MERLE ATHA, 69, of Lowell died December 17, 1998 at his home. He was
born September 24, 1929 at Asher, Arkansas to Francis Eugene and Laura
Ledford Atha. He. served in the Navy, owned and operated M & M Steel
Erection, Inc., was a 20-year member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge
#877, holding a Degree of Pilgrim, was a member of Elks Lodge of
Springdale and Fayetteville, was active.in the Boy Scouts, the Booster
Club of Rogers and was a Baptist. He was preceded in death by his
parents.
Survivors include: his wife, Margie Mays Atha to whom he was married
August 9, 1963; one son, Bob "Atha" Howard of Greenwood; one daughter,
Merlene Renee Fisher of Rogers; two brothers, Eugene Atha of Little
Rock and Jasper Atha of West Fork; three sisters, Lexie Caler of
Pinnacle, Gayle Evans of Hagerstown, Maryland and Betty Goolsby of
Mayfield; and five grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, at
Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale with Rev. Gary Thomas officiating.
Burial was in the Forest Park Cemetery.
ALLEN LEE "PEEWEE" DUPLANTI, 47, of Hindsville, died December 17, 1998
at Eaton, Ohio. He was born June 13, 1951 at La Mesa, California, the
son of Donald Allen and Patsy Ruth Duplanti. He.was a truck driver for
DMT of Siloam Springs and attended the House of Worship in Hindsville.
He was preceded in death by one son, Matthew Allen Duplanti on
February 5, 1972.
Survivors include: his wife, Mrs. Becky A. Moppin Duplanti of the
home, whom he married
on June 12, 1970; three sons, Michael Allen
Duplanti and Charles Allen Duplanti, both of Hindsville and Robert
Allen Duplanti of Springdale; three daughters, Mrs. Rebecca Sanders of
Kansas, Oklahoma, Miss Hope Lorraine Duplanti and Miss Faith Lorraine
Duplanti, both of the home; his father, Donald Allen Duplanti of
Bowie, Texas; his mother, Mrs. Patsy Ruth Tate of Wichita, Kansas; two
brothers, Robin Duplanti of Nob Hill and Jerry House of Elkins; three
sisters, Mrs. Kathy Gates of Hindsville, Mrs. Denise Branson of
Garfield and Mrs. Janine Carhart of Maynard, Massachusetts; his
paternal grandmother, Mrs. Lydia Hastings of Bowie, Texas; and two
granddaughters, Miss Jodeci Duplanti of Hindsville and Miss Destiney
Duplanti of Springdale.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 23, in the
chapel of Brashears Funeral Home with Rev. Bill Williams and Rev.
Johnny Case officiating. Interment was in the Austin cemetery at Best
under the direction of Brashears Funeral Home of Huntsville.
Pallbearers were Jerry Don Moppin, Bubby Moppin, Tillman Lane, Patrick
Duplanti, Vance Gates and Jerry House. Honorary pallbearers were
Jackie Hollingsworth, Archie Templeton, Clifford Marbut, Jason Moppin,
Charlie Collins and Jay Edwin Jones.
HARVEY E. OXFORD, 82, of Lookout, Arkansas, died Saturday, December
19, 1998 at his home. He was born June 14, 1916 in Sedalia, Arkansas,
to James and Lou Gibbons Oxford. He built the Lookout Grocery store in
1951 and operated it until 1974. He attended the Old Rock Freewill
Baptist Church where he was a Sunday school teacher. He served in the
U.S. Army during World War II. He was a carpenter, and enjoyed
hunting, fishing, trapping and fiddle playing. He was preceded in
death by his wife, Bertha Oxford, four brothers and five sisters.
Survivors include: a daughter and son-in-law, Thelma and A.B. Burton
of Lookout; two grandsons, Lonnie Burton of Hindsville and Clifford
Burton of Rogers and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Burns
Funeral Home Chapel of Rogers with the Rev. Earl Morris officiating.
Burial was in the Rambo Cemetery.
LEE T. SMITH, 66, of Patrick, died Wednesday, December 16, 1998 at his
home. He was born October 21, 1932 in Dallas, Texas, the son of Lee
Sr. and Goldie Fisher Smith. He was a truck driver for Dart Transit.
Survivors include: his wife, Clara Madden Smith of the home; one son,
Bruce W. Smith of Patrick; two daughters, Mary Lee Welter of Rogers
and Katherine L. Penrod of Aurora, Illinois; one brother, Noral Smith
of Mammoth Springs; and nine grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 21, 1998
at Durham Free Will Baptist Church with Pastor Bruce Coyle
officiating, under the direction of Beard's Funeral Chapel of
Fayetteville. Burial was in the Patrick Cemetery.
LOYLE LINDELL "PETE" VANHOOK, 59, of Forum, died December 19, 1998 at
his home. He was born August 21, 1939 at Forum, the son of Densel
Beman and Nettie Velma Marshall Vanhook. He was a heavy equipment
operator for the Madison County Road and Bridge Department for thirty
years and a Vietnam-era veteran, serving in the United States Army. He
attended the Forum Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by his
parents and an infant brother, Donald Fay Vanhook.
Survivors include: his wife, Mrs. Annette Hunt Vanhook of the home;
two sons, Jason Vanhook of the home and Brian Vanhook of Huntsville;
three brothers, Carol Vanhook of Kamas, Utah, Doyle Vanhook of Johnson
and Frankie Vanhook of Forum; one sister, Mrs. Barbara Simpson of
Little Rock; two grandsons, Tanner Vanhook and Brady Vanhook, both of
Huntsville and one granddaughter, Miss Ashley Vanhook of Huntsville.
Graveside services were held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 22, at
the Marshall cemetery with Rev. Roy I. Cain and Jimmie Hobbs,
minister, officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of
Brashears Funeral Home of Huntsville. Pallbearers were Bryce Marshall,
Bub Houston, Tommy Hawkins, David Vanhook, Rob Vanhook and Leo Bowen.
Honorary pallbearers were James Marshall, George Bearden, Lee Vanhook
and Carey Marshall.
RYAN LEE VAUGHN, 22, of Luther, Oklahoma, died December 17, 1998. He
was born April 2, 1976 at Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Phil and Sandy
Vaughn. He was a trim carpenter and attended the River of Life
Christian Center in Jones, Oklahoma.
Survivors include: his parents, Phil and Sandy Vaughn of Lexington,
Oklahoma; four uncles and five aunts, Dean and Joyce Selsor and Mel
and Lora Selsor, all of Kansas, Mike and Linda Porter and Penny
Vaughn, all of Rogers, and Richard and Tressa Reed of Texas.
Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 21, at the
Alabam cemetery with Rev. Mark Hafenbreidel officiating. Arrangements
are under the direction of Brashears Funeral Home of Huntsville.
JIM CURG "JACK" WEEKS, 86, of Combs, died December 18, 1998 at
Meadowview Lodge Nursing Home in Huntsville. He was born October 17,
1912 at Rosebud, Arkansas, the son of Jim W. and Lula Spurlin Weeks.
He was a retired electrician.
Survivors include: his wife, Mrs. Mary Ellen Payne Weeks of the home;
one son, Hubert Lee Weeks of Joplin, Missouri; two sisters, Mrs.
Lucille Cobb of Searcy and Sudi Skinner of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; one
grandson, Paul Weeks of Monroe, Louisiana; and one granddaughter, Mrs.
Elizabeth Weeks Wages of Rogers.
Graveside services were held at 2:00 pm. Saturday, December 19 at the
Brashears cemetery with Rev. Dan Bannan officiating. Arrangements were
under the direction of Brashears Funeral Home of Huntsville.
Pallbearers were Dean Duncan, Jerry Duncan, Robert Alexander, Shawna
Alexander, Gene Kimball and Rodney Wages.
