Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Shirley Frances Lancaster May
Shirley Frances Lancaster May stepped into Glory on September 29th 2020. Shirley was born on November 14th, 1940 in Camden AR. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Joe May; two sons, Kenny May and Keith May; her mother and father, Neil and Louella Lancaster; and two brothers Lester Lancaster and Danny Lancaster.
She leaves behind three daughters and sons in-law, Jo and Duck Gauldin of Foreman, AR, Marybeth and Jamie Heath of Foreman, AR and Laurie and Jim Melton of De Queen AR; two daughters in-law, Corene May and Barbara May of De Queen, AR; grandchildren Carrie and Brian Fischer, Michael and Kami Carter, Keith May, Kyle May, Aaron May. BJ and Crystal Melton, Brandon and Brandy Melton, Cody and Amanda Heath, Daniel and Angela Heath; 17 great grandchildren; 2 nieces, Trina Munn of Emerson AR and Angie and Matt Brown of El Dorado, AR; two nephews Mike and Kathryn Lancaster of Magnolia AR and Chalk and Melissa Lancaster of New Orleans LA.
Graveside services were held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 2, 2020, at Morris Cemetery with Charles Hawley officiating.
Billie Jo Brock
Billie Jo (Smith) Brock, age 83, a resident of Dierks, Arkansas died Friday, October 9, 2020, at CHI St. Vincent in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
She was born November 28, 1936 in Centerpoint, Arkansas to Samuel and Clara (Manley) Smith. She was a retired from the Dierks School District, she enjoyed sewing and was a member of the Newhope Freewill Baptist Church.
Mrs. Brock was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Gregory Brock and Billy Wayne Brock and one brother, James Smith.
She is survived by her husband Bobby Brock; two daughters and sons-in-law, Michele and David Kitchens and Melissa “Missy” and Justin Smith all of Dierks; eight grandchildren, Zachary Kitchens, Katee and husband Sawyer Kesterson, Baylee Kitchens, Hanna Sharp, Dillon and wife Nicole Sharp, Vanessa and husband Eric Rundel, Quinton and wife Charli Smith and Triston Smith; seven great grandchildren, and a number of nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Brock will be held 10:00 a.m., Monday, October 12, 2020 at Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel in Dierks with Scott Vaughn and Henry Bateman officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery on Highway 369 near Nashville, Arkansas under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
General viewing from 2:00-6:00 p.m., Sunday, October 11, 2020 at the funeral home in Dierks.
Kelsey Ray Johnson
Kelsey Ray Johnson, age 70, a resident of Nashville, Arkansas died Saturday, October 3, 2020, at his home, surrounded by family.
He was born July 18, 1950 in Smackover, Arkansas. He was a retired mounted patrol inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and loved hunting, roping and riding horses, and was a member of Crosspoint Cowboy Church.
He was a skilled horseman and has made countless friendships over the years. He especially enjoyed teaching younger generations roping and riding.
Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Leola Frances Ray Johnson; a granddaughter, Jenna Beth Johnson; and great granddaughter, Abigail Grace Shuler.
He is survived by his wife Diane Lynn Houser Johnson; one daughter and son-in-law, Kelly and Tate Mitchell of Lockesburg, Arkansas; one son and daughter-in-law, Jay and Tina Johnson of Nashville; three granddaughters, Jaycie Johnson, Jadyn Johnson and Cheyanna Shuler; one grandson, C.J. Bryant; two sisters, Shirley Nutt of Ozan, Arkansas and Marcille Dallas of Nashville; two brothers, Spud Johnson of Ashdown, Arkansas and Frankie Johnson of Frog Level, Arkansas; and a number of nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life and a “Come rope with Kelsey one last time” will be held at Crosspoint Cowboy Church Saturday, November 7, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. with roping to follow at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Crosspoint Cowboy Church Arena Fund, 2740 U.S. 371, Mineral Springs, Arkansas 71851
Cremation arrangements by Wilkerson Funeral Home, De Queen.
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Mr. Charles Keels, Sr.
Mr. Charles Keels, Sr., age 74, resident of De Queen, Arkansas, passed peacefully from this life on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, at his home.
He was born to William Nelson and Ezzie Keels Green on May 21, 1946 in Ozan, Arkansas. Charles was a 1964 graduate of Childress High School in Nashville, Arkansas went on to obtain his electrical license. Charles enlisted with the United States Army and faithfully served his country for two years until his honorable discharge. He married the love of his life, Evelyn Whitfield, on November 27, 1967 in Lockesburg, Arkansas. To this union, one son was born. He was a member of New View Church of Christ in Center Point, Arkansas. He was a Master Electrician, working 30 years for Southwest REA and operating Keels Electric in De Queen. Charles was a Mason and enjoyed fishing, hunting and attending the Gamble Family Reunion, but most of all, he cherished the time spent with his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Chester Keels; and one niece, Brenda Nelson Gullett.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife of over 52 years, Evelyn Keels of De Queen; one son, Charles Keels, Jr. of Killeen, Texas; five grandchildren, Chris, Charles, III, TreShaun, Tyron and Jayden; two great-grandchildren, CJ and Ky’Loun; one sister, Thelma Darnell-Livingston of Akron, Ohio; one step-sister, Luvenia Bearden of Mineral Springs, Arkansas; as well as, nieces, nephews, special cousins, other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral Services for Mr. Charles Keels, Sr. will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, October 10, 2020 at the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel will Bro. Romillious Scroggins, Eulogist, officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at the Center Point Cemetery, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Friday, at the funeral home.
The use of a face mask or covering will be required during your time at the funeral home.
Cheryl Higgins
Mrs. Cheryl Louise Neeley Higgins, age 73, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas died Thursday, October 1, 2020 in Christus St. Michael Hospital.
She was born on August 23, 1947 in De Queen, Arkansas. Cheryl was a 1965 graduate of De Queen High School and attended college in Texarkana. She married the love of her life, Don Higgins in De Queen, Arkansas on September 2, 1967, and to this marriage a son and two daughters were born. Cheryl worked for35 years at First State Bank of De Queen. She loved her Lord and was a member of the Church of Christ in De Queen, where she worked with the Church of Christ Food Pantry, as well as the Ladies Group.
She enjoyed reading, watching NCIS, was an avid Elvis Presley fan, and enjoyed being outside with her dogs and flowers. Most of all, Cheryl loved her family, and she adored her children and grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father, Olen Neeley, and her mother, Merle Renfrow.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of over 53 years, Don Higgins of De Queen, a son, Matt Higgins of Hot Springs; two daughters and sons-in-law, Sally and Chet Pinkerton of Newport, Arkansas, and Susan and Mike Bishop of Fort Smith, Arkansas; a sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Randy Gore of De Queen, her four grandchildren, Althea Bishop. Cassidy Bishop, John Allen, and Clay Allen; two aunts, Joyce Pickens of Texarkana, Arkansas, and Juannelle Gage of De Queen, Arkansas, as well as a niece, cousins, her church family, other family members, and a host of friends.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Cheryl Higgins will be held at 2:00 P.M., Monday, October 5, 2020, in the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel with Bobby Tatum, Minister officiating. Burial will follow in the Smyrna Cemetery under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home. Visitation will be on Sunday, October 4, 2020 from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M.
The use of face mask or covering will be required during your time at the funeral home. Please Follow guidelines for social distancing.
Thomas Olen Whisenhunt
Thomas Olen Whisenhunt, age 66, a resident of Dierks, Arkansas died Wednesday, September 30, 2020, at his home.
He was born May 15, 1954, in Huntington, Indiana. He was a 1972 graduate of Dierks High School. He retired after 46 years from Weyerhaeuser in Dierks and member of the Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Dierks.
Mr. Whisenhunt was preceded in death by his parents Buford Olen and Oleta Burt Whisenhunt, one sister Lou Cox and one granddaughter Heavenlea Harris.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years Lena Ruth O’Banion Whisenhunt; two sons and daughters-in-law Chris and Jessica Whisenhunt of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Steve and Denise Whisenhunt of Delight, Arkansas; one daughter, Dana Danese Harris of De Queen, daughter-in-law Narissa Mounts of Hot Springs; Papaw to twelve grandchildren, Emily, Cole, Becca, Aubrie, Haelea, Graci, Kadee, Dylan, Teagan, Charlee, Elaina, Benjamin and one great granddaughter, Harley Mae, one sister, Jo Whisenhunt, two brothers, Glen Burt and Bobby Whisenhunt and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Whisenhunt will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, October 5, 2020, at Bethany Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Larry Eason officiating.
A private family burial will follow at Potts Cemetery, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home, Dierks.
General viewing for Mr. Whisenhunt will be held Sunday, October 4, 2020 from 2:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Dierks.
The family requests that everyone wear a face mask and practice social distancing for safety.
Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Snider
Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Snider, age 68, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas died Wednesday, September 30, 2020, at her home.
She was born January 22, 1952, in Houston, Texas. Mrs. Snider graduated from De Queen High School in 1970. She worked for De Queen Bee for many years and was retired from Pilgrim’s Pride. She enjoyed reading, bowling and traveling.
Mrs. Snider was preceded in death by her parents Dorsey Edward and Mary Lou Fuller Betts and one brother David Edward Betts.
She is survived by her husband of 47 years Glenn Snider of De Queen; one sister Martha Luellen Russell of Texarkana, Texas, one brother, Michael Allen Betts of Houston, Texas and several nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 7, 2020 in Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with Scott Sullivan officiating. Burial will be held at Cache Cemetery in Cache, Oklahoma.
