Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Phyllip Willeford
Phyllip M. Willeford, 86, a lifelong resident of Dean Springs, died Friday, May 17, 2002, at a local nursing home. He was a retired truck driver for Dean’s Furniture in Alma and a World War II Army veteran. He worked at Rhodes Chevrolet in Van Buren, was a life member of the VFW Post 1322 in Van Buren and was a deacon at Dean Springs Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Louise; and one sister, Phyllis Boll of Melcher, Iowa; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral was held May 21 at Dean Springs Missionary Baptist Church. Burial was held at Alma Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Frank Gregory, Johnny Howard, Joshua Jordan, Jerry Karr, Chad Kennedy, Warren McCallister, Gary Newton and Earl Owens.
Stephen McCormick
Stephen McCormick, 57, of Rudy, died Sunday, March 24, 2002. He was a construction worker for Jensen Bridge Company, Navy veteran and attended Kenner Chapel Church.
Survivors include his wife, Marlene; four sons, Shannon McCormick and Lonnie McCormick, both of Fort Smith; Shawn McCormick of Sod, W.V., and Shane McCormick of Mountainburg; his mother, Evangeline McCormick of Lincoln Park, Mich.; three sisters, Lois Guthrie of Lincoln Park and Anne Mink and Tanda Maynard, both of Gadsen, Ala.; one brother, Mark B. McCormick of Ecorse, Mich.; 11 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside service was held March 27 at Morrison Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Shannon McCormick, Lonnie McCormick, Shawn McCormick, Shane McCormick, Shawn McCormick II and Shane McCormick II.
Charles Arbuckle
Charles Malcolm Arbuckle, 83, of Mountainburg, died Monday, March 18, 2002, at a local hospital. He was an Army veteran of World War II, a 32nd degree Mason, a member of Sunflower Lodge, Scottish Rite, High 12 and Eastern Star Ivy Leaf in Wichita, Kan., a lifetime member of Mountainburg Clear Creek Lodge No. 332, past worthy patron of Clear Creek Eastern Star, the American Legion in Wichita, a member of Zion United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kan., and attended the Mountainburg Presbyterian Church and was retired aircraft inspector for Boeing Aircraft after 45 years service.
Survivors include his wife, Mary; two daughters, Charlotte L. Pate of Wichita, Kan. and Sally J. Arbuckle of Garfield; a son, Stephen P. Arbuckle of Phoenix; five stepdaughters, Donata Reindehl of Mountainburg, Mary Quallo of Florissant, Mo., Judy Humble of Van Buren, Maggie Butler of Fort Smith and Brenda Morgan of Alma; a sister, Mildred Morgan of Battlecreek, Mich.; 15 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral service was held March 22 at Mountainburg Presbyterian Church. Burial was held at Conley Cemetery with Masonic graveside services under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma.
Honorary pallbearers will be Clear Creek Masonic Lodge and the Presbyterian Men Morning Coffee Group.
Joe Don Gregory
Joe Don Gregory, 54, of Rudy, died Thursday, March 27, 2003, at a local hospital. Mr. Gregory was the retired Chief of Police for the City of Alma, a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Alma and was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He also served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Conflict.
He is survived by his wife Ann; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jody and Tammi Gregory and Creed and Chris Gregory, all of Rudy; his parents, Giles and Nedra Osborne and Joe and Billie Jo Gregory; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Les and Vernice Odom; one brother, Keith Osborne of Owasso, Okla.; two sisters, Tannie Gregory of Dyer and Carla Baker of Fort Smith; and five grandchildren, Brittany, Kevin, Kari, Colton and Cassie.
Funeral service was held March 31 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Newberry Cemetery in Alma.
Active pallbearers were Mike Allen, Craig Belt, B.W. Conley, Richard Jones, Jerry Pittman and Shannon Gregory. Honorary pallbearers were Raymond Winfrey, Tommy Hill, Bill McDonner, John Ballentine, Robin Kuykendall and Bill Hunter.
Ardella Willis
Ardella Willis, 73, of Kibler, died Wednesday, March 25, 2003, at a local nursing home. She was a member of Alma Full Gospel Outreach Church, retired from Fort Smith Rim and Bow and widow of Vurn Willis.
Survivors include four daughters, Jean Wilkey and Mary Lou Bowles, both of Kibler, Sue Bowles of Alma and Brenda Rockwood of Van Buren; four sons, Claude Willis and James Willis, both of Kibler, Everett Willis of Ozone and Bill Willis of Van Buren; two sisters, Imogene Hobson of Van Buren and Ilee Wilmon of Alma; 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held March 28 at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren. Burial was at Hogan Cemetery near Clarksville under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were her grandsons.
Marcus Rotramel
Marcus Maurice Rotramel of Cedarville, died Wednesday, March 26, 2003, at his home. He was a retired truck driver.
He is survived by a son, Nathan Rotramel of Ozark; a stepdaughter, Lee German of Stafford, Mo.; his mother, Sarah Rotramel of Cedarville; two sisters, Rebecca Shoenborn of Indianapolis and Dorcus Passmore of Jacksonville, Fla.; a brother, Daniel Rotramel of Cedarville; and one grandchild.
Funeral service was held March 31 at Natural Dam Assembly of God with burial at Hall Cemetery in Natural Dam under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Kenny Andrews, Dennis Abbe, Larry LaRue, Mike Wells, Ken Andrews Sr. and Jesse Rotramel Sr.
Virginia Reed
Virginia Ray Reed, 83, of Mulberry died Monday, March 31, 2003, at her home. She was born Oct. 12, 1919, in Mulberry. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mulberry, homemaker and widow of Troy Ellis Reed Sr.
Survivors include two daughters, Janis Yother of Van Buren and Martha Harris of Oklahoma; one son, Troy E. Reed Jr. of Mulberry; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Mulberry. Burial will be at New Cemetery in Mulberry under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma.
Pallbearers will be Jeff Marvin, James Roe, Jim Hamilton, Jimmy Moore, Ron Hutain and Paul Ray.
The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ocker Funeral Home, 917 Highway 64 East, Alma.
Clifford Watson
Clifford Watson, 86, of Wenatchee, Wash., formerly of Van Buren, died Saturday, March 29, 2003, in Wenatchee. He was a retired truck driver for ABF Freight Systems, a Van Buren constable for 14 years, of the Methodist faith and preceded in death by his first wife, Margie Watson.
Survivors include his wife, Katheryn Watson; one daughter, Glenda McClelland of Van Buren; one stepdaughter, Joyce Stetner of Leavenworth, Wash.; one son, Dennis Watson of Van Buren; one stepson, David Noble of Stanwood, Wash.; one sister, Geneva Wiley of Van Buren; one brother, Dutch Watson of Van Buren; four grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several step-great-grandchildren.
Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Watson, Charlie Watson, Colby Waton, Larry Wiley, Kim Newman and Brandon Newman.
The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Ocker Funeral Home, 700 Jefferson, Van Buren.
