Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
William (Tex) Roy Phillips
Mr. William (Tex) Roy Phillips, age 66, a resident of Little River Country Club near Winthrop, Arkansas, died Tuesday, June 10, 2014 in Texarkana, TX.
He was born September 17, 1947 in Denton, TX. He was retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. He was a radio personality with the Mike and Tex show on Hits 105 and KDQN Country Breakfast with Loren and Tex.
Tex was preceded in death by his parents, James H. Phillips and Dorothy Dean Turner Phillips and one brother, James Jay Phillips.
He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Sharon Phillips of Little River Club; his daughter, Sharla Dawn Varner of Little Rock, AR; his sister, Dorothy L‘Jon Hill and husband, Dennis; his brother, Cody Phillips and his wife, Annette Phillips; his step-son, Stan McCabe and his wife, Stacy; 4 grandchildren, Kara Hernandez, Haley Varner, Mason McCabe and Lauren McCabe; 3 great-grandchildren, Michael, Isaac and Aria; and his aunt, Sandra Turner and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Tex will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, June 14, 2014, in the Senior Citizens Center in Horatio, Arkansas with Mike Basso and Jamie Cowan officiating.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.
Mr. Melvin "Ray" Pritchett
Mr. Melvin "Ray" Pritchett, age 58, of Watson, Oklahoma, passed away Sunday, June, 8, 2014 of natural causes, in Joplin, Missouri.
He was born March 1, 1956 in San Diego, California to Melvin O. Pritchett and the late Frankie Short Pritchett. Melvin was truck driver by trade and was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
He is survived by his wife, Tina Pritchett of the home; two sons, Virgle Ray Pritchett of El Paso, Texas and Cory Gregston of Watson, Oklahoma; two daughters, Laura Pritchett of Alabama and
Sabrina Gregston of Hot Springs, Arkansas; his father, Melvin O. Pritchett of Alabama; three brothers, Frank Lee Pritchett of Kansas, Virgil Leslie Pritchett of Las Vega, Nevada and Bervel Kevin Pritchett of Alabama; one sister, Dianna L. Davis of Alabama; six grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Frankie Short Pritchett, his mother-in-law, Martha Turner, and his father-in-law, Billy Joe Nipper.
Graveside services will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Watson Cemetery under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Visitation will be general. Friends and family may meet for food and fellowship before and after the service at the Watson Fire Department.
Mrs. Vivian M. Haines Stark
Mrs. Vivian M. Haines Stark, age 69, a resident of Horatio, Arkansas, died Friday, June 6, 2014,in a Little Rock hospital.
She was born to Charlie Novie and Katherine Vernice Cook Haines in Rufe, Oklahoma, on May 12, 1945. She was a 1964 graduate of Valliant High School, Valliant, Okla. She was a former employee of Pilgrim’s Pride with 30 years in quality control, and also an associate of Walmart in De Queen. She was a member of the Rufe Baptist Church, and enjoyed working, gardening, especially growing tomatoes, and cooking.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother-in-law, Charles Autrey, and a great-niece, Gabrielle Autrey Treat.
She is survived by a sister, Wynema Ann Autrey of Mineral Springs, Ark.; one nephew, Hughlen Autrey of Russellville, Arkansas, two nieces, Sharla Autrey of Mineral Springs, Arkansas, and Renay Autrey-Treat of Fayetteville, Arkansas, two great-nephews, two great-nieces, one great-great-nephew, and one great-great-niece, and a number of cousins.
Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Vivian Stark will be held at 2:00 P.M., Sunday, June 8, 2014, in the Old Center Cemetery, with Bro. Sam Hendricks officiating, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen. The family will receive friends at Chandler Funeral Home from 12:00 to 2:00 P.M. Saturday, June 7th. Memorials may be made to the House of Hope in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Billy Frank Grant, Sr.
Billy Frank Grant, Sr. age 67, of De Queen, Arkansas formerly of Cove passed away Friday, May 30, 2014 at his home.
He was born November 17, 1946 in Matador, Texas to Thomas C. Grant II and Dorothy Lee Roberts Grant.
Billy was retired from Pilgrim Pride Chicken Processing Plant after 25 years, where he ran the feather room. He loved hunting, fishing, and just being in the great outdoors. Billy loved a good fish fry with family and friends. He was a good loving father, brother, uncle and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by:
Son: Billy Frank Grant, Jr. of the home
Brothers: Thomas Grant III and wife Consuela (Connie) of Cove, Arkansas
John Grant and wife Sue of Watson, Oklahoma
Sisters: Ruth Toon Starr and husband Norris of Mena, Arkansas
Rose Toon Huff and husband Ricky of Watson, Oklahoma
Mother-in-law: Bernice Tatum of DeQueen, Arkansas
Brother-in-laws: William Tackett and wife Lynn of Sweet Home, Oregon
Tom Tackett and wife Barbara of Sweet Home, Oregon
Robert Tatum and wife Alicia of Gillham, Arkansas
Tatum Lewis and wife Elisabeth of Daisy, Arkansas
Sister-in-law: Robin Taylor of Tillmook, Oregon
Janice Tatum Tucker of Poteau, Oklahoma
Special Nephew: Gerald Heifner, who was like a son
Nieces, Nephews and cousins
Billy was preceded in death by his father, Thomas C. Grant, II and mother, Dorothy Grant Arthur, wife, Erma Kathryn Grant, who was the love of his life and step-fathers Cersa Toon and Robert Arthur.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, June 4, 2014, 2:00 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Church of Nazarene in Cove, Arkansas. Interment will follow in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Cove with Brother Robert Tatum officiating under the direction of the Beasley Wood Funeral Home of Mena.
General Visitation
Pallbearers are John Roberts, Wes Roberts, Keith Roberts, Jed Huff, Rick Huff and Charles Woodard.
Honorary pallbearer will be, Arbus "Slim" Manns.
Bonnie Ray Gossage Boland
Mrs. Bonnie Ray Gossage Boland, age 78, a resident of Dierks, Arkansas, died Tuesday, May 27, 2014 in Dierks Health and Rehab.
She was born October 11, 1935 in Steve, Arkansas. She was a retired nurse.
Mrs. Boland was preceded in death by her parents, Pat William and Grace Saunders Gossage; her husband, Jim Boland; three brothers, Sam Gossage, Pat Gossage and James Edward Gossage; and two sisters, Inez Allen and Norma Joyce Gossage.
She is survived by one brother, Calvin W. Gossage of Hot Springs, AR; three nephews, Marlin Allen, Jr. of Dierks, AR, Jeffrey W. Gossage of Little Rock, AR and Jason W. Gossage of Jonesboro, AR; six nieces, Caroline Gossage-Faxas of Hollywood, FL, Angela Nava, Joyce Ann Grubbs, Sheila Andrade, Shelba Gene Pipkins all of Dierks and Toni Delores Gossage of Mann, AR and a number of grand nieces and nephews, great grand nieces and nephews and great-great grand nieces and nephews.
Graveside Funeral Services for Mrs. Boland will be held at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, May 31, 2014 in the Shed Cemetery in Steve, AR with David Smith officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in Dierks.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 30, 2014 at the funeral home in Dierks.
Barbara Ann Staggs Hersom
Barbara Ann Staggs Hersom, age 72, a resident of Wilton, AR died Saturday, May 24, 2014 at her home.
She was born June 3, 1941 in Stephens, Arkansas. She retired after 26 years as the Little River County Tax Assessor. She was past president of the Arkansas Association of Counties and the Arkansas Assessors Association.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Lila Young Staggs; and a son, William Lloyd Grimes.
She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Wayne T. “Ike” Hersom of Wilton; three children, Charles (Chuck) Grimes, Jr. and wife Debbie Jewell Grimes, Karen Sossoman and husband William, Tonya Foster and husband Scott; one sister, Wilma Walters; one brother, Billy Ray Staggs; 11 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and a number of nieces, nephews and friends.
A memorial service for Mrs. Hersom will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 31, 2014 in the First Baptist Church in Ashdown, Arkansas with Herman Welch officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (www.mda.org) or Serenity Hospice of Texarkana.
Cremation arrangements by Wilkerson Funeral Home.
