Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Travis Edward Lee
December 12, 1935 - April 7, 2016
Travis Edward Lee, age 80, of Mena, Arkansas died April 7, 2016 at the Mena Regional Health System in Mena. He was born on Thursday, December 12, 1935 to Oscar and Lorraine (Carrell) Lee in Mount Vernon, Texas.
Travis Worked as a chemical engineer in the oilfield of California for Petrolite Corporation and retired in 1994. He enjoyed riding motorcycles and was a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association. He was a member of the Mena Freewill Baptist Church. Travis was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend and will be missed by all who know him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, late wife Joanne (Fraley) Lee; his daughter, Tracy Chatham and his sister, Sandra.
He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann (Wagner) Lee of Mena; his son and daughter in law, Monty and Margaret of California; step daughters and husbands, Carol and Gil Howell of Mena; and Cathy and Jim Frampton of California; many grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
No services are planned at this time and cremation services are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena.
Sue Tabler
November 16, 1947 - March 21, 2016
Sue Tabler, age 68, of Board Camp, died Monday, March 21, 2016 at CHI St. Vincent in Hot Springs AR. She was born on Sunday, November 16, 1947 to Thurman Luther and Pena Anderson Scott in Columbia, Louisiana.
Sue loved life and enjoyed helping others. She worked the majority of her life as a Registered Nurse in Arkansas and in Texas. She recently worked in Mena at Ouachita Family Health and with Mena Regional Health System. After her husband, Maurice, retired, she worked as a traveling nurse throughout the United States in places such as Alaska, Montana, Utah and Nebraska. Sue truly enjoyed seeing the country and then returning to Mena to relax and recharge. She truly had a servant’s heart. She loved her family and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and her dogs. Sue was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Sue is survived by her husband, Maurice Tabler of Board Camp; two sons, Robert Harp and wife, Alecia of Hewitt, Texas and Scott Harp and spouse, Brad Wilhelm of Orlando, Florida; one stepson, Russell Tabler of Carrollton, Texas; two stepdaughters, Robin Seavers of Texarkana, Arkansas and Roxanne Boyd of Lamar, Arkansas; one brother, Tim Scott and wife, Phyllis of Smackover, Arkansas; one sister, Tish Sanders and husband, Tony of Cody, Wyoming; two grandchildren, Blair Harp and Abbie Harp of Hewitt, Texas; six step grandchildren, Josh Stinson, Hannah Topor, Lana Thurman, Dale Stewart, Kenneth Boyd, and Miranda Boyd, three great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mena with cremation services entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena.
Donations in her name to Elite Home Health and/or Mena Hospice in Mena, AR would be appreciated.
Ladonua Kay Hembree
April 26, 1971 - April 11, 2016
Ladonua Kay Hembree, age 44, of Mena, died Monday, April 11, 2016 at her home. She was born on Monday, April 26, 1971 to Orion Don and Kay Frances Ashley Duvak in Lone Grove, Oklahoma.
Ladonua loved life and enjoyed the setting on her front porch listening to the birds, working in her flower beds; going fishing, playing cards and rolling dice with the whole family. She was at home in her kitchen, cooking, visiting, sharing recipes, and teaching all her girls how to cook and how to laugh. Ladonua was a selfless, and beautiful soul, always putting everyone else’s well being before her own. She was the guiding force that held her entire family together, and the perfect example of unconditional love. She lived for her family and spending time with her grandchildren. Ladonua was a loving wife, Momma, Nana, sister, aunt and friend and will be missed by all who knew her.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Ladonua is survived by her soul mate of 25 years, William Hembree of Mena; three daughters and sons in law, Jessica and Archie McMellon of Mena, Kaylee and Adam Miller of Mena and Kristie McCarty of Mena; three brothers, Richie Crook and wife, Kelly of Mustang, Oklahoma, Dean Crook and wife, Lisa of Lone Grove, Oklahoma and Russell Duvak of Ardmore, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Kaytlynn Parkin Brandi Miller, Flower McCarthy and Adileigh McMellon all of Mena; several nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be Thursday, April 14, 2016 at11:00 A.M. at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Richie Crook officiating. Interment will follow in the Mount Gilead Cemetery in Rocky. Visitation will be general.
Pallbearers will Archie McMellon, Adam Miller, Tyler Hurst, Hoss Miller, Stanley Laughlin and Billy Joe Roger.
Bruce Efird
September 22, 1951 - March 13, 2016
Bruce Efird, age 64 of Mena, Arkansas died Sunday, March 13, 2016 at Mena Regional Health Systems in Mena. He was born Saturday September 22, 1951, to Wendell & Pauline Buck Efird in Malvern Arkansas.
After graduating from Malvern High School, Bruce was a standout football player and was fortunate enough to play college football at Ouachita Baptist University, where he held several records as a kicker. Bruce also had the opportunity to play for the Dallas Cowboys as a “Walk On” but chose to raise his family instead. Before graduating from college with a Bachelor’s Degree, Bruce marriage the love of his life, Susan Lindsey in 1972. After college, Bruce worked as the manager of Ouachita Valley Dairy in Camden, Arkansas for about 5 years. He and his family left the dairy and moved to Ashdown where he opened Efird Ford, Inc. which he operated for 15 years. He then moved to Mena with his family where he opened Mena Ford, Inc. in 1994. He has operated it for the past 22 years. Bruce served as a board member of the Dallas Valley Fire Department the last 3 years.
Bruce was a loving husband, father, PopPop, brother, uncle, “Big Bad Bruce” and friend and will be missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Wendell Bruce Efird Jr., and two sisters, Wendelene Efird Smith and Cricket Efird Owen.
Bruce is survived by his loving wife of 43years, Susan Lindsey Efird of Mena; one son and daughter in law, Anthony and Katie Efird of Mena; two daughters, Nelia Efird Schell of Mena, and Emily Efird Heath and husband, Dean of Mena; one son in law, Chris Schell of Mena; two sisters, Lou Ella Efird Gilchrist of Mountain Home and Sharon Efird Walters of Malvern; eight grandchildren, Jackson Efird, Sam Efird, Connor Efird, Thaddaeus Nance, Taylor Nance, Savanah Schell Perez, Chelsea Schell all of Mena and Alexes Schell of Florida; four great grandchildren, Genesis Fabian, Jeremiah Perez, Marley Schell all of Mena and Mason Schell of Florida; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. at the First Baptist Church in Mena with Brother Butch Riddle, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Ashdown officiating. Interment will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Camden, Arkansas at 4:00 P.M. under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena. Visitation will be Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from 4-8 P.M. at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mena.
Pallbearers for Mena service will be Bobby Freeze, Brent Gorden, Jamie Williams, E. Wayne McDaniel, Russell Gibbons, Mac Stroud, Jim O’Neal, Brian Erickson, Jim Fuller and Daryen Wiles.
Pallbearers for the graveside service in Camden will be L. E. Lindsey, Paul Lindsey, Pryor Lindsey, Judson Lindsey, Jay Dooley, Jim Golden, Jonathan Dooley and Bill Walters.
Honorary Pallbearers will be the OBU Football Alumni, Colton Wiles, Brian Bowser, Matthew Bowser, Ray Allen, Don Quigley, Jerry Smith, Michael Smith, Donnie Walters, Ben Owen, Kenny Gilchrist, Grant Dooley, John Harris Lindsey, Gene Lance and Andy Brown.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Mena Regional Support Foundation, P.O. Box 1526, Mena, Arkansas 71953, First Baptist Church Sound and Music Fund, 811 Port Arthur Mena, Arkansas 71953 or Ouachita Baptist University Athletic Department, 410 Ouachita Street, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71998.
Margaret Isaac
March 8, 1921 - March 24, 2016
Margaret Bistrican Isaac, age 95, of Mena, died Thursday, March 24, 2016 at Mena Regional Health System in Mena. She was born on Tuesday, March 8, 1921 to Joseph and Mary (Pitak) Bistrican in East Chicago, Indiana.
Margaret loved life and always trusted the Lord. She was a member of the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Mena and served many years as the head of the Altar Society; serving her church and Lord any way she could. Margaret was a Prayer Warrior and was praying for her family, her church and others several times during her day. She loved her family and spending time with her daughter, Pat and her grandchildren. Margaret’s hobbies included knitting, crocheting and sewing. She also enjoyed listening to Classical music, watching musical movies and watching EWTN. Margaret was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend and will be missed by all who knew her.
She is preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Stanley Bistrican, Joseph Bistrican, Tom Bistrican and Wendell Bistrican; two sisters, Mary Talarek and Dorothy Davis and her granddaughter, Rebekah Johnson.
Margaret is survived by her daughter, Patricia White of Mena; one brother, Richard Bistrican of Mena; two sisters, Teresa Mears of Portage, Indiana and Bettie Anderson of Gilbert, Arizona; two grandchildren, Charlene Gear of Bentonville, Charles White III of Gilbert, Arizona; seven great grandchildren, Christina, Corianna, Cassandra, Carley Jo, Nikki, Catie and Stephanie; two great-great grandsons, Urijah and Seth; numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, April 1, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church with Father John Tuyen Tran as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery under the direction of the Bowser Family Funeral Home of Mena. Visitation and Rosary service will be Thursday, March 31, 2016 starting at 7:00 P.M. and Rosary service at 7:30 at the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Mena.
Pallbearers will be Ron Anderle, Larry Lamia, Jose Hernandez, Darren Gear, Jason Gibson and John Titsworth.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.
