She was preceded in death by her advocate and special friend, Edith Witcher.
She is survived by her guardian and special friends Inez and Joe Strayhorn of Beebe, Larry and Wanda Gibson and family, Tommy and Charlotte Cagle and Betty Thurmond, all of Cabot; along with the staff, clients and friends of Dunda's Place Group Home in Forrest City and Gordon Tubbs Pathfinder in Cabot.
She lived a life as normal as possible, she loved going to church, singing, all kinds of music and Special Olympics.
Nancy attended and participated in the Arkansas State Special Olympics at Harding University in Searcy in May 25, where she won a gold medal in her competitive activity.
Nancy was very proud of all of her medals.
She loved her Special Olympics so much that those who didn't know her would think her medals were from the Olympics.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 11 with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 pm.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 12 at Old Austin Baptist Church with burial immediately following at Old Austin cemetery in Ward.
Memorials in memory of Nancy Griffin may be sent to Dunda's Place Group Home, P.O, Box 1857, Forrest City, Ark., 72335 or to Gordon Tubbs Pathfinder, 412 Cleveland, Cabot, Ark. 72023.
Arrangement will be by Thomas Funeral Service.
Violet Dailey
Violet Oressa Stone Dailey, 81, of Cabot, died July 7, 2007.
She was born April 10, 1926 in Booneville to the late Earnest Clarence and Arthar Odessa Williams Stone.
She was a retired Church of God minister's wife and a beloved mother.
She is survived by her son, John Leslie Dailey of Pine Bluff; daughter, Sherry Joan Wilkins of Cabot; brothers, Isaac Glenn Stone of Texarkana, Texas, and Earnest Clarence Stone, Jr. of Waynesboro, Tenn.; four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Eunice Estell Stone and Bernice Lydia Cartwright; son, Lendell Leland Dailey and husband Rev. Leland Leslie Dailey.
The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 11 at Cabot Funeral Home Chapel with Brother A.T. Davis officiating.
Interment will follow at Mt. Carmel cemetery in Cabot.
She was born Aug. 25, 1926, at Alicia to George Alvin and Ora Ethel Gosley Crumpton.
She was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Robert 'Bud' Tarno; a daughter, Lois Ann Tarno; one great-grandchild, Timothy Eric Tarno, Jr.; her parents; two sisters, Irene Gosha and Ruby Nunnley; two brothers, Alvis Crumpton and Roy Crumpton.
She is survived by her sons, Bobby Glen Tarno and wife Ginger of Ward, Robert Gary Tarno and wife Erica of Romance, and Randy Tarno and wife Nell of Romance; a daughter, Vivian Jo Tarno of Romance; a brother, Boyd Crumpton; two sisters, Lois Wilson and Alene Murphy; 15 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 11 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 12 at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Beebe.
David Branson
David Carl Branson, Sr. 67, of Jacksonville died June 30, 2007.
He retired as a flight simulator technician for the Air Force after almost 27 years.
He continued his career as a civil service employee and as a flight simulator technician for 10 more years.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mary; two sons, David Jr. and wife Terri, and Steven, all of Jacksonville; his brother, James Branson of St. Louis; grandchildren, David Carl III, Megan Nicole, Steven Michael, Jr., and Sarah Michelle Branson; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 13 at Arkansas State Veteran's cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 12 at Huson Funeral Home in Sherwood.
Deborah Kuykendall
Deborah Louise Kuykendall, 53, of Jacksonville passed away July 3, 2007.
She was born March 2, 1954 in Little Rock to B. J. Kuykendall and the late Hariet Pierce Kuykendall.
She is survived by her father and her stepmother, Rosemary Schmidt; two daughters, Gillian and Avery Ellis of Oregon; a sister, Chris Anne Danley and her husband Jerry of Jacksonville; friend Patricia Swagerty and a host of uncles, aunts, great uncles and great aunts. Funeral arrangements are by Cabot Funeral Home.
Herbert Griffith
Herbert Arthur Griffith, 67, departed this life July 9, 2007 in Hazen.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Darrell and Nola May.
He is survived by his wife, Carolee Dunn Cox; children, Billy Joe Cox, Jr. of Minnesota, Michelle Ann Talley and Rebecca Lynn Crothers, both of Kansas; stepdaughters, Cynthia Hayes and Julie Sharp both of Benton; grandchildren, Samantha Tally and Henry Joe Tally of Kansas; step-grandchildren, Kaylee Sharp and Garrett Sharp, both of Benton; his siblings, Ron and Don of Missouri, Midge and Peggy of Iowa, and Maxine of Utah, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were July 6 at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel with interment following in Pine Crest Memorial cemetery in Alexander.
Harold Rackley
Harold L. Rackley, 70, of Searcy was born May 6, 1937, and passed away July 18, 2007.
He was an Army veteran and was retired from the U.S. Postal Service.
He and his wife were owners of Framecrafter Gallery in Searcy.
He was a custom picture framer for 36 years. He was a member of Beebe Church of Christ.
Harold loved his family and friends very much and was loved and admired by his community.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Geralda Lay Rackley; his daughters, Debbie and husband Bob Morrison of Beebe and Cindi and husband Mike Brannon of Cabot; his sons, Greg and wife Cheryl Rackley of Beebe and David Rackley of Conway; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
'He was from the old school; he believed in honest hard work, living a life of integrity and making sure his children had a much better life than he had.
In that regard, his life was certainly a huge success, ' according to his son David.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 21 at Westbrook Funeral Home, with burial in St. Mary s cemetery in Rose Bud.
Sammye Cruce
Sammye (Gigi) McKinley Cruce, 79, of Lonoke died July 18, 2007.
She was born on April 10, 1928, to the late Sam R. and Ethel McKinley.
She was an active member of the Palm Street Church of Christ for 48 years.
She showed her love for people in her caring and serving ways.
Survivors include her husband, James R. Cruce; son, Greg and wife Karen Cruce of Springdale; daughters, Phyllis and husband Larry Cash and Jan and husband Danny Hazelwood, both of Lonoke; sister, Maurice Burks of Searcy; six grandchildren, Scott and wife Tonya Cash, Ashley and husband Noah Rabb, Stuart and wife Dylana Cash, Amy and husband Josh Graham, Hunter Cruce and Tammy and husband Anthony Ponder; nine great-grandchildren and many other relatives and special friends.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 21 at Palm Street Church of Christ in Lonoke with special friend Randy Rankin officiating.
