Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Ott McLain
May 19, 1922 - June 28, 2016
Ott McLain, age 95, of Plunkettville, Oklahoma, died Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at the Mena Regional Health System. He was born on Thursday, May 19, 1921 to William and Ola Parsons McLain in Athens, Arkansas.
Ott was united in marriage to Vera Margie Davis on July 6, 1943. Ott joined the United States Army during World War II in 1942 and was honorably discharged in 1946. Ott was a truck driver most of his life and drove many years for Smith Pallet. Ott and Vera spent most of their lives living in Plunkettville in a home that he had built, where he raised his cattle and she opened a beauty shop.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Vera McLain, his two brothers, Speedy McLain and Hank McLain and one sister, Marcel Dority.
He is survived by several nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews who have fond memories of “Uncle Ott” as he dearly loved being around children. He loved watching children catch fish, riding horses and just about anything else that children enjoyed. He was a loving uncle and friend and will be missed by all who knew him.
A graveside service will be Friday, July 1, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Cove with Brother Todd Webb officiating. Arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena. Visitation will be general.
Wilma Louise Johnson
November 4, 1931 - July 13, 2016
Wilma Louise Johnson, age 84, of Nella, passed away, Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at her home. She was born on Wednesday, November 4, 1931 to Fred and Annie Hudgens Staggs in Nella, Arkansas.
Wilma loved life and enjoyed the outdoors working side by side with her loving husband, Leon for 69 years. She enjoyed working in her garden, making quilts, and cooking for her family and community; where she is best remembered for her homemade breads and cinnamon rolls. She worked outside of the home in Mena at the shirt factory then moved to Oklahoma where she worked for Griffins Grocery Company and a daycare in her home for many years. Wilma dearly loved the children she cared for and talked about them frequently. She was a lifelong member of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Nella and spent the first years of her retirement with her husband, Leon making improvements and building a fellowship hall. Wilma was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend and will be missed by all who knew her.
She is preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Gene and Billy Staggs and one sister, Irma Van De Wiele.
Wilma is survived by her husband of 69 years, Leon Johnson of Nella; one son and daughter in law, Ollen and Linda Johnson of Porter, Oklahoma; two daughters and sons in law, Jo
Ann and Marvin Hahn of Phoenix, Arizona and Glinda and Mike Huitt of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Gerald Hahn of Phoenix, Arizona; Denise Peck and husband Shane of Phoenix, Arizona, David Hahn and wife, Bonnie of Phoenix, Arizona, Alissa Backes of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Renee Johnson of Porter, Oklahoma and Mike Wicks of Porter, Oklahoma; five great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be Monday, July 18, 2016 at11:00 A.M. at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Nella with Brother Terry Benton officiating. Interment will be Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at the Citizens Cemetery at Fort Gibson, Oklahoma under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas. Visitation will be Sunday, July 17, 2016 from 5-7 P.M. at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mena.
Pallbearers will be Gerald Hahn, David Hahn, Mike Huitt, Marvin Hahn, Randell Beaty and Tom Murdock.
Charles Eugene Hedges Sr.
March 19, 1931 - April 27, 2016
Charles Eugene Hedges Sr., age 85, of Mena, Arkansas died Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith. He was born on Thursday, March 19, 1931 to Charles Elba and Thelma M. Bohlier Hedges in Pasco, Ohio.
Charles served in the United States Navy from 1948 to 1964 having served during the Korean Conflict and was Honorably Discharged. He attended Yocana Baptist Church. Charles loved his family and spending time with his wife, Barbara. He worked several years at Rockwell International as an Electronic Specialist in Cedar Rapids Iowa for 15 years. In 2007, he and his wife moved to Mena to retire. Charles enjoyed going canoeing, woodworking and hanging out at the Board Camp Fire Department. Charles was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend and will be missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Dana Hedges.
Charles is survived by his wife, Barbara Hedges of Mena; five sons, Reverend Charles Hedges Jr, of Galena, Ohio, Steven of Dayton, Ohio, Joseph of Alabama, Loren of Dayton, Ohio and Raymond of Dayton, Ohio; two daughters, Kandy Ortgies of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Laura Comer of Dayton, Ohio; three brother, Philip of Lexington Kentucky, Robert Koeller of Fort Collins, Colorado and Noel Koeller of Ormand Beach Florida; two sisters, Darla Campbell of Dayton, Ohio and Karen Clary of Xenia, Ohio; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. at the Yocana Baptist Church with Brother Frank Gibson and Brother Lynn Chiles officiating. Interment will follow in the Pinecrest Cemetery under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena. Visitation will be general.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Board Camp Volunteer Fire Department, C/O Henry Hankins, 890 Polk 57, Mena, Arkansas 71953 or the Polk County Senior Center, P.O. Box 750, Mena, Arkansas 71953.
Charles F. Kiser
December 29, 1924 - April 28, 2016
Charles F. Kiser, age 91, of Wickes, Arkansas died Thursday, April 28, 2016 at Mena Regional Health System. He was born on Monday, December 29, 1924 to Earl Loyed and Wilda Ann Wheat Kiser in Nashoba, Oklahoma.
Charles served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1969 having served during World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War with an Honorable Discharge. In his early years, Charles enjoyed working on old cars. Later in life, he enjoyed a quite life having his morning coffee on the porch, caring for his animals and spending time with his family. Charles was a father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend and will be missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings, Katherine Wiley, Clint Kiser, and Carolyn Kisler.
Charles is survived by his daughter and son in law, Linda and Tim Genzel of Wickes; one son, Charles Kiser of Forestburg, Texas; two brothers, Cornell Kiser of Poteau, Oklahoma and Kenneth Kiser of Oxnard, California; five sisters, Charlott Guerien of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Virginia Dickerson of Plainview, Texas, Jean Camp of Poteau, Oklahoma, Josie Heflin of Wister, Oklahoma, and Sharon Allen of Sallisaw, Oklahoma; two grandchildren, Lynetta Knight of Cross Roads, Texas and Teresa Saathoff of San Antonio, Texas; six great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild, several nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Full Military Funeral Honors will be rendered Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. at the Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home of Mena. No visitation is planned.
Manitta Kay Foster
November 20, 1939 - May 5, 2016
Manitta Kay Foster, age 76, of Mena, died Thursday, May 5, 2016 at her home. She was born on Monday, November 20, 1939 to Rex Elno and Virginia May Ball Foster in Pontiac, Michigan.
Manitta was an accomplished potter with a beautiful, unique artistic sense of style. She loved to travel and explore out of the way places. She lived in many wonderful places including Michigan, California, Florida, Virginia, Washington, Alabama and Arkansas. She loved nature and was especially drawn to water, rivers, lakes, oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. She collected rocks from every place she visited and they all had a story to tell. She proudly displayed them in her beautiful gardens which will now grace the gardens of her children and siblings.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Manitta is survived by her six children, Bret Hammett of Michigan, Virginia Gerbino of California, Karen Quirk of Arkansas, Sally Swenson of Michigan, Zachary Bond of California and Sarah Bond of Texas; her siblings, Maureen Morril of Michigan, Mark Foster of Oregon, Melinda Braden of California, Mathew Foster of Arkansas and Melanie Bowles of Georgia; twelve grandchildren; one great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Per Mannita request, there will be no memorial service, but her ashes will be spread by her family at some of her favorite places all over the country. She was a gentle soul and will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
Cremation services have been entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena.
Donald S. Rose
Donald S. Rose, of Bella Vista, Arkansas died Sunday, October 09, 2011 at Circle of Life Hospice House in Bentonville, Arkansas. He was born October 24, 1934 in Village of Nyack, New York the son of Madeline Muise and Arthur Ellis Rose.
His career began as a New York State Trooper, then Captain with Burbank, California Police Department, then as Chief of Police in Reedley, California. His second retirement was as a Safety Analyst for the City of Santa Ana, California.
Donald enjoyed camping, motor home traveling, golf, watching soccer, history, and reading. He had lived in the Northwest Arkansas area for over six years after moving from Pensacola, Florida.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, one brother; Ellis H. Rose, one daughter; Jodi Monogue.
Donald is survived by: his wife; Patricia Rose, of Bella Vista, Arkansas whom he marriage September 2, 1978 in Burbank, California, one son; David Yokell and his wife Deborah, of Hillsdale, Michigan, one step-son; Michael Renuart and his wife Michelle, of Pensacola, Florida, two daughters; Donna Rose, of Knoxville, Tennessee, Dena Rose, of Folsom, Pennsylvania, three step-daughters; Veronica Rose Day, of Chicago, Illinois, Christine Renuart Rapa and her husband Luciano, of Rogers, Arkansas, Theresa Paulino and her husband Eddie, of Bentonville, Arkansas, fifteen grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Memorial service will be: Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. at Bella Vista Community Church.
Memorials to: Alzheimer’s Association of Bentonville, Arkansas.
