William Earl Rice, 54, of Norco, Calif., died Monday, March 3, 2003.
He was born Oct. 9, 1948 in Paris. He was employed at Dale Carroll and was a graduate of Corona High School in 1967.
Memorial service was at 4 p.m. Monday, March 10 at Grimes Mortuary.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Rice of Norco, Calif.; one daugher, Catherine Rice of Norco, Calif.; two brothers, Arlis Rice of Riverside, Calif., and Roy Huff of Anaheim, Calif.; two sisters, Koris Taylor of Phelan, Calif., and Karen Rowland of Ontario, Calif.
Charles Gray
Charles Henry Gray, 80, of Little Rock, died Tuesday, March 11, 2003.
He was born in Paris on May 29, 1922 to the late Ezma Johns and Henry Gray. He graduated from Paris High School in 1940. He was preceded in death by one son, Charles Henry "Hank" Gray and a brother Kenneth Gray.
He was an Arkansas Tech Wonderboy for coach John Tucker. Along with Tech s team they were members of the Navy-Marines Contingent that with the onset of World War II sent en masse to Arkansas A&M at Monticello. He spent four years in the Pacific as a Second Lt. Marine. On his return from World War II he enrolled at the University of Arkansas where he received his Masters in Education. He was a member of the 1946 Razorback football team. He was assistant coach to Wilson Matthews at Little Rock High School. He coached Razorback freshmen in Coach Barnhill s last year. He was a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation four years before returning to Fayetteville to become the first Executive Director of the Arkansas Alumni Association. He was appointed United States Marshall of the Eastern District of Arkansas under President Jimmy Carter and President Ronald Reagan, and for nine years was Chief of Federal Probation and Pre-trial Services for the United States District Court until his retirement.
Funeral services were at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Little Rock, officiated by Rev. Jeannie Burton and Rev. Ed Matthews. Burial was at 3 p.m. at the Oakwood Cemtery in Paris under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home of Little Rock.
He is survived by his wife, Bequita Bumpers Gray of Little Rock; two daughers, Anne Gray James of El Dorado, and Gretchen Gray Norton of Little Rock; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Cleo Franklin
Cleo M. Franklin, 93, of Paris died Tuesday, March 11, 2003 in Chicago, Ill.
She was a retired school teacher after 35 years of service. She graduated from Philander Smith College with a Bachelor of Science Degree. She was preceded in death by her parents, Calvin and Camilla (Simpkin) Covington; husband, Thomas Duddley Franklin; daugher, Felicia; and three stepsons, Thomas, Howard and Robert.
Rosary was at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 16 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Paris.
Funeral mass was at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 17 at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Paris with burial in St. Jospeh cemetery in Paris under the direction of Roller Funeral Home of Paris.
She is survived by one son, William W. "Curley" Franklin of Chicago, Ill.; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
LaVerne Lee
LaVerne Lee, 83, of Charleston, died Saturday, March 15, 2003.
She was born July 15, 1919 in Franklin County. She was a retired beautician in Charleston and a member of the Northside Baptist Church in Charleston. She was preceded in death by her husband Vernon Lee.
Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Monday, March 17 at Smith Mortuary Chapel and was officiated by the Rev. Elton Pennington with burial at Garden of Memories cemetery in Charleston under the direction of Smith Mortuary of Charleston.
She is survived by one daughter, Karen Still of Fort Smith; one son, Ronald Lee of Subiaco; one sister, Johnnie Withers of Lavaca; two grandchidren; two step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to Northside Baptist Church in Charleston or the Goddard United Methodist Church in Fort Smith.
Martin Gack
Martin L. "Arkie" Gack, 76, of Salina, Kan., died Friday, March 14, 2003.
He was born in Paris, July 24, 1926 to Joe Gack and the former Rose Reider both deceased. He had worked for Brown and Brown Construction of Salina; International Milling Co., of Salina; Smokey Hill Construction of Salina and the City of Salina. He was an Salina Eagles Aerie member.
Vigil services were at 6:30 p.m. Sunday March 16 at the Ryan Mortuary, in Salina, Kan.
Funeral service was at 11 a.m. Monday, March 17 at St. Mary s Catholic Church of Salina, Kan. officiated by Rev. Barry Brinkman with burial at Mt. Calvary cemetery in Salina, Kan. under the direction of Ryan Mortuary in Salina, Kan.
He is survived by his wife Melvina Gack of the home; three sons, Mike Gack of Salina, Kan., Rick Gack of Salina, Kan., and Greg Gack of Wichita, Kan.; five daughters, Linda Dunston, of Salina, Mary Umscheid of Salina, Kathy Decker of Topeka, Donna Roady, of Ponca City, Okla., and Kim Wasserman of Fort St. Lucie, Fla.; one sister, Hilda Elskin, of Paris; four brothers, Roman Gack of Paris, Lawerence Gack of Paris, Bob Gack of Ratcliff, and Bill Gack of Branch; 11 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Mary s Catholic Church.
James Reese, Sr.
James Daniel Reese, Sr., 80, of Booneville died Monday, Feb. 24, 2003.
He was a member of First Baptist Church in Booneville and the Booneville Lions Club. He was a former teacher and coach and eventually retired at BHDC.
Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 at First Baptist Church in Booneville with burial at Oak Hill cemetery in Booneville under the direction of Roller Funeral Home of Booneville.
He is survived by his wife, Bernice Reese of the home; two sons, James Daniel Reese, Jr., and Thomas Joseph Reese, both of Booneville; one sister, Elfreda Keesee of Sherwood; one brother, Joe Reese of Hot Springs; and four grandchildren.
Pallbearers were James Daniel Reese, Jr., Thomas Joseph Reese, James Daniel Reese, III, David Truett Reese, Brad Reese and Donny Keesee.
Betty Herlein
Betty Lou (McKeen) Hardwicke Herlein, 78, of Paris, died Friday, Feb. 28, 2003.
She was a member of First Christian Church in Paris, and charter member of Arkansas "B" Chapter of TTT Society. She was preceded in death by parents, J. W. and Ethel (Ray) McKeen; husband, Mort Hardwicke, Jr., for over 50 years; two sisters, Minazelle Wiggins and Celestine Wiggins.
Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Monday, March 3 in the First Christian Church of Paris with burial in the Baxley cemetery in Paris. The service and cremation was under the direction of Roller Funeral Home of Paris.
She is survived by her husband, Eddie Herlein of Paris; two daughters and sons in law: Beth and Mickey Butler, of New Blaine, and Jane Ann and Randy Koch of Paris; three sons and daughters in law: Bob and Becky Hardwicke of Paris, Bryan and Sandra Hardwicke of Paris, and John and Debra Hardwicke of Ratcliff; one sister, Melba McKeen of Los Angeles, Calif.; 10 grandchildren: Kisha Hardwicke, Andrea Butler Robertson, Blake Butler, Jeremy Grist, Emily Grist, Tyler Bridges, Danielle Hardwicke, Amanda Hardwicke, Deacon Hardwicke, and Ryleigh Hardwicke; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, P.O. Box 369, Paris, Arkansas 72855.
Alta Balkman
Alta Swint Balkman, 83, of Magazine, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003 in Cumming, Ga.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Magazine and a teacher for 44 years.
Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at Roller Funeral Chapel in Booneville with burial at Oak Hill cemetery in Booneville under the direction of Roller Funeral Home of Booneville.
She is survived by one daughter, Sandra Cobb of Cumming, Ga.; one son, James Cooper of Dallas, Tex.; one step-daughter, Lacreta Waters of Richardson, Tex.; one step-son, Johnny Balkman of Magazine; three grandchildren; two great-granchildren; and three step-grandchildren.
Dorothy Wyatt
Dorothy Isabell Wyatt, 87, of Branch, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2003.
She was born June 7, 1915 in Delaware to Henry and Jannie (Johnson) Chastain. She was a homemaker and a member of the Branch First Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband John Wyatt, Sr. and one son, John Robert "Coach" Wyatt, Jr.
Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at Branch First Baptist Church with burial at Hampton north of Branch under the direction of Smith Mortuary of Charleston. Rev. Tim Hobbs and Rev. Ron Williamson officiated.
She is survived by three daughters, Shirley Cox of Little Rock, Barbara Lovell of Fort Smith, and Alicia Wyatt of Branch; three sons, Jim Wyatt of Fort Smith, Bill Wyatt of Van Buren, and Phillip Wyatt of Caulksville; 18 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.
Rev. J. W. Farrell
Rev. J. W. Farrell, age 80, of Russellville, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003, at his home.
He is the son of the late William and Monte Summerford Farrell, he was born Oct. 9, 1922, at Monticello. He was a United States Air Force veteran of World War II; was an ordained minister for over 50 years with the Assemblies of God; and a member of First Assembly of God in Russellville.
Funeral service was at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28, at First Assembly of God with Rev. Bobby Johnson and Rev. Larry Moore officiating. Burial was at Rest Haven Memorial Park under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service.
He is survived by his wife, Irene Farrell; one son, John David of Dover; one daughter, Brenda Dane of Russellville; two grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Bill Payton, John Feltner, Shane Kasper, Lamar Moore, Cameron Lane, and Dane Hall.
Honorary pallbearers were John Leonard, Lester Mashburn, Joe Metz, Clifton Duvall, Clifton Andrews, and James Morphis.
Memorials may be made to Pope County Health Department Hospice, 203 Weir Road, Russellville, Arkansas 72801.
Military honors were provided by the VFW Rogers-Rye Post 2283.
