Cox. His brother and Sister-in-law Lonzo & Shelly Vance, and sister-in-law Trilby Vance. His grandchildren Kaden, Brooklyn, Cash, Zoey, Noah, and Jack. His extended family Pete Vanhoose and children John and Ellye May. Johnna and Jackie Lee, Mary Stepp, and many nieces and nephews and a host of friends including special friends: Chris & Tonya Wolcott. Joe was a rounder. He was legendary around these parts for good and bad deeds but most importantly for being a living example of God’s redemptive power. If you ever rode with Joe in a motorized vehicle, I promise you remember every terrifying second. He was a pedal to the metal Nascar driver in his mind, and no one cared to argue that point at 110 miles per hour. He loved cheering on the razorback’s football team and has been known to get exuberant enough to give himself an arrhythmia. Joe was larger than life and the mark he left on this world is huge. Joe never met a stranger and made friends everywhere he went. He proudly served in the military and was a Vietnam veteran. He was a truck driver for over 25 years. He was a member of the De Queen First Assembly of God church where he invited every prisoner he ever encountered. Sometimes filling up a whole pew with his new friends. Joe had a gruff bark but a tender heart. He caused many police officers to shake their heads but in the end they all shook his hand for the tremendous transformation he made. It was widely known that Joe loved living on the edge and red headed women, but it was his love for the downtrodden and God that made him exceptional. Joe kept a journal and documented his last days which were filled with pain but also filled with hope and tender prayers for his loved ones. And although his death stings for all that loved him, we should rejoice as well because he is whole and healthy and with the Lord he loved so much.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at the De Queen First Assembly followed by graveside services at Clear Creek Cemetery in Horatio, Arkansas under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
Visitation for Joe Allen Vance will be Wednesday December 8th from 6 to 8 pm at the funeral home.
Louis Lavelle McNeice
Mr. Louis Lavelle McNeice, 95, of Lockesburg, died Saturday, December 4, at Wadley Regional Medical Center, Texarkana. Mr. McNeice was a native of Southeast Arkansas and a longtime resident of Lockesburg. He was a faithful member of the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church of Lockesburg. Mr. McNeice faithfully severed with the United States Army during World War II, until he was honorably discharged. He enjoyed sitting in the shade, hunting, and visiting with friends and family.
He is preceded in death by his wives, Marie Martz McNeice and Annie McNeice; a daughter, Elizabeth McNeice Hales; a son, Johnny McNeice; his parents, Lewis and Margaret (Maggie) Brown McNeice; two sisters, Mae McNeice Gardner and Louise McNeice Sydoriak; five brothers, Benny, Odell, Vernon, Bill and Ray McNeice.
He’s survived by a brother, Clifton McNeice of Denton, Texas; a sister-in-law, Pauline Cunningham McNeice of Crossett; a stepdaughter, Cindy Williams and husband, Nick, of Texarkana; a stepson, Gwen Martz and wife, Julie, of Lockesburg; a stepdaughter, Mary Alice Giovengo and husband, Jerry, of Jolett, Illinois; his much-loved caregiver, Amber Boykin; and numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
Graveside funeral Services for Mr. Louis McNeice will be held at 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at the Old Union Cemetery, Lockesburg, Arkansas, with Rev. Wesley Blankenship officiating. Arrangements are entrusted to Chandler Funeral Home of De Queen.
Caneth JoAnn Rudder
JoAnn Rudder, age 80, a resident of Horatio, Arkansas passed away on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at her home.
She was born May 22, 1941 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. JoAnn was a member of the Church of God in Bakersfield, California. She was a Housewife, loved gardening, flowers, sewing. She was crafty and loved her family and was a friend to all.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold A. and Alice Josephine Osborn Adams; one son, Darrell Otts; one grand-daughter, Jennifer Otts and her siblings.
She is survived by her husband of 62 ˝ years, Bobby Rudder; children, Wylie Otts of Bakersfield Ca., Dona Riddell of Horatio, Gregory Rudder (Kellie) of Horatio, Kimberly Thompson (Tristan) of Horatio; 12 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 10, 2021 at Millwee Cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen, Arkansas.
