Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Robert Butler
Robert Raymond Butler, 76, of Van Buren, died Friday, Dec. 6, 2002, at a local nursing home. He was a retired aerospace engineer for Hughes Aircraft, an Air Force veteran and a member of River Valley Golf Association.
Memorial service was held Dec. 11 at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Lewis Funeral Chapel of Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah; two daughters, Peggy Sue Brant of Temecula, Calif., and Betty Louise Houghtalling of Williamsburg, Va.; two sons, Julius Albert Butler of Van Buren and Bruce Allen Butler of Lakewood, Calif.; two sisters, Betty Ross and Pat Cutshal, both of Denver; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Ginny Sweeney
Ginny Sweeney, 66, of Van Buren, died Monday, Dec. 9, 2002, at a local hospital. She was a retired bookkeeper for Tipton Olds-Honda in El Cajon, Calif., a retired nurse’s assistant at Mercy Hospital in San Diego, was active in the Sewing Club at Flatrock Village and was secretary of the Grievance Committee at Flatrock Village.
Memorial mass was held Dec. 13 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren. Cremains will be interred at Church of St. Mary’s of the Snow Cemetery in Saugerties, N.Y., at a later date.
She is survived by two daughters, Marcia Rondinelli of Santee, Calif., and Karen Gorham of Roland; a son, Gary Sweeney of Littleton, N.H.; a sister, Shirley Bach of North Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael’s Catholic Church, c/o Karen Gorham, Rt. 1, Box 578, Roland, OK 72954.
Harriet Robinson
Harriet Celeste Robinson, 78, of Alma, died Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002, at her home. She was a member of Christian Church in Shelbina, Mo., and a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Lynn Robinson; two daughters, Sharon Cole of Fort Smith and Myra Donahue of West Fork; three sons, Ronald “Ronnie” Robinson of Alma, Robert “Bobby” Robinson of Fort Smith and Rodney Robinson of Topeka, Kan.; one sister, Doris Myers of Fayetteville, Ga.; one brother, Frank Thomas of Florida; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Dec. 16 at Ocker Chapel of Alma. Burial was at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Ronald, Robert and Rodney Robinson, Joel Cole, Billy Cole, Shane Donahue, Mitchell Cole and Ronald Robinson Jr.
Ruth Baker
Ruth Naomi Baker, 85, of Alma, died Saturday, Oct. 19, 2002, at her home. She was a retired pharmacist assistant for the Florida State Hospital. She was the widow of Robert Baker.
Graveside service was held Oct. 22 at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
She is survived by a sister, Kathryn Elizabeth Apple of Alma; a brother, Thomas Drake of Kansas City, Mo.; two grandchildren, Ryan Robert Baker of Hollywood, Fla., and Reece Michael Baker of Singer Island, Fla.; a niece, Sandra Wiley; and three nephews, Bob Keith of Fort Smith and Ward Keith and William Lowell Keith, both of Alma; several great-nieces and nephews.
John Dipboye
John F. “Doc” Dipboye, 95, of Van Buren, died Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002, at a local hospital. He was a retired warehouseman for Harding Glass Co. of Fort Smith and member and past treasurer of Bethlehem Freewill Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Inez; three sons, Forrest Dipboye of Springdale, Dale Dipboye of Van Buren and Richard Dipboye of Sand Springs, Okla.; and a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Dec. 14 at Edwards Van-Alma Chapel. Burial was at Gill Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were his grandchildren.
Floyd Franklin
Floyd A. Franklin, 92, of Natural Dam, died Friday, March 21, 2003, at a local hospital. He was a retired farmer.
Survivors include three daughters, Ruby Hester of Tulsa, Reba Koonce of Uniontown and Melinda Hendrix of St. Louis; six sons, Carl of Cedarville, Lloyd and Leroy, both of Cedarville, Steven of Natural Dam, Donald of Huntsville and Ronald of Tulsa; 24 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held March 25 at Independence Freewill Baptist Church. Burial was at Hall Cemetery near Natural Dam under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buen.
Pallbearers were Danny Hester, Allen Franklin, Bill Franklin, Gary Koonce, Tim Franklin, Curtis Hendrix and Samuel Franklin.
Honorary pallbearers were Dustin Franklin, Rockey Franklin, Terry Koonce, Rodney Franklin, Tode Franklin, Justin Hendrix, Brian Franklin and George Kakidas.
Eva Jeryo
Eva Loraine “Tot” Jeryo, 97, died Monday, Dec. 9, 2002, in Van Buren. She was born May 3, 1905, in Mansfield, the daughter of John Marshall and Martha Shuler Marshall. Mrs. Jeryo was a direct descendant of John Marshall, second chief justice of the United States Supreme Court. She attended the University of California in Berkeley and received her bachelor’s degree from Henderston State Teacher College of Arkadelphia. She earned her master’s degree from Peabody University.
After college, she taught school at Mansfield, Booneville and Rogers. She marriage John Jeryo, a pharmacist, and together they operated Jeryo’s Drug Store in Van Buren. Mrs. Jeryo was a charter member of Chapter P, P.E.O., of Van Buren. She also was a charter member of the Garden Gate Garden Club in Van Buren and was a teacher of flower arranging, teaching many classes throughout the region. She was a member of Heritage United Methodist Church in Van Buren.
She is survived by a niece, Dorothy June Musgrave of Shreveport, La.; great-nieces, Ruth Bartlett of Fort Smith, Rebecca Callicoatte of Shreveport and Johnny Jo Bachtell of Tulsa; one great-nephew, Marshall Musgrave of Dallas; and several great-great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren. Burial will be at Forest Park Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Earnest Bartlett, Bob Vandergriff, David Vandergriff, Don Sangers, Steven Peer and Marshall Musgrave.
Shirley Morris
Shirley M. Morris, 56, of Van Buren, died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2002, at a Fort Smith hospital. She was a member of Alma Heights Missionary Baptist Church.
She is survived by her mother, Josephine Morris of Van Buren; and two sisters, June Dodd of Van Buren and Geraldine Cermak of Negley, Ohio.
Funeral service was held Dec. 10 at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Smith with burial at Roselawn Cemetery in Fort Smith.
Pallbearers were Tim and Michael Roe, Jeffery, Troy and Raymond Dodd and Ides Evans.
