Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Lucy Becerra
Ms. Lucille Oralia Becerra, affectionately known as “Lucy”, age 51, resident of De Queen, Arkansas, passed peacefully from this life on Thursday, October 21, 2021, in the CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, Texarkana, Texas.
Lucy was born on August 27, 1970, in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, to the Natividad Becerra and Oralia Garcia Ortega. Lucy was a loving and caring lady who preferred to devote her time to others. She worked several years for Wal-Mart in De Queen, and most recently as a caregiver. She was a faithful member of the De Queen First Assembly of God where she served with the Praise Team. She loved her Lord and had a servant’s heart. It was her greatest desire to share the love of her Lord through her valiant work in outreach ministry. She enjoyed her time spent with the men and women of Celebrate Recovery and time spent with the Sevier County Jail Ministry. Lucy loved fishing, camping, campfires, and the being at the lake. More than anything, she cherished the time spent with her children, grandchildren, and family. Though she may be gone from this life, she will always be remembered as a loving daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend to many.
She was preceded in death by a son, Jordan Becerra, and a brother, Victor Becerra.
Lucy leaves to cherish her loving memory, three children, Lawrence Torres and wife Sarai of Houston, Josh Becerra of De Queen, and Veronica Contreras of De Queen; ten grandchildren, Janell, Josselyn, Emilee, Elliana, Alexander, Santiago, Adriana, Carolina, Zion, and Zaiden; her father, Natividad Becerra and wife Cathie of De Queen; her mother, Oralia Garcia Ortega of De Queen; three brothers, Robert Becerra of Broken Bow, Nati Becerra and wife Cindy of De Queen, and Miguel Becerra of Houston; as well as a number of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and a host of friends.
Funeral Services for Ms. Lucy Becerra will be held at 3:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at the De Queen First Assembly of God with Pastor Ray Reynolds officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Monday, at the funeral home. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Chandler Funeral Home of De Queen.
Christian Raul Balderas
Christian Raul Balderas, age 13, a resident of Horatio, Arkansas passed away Sunday, October 10, 2021 at St. Joseph Children’s Hospital in Tampa Bay, Florida.
He was born August 27, 2008 in Texarkana, Texas. Christian was a 7th grade student at Horatio Jr. High School. He enjoyed reading, spending time outdoors, science, spending time with his family and learning about animals.
He is survived by his parents, Pedro Balderas and Blanca Hernandez; one brother, Pedro Balderas, Jr.; three aunts, Elena Balderas, Dolores Balderas, Carina Hernandez; three uncles, Luis Balderas, Ricardo Balderas, Kevin Wesley; paternal grandparents, Maria and Jose Balderas, maternal grandparents, Beatriz Felipe and Ramiro Hernandez; a number of cousins, other relatives, a host of friends and teachers from Horatio Public Schools and the Horatio Community.
Funeral Mass for Christian will be held at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, October 30, 2021 at the St. Barbara Catholic Church with Father Ramses Mendieta officiating. Burial will follow in Horatio Cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen, Arkansas.
The family will receive friends on Friday, October 29, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Alpha Murl Parks Higgins
Alpha Murl Parks Higgins, age 96, a resident of Gillham, Arkansas passed away Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at Wadley Medical Center in Texarkana, Texas.
She was born December 14, 1924 in Mineral, Arkansas. Murl was married to Harold Lazell Higgins on July 18, 1942. They were married for 65 years and had 6 children. She enjoyed working in her flowerbed, raking leaves, cooking Sunday lunch for the family, sewing, quilting and spending time with her family. She worked from Lane-Tyson for 32 years.
Murl was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Lazell Higgins; her parents, Benjamin and Georgie Blakemore Parks; six siblings, Nep Argenbright, Derwin Parks, Tula Mae Higgins, Dall Vard Parks, Neta Faye Whisenhunt, Freida Jo Adair; one grandson, Deane Gage; one daughter-in-law, Betty Jo Higgins.
She is survived by her five daughters, Delena Jewell and late husband, Walter Jewell of Gillham, Bonita and husband Bill Farley of De Queen, Diana Mayo and husband Charley of De Queen, Donna Yancey and late husband, Paul Ray Yancey of De Queen, Lavetta Yancey and late husband, Jimmy Yancey of Judsonia, Arkansas; one son, Harold D. and wife Malissa Higgins of Gillham; one brother, Delter Parks and wife Inez of Wickes; twelve grandchildren, Carla Helland of Elma, WA., Stacey Jewell of Gillham, Billy Farley of De Queen, Sonya McKinley and husband, Randell of De Queen, Ryan Higgins and wife, Lucy of Livingston, TN., Christa Wise and husband, Bruce of De Queen, Teresa Chandler and husband, Gaylon of De Queen, Janet Mayo of De Queen, Angie Smith and husband, Phillip of Saratoga, WY., Paul Yancey Jr. and wife Lori of De Queen, Legina Sims and special friend, Jamie Apple of Searcy, Arkansas, Linda Yancey and special friend John Johnson of Judsonia, Arkansas, twenty-nine great grandchildren and thirty-seven great great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and a host of other family and friends from all across the United States.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, October 23, 2021 in the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel in De Queen, Arkansas with Ryan Higgins officiating. Burial will follow at Mineral Cemetery in Gillham under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in.
The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m., on Friday, October 22th at the funeral home.
John McKnight
John Wayne McKnight, age 74, of Fouke, Arkansas, died Wednesday, October 6, 2021 in a Magnolia, Arkansas nursing home from complications of Alzheimer’s.
Mr. McKnight was born May 17, 1947 in Fouke, Arkansas. He was a retired millwright at Weyerhaeuser in Dierks, Arkansas for forty-two years. He was also a Baptist.
John loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed spending time hunting and fishing. He and his wife, Maria, would tour the countryside on their Harley, marveled by all the sights and beauty they encountered. He was an avid bowler and looked forward to playing on a league each year. He was a mason and a member of the Buffalo Gap Lodge # 484 in Langley, Arkansas. He was past President of the Millwright Union in Dierks. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Rhonda McKnight Holder.
He is survived by his wife, Maria McKnight of Fouke, Arkansas; one son and daughter-in-law, Rusty and Carina McKnight of Nashville, Arkansas; one stepson Charlie Moss of De Queen, Arkansas, three stepdaughters and one stepson-in-law, Tesa Hall of De Queen, Arkansas; Tasha and Wes Kemp of Acorn, Arkansas; Randi Jo Baker of Mena, Arkansas one brother, George McKnight of Sanger, Texas and one sister, Brenda Eriksen of Dallas, Texas; nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren and a host of friends and other relatives.
A graveside memorial service will be 10:00 A. M. Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Rocky Mound Cemetery with Rev. Steve Carter officiating. Burial will be under the direction of Texarkana Funeral Home, Arkansas.
Memorials may be made to the Texarkana Alzheimer’s Assoc., 100 Memory Lane, Texarkana, Texas 75503.
Pansy Maxine Morris
Ms. Pansy Maxine Manning Morris, age 82, resident of De Queen, and former resident of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, passed from this life on Thursday, October 14, 2021, in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Pansy was born to the union of Mack C. and Susie LaFaye Westbrook Manning on September 4, 1939, in De Queen. She was a homemaker and enjoyed crocheting and spending time with her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and two daughters, Karen Crane, and Betty Null.
Pansy leaves to cherish her memory, five sons, Johnny, Dewayne, Kenneth, Curtis, and Matthew; a number of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Chandler Funeral Home of De Queen.
Melvin Mills
Mr. Melvin Curtis Mills entered this life on February 3, 1959, to A.J. Mills and Ethel Lene Tucker Mills. He passed from this life on Thursday, October 14, 2021, at the age of 62 years, 8 months, and 11 days, due to complications of Cancer.
He was preceded in death by his parents; nephew, Joe Bob Mills; cousin, Bobby Abe Mills; and grandparents, Tobe Tucker and Katie Kight Mills Chase.
Melvin loved hunting, fishing, being outdoors, and was a member of Ash Creek Hunting Club. If he was having a bad day doing the things he loved, you could find him sitting in the dirt looking for crystals. He enjoyed time spent with his family, friends, and his fur babies.
Melvin leaves his memories to his wife of 38 years, Sheri Mills of De Queen; daughter, Jessica Mills Hudson of Woodward, Oklahoma; special son, Michael Waggoner of De Queen; two brothers, Arthur James Mills and wife Dianna, and Carl Eugene Mills and wife Carolyn, all of Corsicana, Texas; two sisters, Pamela Kay Sumler and husband Duane, and Sherrilene Faye Wynne, all of De Queen; special cousin, Bobby Davis of Gillham; three grandchildren, Jordan Mills, Benjamin Hudson, and Mackenzie Hudson; two sisters-in-law, June Pinson and husband Jerry of Dierks, and Stacy Higgins of De Queen; brother-in-law, Jay Whitley of New Orleans; two half brothers-in-law, Will Whitley of Ohio, and Chris Whitley of North Carolina; half sister-in-law, Amanda Hoover of Kentucky; his special girlfriend, Billie Shepard of Dierks; as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and a host of friends.
He worked many jobs during his time here on Earth. He cut firewood, worked at Pilgrim’s Pride and Tyson Foods. In Oregon, he worked in plastic and fertilizer plants.
The family of Mr. Melvin Mills will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Sunday, October 17, 2021, at the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel. A graveside memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, October 23, 2021, at the Oak Grove Cemetery, De Queen, with Mike Chenoweth officiating. Following the memorial service, family and friends will go to cast memories of Melvin in the hills at Ash Creek Hunting Club. Funeral and Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Chandler Funeral Home of De Queen.
David Ramsey
Mr. David Austin Ramsey, age 84, resident of De Queen, Arkansas, passed peacefully from this life on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at home with family by his side.
David was born to the union on Orlen and Lyda Maybell Chandler Ramsey on June 19, 1937, in the West Line Community of Sevier County. He was a 1955 graduate of De Queen High School and faithfully served ten years with the United States Army. He married the love of his life, Katrina Rose Stephens, on November 8, 1958, in Horatio, Arkansas, and to this union, two children were born. Following his honorable discharge from the Army, David made his career with De Queen and Eastern – Texas, Oklahoma, and Eastern Railroad, retiring after thirty-one years of service. Even though he was retired, David was not finished working. He began working in security for Pilgrim’s Pride in De Queen, once again retiring after several years of service. David enjoyed sitting on the back porch, working in his yard, listening to country music, going to the casino, and had unmatched storytelling abilities. More than anything, David cherished the time spent with Kaye, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Orlen and Lyda Ramsey, and his son, Branson Ramsey.
David leaves to cherish his loving memory, his loving wife of almost 63 years, Kaye Ramsey of De Queen; daughter and son-in-law, Rhonda and Noel Lovelace of Horatio; four grandchildren, Austin Ramsey, Tanner Ramsey, Tisha Martinez, and Kimber Frachiseur; ten great-grandchildren, Peyton, Carter, Cayden, Trevor, Everley, Attalee, Landon, Pace, Mila, and Madden; one brother, Arlen Ramsey of Fredericksburg, Texas; as well as other relatives, and a host of friends.
Graveside services for Mr. David Ramsey will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Chapel Hill Cemetery with Tanner Ramsey officiating. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Chandler Funeral Home of De Queen.
