Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Hale Patrick Murphy
Hale Patrick Murphy died on August 5, 2005 at the age of 45. He was the fifth of six children born to Dr. Horace and Elizabeth Thompson Murphy.
After graduating from Catholic High in 1978, he attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, for two years, and graduated from Lyons College. He was once ranked in the Junior Tennis program and loved to play golf. Hale was a kind and generous person, who made friends easily.
He is predeceased by his father, Dr. Horace Murphy; grandmother, Dr. Tena Murphy; and sister, Susan Murphy Hoeppner. He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Thompson Murphy, two sisters, Tena Murphy and Anne Murphy; two brothers, Vint and Scott Murphy, as well as many nieces and nephew. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, particularly by his nieces and nephew, who adored him.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the First Tee of Arkansas.
A small memorial service will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home
James C. "Jim" Lewis
James "Jim" C. Lewis, age 88 of Little Rock, died Sunday, August 7, 2005, at his home. He was born in Little Rock son of the late Clyde and Felice Scull Lewis. Jim graduated from Little Rock Senior High School before receiving his B.A. degree from the University of Missouri. After school he returned to Little Rock where he worked with his father at James C. Lewis Company. Jim was a life long resident of Little Rock and a descendant of early settlers of Arkansas. Jim was a member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, and a past member of Rotary Club International, Club 99.
He is predeceased by wife Mary B. Lewis and is survived by one son John Lewis and wife Lady of Little Rock, one daughter Jamie Lewis Parham of Little Rock, 3 grandchildren; Melanie Fox and husband Jeff, Greg Parham and wife Carol, Janis Thibaught and husband Scott, and 6 great-grandchildren.
There will be a visitation Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 5313 Hawthorne Road, followed by a graveside service Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Holly Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials should be made to Arkansas Hospice or a charity of choice.
Drake Ravenell Jones & Corwyn Eden Jones
Drake Ravenell Jones, age 4, and Corwyn Eden Jones, age 2, both of Little Rock, passed away Friday, August 5, 2005 near their home.
Survivors include their parents, Jason and Mary Katherine Miller Jones, of Little Rock; sister, Winter Rowan Jones; paternal grandparents, Carl & Natalie Jones and Charlene and Michael Lindas; maternal grandparents, Jay and Dana Miller, all of Little Rock; great-grandparents, Betty Jones of Little Rock, Ted & Jackie Carr of Pine Bluff, Fran Miller of Little Rock; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 13, 2005 in the Chapel of Ruebel Funeral Home.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the following organizations that were relentless in their search for our babies: Crystal and West Pulaski Fire Departments, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Dive Team, Pulaski County Sheriff's Department officers, investigators, and dive team, Pulaski County Reserve officers, Saline County Sheriff's Department, Little Rock Fire Department Command Center, Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management, MEMS, Baptist MedFlight, and the Bauxite Police Department. The family also extends a special thanks to the countless individuals for their selfless assistance, donations, thoughts, and prayers.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Jones Memorial Fund, which will benefit the above organizations, 22203 Crystal Ridge Ln, Little Rock, AR 72210.
Cremation arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Samuel Major Hodges
Samuel Major Hodges, age 86, of Little Rock, died Monday, August 1, 2005. He was born in Osceola, Arkansas the late Samuel Major and Ethel York Hodges. Sam was a graduate of the Osceola High School before attending the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the University of Kentucky. On December 10, 1942 he joined the Army Air Corp serving with the 8th Marine Division as a pilot flying C-16s and C-17s tankers, supplying our troops in the South Pacific. He was a crew commander and during his time flying in the South Pacific he volunteered to drop cannon barrels and whole blood to the troops on the beaches of Iwo Jima. He also flew troops to Japan after he war. Sam was awarded 3 Bronze Stars, and the Silver Star, and recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross shortly after the Atom bombs were dropped in Japan.
Sam grew up in the newspaper business. His father was publisher of the Osceola Times. He became sole owner of the paper in 1947, after the death of his father. He also purchased the Benton Courier in 1953. In 1970 it became a daily newspaper Monday thru Friday. He also owned and operated the Maumelle Monitor. While in Osceola he was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and very active in the First Methodist church. He was appointed by Governor Rockefeller to the State Parole Board, a past member of the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute, past board member of the Arkansas Symphony board, and the Arkansas Arts Center board. In 1956 he was the President of the Arkansas Press Association. In 1992 he received the Arkansas Press Managing Editors President's award.
Sam is survived by his wife of 38 years, Carolyn Cole Hodges of Little Rock, 4 daughters, Rebecca Winburn and husband Hardy, Debora Moschel and husband Peter, Sarah Webre and husband Andrew, Nancy Noel Hodges, one son, Samuel M. Hodges, and 4 grandchildren.
There will a visitation Sunday afternoon from 2 to 4pm at Ruebel Funeral Home, followed by a funeral service Monday at 2pm at Second Presbyterian Church, officiated by Reverend Steve Hancock. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials should be made to the Arkansas Community Foundation, Hodges Wildwood Opera Endowment, 700 S. Rock Street, Little Rock 72202, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 7328, Little Rock 72217, or the charity of one's choice.
Raymond G. Haustein
Raymond G. Haustein, age 83, of Little Rock died August 15, 2005. He was born on August 27th, 1921 in Little Rock to the late Paul and Rose Geyer Haustein. Mr. Haustein served in the US Navy. He retired from Southwestern Bell after 38 years of service. He was an avid deer hunter, and member of the Red Hill Deer Camp since 1959.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Hetterick Haustein. Mr. Haustein is survived by his brother, Herbert Haustein of North Litle Rock; sister, Rosalin Reeves of Oberlin, LA and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday at Forest Hills Memorial Park with Rev. Fred Haustein officiating. Memorials may be made to The Pulaski County Humane Society, 14600 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, AR 72210.
Mary York Erber
Mary York Erber, of Little Rock, widow of Harry Erber, died August 20, 2005.
She was born in Ashdown, AR on October 24, 1906 to the late Dr. W.W. York and Lucy Coulter York. Two brothers preceded her in death. She is survived by her son, Burton Erber and his wife Lillie, of Camden, AR; four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church and was retired from the Little Rock School District.
Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday in Roselawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Avenue, Little Rock, AR or to your favorite charity.
Runyan Deere
Runyan Elton Deere, of Little Rock, died Sunday, August 21, 2005. He was born May 13, 1919. Runyan was a lifelong resident of central Arkansas attending the University of Arkansas through Master’s Degree and PhD in Agriculture Administration attending the University of Wisconsin. He first retired from the Cooperative Extension service having been a county agent, District Agent and Director of Health Education over 30 years with the organization. His second retirement from UAMS as a Professor allowed him to spend full time as a dedicated farmer in Saline County. He was a Farm Bureau Board member. He was a past member of Rotary International, Club 99, where he was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship. He had been active as a member of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church. He was Deacon Chairman, Sunday school teacher, and Deacon emeritus. He served on a pastoral search committee. He mentored many, provoking thought and insight.
His son Robert Thomas Deere preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, George Etta Deere of Little Rock, daughter Linda F. Deere, MD, daughter-in-law Wordna H. Deere, grandchildren Jesse and Amy Deere, and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a funeral service today, Tuesday at 10am at Pulaski Heights Baptist Church officiated by Reverend Randy L. Hyde and Dr. Tom Greer. Burial will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
The family will receive visits from friends in the church parlor prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights Baptist Church or to the charity of choice.
Nancy Ann Coleman Compton
Nancy “Nonnie” Coleman Compton, 81, of Little Rock, passed away Sunday, August 28, 2005 after a brief illness. She was born December 16, 1923 in Lonoke County to the late Albert and Prudence Jones Coleman.
She attended Lonoke Schools and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Home Economics. She marriage James Knox Compton March 8, 1945. She was a kindergarten teacher and co-owned the Little Red Schoolhouse in Magnolia. Later, in Little Rock, she was a personnel manager for M.M. Cohn’s for many years.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and brother and sister-in-law. She is survived by children, Thomas A. and wife Linda Compton of Longview, Texas, Ann Compton McDearmon of Longview, Texas, and James Drew and wife Juliet Compton of Little Rock; grandchildren, Mandy and Doug Goss of Austin, Texas, John Compton of Austin, Texas, and Mac and Henry Compton of Little Rock.
“Nonnie” will be deeply missed by her friends and family. We take comfort in knowing that she will now be with her husband, Comp, as she meets our Heavenly Father.
A visitation for the residents of Pleasant Hills Retirement Community is from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. today, Tuesday, at Pleasant Hills followed by a public visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 31, 2005 at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Briggsville, near Danville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
