Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Judy Karr
Mrs. Judy Karr, 62, of Van Buren, Arkansas, died Saturday, January 8, 2005 in a local hospital. She was a homemaker.
Graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday, January 11, 2005 with at Fairview Cemetery in Van Buren, with burial at Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
A daughter Donna Thomas of Van Buren, a son Eric Karr of Alma, Arkansas, a sister Sharon Pawlowski of Murrieta, California, two brothers; Olen Adams of Covina, California, Carl Adams of Santa Ana, California and three grandchildren survive her.
There will be no public viewing.
Jesse Harold Gilmore
Mr. Jesse Harold Gilmore, 80, of Alma, AR, died Friday, January 21, 2005 in a local nursing home. He was a retired Ironworker for Buckner and Flemings Construction, a member of The Solid Rock Tabernacle Church in Alma, member of Ironworker's local #584 in Tulsa, OK and was a Navy veteran of World War II. He was preceded in death by his wife; Edna Mae Dillard Gilmore.
Funeral service will be 1:00 pm Monday, January 24, 2005 at Butterfield Assembly Of God Church in Van Buren, with burial at Alma Cemetery in Alma, AR under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Mr. Gilmore is survived by three daughters; LaVonne Whitlock of Alma, LaVerne Stephens of Grove, Oklahoma, and LaNelle Schmelzer of Alma, two sons; Reverend Harold Lee Gilmore of Kibler, AR and Reverend Ronnie Gene Gilmore of Alma, AR, a half sister; Peggy Fuqua of Indianapolis, Indiana, 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons; Curtis and John Housley, Michael and Tim Whitlock, and Cody, Jason, Steven, and Travis Gilmore. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Mr. Gilmore's Sunday School Class at The Solid Rock Tabernacle Church in Alma, AR.
Mr. Gilmore may be viewed until the funeral hour.
The family will visit with friends from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Sunday, January 23, 2005 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home in Van Buren.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Solid Rock Tabernacle Church in Alma, AR.
Karen Fagan
Mrs. Karen Kay Fagan, 55, of Alma, AR, died Saturday, February 5, 2005 in a local nursing home. She was a homemaker.
Funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday, February 8, 2005 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Gill Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
She is survived by a daughter; Darla Llemit of Van Buren, AR, two sons; Robert Fagan, Jr. of Little Rock, AR, and Kevin Fagan of Alma, AR, three sisters; Jane Dykes of Granberry, TX, Ann Reynolds and Wanda Webb both of Van Buren, AR. Seven grandchildren also survive her.
Pallbearers will be Shawn Barber, Lee Kelly, Mike Woodard, Earl Duty, Don Shepard, and Frank Kelley.
The family will visit with friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Monday at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, 4100 Alma Highway, Van Buren.
Carlene Ewing
Carlene Johanna Ewing, 71, of Alma, Arkansas, passed away on Sunday, June 21, 2015 in her home. She was a retired Career Orientation and Family and Consumer Sciences teacher for the Alma School District, a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Van Buren where she was Director of Religious Education, a graduate of University of Central Arkansas. She was born December 26, 1943 in Atkins, AR, to the late Carl Schmoll and Dorothy (Nottenkamper) Johnson.
Funeral services was held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at St. Michael's Catholic Church with interment in Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery in Charleston under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma. Rosary was held at 5:30 P.M. Tuesday evening at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Van Buren, AR with visitation to follow.
Survivors include her husband, John Ewing of the home; two daughters, Erica Walters and husband Jason of Mountainburg and Deidre Underhill and husband Jason of Alma; one son, Barret Ewing and wife Amanda of Alma; six sisters, JoAnn Spence, Bernadine Mitchell and Johanna Huffman all of Atkins, AR, Eulene Dugger of Edmond, OK, Mary Beth Brasher of Anna, TX and Judy Muller of Hensley, AR; three brothers, Louis Schmoll of Atkins, John Schmoll of Kennewick, WA and J.J. Johnson of Dover, AR; 4 grandchildren, Rhett and Woodson Underhill, Gabriel Walters and John Welles Ewing.
Pallbearers were Jared Inman, Bradock Schmoll, Doug Spence, Mike Fulmer, Bill Seaton and Mike Burdick.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Be Extraordinary, Inc. • 310 Towson Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901 or Be-X.org
Ola Philpott
Ola Gray Philpott, 105, of Van Buren, died February 5, 2005 in Van Buren. She was the fourth of ten children born to Margaret Ella Ray and William Russell Gray. She was born in Marble, Arkansas on May 24th 1899. The Gray family, accompanied by W.R. Gray's father, moved to Springdale around 1906. Ola told of the families putting all of its worldly goods on and behind wagons for the move that took two days. Occasionally the younger children ran alongside the wagons to break the monotony of the trip. The entourage rested for the night at a campground in the Spring Valley Community, about the halfway mark of the journey.
Around 1917 Ola moved to Fort Smith to live with her sister Amyl Jones and family to attend Draughn?s Business College. She was employed by The Music Company while awaiting the discharge of Zelmer "Cap" Philpott from the Army. Ola and Cap were marriage on May 12, 1921. In the early years of their marriage, the couple lived in several cities in Washington, Portland, OR. And later in and around Los Angeles. Ola continued to work as a bookkeeper wherever they lived and Cap sold Oriental Rugs. At that time the Jones family lived in California also so the couples shared housing.
In the mid 1920's the Philpot's returned to Fort Smith and for nearly 20 years lived on Rogers Avenue where their home and a service station shared the same corner lot. The Philpot's retained ownership of their property on Rogers Avenue for several years after they bought a large acreage on Lee Creek near the Oklahoma border just off Dora Road. There they built a home to serve as a gathering place for all of the extended family. Having no children of her own didn't cause Ola to miss out on having young people around her. "The Farm" was a haven for many generations of family to share, spend work time during weekends and vacations, and gather to meet their aunts, uncles, and cousins who were drawn to the family matriarch. It was a working ranch, with cattle, horses, fences to mend, hay to bale, and many chores to do. At high noon, a large bell would ring, which was a signal from Ola for all to gather for a hearty lunch, which hired hands and family would share together. The couple became affectionately know as "Aunt Ola" and "Uncle Cap" to their family and friends. Cap died in 1969 while at work on the farm, doing what he loved.
Ola"s hours in her flower gardens were truly a labor of love. No one who visited went away without a "care" package of plants. She has been a member of the Fort Smith Garden Club for over 50 years. When the Garden Club hosted a 100th Birthday Party for her in May 1999, she said, "I've worked hard all my life and hard work never hurt anyone. I've lived a full life and I've been blessed in so many ways" Part of that blessing was having survived three tornadoes; two on the farm, many years age, and one at her last home on Mount Vista in Van Buren on the night of April 21, 1996.
For many years, Ola has been a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Fort Smith. She inspired others with her faithful attendance. On a regular basis, Ola would drive from Van Buren to her church in Fort Smith while picking up other members who were unable to drive. Her care for others was also evident as she regularly spent time with friends who were in nursing homes, and as she prepared and delivered meals to those who were homebound.
In addition to her husband, Zelmer "Cap" Philpott, Ola was preceded in death by her siblings; Lelland, Amyl, Grace, Elbridge, Doyle, Pearl, Mary, Dick, and Margaret Elizabeth. She is survived by many nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Funeral Service will be Tuesday, February 8th at 2:00 PM in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in the Roselawn Cemetery of Fort Smith all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home on Monday evening from 6-8 PM.
Memorials may be made to the Immanuel Baptist Church 2201 South Dallas Fort Smith, AR 72901 or the Fort Smith Garden Club.
Ray Aldridge
Mr. Ray Aldridge, 72, of Dyer, AR, died Sunday, February 6, 2005 in a local nursing home. He was a retired heavy equipment operator for Forsgren Construction Company in Fort Smith.
Graveside service will be at 2:00 pm Wednesday at the Dyer Cemetery Arbor, with burial to follow at Dyer Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
He is survived by his wife Wanda, of the home, 2 daughters; Susie Burgess of Muldrow, OK, Marsha Peevy of Mountainburg, AR, a son Harold Aldridge of Mulberry, AR, a sister Wanda Kessler of Kibler, AR and 2 brothers; Johnny Aldridge of Dyer, AR and James Aldridge of Van Buren, AR. 10 grandchildren also survive him.
The family will visit with friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Tuesday, February 8 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, 4100 Alma Highway, Van Buren, AR.
Kathryn Lee
Kathryn Willoughby Lee, 89, of Van Buren, died on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 in a nursing home. She was a member of the Foster Road Church of Christ in Santa Maria, California, she was a retired school teacher for 25 years in Ventura County Public schools, and was a graduate of Cal-State College in Northridge, California. She was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Lee, her parents, Rob and Robbie Willoughby, and one sister, Helen Skeets.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2003 at the Caulksville Cumberland Presbyterian Church with burial held at the Caulksville City Cemetery under the direction of Smith Mortuary of Charleston.
She is survived by one son, David Lee and his wife, Barbara, of Santa Maria, California; two sisters, Faye Hill of North Little Rock and Idell Hall of Fort Smith; and two grandchildren, Tanya and Benjamin Lee of Santa Maria, California; and step grandchildren, Anthony and Jack; three nieces, Sandra Newhart of Fort Smith, Virginia Nedleff of Fort Smith and Lisa Hitt of Beaumont of Texas.
