Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Virgil Kirby
Virgil Kirby, age 84, resident of Dierks, died Sunday, July 4, 2004 in Howard Memorial Hospital at Nashville.
He was born July 13, 1919 at Hartley to John and Arabia Kirby; as a young man worked to bring the deer and game animals back to south Arkansas and grew crops for the deer farm near his family’s home. He and his wife opened a family grocery store in 1955, and later opened feed stores in Dierks and Nashville. He was a 32nd degree Mason; a member of Oak Hill Lodge in Dierks and the Baker’s Spring Lodge in Umpire; a former president and one of the founders of the Dierks Riding Club; and a member of Holly Creek Missionary Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by parents; and a sister, Virgie Kirby Jackson of Nashville.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Wilda Kirby of Dierks; four daughters, Linda Alford Croy of Bentonville, Carol Nicol of North Little Rock, Donna Miller of Mesquite, Tex., and Melissa Wesley of Little Rock; one brother, Virdo Kirby of Umpire; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 7 at Holly Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Dierks.
Visitation was from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 6 at Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel in Dierks.
Memorials may be made to Howard Memorial Hospital in Nashville, Holly Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Dierks, Howard County Hospice Association or the American Cancer Society.
Helen Merisdean Gaddis
Mrs. Helen Merisdean Gaddis, age 81, resident of Dierks, died Thursday, March 18, 2004 in Howard County Memorial Hospital in Nashville.
She was born Thursday, May 25, 1922 in Minden, La.; was a homemaker; and a Baptist. She was predeceased by her parents, Ben and Lois Smith; two sisters; and one brother.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, T. Gaddis; two sons, Thearl Fayne Gaddis of Lubbock, Tex., and Teddy Gene Gaddis of Stinnett, Tex.; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 20 in Green’s Chapel cemetery with Rev. Mike Watkins officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in Dierks.
The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 9 at the funeral home in Dierks.
Willie Prather
Willie Lee Prather, age 94, a resident of Dierks, died on March 11, 2004 in Nashville.
She was born on November 6, 1909 in Howe, Oklahoma to Charlie Fergeson and Rosa Ellithorp. She was a homemaker and a member of the first Baptist Church in Dierks. She had many loves in her life including her family, fishing, hunting, canning and gardening.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 44 years: Theodore Prather; one son in law: Rolla Wampler; one great grandson: Cory Adams; one half brother: Jimmy Johnson; and one sister: Irene Fergeson.
She is survived by two daughters: Jean Wampler of Dierks, and Juanita McNutt of Hobart, Oklahoma; four granddaughters; one grandson; ten great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.
Graveside services for Mrs. Prather were held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 13, 2004 at the Gillham cemetery, Gillham, with Pastor Mike Watkins officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 12, 2004 at Wilkerson Funeral Home in Dierks.
Rubye Jean French
Mrs. Rubye Jean French, age 82, resident of De Queen, died Saturday, April 3, 2004 in Brookewood Nursing Center.
She was born Oct. 24, 1921 in Lockesburg; was a homemaker; and a member of Friendship Baptist Church in De Queen. She was predeceased by her husband, Oswald Clyde French; and her parents, Charlie and Georgia Ann Ross.
She is survived by one son, Timothy Clyde French of Castle Rock, Colo.; two daughters, Teresa Joan Thurber and Lisa Jean French; both of Castle Rock, Colo.; her brothers and sisters, James Ross of Centralia, Wash., Minnie Mae Ross of Cove, Tommy Ross, Frances Stevens and Elsie Faye Mandujano, all of De Queen, Lille Bell Livingston of Garland, Tex., and Bessie Lee Sexton of Chino Valley, Ariz.; and two grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 7 in Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dale Hankins officiating. Burial followed in Redmen cemetery.
The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 6 at the funeral home.
Ernestine Pate
Mrs. Ernestine Griffin Roberts Pate, age 73, resident of Dierks, died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004 in Little Rock. She was born Sept. 25, 1930 in Dierks to Ernest and Ethel Elizabeth Garner Griffin; was a retired nurse; and a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Dierks.
She is survived by three sons, Butch Roberts and Bobby Lynn Roberts, both of Gillham, and Bruce Allen Pate of Dierks; two daughters, Deborah Smith of New Hope and Anita Kay Pate of Dierks; three brothers, Ches Griffin and Gerral Griffin, both of Dierks, and Donnie Griffin of De Queen; two sisters, Pat Alexander and Helen Lightfoot, both of Dierks; 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 in Dierks cemetery with Rev. J.W. Gilbert officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
The family received friends Monday, Feb. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wilkerson Funeral Home in Dierks.
Emma Faye Green
Mrs. Emma Faye Green, age 74, resident of Horatio, died Friday, Nov. 26, 2004.
She was born Jan. 8, 1930 in Winthrop to Robert and Clara Bush; was a homemaker; a seamstress; and a former employee of Coca Cola and Nakoosa-Edwards. She was preceded in death by her husband, S.E. Green.
She is survived by two daughters, Donna Crumbly of Sheridan and Linda Hancock of Horatio; three sons, Harold E. Green of Wake Village, Tex., Michael Green of Ripley, Tenn., and Reginald E. Green of Custer, Mt.; one sister, Martha Evans of Kingman, Ariz.; one brother, Robert L. Bush of Ashdown; 18 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30 in Old Center Church with Rev. George Crum-bly and Rev. Richard Bolt officiating. Burial followed in Old Center cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
Visitation was Monday, Nov. 29 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ruth Ann Curtis
Mrs. Ruth Ann Elkins Curtis, age 66, resident of Texarkana, died Saturday, March 8, 2003 in a Texarkana hospital.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 10 in County Avenue Baptist Church of Texarkana with Rev. Joe Carlton and Rev. George Raley officiating. Burial followed in East Memorial Gardens at Texarkana under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home of De Queen.
She was born March 26, 1936 at Texarkana to David Michael and Loutie May Hopkins Elkins. She and her husband, Rev. Dwight Curtis, managed the Bogg Springs Baptist Church Camp near Wickes from 1964 until their retirement in 1997. She was a member of County Avenue Baptist Church in Texarkana. She was predeceased by her parents; and two brothers, James Elkins and Gene Elkins.
She is survived by her husband, Rev. Dwight Curtis of Texarkana; three sons, Michael L. Curtis of Texarkana, Rev. Douglas R. Curtis of Bogg Springs, and Rev. Gregory B. Curtis of Broken Bow, Okla.; four brothers, Fincher Elkins of Bossier City, La., Bill Elkins of Texarkana, Charles Elkins of Ozark, Mo., and Wayne Elkins of Little Rock; three sisters, Virginia Jewel of Bedford, Ind., Dovie Dodson of Russellville, and Helen Hughes of Henderson, Tex.; six grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Seldon Sirmon Sr.
Seldon Sirmon Sr., age 75, resident of De Queen, died Saturday, March 1, 2003 in Christus St. Michael Healthcare Center at Texarkana.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 in Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. J.L. Walker and Charles Krudwig, minister, officiating. Burial followed in Redmen cemetery.
He was born on Sunday, Dec. 18, 1927 in Athens to James Roy and Ora Nell Pinkerton Sirmon; was a truck driver; a musician; a merchant marine; a Mason; and a member of De Queen Church of Christ.
He is survived by five sons, Larry D. Sirmon of De Queen, James Leroy Sirmon of Tucson, Ariz., Timmy Joe Sirmon of Grannis, Seldon Sirmon Jr. of Ft. Smith, and Bobby Ray Sirmon of Horatio; three daughters, Susan Lynn Miller of Horatio, Janet K. Sirmon of De Queen, and Laura Mae Sirmon of Horatio; one brother, Preston Sirmon of De Queen; 21 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 at the funeral home.
Lloyd T. Cottrell
Lloyd T. Cottrell, resident of Custer City, Okla., and formerly of De Queen, died Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004 in Integris Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City.
No services were held.
He was born Oct, 8, 1924 in Norman, Okla., to Lloyd Thomas and Ethel Winn Cottrell Sr.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley of Clinton, Okla.; a son, Jerry Cottrell of Atascadero, Calif.; and stepchildren, Paul Miller and Anita Marie Miller.
Calvin James Hill
Calvin James Hill, age 48, resident of De Queen, died Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004 from injuries received in an automobile accident.
He was born Sept. 3, 1956 at Saginaw, Mich.; and was a disabled U.S. Army veteran.
He is survived by his parents, Richard Duane and Sandra Kay Dyer Hill of Mena; two brothers, Jeffrey Thomas Hill of Hatfield and Robert Duane Hill of Mena; five sisters, Christine Marie Harmon of Gillham, Noreen Ann Cameron of Kleene, Tex., Loreen Beth Watson and Tammy Lyn Watson, both of Ft. Smith, and Corenna Louise Fall of Mena; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Cremation arrangements under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen.
