Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
William Keith Alexander
William Keith Alexander, 51, of Horatio, passed away Sunday, August 2nd, after a brief bout with cancer.
He was preceded in death by his parents Clarence Earl and Mary Louise Alexander, brother, Samuel Gipson Alexander, and sister Katherine Alexander.
He is survived by one son, Caleb Alexander; brothers, Thurman Alexander of Horatio, Thomas Alexander and Karen of Lockesburg, James Alexander and Brenda of De Queen, Allan Hunt of Eagletown, OK and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, October 3, 2020 at 2 p.m. in the West Otis Cemetery on Hwy 24 West of Horatio.
Wayland McCormick
Alfus Wayland (Little Man) Pap-Paw McCormick, age 80, a resident of Grannis, Arkansas died September 29, 2020 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
He was born February 17, 1940, in Moon, Oklahoma. He began his career with Lane Poultry on December 1, 1960 and joined the Tyson team in 1986, he worked and supervised several departments of the plant. He retired from Tyson Foods in Grannis and Allied Security, he was a member of the Nazarene Church in Wickes, Arkansas. Wayland enjoyed listening to music, going fishing, hunting on his lease, riding his side by side, spending time with his family and friends.
Wayland was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Elmer and Georgia Nell England McCormick; one sister, La Faye Tadlock; one grandson, Jonathan Ashcraft and one granddaughter, Samantha Huff.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Wanda McCormick; two sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Evelyn McCormick of Grannis, Kenny and Catherine McCormick of Grannis; one sister, Vanell Smith of Jal, New Mexico; four grandchildren, Michael McCormick, Kenneth McCormick of Grannis, Elizabeth Massey of Glenwood, Arkansas, Erica Ashcraft of Wickes; thirteen great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside Funeral services for Wayland will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 3, 2020, at Crystal Hill Cemetery, with Bro. David Baker and Bro. George Frachiseur officiating under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home, of De Queen.
General viewing will be held Friday, October 2, 2020, from 10:00a.m. – 8:00p.m. at Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
The family requests that everyone wear a face mask and practice social distancing for safety.
Manuel Angel Ledezma Hernandez
Mr. Manuel Angel Ledezma Hernandez, age 67, resident of De Queen, Arkansas, passed from this life on Monday, September 28, 2020, at his home.
He was born to Antonio Ledezma Gonzalez and Margarita Hernandez Rascon on January 21, 1953 in Estacion Guerrero, Chihuahua, Mexico. He married the love of his life, Natividad Sigala Ortega, on November 17, 1972 in Mexico. To this union, four daughters were born. He was a Carpenter and enjoyed listening to music, working and fishing, but most of all, he cherished the time spent with his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Manuel is survived by his loving wife of over 47 years, Natividad, of De Queen; four daughters and sons-in-law, Myrna (Ruben) Ramirez of De Queen, Claudia Ledezma of Mexico, Dively (Oscar) Hernandez of Little Elm, Texas, and Lizeth (Jose Ceballos) Hernandez of Mexico; eight grandchildren, Ruben, David and Alan Ramirez, Melanie and Alexa Hernandez, and Christian, Alex and Brenda Ceballos; six great-grandchildren, Abigail, Chelsea and Sophia Ramirez, and Isabell, Nathan and Kimberly Ceballos; three great-great-grandchildren, Cristian, Alex and Areli Vera; four sisters and one brother; as well as, nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Services will be held with burial following in Mexico. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen.
Ivalyne Murphy
Mrs. Ivalyne Crisp McBay Fisk Murphy, age 98, resident of Malvern, Arkansas, and former resident of Lockesburg, Arkansas, passed from this life on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at CHI St. Vincent, Hot Springs, Arkansas.
She was born to James Cullie and Amanda Mae Campbell Crisp on December 3, 1921 in Howard County, Arkansas. She married Daniel McBay on January 7, 1938, and to this union, eight children were born. After the passing of Daniel in 1970, Ivalyne married Nelson Fisk in 1976 and Oren Murphy in 2008. Ivalyne began working for Weyerhaeuser Company in Dierks around 1971 until her retirement in the ‘80s. During her time at Weyerhaeuser, she worked in many capacities but mainly as a machine operator. She attended church at Anchor Baptist Church in Brown Springs, Arkansas and enjoyed attending yard sales, estate sales and auctions. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, sewing, traveling and quilt-making, but most of all, she cherished the time spent with her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three husbands, Daniel McBay, Nelson Fisk and Oren Murphy; brothers, Charles, Kalton, Clyde, Calvin, George and Tonnie Crisp; and her sisters, Gertie Lee Couch and Genny Sue Carpenter.
She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, James (Bess Ann) McBay of Pittsboro, Indiana, Daniel (Jean) McBay of Greenbrier, Arkansas, Karry (Judy) McBay of Malvern, Arkansas, and Jay Dee (Donna) McBay of Hot Springs, Arkansas; four daughters and son-in-law, Ruby Nelson of Texarkana, Arkansas, Judy Lane of Decatur, Arkansas, Pat (Harold) Bourne of Indianapolis, Indiana and Phyllis Nabors of Texarkana, Arkansas; thirty grandchildren, forty-nine great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren; three brothers, J.T. Crisp of Nashville, Arkansas, Wayne Crisp and Hansford Crisp, both of Mineral Springs, Arkansas; one sister, Linda Faye Spanhanks of Texas; as well as, nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Ivalyne Murphy will be held at 2:30 P.M., Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Caleb Lewis officiating. Burial will follow at Bluff Springs Cemetery, Howard County, Arkansas, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen. The family will receive friends from 10:00 A.M., to Noon, Wednesday, at the funeral home.
Virginia Stark
Virginia Gordivilla Stark, age 71 , a resident of Gillham, Arkansas died Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Hope, Arkansas.
She was born November 22, 1948, in the Philippines. She was a homemaker, a member of the Gillham Baptist Church and loved her dogs and gardening.
Mrs. Stark was preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Lawrence Stark.
Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Stark will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, September 28, 2020 in the Gillham Cemetery with Cole Lancaster officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home, De Queen.
General viewing will be held Monday, September 28, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home.
Joe Koelzer
Joe Koelzer passed away Tuesday night Sept. 22, 2020, at the age of 81. A memorial service will be 1:30 P.M. Friday Oct. 2, 2020 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Roy Marshall officiating. Private inurnment will be at a later date at Waco Memorial Park.
Mr. Koelzer was born July 6, 1939, in De Queen, Arkansas, the son of the late John and Elizabeth (Block) Koelzer where he graduated from high school. He served his country in the United States Army and the United States Air Force and received several decorations and commendations. He served twenty years as a heavy equipment operator with the Air Force. Following his military service, Joe was employed by UPS for twenty years as a truck driver, retiring in 1999. During his tenure there, Joe was awarded the safe driver award.
During his life, he enjoyed traveling and working in his yard. He also enjoyed the C.B. Radio under the handle of “Plowboy”
Preceding him in death were two sisters, Sarah Trebon and Virginia Eckstein
Survivors include his wife of twenty-nine years, Zava; a son Joseph Koelzer, Jr.and wife Betsy; two step sons, John Hill, Jr. and wife Sandy, Andrew Hill and wife Amanda; three step daughters, Katherine Roberts and husband Mike, Sherri Tate, Dolly Powell and husband Darrell; a brother, Phill Koelzer; many step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.
The family expresses there sincere appreciation to Baylor Scott and White Hillcrest Hospice. It is for that reason, they have suggested Baylor Scott and White Hillcrest Hospice for memorial contributions in lieu of flowers.
Troy Lee Stephens, Jr.
Troy Lee Stephens, Jr., age 69, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas died Saturday, September 19, 2020 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
He was born March 10, 1951 in Texarkana, Texas. He was a carpenter, a former Texarkana Police officer, and served in the U.S. Marines during Vietnam.
Mr. Stephens was preceded in death by his parents, Troy Lee Stephens, Sr. and Johnie Ashley Stephens.
He is survived by his wife, Vanessa King Stephens of De Queen; two sons, Troy Louis Stephens of Texas and Clay Stephens of Texarkana, Texas; one daughter, Amanda Stephens of Wyoming and one step-daughter, Leslie Cortes; one step-son, Dustin Loving of De Queen; two sisters, Deloris Coe of Texarkana, Arkansas and Zoe Majerowsky of Cheektowaga, New York; and a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 25, 2020 in the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with Wallace Edgar officiating.
Cremation arrangements by Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
