Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Mrs. Wanda Vance
Mrs. Wanda Laverne Hughes Vance, age 60, resident of De Queen, died Friday, October 15, 2004 in the Wadley Regional Medical Center, Texarkana, Texas.
She was born to Ollie Lee and Bertha Ann Owens Hughes at Las Cruces, New Mexico, on October 18, 1943. She was a former security guard for Poulan and Pilgrim, as well as a homemaker. She was a member of the First Assembly of God Church of Horatio, and enjoyed sewing, quilting, and flowers.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and in 2003, her husband, Finlus Junior Vance.
She is survived by two sons and daughter-in-law, Bobby and Dana Vance of Horatio; Jimmy Wayne Vance of De Queen; three grandchildren, Cade Vance, Farrah Vance, and Finn Vance, all of Horatio; one brother, Marvin Hughes of De Queen; one sister, Bonnie Marshall of De Queen; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Wanda Vance were held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 19, 2004 in the Avon cemetery with Rev. J. L. Walker and Rev. Wesley Blankenship officiating, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen.
Mr. Leonard J. Athey
Mr. Leonard James Athey, age 65, resident of De Queen, died Saturday, October 16, 2004 in the Christus St. Michael Health System, Texarkana, Texas.
He was born to Hurvel O. and Lucille McMillian Athey in the Lone Oak Community of Sevier County, Ark., March 7, 1939.
He was retired from the D&E; TO&E; Railroad, was retired from the National Guard, and was a member of the Church of the Nazarene. He enjoyed deer hunting, playing music, photographing trains, and was a hamm radio operator.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and in 1990, a son, L. J. Athey.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia "Pat" Johnston Athey of De Queen; two sons and daughter-in-law, Brad and Tara Athey, and Cody Athey, all of De Queen; two daughters and son-in-law, Crystal and Derek Rankin of Horatio, Ark., and Karen Harris of Pryor, Okla.; one brother, Gene Athey of Kansas; six grandchildren, Jessica Harris, Lindsay Harris, Jenna Harris, Josh Harris, Cassady Rankin, and Will Athey; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Leonard J. Athey were held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 19, 2004 in the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. J. L. Walker and Rev. Joyce McCown officiating. Burial followed in the Chapel Hill cemetery, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home. The family received friends at Chandler Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, October 18, 2004.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mary and Martha Center at First National Bank, De Queen.
Margaret Ruth Tolison
Margaret Ruth Tolison, age 66, formerly of the Goodwater community, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004 in Dallas, Tex.
She was born June 25, 1938 in Little Rock; and was a companion sitter. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Ruth Williamson.
She is survived by one daughter, Elaine Patterson of Garland, Tex.; two sons, Cecil “Bud” Tolison of Garland, Tex., and Steven Tolison of Sachse, Tex.; one brother, Cecil Williamson of Van Buren; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20 in Redland Church of Christ. Visitation with family and lunch will follow in the Goodwater community building.
Robert Henry Clay
Robert Henry Clay, age 84, a resident of Hot Springs, died Thursday, November 4, 2004.
He was born February 3, 1920 in Wetumka, Okla., a resident of Lockesburg, Ark. for several years and a resident of Texarkana, Ark. for 36 years. He was retired from the Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, Texas, a World War II Veteran, and a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church and a mason of the Belleville Lodge.
Mr. Clay was preceded in death by his parents, Joel and Leta Clay.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eugenia (Latimer) Clay of Hot Springs Village, Ark.; one daughter and son-in-law, Diana (Clay) Beene and Lee Beene of Hot Springs Village; one granddaughter, Cynthia Beene of Corinth, Texas; six brothers, J. T. Clay of Broken Bow, Okla., Cecil Clay of Texarkana, Ark., Alton Clay, Herman "Dago" Clay, Wayne Clay, and L. B. Clay, all of Lockesburg, Ark.; four sisters, Nelda McPherson of Arlington, Texas, Joyce Gore of Lockesburg, Marilyn Groves of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Melba Gore of Texarkana, Texas; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services for Mr. Clay were held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 6, 2004 in the Belleville cemetery, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
The family received friends from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, on Saturday, November 6, at the funeral home.
Karen Hester
Karen Hester, age 47, resident of Mount Pleasant, Tex., died July 22, 200-4 in East Texas Medical Center in Tyler, Tex.
She was born Dec. 28, 1956 in Broken Bow, Okla. She was preceded in death by her mother, Wanda Ruth Walthal of De Queen.
She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Jordan of De Queen; and three grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society of the Leukemia Society.
Ella Mae Smith
Mrs. Ella May Smith, age 93, resident of Winthrop, died Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 at her home.
She was born June 10, 1911 in Shreveport, La.; was a librarian at Winthrop Public Library; and a member of First Southern Baptist Church in Cross Roads. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles “Hop” Smith on Dec. 14, 1975; and her parents, John and Martha Armstreet Scott.
She is survived by one daughter, Vicki Hilton of Winthrop; one sister, Muriel Smith of Cross Roads; three grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16 in the First Baptist Church at Winthrop with Rev. Audie Dawson officiating. Burial will follow in Campground cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
Margaret Hoover
Margaret Hoover, age 83, resident of Longmont, Colo., died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004 in Peaks Care Center in Longmont.
She was born Sept. 21, 1921 in Chicago, Ill., to William and Clara Herold Black; attended McMurray Women’s College; and was a homemaker.
She is survived by two daughters, Barbara Vogel of Gunbarrel, Colo., and Jennifer Merritt of Hot Springs; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Graveside services were held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30 in Longmont Mountain View cemetery, under the direction of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel Inc.
Ione Smith
Mrs. Ione Helms Smith, age 80, resident of Ridgecrest, Calif., and formerly of De Queen, died Friday, Oct. 8, 2005 in Ridgecrest.
She was born Oct. 12, 1923 at Umpire to Walter and Herlie Jester Helms; was a homemaker; and a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, James Olen Helms and John Carl Helms; three sisters, Hazel Higgins Whitley, Carrie Jester and Arla Hughes Wheeler; and a daughter, Judy Bremer.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Hal. M. Smith of Ridgecrest, Calif.; four sons, Maxie Smith of Tularosa, NM, Ronnie Smith of Crage, Alaska, Mike Smith of Redwood Valley Calif., and Rick Smith of Windsor, Calif.; one daughter, Debbie Digrazia of Ridgecrest, Calif.; one sister, Peggy Skipworth of Ashdown; and a number of grandchildren, great-grandchild-ren, nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15 in Gillham cemetery with Rev. Ralph Staggs officiating, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen.
Roy R. Higginbotham
Roy Rogers Higginbotham, age 67, resident of De Queen, died Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004 in De Queen Regional Medical Center.
He was born Dec. 17, 1936 at De Queen to Otis and Marjorie Hill Higginbotham; served in the U.S. Marines; and was retired from the City of Los Angeles.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, June Evelyn Lewis; and a son, Vernon Higgin-botham.
He is survived by seven sons, Rick Higginbotham, Rory Higginbotham, Roger Higginbotham, Rodney Higginbotham, Jonathan Higginbotham, all of Los Angeles, Calif., Erick Higginbotham of Baltimore, Md., and Gerald Higginbotham of St. Louis, Mo.; four daughters, Beverly Gooch, Roxanna Higginbotham and Judy Higginbotham, all of Los Angeles, Calif., and Evelyn Bennett of Flint, Mich.; one brother, Otis Hill of De Queen; one sisters, Thelma Gilmore of Muskegan, Mich.; 22 grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1 in Chandler Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jesse Miller officiating. Cremation will follow.
The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31 at the funeral home.
