Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Jerin Bob Ferguson
December 15, 1979 - May 30, 2020
Jerin Bob Ferguson, age 40, of Mena, Arkansas died Saturday, May 30, 2020 at Board Camp. He was born on Saturday, December 15, 1979 to Robert Lynn and Deanna Jean Kelly Ferguson in Mena, Arkansas.
Jerin was a fun loving, life of the party fellow that loved his family and especially the light of his life his daughter, Patience. Jerin join the United States Army National Guard at the age of 16 and upon graduating from Mena High School he was called upon to serve his country in Kuwait in the Southern Watch phase of Desert Storm. Jerin was very proud of his time in the military. He loved going deer, turkey and coon hunting, going fishing and going back roading. Jerin was a loving father, son, brother, nephew, uncle and a great friend and will be missed by all who knew him.
Jerin is survived by his daughter, Patience Ferguson of Mena; his parents, Bob and Deanna Ferguson of Mena; his brothers and sisters in law, Roy and Mandy Ferguson of Mena and Kyle and Nikki Ferguson of Mena; his sister and brother in law, Tara and Tim Milham of Mena; several aunts and uncles; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, June 3, 2020 will be held at 2:00 P.M. at the Ferguson Cabin on County Road 754 near Wolf Pen Gap with Brother Victor Rowell officiating. Arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas.
Kim Diane Mayo
June 19, 1961 - November 16, 2020
Kim Diane Mayo, age 59, of Mena, Arkansas, formally of Wickes, Arkansas, went home to be with Jesus Monday, November 16, 2020 at the Mena Regional Health System. She was born on Monday, June 19, 1961 to Don Mayo and Sue Lyle Mayo Fruen.
Kim was a faithful member of Wickes Pentecostal Church of God. Kim loved the Lord and her family. She loved listening to music and singing. She also enjoyed playing bingo, coloring, watching her favorite tv shows and collecting dolls and stuffed bears. She spent her last year and a half as a resident at Rich Mountain Nursing & Rehab where she made many friends and played bingo every chance she could. Kim is loved so much and will truly be missed by all. Kim was a loving daughter, sister, aunt and friend and will be missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Kendall Mayo; and one sister, Kathy Mayo.
Kim is survived by her step father, Wayne Fruen of Hatfield, Arkansas; two brothers, Dewayne Mayo and wife Diane of Artesia, New Mexico, Kelly Leon Mayo and fiance Tonya of Beebe, Arkansas; two stepbrothers, Robert and Paul Fruen, one sister, Donna Richardson and husband Ronnie of Mena; several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews along with a host of other relatives and friends.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, November 20, 2020 at the Wickes Pentecostal Church of God with Brother Chris Burk officiating. Interment is to follow at the Baker Cemetery in Wickes. Visitation is Thursday, November 19, 2020 from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel. Arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas.
Vera Mae Sillings
March 2, 1928 - November 4, 2020
Vera Mae Sillings, age 92, of Mena, Arkansas, died on Wednesday, November 4, 2020. She was born on Friday, March 2, 1928, in Floral Arkansas, the fifth of 13 children to James Sherman Tatum and Clemmie Ethel Griffis Tatum. Beloved wife of the late Gerald (Jerry) M. Sillings, she is survived by two sons, Mark Sillings of Sierra Madre, California, and Ted Sillings of Ellicott City, Maryland; four brothers, Bud (William) Tatum, Keith Tatum, Mike Tatum, and Stanley Tatum; and two sisters, Arlene Tatum Benedict, and Joan Tatum Henry; several nephews and nieces and a host of other relatives and friends. Vera was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jerry, sister Lucille Tatum Deaner, sister Selma Tatum Califana, brother James Sherman Tatum Jr., sister Celesta Tatum Bogert, sister Anna Lee Singleton, and sister Shirley Tatum Avery.
When Vera was seven, the Tatum family moved to Vamoosa, Oklahoma where she and her siblings grew up helping their parents with the farm, especially during harvest time. By today's standards it was a hard life during what were the depths of the Great Depression, but it was one that forged strong lifetime bonds with her brothers and sisters. Also, Vera was a very bright curious girl who enjoyed her schooling even though it required walking many miles between home and school each day.
One of her first jobs after graduating from high school was as a waitress in a small cafe in Seminole OK. But after visiting her older sisters living in Washington, DC, she decided to stay rather than return home. She soon found a job working as a clerk at the FBI. It was during this time that she was attending a Baptist church in DC where she met her future husband, Jerry, a WWII naval veteran. Apparently, he was smitten from the very first moment he saw her, but Vera required a bit more persuasion. Twice he asked her out and twice she turned him down. After the second rejection, one of her sister's warned her that if she were at all interested, she had better say "yes" the next time, because he certainly won't ask again if she should reject him a third time. Fortunately, he did ask one more time, she said yes, and they were happily marriage in October of 1949. Upon the announcement of their wedding, she received a congratulatory note from J. Edgar Hoover, the longtime director of the FBI.
During the early years of their marriage they lived in DC but soon moved to Brandywine, Maryland where they had bought property upon which to build a home and raise a family. After a few years during which she was focused on being a loving mom, she became a teacher's aide within the Prince George's County public school system. This was work that she enjoyed for many years, until she and her husband, Jerry moved to Mena, Arkansas in the early 80's to retire. There they built a log home with a view from their back porch of the Ouachita Mountains and a new life with new friends, and where they were also within driving distance of many of her brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces living in nearby Oklahoma.
Vera was a devout Christian who for many years attended the First Baptist Church of Mena and later Christ Community Fellowship. She sang beautifully in the church choir, worked diligently on the bereavement committee, and throughout all her years her Faith always guided her life. At the same time, Vera had a sharp wit, which she used to good effect to the surprise and delight of friends and family and most recently the nurses and staff at Peachtree Assisted Living and Rich Mountain Nursing. Vera cherished her family and friends and was a loving mother, wife, sister, aunt, and friend and will be missed by all who knew her.
Cremation arrangements entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home of Mena, Arkansas. A service is planned for Spring 2021.
Carlos Manuel Pagan
December 17, 1948 - November 9, 2020
Carlos Manuel Pagan, age 71, of Mena, Arkansas passed away on Monday, November 9, 2020 at his home. He was born on Friday, December 17, 1948 to Rene Sr. and Nereida Zapata Pagan in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
Charlie grew up in New York, spent time as a NYC taxi driver, loved playing pool, dancing, & among other occupations, worked for Eastern Airlines from which he retired. Although he struggled for years with rheumatoid arthritis, dealing with a lot of pain, he found joy in helping others, sharing his love of Bible truths, and as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, spending much of his time as a minister. Recently, Charlie was devoted to offering comfort & hope through phone calls and letter-writing to those in the community. He had come to be known for being very compassionate, caring and jovial, with a great sense of humor and teasing nature. Many remember him as sporting his fedora & a smile, ready to enjoy a sugary treat & time with family & friends! He was a very loving husband, father, son, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Nereida Zapata Pagan, one sister, Lilly Pagan, and an infant daughter, Leticia.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Leah Pagan of Mena; his father, Rene Pagan Sr. of Allentown, Pennsylvania; four daughters, Stacey Pagan of Jupiter, Florida, Amanda Pagan of St. Clair, Missouri, Jill Harrison & husband Lyn of Washington, Missouri, & Amber Holobaugh & husband, Zac of Andalusia, Alabama; one brother, Rene Pagan Jr. & wife Urma of Poughkeepsie, New York; one sister, Nereida Burmudez of Allentown, Pennsylvania; a grandson, Jake Leon of Jupiter, Florida & granddaughter Callie Roewe, several nieces and nephews, as well as, a host of other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held through Zoom on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. with cremation services entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas.
Geral "Jeri" Dean Funderburk
February 3, 1936 - September 5, 2020
Geral Dean "Jeri" Funderburk, age 84, of Mena, Arkansas, died Saturday, September 5, 2020, surrounded by family. She was born, February 3, 1936 to Philip Anderson and Elsie Lannie Keen Piearcy in Hugo, Oklahoma.
Jeri was a committed Christian who modeled a love for the Word of God, a life of prayer, an ease of laughter and a great sense of humor to her offspring. Throughout her years of declining health, she continued to model prayer as her default. Even as her words became twisted and incoherent this past year due to Alzheimer's, she continued to call out to God in prayer. Her family takes comfort knowing that the words that reached her Father in Heaven, were not twisted to His ears, rather perfectly sound.
The love for her family guided her life and filled it with happiness. In her younger days she enjoyed gardening, long walks, sewing, crocheting, motorcycling, prison ministry, traveling, and volunteering in Awana's, a ministry to disciple children and young people. Jeri was very proud of her family and cherished every moment she had with them. She will be dearly missed, especially by Bob - her husband whom she loved so dearly - and her children who were her pride and joy.
She is preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Debbie Callahan; three brothers, Philip Piearcy, Bob Piearcy and David Piearcy, and one sister, Cleta Rose.
Jeri is survived by her loving husband, Bob Funderburk of Mena; four children and their spouses: Diane and Steve Schultz of West Fork, Arkansas, Michael and Lawana Callahan of Hatfield, Arkansas, Stacie and Jimmy Pineda of Boone, North Carolina and Valerie and Gordon Dykstra of Alberta, Canada; one brother, Jackie Piearcy of Ola, Arkansas, her identical twin and life-long best friend, Vernie "Jill" Smith of Mena; sixteen grandchildren; thirty three great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Due to vulnerable family members and a large family, the family regrets that Covid 19 restricts the service to family only. A graveside funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, at 10:00 A.M. at Gann Cemetery in Potter, where she will lay beside her Darling Deborah Jean. Arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Grace Bible Church Awana Club, 1911 Highway 71 North, Mena, Arkansas 71953.
Pallbearers will be Jeff Shreve, Christopher Rose, Melody Pineda, Amy Hernandez, Elliott Shreve and Christian Shreve.
Leo Avram Yuspeh
March 14, 1951 - June 25, 2020
My dearest oldest son, Leo Yuspeh died on June 25th, 2020. He had a tragic life. He was separated from me by law by the Supreme Court of the State of New York in 1957 when he was 6 years old after his father sued for custody based on my marriage to Harry Haywood, a prominent Black Communist. I was allowed to visit him only in a public place in alternate weeks for a short time and he could not enter my home. His father propagandized him against me, trying to convince him I was a wicked witch. When Leo became paranoid schizophrenic in early adolescence, they put him out in the street where he lived for a year with the Hell's Angels on the Lower East Side. He came looking for me when he was almost 17 years old, strung out on several dangerous drugs, armed and delusional. I was living in Ann Arbor preparing to take my prelims for my Ph D in Latin American history. I had no classes so I stayed home all the time, watching my two younger children like a hawk, especially Rebecca who was only 5 years old. Haywood was 12 and looked out for her too. I made an appointment in Detroit for a complete psychiatric exam for Leo, but he left before the date. Thereafter he was in and out of my home for several decades. He was finally diagnosed with schizoid affective disorder. He was often dangerous, more to himself than to others because despite his illness, he was completely honest and caring and did not want to hurt anyone. He refused any kind of psychiatric help or medications because they actually did make him very sick. I always kept up with him and made sure he had a place to live and never had to live on the streets. And my two younger children suffered badly from the trauma he introduced into their lives. He lived to be 69 years old, I knew something was wrong when I didn't hear from him for months. I called the police for a welfare check 3 times, the last time the week before he died. I am 91 years old, have been bed-ridden for years, and live in Mexico, I could not go to Mena, Arkansas to check up on him. I don't know how he died. His body was found in his partially burned house. Leo was one of the most helpless victims of racism in the USA. Please help me mourn for him.
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home of Mena, Arkansas.
