Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Dr. Mervin Reines
DR. MERVIN REINES, devoted husband, loving father, respected educator, and gifted sculptor, left this world a better place on October 21, 2005 at the age of 87. Mervin was born on April 7, 1918 in New York City to Max and Anna Reines and spent his childhood in Patterson, New Jersey. He received his Bachelors, Masters and PhD at Penn State University.
Mervin is survived by Shirley Reines, wife of 63 years, son Michael Seth of Mesa, Arizona, daughter Bonnie and son-in-law Dr. Bill Jacobson of Little Rock, Arkansas, and younger brother Albert Reines of Tamarac, Florida.
During World War II, Mervin proudly served as a U.S. Marine Corps Captain in the South Pacific. From 1954 to 1981, he was a respected professor at the University of Georgia School of Forest Resources, retiring as professor emeritus.
Mervin, one of the Founders of Sandy Creek Nature Center in Athens, Georgia, served on the Board of the University of Georgia Botanical Gardens and on numerous committees for the Athens Regional Library, Council on Aging, and Congregation Children of Israel.
Mervin, an accomplished sculptor, visual artist, and passionate patron of the arts, was a veritable Renaissance man with an insatiable hunger for truth and knowledge.
A service in Little Rock, Arkansas to honor the memory and life of Dr. Mervin Reines will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2005, at 6:15 pm, in the Chapel at Parkway Village, 14300 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock.
A service in Athens, Georgia to honor the memory and life of Dr. Mervin Reines will be held on Sunday, December 4, 2005, at 1:30 pm, at Congregation Children of Israel, 115 Dudley Drive, Athens, Georgia, followed by a reception.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Heifer International, PO Box 8058, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72203 or www.heifer.org.
Cremation arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Andrew Griffith Pursley
Andrew Griffith Pursley, of Little Rock, was born on June 29, 1928, in Lebanon, TN and died on Sunday, October 9, 2005. He entered the U. S. Army in 1944, completed paratrooper and gliderist training. He served on active duty in Japan from 1946 to 1948. From a young age, Andrew enjoyed the outdoors, especially forests and wildlife. In 1953 he joined the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission and served with them until 1961 at which time he joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and served with them until his retirement in 1983. He conducted Eagle Awareness programs throughout the country with Jane Gulley. Their program was the first education program sponsored by the USFWS and became the prototype for others. He worked at conserving species from Alaska to the marshes of Louisiana. Andrew took numerous wildlife photos, many were published throughout the years in wildlife publications. He was also active in his church and as a ham radio operator.
He is survived by his daughter, Ruth Pursley Klingbeil, and two stepsons, John Ogles and family of Memphis, TN and Martin Ogles and family of Granite Bay, CA.
The family requests that he be remembered as a man who made a difference in preserving the environment for future generations to enjoy and someone who never net a stranger.
A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, #2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205 or the National Conservation Training Center, Rt.1 Box 166, Shepherd Grade Rd. Shepherdtown, WV 25443. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Lucy Lee Pryor Moore
Lucy Lee Pryor Moore, age 83, of Franklin, Tennessee, formerly of Little Rock, died Monday, October 3, 2005 at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin. She was born in Malvern on September 19, 1922 to the late James and Linnie Staggs Pryor. She was a Licensed Practical Nurse, and was a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Glenna Kelly, and her husband, Franklin C. Moore, who died in 1985. Franklin was a retired Little Rock Police Officer.
Survivors include daughters, Mary Frances Butler and husband Steve of Maumelle, and Carolyn Riviere and husband Paul of Franklin, Tennessee; granddaughters, Amanda Butler of Maumelle, Cathy Riviere of Franklin, Tennessee, and Becky Riviere Collins and husband Spencer of Knoxville, Tennessee; sister, Jimmie Kooistra and husband John of Little Rock; and several other relatives.
Visitation is 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday at Ruebel Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 8, 2005 in the Chapel of Ruebel Funeral Home, officiated by Rev. Robert Slagley. Burial will follow at 12:30 p.m. in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Quitman.
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to the Deaf Ministry at Antioch Baptist Church.
Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home, Little Rock.
Maxwell Robert Montgomery
Infant Maxwell Robert Montgomery, of Little Rock, was born and died Monday, October 3, 2005. Max is survived by his parents, Shannon and Blake Montgomery, and brother Miles all of Little Rock, paternal grandparents Janis and Glenn Montgomery of Little Rock, maternal grandmother Cathy Renner of Fayetteville, maternal grandfather David Renner and his wife Cheryl of Fayetteville, great-grandparents Mrs. William H. Mawhinney of Little Rock, Mrs. James Montgomery of Jacksonville, Arkansas and Mr. Robert Renner of Fayetteville, as well as a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
There will be a private service followed by a reception at 12 noon Thursday at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials should be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, or Baptist Health Neonatal ICU unit, 9601 Interstate 630, Little Rock 72205.
Frank Ellis McGehee
Frank Ellis McGehee, age 56, of Little Rock, died Wednesday, October 5, 2005. He was born in Little Rock to Frank Ellis and Jane Thomas McGehee. He was predeceased by his father in 1978.
Frank was president of Legacy Capital Group Arkansas, Inc., a financial and insurance advisor concentrating in the areas of estate, business succession and insurance planning. Frank obtained his BSBA in finance and insurance from the University of Arkansas where he also played football for the Razorbacks. Frank had served on many businesses and charitable boards including the Arkansas Chapter of NCPG, Youth Home and March of Dimes. Most recently he was a founding board member of Academia Del Arte a study abroad Program for US students in Arezzo, Italy. Frank was an accomplished cook which led him into other business interests, such as his Mexican restaurant, Juanita’s Café and Bar.
Frank is survived by his wife Lisa Marie McNeir of Little Rock, his mother Jane Wilson and her husband Bob of Little Rock, one son; Scott McGehee and wife Christina of Little Rock, two daughters; Ellis Carter and husband Myles of Phoenix, Arizona, Sophie McGehee of Little Rock, two brothers; Jim McGehee of Little Rock, Scott McGehee and wife Ellen of Arezzo, Italy; and four grandchildren, Milo and Eli McGehee, Myles and Ella Carter.
There will be a memorial funeral service 1pm Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral officiated by The Very Reverend Henry Hudson. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials should be sent to Academia Del Arte, P.O. Box 251505, Little Rock 72225-1505; or Beckstein Hall, 1222 South Main St., Little Rock 72202, or The Frank Ellis McGehee UAMS Foundation, 4301 W. Markham St., Box 716, Little Rock 72205.
Rubye Wallace Hubbard
Rubye Wallace Hubbard, of Little Rock, born on March 17, 1910, she departed this life on Friday, October 14, 2005.
She was preceded in death by her husband Lester G. Hubbard, and her daughter, Carolyn Hubbard Whitworth.
Known as our beloved Neno, her physical beauty was only outshined by her inner beauty and spirit. Her family was the center of her life, and she was a wonderful role model.
Her legacy will be carried on by her daughter, Sandra Hubbard, her grandson and wife, Jason and Staci Roberts, and great-grandchild, Ridge Roberts; her granddaughter, Katherine Whitworth, and her son-in-law, William Whitworth, all of Little Rock; her grandchildren, John and Tamara Roberts and her great-grandchildren, Connor and Blakely Roberts; Scotty and Cathey Roberts and her great-grandchildren, Donovan and Zoe Roberts of Fayetteville, Arkansas; and her grandson Matthew Whitworth and Kim Kulseng of Brooklyn, New York.
There will be a graveside service in Yukon, Oklahoma on Monday, October 17th at The Yukon Cemetery, where she will be interred beside her husband of 63 years, Lester Hubbard.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the Arkansas School for the Deaf.
Josephine Anderson Hamilton
Josephine Anderson Hamilton, age 94, of Little Rock, died Sunday, October 9, 2005. She was born in Arkansas City, Kansas later graduating from the University of Kansas in Lawrence. After her marriage to Barrett they lived in Fort Smith, Little Rock and La Jolla, California. She loved gardening and playing bridge.
Josephine is preceded in death by her husband Barrett Hamilton, Sr., a son Barrett Hamilton, Jr., a grandson Bart Crary and a granddaughter Posey Webre. She is survived by two daughters, Sally Stout of Santa Barbara, California, Susie Webre of Little Rock, 10 grandchildren, Carter Crary, Sarah Stout, Tad Stout, Mark, Peter, Luke, Matthew, and Andrew Webre, Melinda and Maron Hamilton, and 7 great-grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Services are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials in lieu of flowers should be sent to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 523 South Louisiana Street, Little Rock 72201, or the Pulaski County Humane Society.
Elizabeth "Betsy" Weitzenhoffer Blass
Elizabeth Weitzenhoffer (Betsy) Blass was asked at age nine what she wanted to be when she grew up. She replied, “A philanthropist.” “That’s an awfully big word for such a little girl, ” remarked the friend. “Do you know what it means?” Betsy replied, “It’s someone who gives away money to help other people.”
Betsy Blass, philanthropist, political activist and adventurer, departed on her final journey October 25, 2005. She was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., November 11, 1925, and was amazed at the life she could never have imagined early on--a life filled with passion, charity, love for the outdoors and the exotic, and an insatiable curiosity. Whomever she met around the world was touched by her unparalleled joie de vivre.
This child philanthropist felt early on the importance of helping others. She began volunteering at Missouri State Cancer Hospital while still a student at Stephens College, followed by volunteering in the development area of Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Her marriage to the late Noland Blass Jr. facilitated her move to Little Rock, where she immediately became co-chair of the organization of the Arkansas State Mental Health Association.
Betsy’s career in philanthropy underway, she was an early member of the Panel of American Women and secured the first planetarium for the City of Little Rock as a member of the Board of Directors of the Museum of Natural History. She co-chaired Women in Community Service, enabling women to return to the Job Corps, and ran the most successful membership drive to date, at that time, as a member of the Board of Directors of Friends of the Zoo. During this period, the world-renowned hostess gave a dinner party for the new zoo director, his wife and the zoo’s newest addition-a baby orangutan. Ever thinking of the comfort of her guests, she had baby crib at the ready and milk warming in the kitchen.
A founding member of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, she led the most successful telethon to date, at that time, to support the hospital; chaired the Greater Little Rock Conference on Race and Religion to establish the first police and community relations organization in the central Arkansas area. Betsy organized the drive and raised funds for Operation Heartbeat, a science project for Little Rock high schools which brought international recognition from the scientific community to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
Her interest in helping the blind led her to serve on the Board of Directors of International Services for the Blind and give her first significant philanthropic gift-the Elizabeth Weitzenhoffer Blass Garden of Exploration at Arkansas School for the Blind. Others benefiting from her efforts during this period were the Working Women’s Preschool Center, which she chaired, and the Boards of Directors of Pulaski County Visiting Nurses Association, Pulaski County Family Service Agency and the Urban League of Arkansas.
She served as Vice Chair and Director of Seminole Manufacturing Company in Kalamazoo, Mich., and as a Director of Weitzenoffer-Seminole Foundation until her death.
Her insatiable curiosity about the world grew exponentially. When Betsy was not deeply immersed in a charitable campaign, she could be found deep in a jungle-perhaps Sumatran, perhaps Philippine or Sri Lankan, climbing through Cambodian ruins, trying her hand (and flexibility) at bullfighting in Mexico or on safari in Namibia or Botswana. Two of her greatest adventures were with her grandsons, Oliver and Tyler Dilivio, as they cruised through the Galapagos Islands and Alaskan ice floes. Many of her most treasured hours were those at Seaside, Fla., with her grandsons, granddaughter Margie and their parents, Wendy Blass and John Dilivio.
Throughout her life Betsy’s passion for philanthropy burgeoned, and she determined that she needed to spend more time working toward building a better world. One of her first efforts on the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) campus was chairing the Medical Research Endowment Drive, the first to raise endowment funds for research on the campus. She was a founding member of the UAMS Foundation Fund, serving as chair, led the first major $1 million fundraising drive and chaired the $7 million drive to build Phase I of the Arkansas Cancer Research Center (ACRC). She was a founding member of both the ACRC Auxiliary and the ACRC Foundation Fund Board, which she served as chair, and remained a Life Member. Betsy chaired the UAMS “Invest in Life” Campaign that raised $65 million, exceeding its goal by $2 million. She continued to serve on the UAMS Foundation Board until her death.
A founding member of the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging, she raised $1 million from the Inglewood Foundation to support the Inglewood Scholar for Research in the area of Alzheimer’s Disease. This was the initial gift for what is now the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging. At the end of her fund-raising efforts, she was asked the total amount of gifts for which she was directly responsible. Over $50 million, she estimated.
Betsy believed that knowledge and research must be encouraged. She endowed the Elizabeth Weitzenhoffer Blass Lecture in Genetics presented bi-annually at UAMS to provide area scientists with the opportunity to interact with some of the world’s leading genetic researchers. Her final gift to ACRC was envisioned as she and her daughter Buff discussed ACRC’s needs. They felt that a laboratory used by scientists in the various disciplines would offer researchers shared access to significant facilities, enabling the sharing of knowledge and the advancement of science. It is the Elizabeth Weitzenhoffer Blass Cancer Vaccine Core Research Laboratory.
The faces that greeted her on her campaigns around the state and on her travels throughout the world piqued her interest in photography. Always determined to “shoot for the moon, ” she became an internationally-known commercial photographer. Represented by Photo Researchers in New York, her photographs now appear on covers of books, in the Dutch encyclopedia and the homes of her most fortunate friends.
The faces of children during the Little Rock Crisis of 1957 focused Betsy’s energy toward the inequities they suffer. She supported every effort to enable children to receive the best education possible. That included her own. When Little Rock Central High School and newly-constructed Hall High School were closed, elementary school children were attending class in Forest Park Elementary School Auditorium, deemed unsafe by the Little Rock Fire Department. A new but unoccupied school was closed, and yet children were schooled in questionable facilities. She removed her daughter and her female classmates from the structure and taught classes at home until Hall High was opened to the children for the remainder of the school year. Betsy’s tenure as a teacher extended for a mere two weeks before local officials were moved to action.
Active in politics at both the local and national levels, Betsy became deeply concerned about the state of Washington politics during the Clinton years. Writer Gene Lyons came to her and asked for her support to write the book, “The Hunting of the President” with Joe Conason. Betsy and the late Fred Darragh were the silent underwriters of that effort.
Private though many of her accomplishments were, she was honored on both the national and local levels. She was one of only two non-medical personnel ever to receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree from UAMS. In 1994, she received the highest national honor from the National Society of Fund-raising Executives, National Volunteer of the Year. She was recipient of the UAMS Chancellor’s Award for 1989 and the Fund-Raising Executive 1986 Arkansas Volunteer of the Year honor.
Betsy Blass is survived by her daughter Buff Blass, daughter Wendy Dilivio of Denver, Col., grandchildren Oliver, Tyler and Margie Delivio, cousin Max Weitzenhoffer of Norman, Okla., and special friend Paddy Lewin of London, England.
The family will be at home at 34 Riverpoint. A memorial service commemorating her gifts of the heart will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, October 31, in Walton Auditorium on the 10th floor of ACRC on the UAMS campus, with a reception following in the Betsy Blass Board Room.
Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Ronald D. Robertson Chair for Trauma Surgery, Department of Surgery, UAMS, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, 72205, or other philanthropic organizations.
