Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Nelda Geraldine Saucedo
Nelda Geraldine Saucedo was born January 20, 1941 in Lockesburg, Arkansas to Richard Herbert Barnes and Elenor Willie Cox Barnes. Nelda gave her life to the Lord lead by Rev. Ryman Wilson at Missionary Baptist Church in Lockesburg at the age of 12.
She attended nursing school at West Community Hospital and graduated in 1979. She worked at the Waco Veterans Administration Hospital and then moved to Seattle working for the VA Hospital there for 20 years. She and her husband, Jose Saucedo retired and moved back to Waco in July 2020. Nelda loved her dogs Cowboy and Patsy. She also enjoyed old movies and any watching Chuck Norris, The Lone Ranger and Steven Segal. She was interested in Gemology and growing house plants. Nelda was known for her love of celebrating holidays with her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Nelda is survived by her husband, Jose Saucedo; her daughters, Mary Ann Rocha, Linda Penix and her son, Douglas Gross; many grandchilden; and many great-grandchildren. She will be missed by her family and many friends.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Nelda Saucedo will be held at 11:30 A.M., Monday, May 3, 2021 in the Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel, 5201 Steinbeck Bend, Waco, Texas 76708, with Pastor Richard Fendly officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:30 A.M., until service time, Monday, at Lake Shore Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 1:30 P.M., Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at New Bethel Cemetery near De Queen, under the direction of Lake Shore and Chandler Funeral Homes.
Stephen Otho Lites
Mr. Stephen Otho Lites, age 74, a resident of Dierks, Arkansas, died Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at CHI St. Vincent in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
He was born April 18, 1947 in De Queen, Arkansas. Mr. Lites was a welder and a maintenance planner for GP. He retired from Georgia Pacific Ashdown paper mill. He graduated in 1965 from Dierks High School. He was a Justice of the Peace, served on the Dierks City Council, original member of Dierks Jaycees, having served all positions, was Vice President of Arkansas State Jaycees and was a member of the Church of Christ.
Mr. Lites was preceded in death by his parents, Lowell Otho and Selma Jean Sivley Lites.
He is survived by his wife, Patsy Lites; one son and daughter-in-law, Chad and Tammy Lites; grandchildren, Caitlin and husband Michael Collins, Cody Lites; and one great- granddaughter, Paisley Grace.
Funeral services for Mr. Lites will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 30, 2021 at Dierks Church of Christ with Michael Collins, minister, officiating. Burial will follow in Dierks Cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in Dierks.
The family will receive friends from 6-8p.m., Thursday, April 29th at the funeral home in Dierks.
Robert F. Helms
November 19, 2020, Robert F. Helms Sr. of Gillham realized his desire to be reunited with his bride of more than 77 years: Hazel.
Better known as “Bobby” he was 97 years old and lived a good and very active life. His often-stated greatest passion was his love for his wife. They were simply inseparable. When Hazel died in 2017, Bobby insisted there was no need for an elaborate service; he would be along shortly, and then it could be a grand affair.
Their love affair began at an early age. In fact, he was too young (age 15) to marry when they eloped to a justice of the peace. He “forged” his birthdate on the marriage license application to allow the ceremony to take place.
He and Hazel would spend the next 77+ years together raising five children and running a large-scale poultry and cattle farm. They were life-long, active members of the King, De Queen and Ashdown Churches of Christ. Both Bobby and Hazel loved the church and the people of the church.
Bobby and Hazel also were intrepid travelers. They managed to travel to all contiguous U.S. states and Alaska in their motor home. The Alaska journey was along the then all-mud and gravel Alaskan Highway–with Hazel at the wheel! They were members of the Good Sam’s Club and enjoyed camping and socializing with club members on nearby lakes.
Bobby and Hazel enjoyed and appreciated Sevier County’s recognition of senior citizens on Senior Day. They were recognized as the County’s longest married couple three times.
Bobby was preceded in death by his wife Hazel, a daughter, Sharon Inez Helms, and a son, Joe David Helms. Survivors include two sons, Robert Helms II of North Carolina & Don Helms of Sandpoint, Idaho, one daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Don Gilbert of Maumelle, Ark. and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m, Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel in De Queen with Robert Helms II officiating. Interment for Bobby and Hazel will follow in the Gillham Cemetery.
Hazel and Bobby are now united in eternity.
Carolyn Elizabeth “Twinkle” Slay King
Carolyn Elizabeth “Twinkle” Slay King peacefully left her earthy life on Saturday April 24, 2021. Carolyn was born in Houston, Texas on March 7, 1954, to Ila Ryan Slay and John Archie Slay.
In Carolyn’s childhood and youth, she attended and was baptized at Park Memorial Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. As a teenager she became a member of the Houston Spinnerettes, which at that time were the Ambassadors of Houston, greeting people at the airport, marching in parades, as well as, conducting fund raising projects throughout Houston. At a young age Carolyn became “Twinkle” to her family and close friends. She and her sister Kathryn were “Tweedle and Twinkle”, which made for some hilarious and interesting stories. Twinkle loved the beach, ocean and enjoyed collecting seashells. On her trips back to visit her sister Tweedle, she would often bring her some seashells she had collected from the California coast. Twinkle enjoyed singing the songs from the movie, “The sound of music”. She would spend hours listening and singing to the vinyl record until she wore it out. As a teenager, growing up during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, the spark of adventure led her to meet her husband Paul Terry King, who was a musician. Together they traveled to many destinations throughout the United States. In time they had five children, which became Carolyn’s entire world. Carolyn did not have a selfish bone in her body, if she did, it was exceedingly small. She was very caring and self-sacrificing all her life, always putting others needs above her own, but she would not have wanted it any other way. Carolyn became a widow when her husband passed away in 2013.
Carolyn leaves behind her precious children, Erica Jean Azar and husband Robert of Houston, Texas, Shayla Lux Autrey and husband Grant of Morgan City, Louisiana, Leslie Faye King of Hope, Arkansas, Jamie Renee King of Malvern, Arkansas, and Paul Terry King Jr. of San Diego, California; ten grandkids, Christopher “Cordell” King and wife Hannah of De Queen, Arkansas, Sara and Robbie Azar of Houston, Texas, Dakota Lux of Morgan City, Louisiana, Lillian, Rose, and Jude Autrey of Morgan City, Louisiana, and Nathaniel, Hunter and Abby King of De Queen, Arkansas.
Even though Twinkle never returned to live in Houston, she is leaving several family members, friends, and numerous nieces and nephews in the Houston/Paris area, of which are Kathryn “Tweedle” Slay Jones, of Willis, Texas, Sharon Price of Paris, Texas, John Slay of Houston, and Brian Jones of The Woodlands, Texas. Twinkle has just left this earthly life for her journey to be in God’s heavenly kingdom. For as it is written in God’s word in John 11:25-26, Jesus said to her {Martha} “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” May God bless Carolyn’s soul.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Carolyn King will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, April 30, 2021 in the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ann Holley officiating. Burial will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Lockesburg, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M., Thursday, at the funeral home.
Bobby Joe Farley, Sr.
Mr. Bobby Joe Farley, Sr. age 84, a resident of Dierks, Arkansas, died Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at his home.
He was born July 17, 1936 in Dierks, Arkansas. Bobby was a U.S. Army Veteran. He worked for Weyerhaeuser for 39 years as a supply clerk. He raised game chickens and liked to raise flowers and hunting.
Mr. Farley was preceded in death by his parents Embra and Mildred Efird Farley and one brother, Charles Farley.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Bernice Nabors Farley; one son, Joey Farley of Dierks; one brother and sister-in-law, Roy Carl Farley and wife Omagene of Fayetteville, Arkansas and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Farley will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 24, 2021 at Dierks Church of Christ with Terry Martin and Kevin Harrington officiating. Burial will follow in the Dierks Cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in Dierks.
The family will receive friends from 6-7p.m., Friday, April 23rd at the funeral home in Dierks.
Zona Winell “Nell” Wilson
Mrs. Zona Winell “Nell” Barto Wilson, age 90, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas, died Saturday, April 17, 2021 at her home.
She was born February 28, 1931 in Sugar Hill, Texas. She was a water department clerk for the City of De Queen, switchboard operator and disk jockey for KDQN. She was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy in Texarkana, Texas and attended First Assembly of God Church in De Queen.
Mrs. Wilson was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Opal Otsy Haren Barto and her husband, Jim Wilson.
She is survived by her significant other for over 20 years, Bob Kellums; one son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Cherie Wilson; one daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ann and Bobby Harrison of Argyle, Texas; a special friend, Debi Coleman of Anaheim, California; one sister, Wilma Gentle of Hope, Arkansas; one brother, Jerry Barto of Lewisville, Texas; five grandchildren, thirteen great- grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Wilson will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 23, 2021 at First Assembly of God Church in De Queen with Pastor Ray Reynolds and Brother Ron Drye officiating. Burial will follow in the Chapelwood Memorial Gardens, 826 N. Kings Hwy, Wake Village, Texas 75501 under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
The family will receive friends from 5-7p.m., Thursday, April 22th at the funeral home in De Queen.
Thomas Earl Sims
Mr. Thomas Earl Sims, ninety-one years of age, passed from this life on April 14, 2021 at his son’s home in De Queen, Arkansas. He was born June 4, 1929 to Homer and Maude Sims, of Dallas, Texas. Tom was a proud Navy Veteran and could tell some stories. He loved history and reading. Before his wife’s death, they enjoyed RVing in the West. He delighted in grandkids and great grandkids. He cheered on the Dallas Cowboys and always enjoyed watching football.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Hazel Joyce who he shared sixty-four years with, daughter Deborah Campbell, two sisters, Evenlyn Austin and Velma Davis.
Left to cherish his memory, his son Michael and daughter-in-law Glenda Sims of De Queen, Arkansas, his sister, Thema Green of Pantego, Texas, his grandchildren, Jeremy, Brandon (Crystal) and Justin (Rena) of De Queen, Arkansas, Amanda Barton (Carl) of Stow, Ohio, Matt Campbell of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Danielle Campbell of London UK. Along with eight great-grandchildren, Dakota, Logan, Blake, Penelope, JD, Landry, Jakob, and Annaliese. And let us not forget his ever-present chihuahua, Coco, whom he loved so.
Services will be Tuesday, April 20th at 2:00 p.m. in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas.
