Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Lee Ethel Johnson
Lee Ethel Johnson, a long time resident of 142 W. Rock Hill Road, Lockesburg, died Friday, August 13, 2004. She was the only surviving child of Neal Simpson and Tera Elzora (Little) Shinn. She was born June 19, 1902 in the house built by her father and Walter Little and lived there most of her life until May of 2001. After a fall she resided at Brookewood Nursing Center in De Queen.
Mrs. Johnson was librarian at Lockesburg Public Library for 25 years, serving into her 80’s. She was also known as the “crochet lady”. She made crocheted doilies, dresser and table scarves, tablecloths, baby booties and afghans for half the people in southwest Arkansas. She made a crocheted tablecloth for each of her grandchildren and an afghan for each great-grandchild.
She loved flowers and vegetable gardening. Her vegetable garden provided enough for canning, freezing, family and friends. Ethel loved to cook pies and cakes for her grandchildren. Her front yard and long front porch were full of blooms from spring to frost. She had over 180 African violets. She also enjoyed her pets and they lived long lives under her care. Bird watching and reading were other pleasures.
Her family will carry with them her gifts of devotion, strength, courage and love of nature. They will always remember the sparkle in her blue eyes, her sweet spirit, easy smile and busy hands.
Mrs. Johnson is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jesse Roy and Joan (Root) Johnson of Nashville, Tenn.; her daughter and son-in-law, Wilma Lee and Thomas A. Jewkes of De Queen; five grandchildren, Jimmy Jack Jones, Milpitas, Calif., Charlotte Wilemon, De Queen, Betty Rolfe, Horatio, Steve Johnson, Nashville, Tenn., and Frances Ann Walker, Ashburn, Va.; great-grandchildren are Rebecca Towery, Fredericksburg, Va., John Robert Walker, Ashburn, Va., Jesse and Joanna Johnson, Nashville, Tenn., Neal and Jennifer Rolfe, Horatio, Lynette Hanley and Crystal Gibson, De Queen; and four great-great-grandchildren. Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Roy Johnson, Sr.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Lockesburg, United Methodist Women, Rock Hill Home Demonstration Club, and Lockesburg Senior Citizens.
Family visitation was from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, August 16 at Wilkerson Funeral Home, 403 Stilwell, De Queen, Ark., 870-642-2218. Funeral services were at the First United Methodist Church, Lockesburg, on Tuesday, Aug. 17 at 10:00 a.m. Burial was at the Old Union cemetery outside Lockesburg on Provo Road. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lockesburg Public Library or the First United Methodist Church of Lockesburg.
Doris Marie Davis
Mrs. Doris Marie Moore Davis, age 79, a resident of Dierks, AR, died Friday, August 13, 2004 in Howard Memorial Hospital, Nashville, AR.
She was born October 17, 1925 in Vera, TX to John Buren and Willie Mae Blackburn Moore. She was a homemaker and a Baptist.
She was preceded in death by her husband John L. Davis, and a daughter, Joyce Marie Davis Lott.
She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law: Johnny and Cindy Davis of Dierks, AR; three brothers: John Bill Moore of Dierks, AR, Ren and Vita Moore and Earnest Moore, all of Seymour, TX, one sister: Nell Palmer of Midland, TX, three grandsons: Brad and Laura Davis, Chris Davis, and Kyle Davis, five granddaughters: Kim Phillips, Kelly Brule, Teresa and Jimmy Davis, Kendra and Guy Matthews, Carli Davis, five great grandsons: Jonathan Davis, Kameron Smith, Lane Gauldin, Koty Albott, Kolton Matthews, three great granddaughters: Kayla and Ed Clark, Lindsey Dorsey, Kara Matthews, two great-great grandchildren: Drue Clark and Kayedin Clark and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Davis were held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 16, 2004 in the Dierks cemetery with Rev. J.W. Gilbret officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, August 15, 2004 at the Dierks Chapel.
Ronnie Joe Jaquess
Ronnie Joe Jaquess, age 46, resident of Horatio, died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2004 in Horatio.
He was born Feb. 19, 1958 in Gallup, NM, to G.W. and Elizabeth May Johnson Jaquess Sr.; was a carpenter; and a member of First Pentecostal Church of De Queen. He was preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by one son, Matthew Joe Jaquess of Denver, Colo.; his mother, Elizabeth Jaquess of Horatio; one brother, Junior Jaquess of Ben Lomond; four sisters, Mary Helen Downing and Linda Launius, both of Lockesburg, Barbara Rink of De Queen, and Shirley Byrum of Nashville.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19 in Belleville Methodist Church with Rev. Wallace Wooten and Se Ward officiating. Burial followed in Belleville cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
Barbara Joann Perez
Barbara Joann Perez, age 51, resident of Horatio, died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004 in Christus St. Michael Healthcare Center at Texarkana.
She was born Sept. 5, 1952 in Portage, Wisc., to Howard and Bertha Bingham Bass.
She is survived by three daughters, Crystal Kirby and Felicia Kirby, both of Las Vegas, Nev., and Vandana Estevez of Horatio; her parents; and one grandchild.
Memorial services will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23 in Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Don Fortner officiating.
Estellean Jester Sirmon
Estellean Jester Sirmon, age 72, resident of Gillham, died Sunday, July 27, 2003 at her home.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Wednesday, July 30 in First Baptist Church in Gillham with Rev. Jerry Hill officiating. Burial followed in Gillham cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
She was born March 14, 1931 in Cottage Grove, Ore.; worked for Pilgrim’s processing plant in De Queen for 40 years; and was a member of First Baptist Church in Gillham. She was predeceased by her parents, John Ezra and Minnie Mae Stark; her husbands, Noel Jester and Seldon Sirmon; and 10 brothers and sisters, Thomas A. Stark, Joe E. Stark, Porter Stark, Donald Stark, Eleanor Lyon, James Stark, Bob Stark, Fred Stark, Evelyn Harper Newberry and Richard Stark.
She is survived by three children, Kenneth Noel Jester of Gillham, Brenda Kay Edwards of Irving, Tex., and Sandra Jean Mason of Colorado Springs, Colo.; one sister, Martha Compton of Dallas, Tex.; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Garland Simer McNully
Mrs. Garland Simer McNully, age 80, of North Little Rock, AR, passed away on Wednesday, October 6, 2004 in the Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock.
She was born May 3, 1924 to Samuel and Jessie Gore Simer. She was raised in the Dilworth Community near Horatio. A lifelong Presbyterian and ordained ruling elder, she was a member of the Park Hill Presbyterian Church in North Little Rock.
Mrs. McNully was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Dale and Arnold Simer, and an infant sister.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, David McNully, a daughter, Annabelle McNully Trettin of Herndon, VA; two sons and their families, James, Betsy and Georgia McNully of Sherwood, AR; and Hollis McNully and Pamela Daniele of Atlanta, GA; and Hollis' children, Brandon, Kristin and Lauren; her sisters, Bonnie Canady of Orange, TX, Rosalie VanMeter of Texarkana and Perrylene Cearley of Dierks, AR and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Memorial Service was held Friday, October 8, 2004 in the Park Hill Presbyterian Church, 3520 JFK Blvd, in North Little Rock.
Funeral Services for Mrs. McNully were held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 9, 2004 in the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gordon Garlington, pastor of Park Hill Presbyterian Church and Rev. Jim Ainsworth of Crockett, TX, officiating. Burial followed in the Millwee cemetery.
The family received friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, October 8, at Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
James Willis Butler
James Willis “Jay” Butler, age 73, resident of Ashdown, died Friday, Oct. 1, 2004 in Little River Memorial Hospital.
He was born May 2, 1931; and was a retired medical lab technician. He was preceded in death by his parents, W.C. and Ollie Parker Butler.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Carroll Butler; one son, Don Butler of Rio Linda, Calif.; one daughter, Louann Butler of Cool, Calif.; two stepsons, Dennis Jones of Gurdon and Don Jones of Scott; one stepdaughter, Diana O’Bryant of Gravelly; one sister, Ferrell Lovell of De Queen; one grandson; nine step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 4 in Lockesburg cemetery with Dennis Jones officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
Walter G. Stewart Jr.
Walter Gordon Stewart Jr., age 63, resident of Lake Dallas, Tex., died Friday, Oct. 8, 2004 in Dallas.
He was born July 23, 1941 in Arkinda to Walter Gordon and Dora Lena Dollarhide Stewart; was a Park and Recreation supervisor for the City of Dallas; and a U.S. Army veteran having served in Vietnam. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, George Stewart.
He is survived by two brothers, Gene Stewart of Cedar Creek, Tex., and Leroy Stewart of De Queen; and one sister, Dorothy Sandifer of El Dorado.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10 in Pauley cemetery in Winthrop with Rev. J.L. Walker officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home of De Queen.
Joseph Alfred Currence
Joseph Alfred Currence, age 90, resident of Lockesburg, died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004 in Christus St. Michael Health Care System at Texarkana.
He was born Jan. 2, 1914 in Broken Bow, Okla., to Almon “Jack” and Emma Lou Singleton Currence; was a retired log cutter for Dierks Weyerhaeuser; and a member of the Lockesburg Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Lue Sibert Currence; and one daughter, Carol Mari Currence.
He is survived by two sons, Jody Currence of Walker, La., and Kenneth Currence of Lockesburg; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8 in Lockesburg Church of Christ with Danny White, minister officiating. Burial will follow in Lockesburg cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
The family will be at 185 W. Main in Lockesburg.
