Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Maggie Brownlee
Maggie Elizabeth Formby Brownlee, known as Beth, died Friday, July 5. She was a wife, mother, homemaker, lifelong genealogist, family historian, and a resident of Heber Springs and Little Rock.
She was born in Mulberry, on April 3, 1927, to Maggie Pierce and Boyd Formby, and was the youngest of five children. She graduated from Mulberry High School as class valedictorian and held a degree from Arkansas Tech in Russellville, in home economics, where she was named “Best All Around.”
She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 50 years, Ralph Maurice Brownlee and a brother Jack Evans Formby.
Survivors include her children, Diane Brownlee and husband Porter of Little Rock, John Ralph Brownlee and wife Glenda of Conway, and Lesa Beth McKinnie and fiance Jay Havens of Fayetteville; and grandchildren, Allyson Brownlee Muth and husband Norris, Ellen Brownlee, Cory McKinnie and Logan McKinnie.
Mrs. Brownlee is also survived by two sisters, Sue Mason of Alma, and Cassie Jean Benham of Morton, Texas; and one brother, Jim Formby and Igean of Drumright, Okla.
A family service was held July 8 at the Little Rock National Cemetery, officiated by Rev. Lawson Anderson. Arrangements under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Brownlee Memorial, Arkansas History Commission, One Capital Mall, Little Rock, AR, 72201.
Patricia McBride
Patricia Ruth McBride of Van Buren, died Wednesday, July 10, 2002, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was born in Rosebud. She was the daughter of the late John and Alma Crockett and was also preceded in death by her husband, Bill McBride. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Van Buren.
Survivors include two daughters, Pam and her husband, Curtis Harris of Van Buren and Kim and her husband, Robert Thornton of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; a sister, Carolyn Barnett of Fort Smith; a brother, James Crockett of Oklahoma; three grandchildren, Amber, Brian and Jennifer and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial service was held July 13 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Van Buren. The body was cremated. Local arrangements were under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sebastian County Humane Society, P.O. Box 10953, Fort Smith, AR 72917 or Trinity Episcopal Church, 918 N. Ninth St., Van Buren, AR 72956.
Henry Steele
Henry Martin Steele, 96, of Van Buren, died Tuesday, July 9, 2002, at a local hospital. He was a member of Heritage United Methodist Church and a 50-year member of Van Buren Masonic Lodge No. 6. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II and was retired from the Life & Casualty Insurance Company which is now American General.
Survivors include his wife, Frankie Steele; a son, Skipper Steele and his wife, Monica of Van Buren; two grandchildren, Theresa and her husband, Steven Moore of Van Buren and Elizabeth Medsker of Van Buren; three great-grandchildren, Christina Medsker, Victoria and Devin Moore, all of Van Buren; a niece, Nell Franklin and a nephew, John Garner, both of Van Buren.
Funeral service was held July 12 at Ocker Funeral Home Memorial Chapel in Van Buren. Graveside Masonic service was held at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Johnny Ragsdale, Dewayne Garner, Carl Dale Dollard, Bill Vickery, Alan Kaylor and Johnny Jack.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the Masonic Lodge.
Breanna King
Breanna Marie King, infant daughter of Sarah and Kevin King of Van Buren, died Sunday, July 7, 2002.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by a sister, Aimee King of the home; a brother, DeKota King of the home; maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Kenney of Champlin, Minn., and maternal grandfather and step-grandmother, Sandi and Robert Thornton of Alma; paternal grandparents, Tony and Elizabeth DeSpain of Magnolia; maternal great-grandmother, Doris Elizabeth Thornton of Jefferson, Texas; and paternal great-grandmother, Maudean Cunningham of Magnolia.
Graveside service was held July 10 at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Vernon Inman
Vernon Richard Inman, 60, went to meet his maker on July 9, 2002 in Leesburg, Fla. He was born in Fort Smith and attended Alma Schools. He ws a Naval Seabee and spent 17 months in the Vietnam War, receiving the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Fleet Marine Force Combat Operations Insignia and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was retired.
Survivors include his wife, Beverly J. Witherill of Leesburg; one son, John David Inman of Dallas, Texas; three brothers, Doug Inman of Fort Smith, Gene Inman and Dwight Inman, both of Alma; and one granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Dillard and Marie Inman.
Graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 19, at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alma High School, classes of the 50’s Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 2155, Alma, AR, 72921.
Mary Jester
Mary Gayle Harshburger Jester, 56, of Van Buren, died Thursday, July 11, 2002. She was a former worker at Small World in Van Buren and was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Donald; one daughter, Mary Ann Cotton of Fort Smith; two sons, Donald Jester Jr. and William Keith Jester, both of DeBuque, Iowa; six grandchildren, Ashley, James, Kyle, Misty, Kristina and Marhall; three brothers, Gary Don Harshburger and Randy McClaren, both of Van Buren, and Monty McClaren of Alma; three sisters, Judy Carol Wilson and Peggy McCain, both of Van Buren, and Patty Estep of Rogers.
Graveside services were held July 13 at the Oakes Cemetery under the direction of Benton County Funeral Home in Rogers.
Otis Miller
Otis “Shorty” Miller, 84, of Mulberry, died Sunday, July 14, 2002, at a local hospital. He was an Army veteran of World War II, a retired chart changer for Wooford & Jenkins and a member of First Assembly of God in Mulberry. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred.
Survivors include a daughter, Mildred Hicks of Alma; a son, James Miller of Alma; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Assembly of God in Mulberry. Burial will be at Hight Cemetery near Mulberry under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers will be Jeff and Jason Hicks, Brad Albert and James Brown.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Assembly of God, P.O. Box 252, Mulberry, AR 72947.
