Ronald Dean Collins, 63, of Ratcliff, died Tuesday, April 2, 2002.
He was born July 20, 1938 in Griffin. He was a retired sel-employed insurance salesman. He was a Navy veteran, member of the National Lodge 411 in Ratcliff, past Master of the National Lodge 411 in Ratcliff, past master of the Pine Lodge 264 in Pine, La., member of the Western Arkansas Scottish Rites bodies in Fort Smith, and member of the Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Etna. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel A. and Zilla Goodman Collins, and one brother, James S. A. Collins.
Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 4 at Smith Mortuary Chapel with Masonic Rites to follow, the Rev. Daniel Kesterson the and Rev. Michael Bright officiated. Burial was at Garden of Memories in Charleston under the direction of Smith Mortuary of Charleston.
He is survived by his wife, June of the home; one daughter, Brenda Merritt of Charleston; three sons, Glen Collins of Haughton, La., Randy Collins of Lavaca, and David Collins of Doyline, La.; two sisters, Virgie Harrod of Warren, and Linda Lambert of Donaldsonville; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Glen and David Collins, Jeremy, John and Kenneth Greer, and Ronnie Merritt.
Honorary pallbearers were J. D. Young, Donald Gibson, Bobby and John Parks and members of the National Lodge 411 in Ratcliff.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Gideons International or the National Lodge 411 in Ratcliff.
Christie Bullington
Christie Marie Bullington, 22, of Fort Smith, died Thursday, April 4, 2002.
She was employed by H&R Block as a tax preparer. A member of Delta Zeta Sorority, the Kappa Alpha Southern Belle and member of the Fort Smith Jaycees. Little Sis of the KA Faternity, a member of the Church of Christ. She was was born May 5, 1979 in Fort Smith.
Funeral service was at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 6 at Smith Mortuary Chapel officiated by the Rev. Bill VanMeter in Charleston with burial at Hampton north of Branch under the direction of Smith Mortuary of Charleston.
She is survived by her fiancee Christopher Weeks of Fort Smith; mother and step-father, Julie and Darrell Shelton of Lavaca; father and step-mother, Dr. Roger and Samantha Bullington of Fort Smith; maternal grandparents, Leon and Judy Dunn of Charleston, great-grandmother, Mima Dunn of Charleston, great-grandfather, Owen Obiatt of Omaha, Neb.; paternal grandparents, Robert Bullington of Charleston; great-grandfather, Milus Bullington of Charleston; sister, Stacy Bullington of Lavaca, two step-sisters, Melinda Shelton of Branch, and Courtney Bullington of Fort Smith; one brother, Josh Parker of Lavaca; one step-brother, Christopher Bullington of Fort Smith.
Pallbearers were Keith and Kevin Dunn, Jason Walter, Jason Fitzgerald, Seth Thornsberry, Lenny Cooper and Jay Dlugosh.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the Kappa Alpha Faternity.
Thomas Berry
Thomas William Berry, 83, of Barling, died Friday, April 5, 2002.
He was born April 5, 1919 in Paris. He was a retired machinist for Berry Photographic Products, a World War II Navy veteran. He was a member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, High Priest and was preceded in death by son Clyde Dale Berry.
Funeral service was at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 6 at Lewis Funeral Chapel in Fort Smith and Monday, April 8 at 9:30 a.m. at Church of Latter Day Saints in Fort Smith. Burial was National cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Lewis Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Letha Joyce of the home; three daughters, Connie Joyce Jackson of Norfolk, Va., Sherry Ann Cortese of Lake Forest, Calif., and Pamela Jean Boone of Aubrey, Tex.; one son, Samuel Thomas Berry of Gray, Tenn.; three step-daughters, Louise Kurtze of Milford, Kan., Laquita Rose Nave of Huntington, and Deanna Ruth King of Parker, Colo.; two step-sons, Charles Dwight Stuart of Pocola, Okla., and Perry Dean Stuart of Fort Smith; four sisters, Gladys Irene Garriott of Oklahoma City, Okla., Joyce Juanita Halbert of Fort Smith, Billie Jo Ferguson of Pottsville, and Violet Sue Faulkinberry of Lavaca; one brother, Glendell Leroy Berry of Scranton; 26 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Missionary Fund at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 8712 Horan Drive, Fort Smith, Ark.
John Hellmer
John Edward Hellmer, 67, of Hackett, died on Friday, April 5, 2002.
He was born March 11, 1935 in Subiaco to Guilia and Edward Hellmer. He graduated from Paris High School, served in the US Army and worked at Whirlpool in Fort Smith and retired two years ago after 38 years.
He is survived by his wife Ruth; four daughters, Barbara Saffer of Pocola, Margaret Decker of Fort Smith, Linda Miller and Lora Hellmer both of Hackett; four sisters, Molly Allio of Subiaco, Lillian Murphy Louise Farley and Matha Love all of California; one brother, Frank Hellmer of Russellville; six grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Monday, April 8 at McConnell Funeral Home in Greenwood followed by interment at Mountain View cemetery in Hackett.
Pallbearers were Andy Miller, Jason Decker, Everette White, Bob Saffer, Robert Miller, and Wade Dalton.
Edward Carter was an honorary pallbearer.
Leonard Koch
Leonard Leo Koch, 65, died Friday, March 22, 2002 in Bakersfield, Calif.
He was born in Scranton on Oct. 19, 1936 to Bill and Katie Koch. He was a truck driver, and for the last 20 years he was employed by MP Vacuum as a field supervisor. He was preceded in death by parents, Bill and Katie Koch, brothers, Wilford and Leon Koch, and son, Timothy Koch.
Rosary service was Tuesday, March 26 at 7 p.m. at Greenlawn Southwest Memorial Chapel in Bakersfield, Calif.
Funeral service was at Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. at St. Francis Church in Bakersfield, Calif.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; six children, Rick Koch of Bakersfield, Lynda (Koch) Marotta of Bakersfield and Brian Koch of Memphis, Tenn., Roy Sullivan of Bakersfield, Virginia Johnson of Tehachapi, and Suzie McCabe of California City; two sisters, Evelyn Fox of Paris and Catherine Jones of Muldrow, Okla.; 19 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Mickey Graves, Myron Coon, Rick Noble, Gerald Adams, Jarrel Black and Charles Gahagan.
Michael Steffey
Michael Dean Steffey, 45, died March 21, 2002 in Booneville.
He was born Sept. 7, 1956 in Kansas City, Mo.
Graveside services and burial were Monday, March 25 at 3 p.m. at Lick Creek cemetery under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home of Booneville.
He is survived by his mother, Alice Haller Maxwell and step-dad James Maxwell of Booneville; one son, Michael Dean Steffey of California; one half-brother, Jimmy Maxwell; two sisters, Debbie Cemkey of California, and Pam Pardue of Tennessee; one half-sister, Kay Jones of Tennessee; and adopted sister, Little Debbie of Booneville.
Alfred Foshee
Alfred J. Foshee, 82, of Paris, died Sunday, March 24, 2002.
He was a veteran of World War II in US Navy. He was a welder and attended the Assembly of God Church. He was preceded in death by his father, Jess A. Foshee, sister, Erma Henderson, and son, Ron Lee Foshee.
He is survived by his wife, Inez (Rush) Foshee of Paris; one daughter, Darla Foshee, of Texas; two sons, Harold Cunningham of Van Buren, and Donnie Foshee; mother, Anna Mae (Lile) Foshee of Paris; two sisters, Reba Gattis of Birmingham, Ala., and Ila Ruth Cummins of Paris; four brothers, Don Foshee of Broken Arrow, Okla., Doyle Foshee of Fort Worth, Tex., Jack Foshee, of Corpus Christi, Tex., and Hugh Foshee of Carlise, Pa.; several grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Celestine Wiggins
Celestine "Snookie" Wiggins, 83, of Paris, died Thursday, March 28, 2002.
She was a member of the First Christian Church of Paris and a member of the TTT Society of Paris, and a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin F. Wiggins, her parents, James Walter McKeen and Ethel Ray McKeen, a son, James Bridges and a sister, Minazelle Wiggins.
Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 30 at Roller Funeral Home Chapel in Paris with burial in the Oakwood cemetery in Paris under the direction of Roller Funeral Home of Paris.
She is survived by one daughter, Mary Ann Willhite of Paris; two sisters, Betty Hardwicke Herlein of Paris, and Melba McKeen of Los Angeles, Calif.; and one grandchild.
Pallbearers were Skip, John, Clay, and Marc Wiggins, John Hardwicke and Mickey Butler.
Donald Dorrough
Donald Wayne Dorrough, 62, of Driggs, died Thursday, March 14, 2002.
The body will be cremated under the direction of Rowell-Parish Mortuary of Fort Smith.
He is survived by three daughters, Dena Gosa of Fort Smith, Dorothy Johnson of Arkoma and Barbara Gappa of Centerton; three sons, Terry Dorrough of Fort Smith, Larry Dorrough of Booneville and Kenny Dorrough of Tulsa; four sisters, Laverne Patterson of Central City, Gail Williams of Charleston, Sue Pederson of Rogers and Ann McCartney of Ratcliff; seven brothers, Gerald and Elmer, both of Missouri, Bill of Illinois, Shorty of Florida, Raymond, Lyndell and Sam all of Paris; 18 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
May Bell Kremers
May Bell Kremers, 81, of Paris, died Friday, March 29, 2002.
She was a homemaker.
Graveside service was at 10 a.m. Monday, April at Wares Chapel cemetery in Dublin with burial at the Wares Chapel cemetery in Dublin under the direction of Roller Funeral Home of Paris.
She is survived by one son James Randel Kremers of Little Rock; one brother, John Hayward of Paducah, Ken.
