Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Ricky Yandell Jr.
Ricky Joe Yandell Jr., 29, of Moffett, died Sunday, June 23, 2002. He was a long haul truck driver for Medco Trucking in Alma. He attended New Life Pentecostal Church of God in Van Buren.
Survivors include a daughter, Larissa Yandell of Van Buren; a son, Ricky Joe Yandell III of Van Buren; his father, Ricky Joe Yandell Sr.; four sisters, Debbie Alverson of Taft, Calif., Regenia Sage and Patricia Fimpel, both of Shelton, Wash. and Mary Sage of Grants Pass, Ore.; a brother, Billy E. Fimpel of Yuba City, Calif.
Graveside service was held June 28 at Gill Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were David, Brandon and Buddy Alverson, Steven Sevenstar, Billy Yandell and Josh Rapier.
Opal Fenton
Opal Louise Fenton, 98, of Gillette, Wyo., died Wednesday, April 17, 2002. She was formerly of Alma and Van Buren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Fenton and her brother, Dibrell Johnson, a prominent Van Buren citizen; her sisters, Ruby Allison, and Garnet Johnson; and her daughter, Joan Naramore, all of Gillette.
Survivors include her son, Harold Biggerstaff of Gillette; five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was held April 24 at the Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with internment at Mount Pisqah Cemetery in Gillette.
Ralph Robinson
Ralph W. "Robby" Robinson, 55, of Van Buren, died Monday, April 15, 2002. He was the owner of Mister Pickup, a founding member of Butterfield Assembly of God Church in Van Buren.
Funeral service was held April 4 at Butterfield Assembly of God Church in Van Buren. Burial was held at Gill Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Edwards Van Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Survivors include his wife, Sue, two daughters, Stephanie Cowin of Mountainburg and Amanda McCracken of Las Vegas, Nev., sister, Martha Robinson of Van Buren; a niece, Lisa K. Robinson of Van Buren; a nephew, Ross Robinson of Van Buren; two grandchildren, Lacey Cowin of Mountainburg and Zack McCracken of Las Vegas. A special friend and relative Laney Robinson Hogg also survives him.
Pallbearers will be John Pageant, Bill George, Larry McNeese, Charley Anderson, Chris Weiche and Eddie Newton.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Roy Beebe, Gordon Jennings, Burl Lamproe, Paul Gant, Bobby Gilstrap, Gene Powell, James Richesin, Richard Emberton, Ken Hardcastle, Hubert Blankenship, Ronnie Capelle, Allen Kaylor, Bill Vickery, and Dr. Charles Jennings
Memorial contributions may be made to the Butterfield Assembly of God Benevolence Fund, 1302 North 30th Street, Van Buren, Arkansas 72956.
Ronnie Morrow
Ronnie Gene Morrow, 40, of Van Buren, died Tuesday, April 5, 2002. he was a member of the New Vision Pentecostal Church and was a heavy equipment operator for Larry Gordon Construction.
Survivors include his wife, Darla; one daughter, April; three sons, Ronald Morrow, Ricky Morrow and Ronnie Morrow, all of Van Buren; his mother, Mary Miller of Coolidge, Ariz.; three sisters, Ethel Jones, Bonnie Morrow and Leona Bourland, all of Coolidge; seven brothers, James Smith, Nolan Morrow, Ebert Smith and Nelson Morrow, all of Coolidge, Elmer Smith, John Smith, and Donnie Morrow, all of Van Buren; one grandson, Christian Morrow of Van Buren.
Funeral service was held April 5, at Celebration Center. Burial was held at Gracelawn Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers will be his brothers.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ron Morrow Family Memorial at Citizens Bank and Trust account number 507-069-748.
Lucy Burgett
Lucy Belle Burgett, 86, of Dyer, died Wednesday, April 3, 2002. She was a retired nurse’s aid for Parkview Nursing Home and a member of Dyer Assembly of God. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ward W. Burgett.
Survivors include three daughters, Matilda Rosson and Reba Shipp, both of Alma, and Shirley Harp of Dyer; one sister, Ann Riggs of Illinois; half-sister, Jewell Williams of Missouri; half-brothers, Curtis Niswonger of Indiana and Ralph Niswonger; 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held April 6 at Dyer Assembly of God Church. Burial was at Liberty Hill Cemetery under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Mulberry.
Pallbearers were Kenneth Rosson, Jamie Harp, Aaron Rosson, Wayne Bush, Gary Ritchie and Jerry Kosier.
Honorary pallbearers were Farris Harp, Joe Rosson, Bill Rosson and Loy Ritchey.
Louis Peer
Dr. Louis H. Peer was born April 22, 1921, in Van Buren, and died in Van Buren on Tuesday, April 16, 2002.
Peer graduated from Van Buren High School in 1940 and attended Fort Smith Junior College. During World War II, he served with the Army Engineers in the European Theater of Operations. Upon returning home, he marriage Jean Gray of Fort Smith and attended the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn., graduating in 1949.
He returned to the hometown and in 1950 opened his optometry practice retiring in 1980.
He served his community in may ways and roles: president of the Business and Professional Association, charter member and president of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Van Buren Planning Commission, chairman of the Van Buren Park Commission, president of the Van Buren Rotary Club, member of the Van Buren School Board, member of the governing board of Crawford County Memorial Hospital, chairman of the Historic District Commission, charter board member of the King Opera House Players, board member of the Crawford County Art Association, a leader in local Boy Scout troops and vice chairman of Butterfield Trail District of the Boy Scouts of American, a member of the Van Buren Vision 2010 Committee and chairman of the Van Buren Urban Renewal Commission.
Dr. Peer was a member of the Heritage United Methodist Church of Van Buren, where he served on many local and district committees and taught Sunday school for 30 years.
As chairman of the Urban Renew Commission, he led the restoration and redevelopment of Van Buren’s Main Street, securing its designation as a National Historic District in 1976. In the role, he was instrumental in the city’s acquisition and restoration of the Frisco Depot and the King Opera House and to the development of the Mike Meyers Riverfront Park.
In recognition of his civic efforts, Dr. Peer received numerous awards and recognition; Van Buren Rotary Club Man of the Year 1965, Van Buren Chamber of Commerce Iverson Riggs Memorial Citizen of the Year 1994, award for dedicated service toward the preservation of Black Heritage 1978, recipient of the Gideon’s Dignitary Bible in 1975, Life Member of the Arkansas Optometric Association in 1980, the Arkansas Community Development Program Award of Exceptional Accomplishment in 198, the AARP Dr. Louis H. Peer Volunteer Award ( an annual award named in his honor) in 1989, the Dr. Louis H. Peer Heritage Award (an annual award named in his honor) in 2001, Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, the Van Buren High School Hall of Honor in 2002.
Dr. Peer is survived by his wife, Jean; three sons, Steven of Van Buren, Charles of Siloam Springs and Glenn of Moore, Okla.; and four grandchildren, Kathy Peer Ashlock of Fayetteville, Debbie Peer of Fayetteville, Aaron Peer of Van Buren and Jordan Peer of Siloam Springs.
Funeral was held April 19 at Heritage United Methodist Church with burial at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heritage United Methodist Church, 1604 Pointer Trail, Van Buren, AR 72956.
Betty Gray
Betty Jo Gray, 70, of Van Buren, died Thursday, April 18, 2002, at a local hospital. She was a homemaker and a member of Alma First Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Joe; a daughter, Laura Seal of Alma; a son, Gary Gray of Alma; her mother, Tina Morse of Van Buren; a sister, Mary Alyce Morse of Alma; a brother, James Dale Morse of Van Buren; and four grandchildren.
Funeral service was held April 22 at Ocker Funeral Home Chapel in Alma. Burial was at Alma City Cemetery.
Pallbearers were the Rev. Ronnie Gilmore, Ronnie Sivils, Harold McKey, Buddy Gray, Tom Wilson, Mark Manus, Anthony Arnold and Robert Hood.
