Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
William Lee "Bill" Ryan
(December 5, 1947 - April 12, 2012)
William Lee “Bill” Ryan, age 64, of Mena passed away Thursday, April 12, 2012 at his home.
He was born December 5, 1947 in Hammond, Indiana to the late Basil L. Ryan and the late Lyda K. Stevenson Ryan. He was united in marriage to Mary Conway. Bill was a dispatcher for the Polk County Sherriff’s office for many years. He was in the United States Marine Corp. serving in the Vietnam War and was of the Methodist faith. Bill was a loving husband, father, brother, and friend and he will be dearly missed.
Survivors are:
Wife: Mary Ryan of Mena, Arkansas
Son: John Sumner of Kellogg, Iowa
Daughters: Lyda Ryan of Mena, Arkansas Kaitlyn Ryan of Mena, Arkansas Laurie Ryan of Mena, Arkansas Megan Sumner of Denver, Colorado Dawn Strantz and husband George of South Bend, Indiana
Grandchildren: Peyton and Trey Strantz of South Bend, Indiana
Brothers: Jerry Ryan of Mena, Arkansas Gary Ryan of Mena, Arkansas
Cousins: Jeff and Cindy Livin of Lufkin, Texas Ted and JoElla Livin of Mena, Arkansas Ed and Dorothy Stevenson of Mena, Arkansas Greg and Angie Livin of Denver, Colorado
Special Friend and Golfing Buddy: Lauren Conway of Bremen, Indiana
He was preceded in death by his parents, Basil and Lyda Ryan. Funeral services will be Monday, April 16, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. in the Beasley-Wood Chapel with Brother Victor Rowell officiating. Interment will follow in the Pinecrest Memorial Park under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.
Visitation with family and friends will be Sunday, April 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Joe Shaw, Mike Godfrey, Mike Oglesby, Tom Matejek, Mark Matejek, Johnny Howell and Mike Howell.
Myrtle Hopper
(July 19, 1918 - April 16, 2012)
Myrtle Hopper, age 93, of Mena, Arkansas, formerly of Zafra, Oklahoma passed away Monday, April 16, 2012 in Mena.
She was born July 19, 1918 to the late William Davis and the late Mandy Baxter Davis. She was united in marriage to the late J. L. Hopper. She was a seamstress for many years at the Renova Shirt Factory here in Mena and was a member of the Freewill Baptist Church. Mrs. Hopper was a loving mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, and friend.
She is survived by:
Daughters: Dorothy Moore and husband J.C. of Zafra, Oklahoma Ellen Hensley and husband Glen of Octavia, Oklahoma Sister: Lessie Brinkley of Idabel, Oklahoma
4 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Mandy Davis, her husband J.L. Hopper, 4 brothers, Levi, Sherman, Sid and Melvin Davis, and 1 great-grandchild, Billy Barrett.
Funeral services will be Friday, April 20, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hatfield Freewill Baptist Church with Brother Donnie Jewell and Brother David Campbell officiating. Interment follows in Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Hatfield under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Visitation will be general.
Pallbearers will be Dennis Hensley, Will Hensley, Reese Hensley, Chance Hensley, Cody Barrett, and Justin Barrett. Honorary pallbearers are Bill Barrett and Phillip Bunda.
Glen Esten Cole
(February 21, 1936 - April 14, 2012)
Glen E. Cole, age 76, of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, passed away Saturday, April 14, 2012 in Ft. Smith.
Glen was born on February 21, 1936 in Ransom Community to the late Auther Cole and the late Eloise Jennings Cole. He was married to Wanda Staggs Cole. Glen was a Sales Manager for Crawford County Ford for many years and a member of Spradling Baptist Church. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, and friend to all who knew him and loved him.
He is survived by:
Wife: Wanda Cole of the home
Son: Michael G. Cole of Barling, Arkansas Daughter: Karen D. Podgornik and husband Tommy of Greenwood, Arkansas
Grandchildren: Matthew Podgornik of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Kevin Podgornik of Ft. Smith, Arkansas Austin Cole of Barling, Arkansas
Sister: Jo Ann Wiles and husband Benny of Mena, Arkansas
Brother-in-law: Willis Staggs of Waldron, Arkansas Sisters-in-law: Betty Wiles and husband Ralph of Mena, Arkansas Mary Staggs
He was preceded in death by his parents, Auther and Eloise Cole, and a brother-in-law, Eddie Staggs.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Mena with Reverend Travis Langley and Reverend Ben Wiles officiating. Interment will follow in the Pinecrest Memorial Park under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena. Visitation will be Monday, April 16, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Roger Head, Matthew Podgornik, Kevin Podgornik, Jonathan Wiles, Marcus Wiles and Jacob Tolman.
Honorary pallbearers will be Adult II Sunday School Class of Spradling Baptist Church, John Philpot, Joe Southard, Gerry Autry and Otis Kiser.
Shirley A. Thomas
(January 20, 1937 - April 18, 2012)
Shirley A. Thomas, 75, of Mena, AR. passed away at 1:45 AM on Wednesday, April 18th, at Rich Mountain Nursing Home after an extended illness.
Shirley was born on January 20th, 1937, in South Bend, IN., to Charles Howard Stroup and Mary Alice Ort Stroup. She resided in Mena, Arkansas for the past 5 years, coming from Longview, Texas, and prior to that, she lived in South Bend, IN.
On February 14th, 1971 as Shirley A. Stroup, she married Danny Joe Thomas, in Vivian, Louisiana, who preceded her in death on November 30th, 2001. Mrs. Thomas is survived by two daughters; Colleen A. Caver and husband Larry of Atlanta, TX., and Sheila D. Sisemore and husband Russell of Big Cedar, OK., one son; Michael A. Ringer and wife Sheila of Mishawaka, IN.; seven grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; Charles Howard Stroup and Mary Alice Ort Stroup, and one sister; Joan Blosser.
Shirley had many hobbies. They include painting, where she won several awards doing so, ceramics, reading, antiquing, traveling, camping, quilting, and making afghans, for which she also won several awards for doing so. She also loved being with her grandchildren and family. She was also a member of TOPS, and volunteered at Mena Regional Health Systems in Mena, Arkansas.
Memorial services will be Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Christ’s Church at Mountain Fork with Curtis Cox officiating. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Interment will be in Sumption Prairie Cemetery in South Bend, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ladies Auxiliary at Mena Regional Health System or the Polk County Library.
Nellie "Dovie" Howard Stinson
(September 1, 1921 - April 21, 2012)
Nellie “Dovie” Howard Stinson, age 90, of Mena, Arkansas, passed away April 21, 2012 in Mena.
She was born September 1, 1921 in Spiro, Oklahoma to the late Richard C. Howard and the late Linnie Mae Williams Howard. She was united in marriage to the late Willie Dewey Stinson. She was a line worker at Lane Poultry Processing for many years and was of the Pentecostal faith. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend and will be missed dearly by her family.
She is survived by:
Son: Richard Dewey Stinson of Avondale, Arizona
Daughter: Phillis Stinson Smedley and husband Gary of Tupelo, Mississippi
Sister: Florence Howard of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Brothers: Ronald Howard of Portland, Oregon Billy Howard
Son-in-Law: Joel Anderson of Cove, Arkansas
9 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren
She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Howard and Linnie Williams Howard, her husband, Willie Dewey Stinson, a daughter, Barbara Stinson Anderson, 3 brothers, Boyd, Lloyd, and Marley Howard, and 3 sisters, Hazel Phillips, Faye Brinley, and Mildred Brown.
Memorial services will be Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Vandervoort First Methodist Church with Brother Timmy Smedley officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.
