Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
James LeRoy Atkins
July 12, 1957 - December 13, 2015
James LeRoy Atkins, age 58, of Mena, Arkansas passed away Sunday, December 13, 2015 at the Mena Regional Health System. He was born on Sunday, July 7, 1957 to Albert Carl and Arnetha Cole Atkins in Oroville, California.
James had his outlook on life and saw people for who they were. He was a great guitar player and really enjoyed making music. Some of his country music heroes were Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and many more. James loved his family and spending time with them. He and his wife, Terrie always wanted to retire to a cabin in the woods. James was a loving husband, son, father, brother, grandfather, uncle and friend and will be missed by all who knew him.
He is preceded him in death by his father and his brother, Max Atkins.
James is survived by his wife, Terrie Atkins of Mena; his mother, Arnetha Atkins of Ozark; son Kenneth Siler of Mena; three daughters, Amy Winger of Mena, Jamie Moore of California, and Arletta Barcenas of Celina, Texas; one brother, Andy Atkins of Vian, Oklahoma; four sisters, Fay Wilhite of Chula, Arkansas, Carlene Canada of Lubbock, Texas, Sharon Wright of Bedford, Oregon and Rena Haynes of Texarkana, Arkansas; his grandchildren, Alex Tabor, Cameron Tabor, Christian Siler, Latonia, Heidi Siler, Michelle Barcenas and Lorenzo Barcenas; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Graveside services will be Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. at the Pinecrest Memorial Garden under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena. No visitation is planned.
Fred Benjamin Castleberry Jr. I am a Veteran.
October 11, 1930 - December 28, 2015
Fred Benjamin Castleberry Jr., age 85, of Rocky, died Monday, December 28, 2015 at the Mena Regional Health System. He was born on Saturday, October 11, 1930 to Fred Benjamin Sr. and Rebecca Stiger Castleberry in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
Fred joined the United States Navy in 1948 and served 8 and 11 months then in 1957 he joined the United States Air Force and served 13 years until his retirement in May of 1970. In 1969, Fred move to Mena and finished raising his family. Fred was a loving father, grandfather, uncle and friend.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Castleberry; son, Michael Castleberry, one brother and five sisters.
Fred is survived by his daughter and son in law, Pamela and Marc Lawyer of Fountain Inn, South Carolina; six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Graveside services will be Thursday, December 31, 2015 at 4:00 P.M. at the Mount Gilead Cemetery in Rocky with Brother Ron Tilley officiating and under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena. There will be no visitation.
Sherry Jo Cole
September 3, 1942 - January 2, 2016
Sherry Jo Cole, age 73, of Mena, died Saturday, January 2, 2016 at the National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs. She was born on Thursday, September 3, 1942 to Merrell and Ruby Dee Hill Reams in Los Angeles, California.
Sherry loved her family and spending time with her grandchildren and her pets and enjoyed the outdoors; working in her flower beds, yard work and helping anyone in need. She was known by her family as a person with a very giving heart. She was a pastor's wife for 50 years and was a member of the Concord Baptist Church where she served the Lord. Sherry was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friends and will be missed by all who knew her.
She is preceded in death by her parents and one son, Tracy Cole.
Sherry is survived by her husband of 53 years, A.J. Cole of Mena; one son, Troy Cole of Springfield, Missouri; one daughter and son in law, Mitzi and Sam Pearl of Watson, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Dalton Pearl and wife, Karen of Mena, Jenna Pearl of Watson, Oklahoma, Bryce Cole and Charli Cole both of Springfield, Missouri; two great grandchildren, Kaden Pearl and Krystal Pearl both of Mena; several nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. at the Concord Baptist Church in Ink with Brother Ron Ladd and Brother Jerry Taylor officiating. Interment will follow in the Concord Cemetery under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 6, 2016 from 6-8 P.M. at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mena.
Pallbearers will be Troy Cole, Bryce Cole, Dalton Pearl, Sam Pearl, Ferrall Cole and Frank Golden.
Johnathan "Johnny" Bart Smith
February 6, 1939 - January 2, 2016
Johnathan “Johnny” Smith, age 76, of Rocky, died Saturday, January 2, 2016 at the Rich Mountain Nursing and Rehab in Mena. He was born on February 6, 1939 to Marvin Thomas and Hester Ann Walston Smith in Potter, Arkansas.
Johnny was a man of very few words, but had a presence about him that showed he cared. He was a Christian and loved his family. He enjoyed his son, Kyle very much and loved to go backroading in the mountains. Johnny enjoyed hunting and fishing in his younger days. He worked over 30 years for the Polk County Road Department in which he was very proud of. Johnny was a loving father, grandfather, uncle and friend and will be missed by all who knew him.
Johnny is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Doris Smith; one daughter, Tina Smith; his brother, Matt Smith and three sisters, Robbie Mindl, Sue Shaw and Carolyn Standridge.
Survivors include one son, Kyle Smith of Rocky; two daughters, Dovie Herring of Benton and Tina Huber of Mena; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be Monday, January 4, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. at the Canaanland Church with Reverend Jack Smith officiating. Interment will follow in the Canaanland Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service at the Canaanland Church under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena.
Pallbearers will be Johnathan Smith, Jimmy Mabry, Charles Wayne Lance, Nathan Smith, Josh Bates and Andrew Smith.
Vera Elizabeth Craft
March 12, 1926 - November 17, 2015
Vera Elizabeth Craft, age 89, of Cove, died Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at the Rich Mountain Nursing and Rehab in Mena. She was born on Friday, March 12, 1926 to Stanley Bailey and Zona Serena Ash Turner in Plattsburg, Missouri.
Vera lived her life as a good Christian woman enjoy served the Lord with all her heart. She was a member of the Whole Council Church of God in Cove. As a younger woman she worked many years as a nurse’s aid and worked many years in nursing homes. When she moved to Arkansas she started doing in home care. She was a very hard worker and enjoyed helping others. Vera enjoyed reading and gardening. Vera was a loving mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ralph Craft; two sons, Veral Craft and Ronnie Craft; two brothers, Earl Turner and Ernest Turner; four sisters, Shirley Turner, Nadine Turner, Vida May Turner and Dorothy Rogers.
Vera is survived by her two sons and daughter in law, Alfred Craft of Mena and Don and Deanna Craft of Cove; her daughter, Cheryl Deramus of Mena; her three brothers, Stanley Turner of Chanute, Kansas, Herbert Turner of Chanute, Kansas and Chester Turner of Missouri; her sister, Ruby Hazelbecker of Missouri; fifteen grandchildren; thirty three great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 11 A.M. at the Whole Council Church of God Cemetery in Cove with Sister Jean Maechler officiating under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home of Mena. No visitation is scheduled.
Arnold Lee Holbrook
November 16, 1940 - December 5, 2015
Arnold Lee Holbrook (1940-2015) 75, of Acorn passed away at home surrounded by his children on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at his home. He was born on Saturday, November 16, 1940 to the late Proctor and Mabel Howard Holbrook in Jefferson, Ohio.
Arnold spent his early years in Florida as a superintendent for Gibeaut Construction Company. He raised his kids on the farm in Cove and won Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year in 1977, later relocating to Mena. Upon his retirement, Arnold loved restoring old tractors back to their prime working day and spending time with his family. He had been an active member of the local Elks Lodge for several years where he loved to socialize and dance. Arnold was a loving father, grandfather, brother and friend.
He is survived by his three children, Tammy and Kelly Nicholas of Aurora, Colorado, Earnie and Trina Holbrook of Rockport, Texas and Pamela (Higgins) and Timmy Tabor of Mena, Arkansas; grandchildren, Krystal Titsworth of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Ian Holbrook of Rockport, Texas and Darby Nicholas of Aurora, Colorado; brothers and sisters, Juanita Ingram of Tampa, Florida, Bud Holbrook of Mena, Arkansas, Patty Wooldridge of Naples, Florida and Procter (Stoney) Holbrook Jr. of Naples, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Carson Titsworth of Hot Springs, Arkansas and Kaydince Holbrook of Rockport, Texas; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
A family and friends gathering in remembrance of Arnold will be held December 20, 2015 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at his home at 115 Polk 109 in Acorn.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to The Hospice Promise Foundation in care of Ouachita Regional Hospice, 1106 S Mena, Arkansas 71953, for their excellent care of Arnold and his family in the past weeks or The Mena Elks Lodge #781, 124 Elk Lane, Mena, Arkansas 71953 .
