He was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Mae Sykes; his sisters, Mary L. Mitchell and Elaine Butts and a brother, Billy Richmond.
He proudly served in the Air Force during the Korean and Vietnam wars and was a flight instructor for load masters and retired after 24 years.
He was a volunteer at Jacksonville High School, a member of Saint Jude the Apostle Catholic Church and was the most caring and giving man you could ever meet.
He is survived by four daughters Melody Neff of Arizona, Leta Cribb of North Little Rock, Cathy Peters of Jacksonville and Shelia Occhino of Arizona; and a son, Mark Sykes of Vilonia as well as two step-sons Rod Steinsick and Frank Steinsick and step-daughter Tina Connelly, all of North Little Rock; three sisters, Rita Blancher of Virginia, Teresa Spretz and Clare Rapp, both of Louisiana; 18 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
A funeral mass for Sykes was Oct. 26 at Saint Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Jacksonville with Father Les Farley officiating.
Entombment followed in Chapel Hill Mausoleum. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Moore s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Alfred Allison
Alfred Allison, 92, of Sheridan formerly of Beebe, went to be with the Lord Oct. 23, 2007. He was born Dec. 30, 1914, in Lonoke County to William and Elsie Allison.
He leaves to cherish his memories three daughters, Barbara Shellnut and husband Ralph of Sheridan, Mary Best and husband Berl of Branson, Mo., and Ann Hartline of Springfield, Mo.; four grandchildren, Kathy Frost and husband Darrell of Booneville, Carol Crump and husband Jim of Knoxville, Karen Best of Branson, Mo., and Ed Smoot of Phoenix, Ariz.; five step-grandchildren, Darrin Shellnut and wife Tamara of Beebe, Dana Moore and husband Jeff of Bauxite, Dewayne Shellnut of Sheridan, Adam Crump of Mt. Vernon, Ill., and Melissa Crump of Carbondale, Ill.; three great-grandchildren, Joshua Frost of Jackson, Tenn., Lindsey Andrews and husband Ben of Russellville and Corey Martone of Knoxville; eight step-great-grandchildren, D.J. Shellnut of Livingston, La., Dixie Shaffer and husband Michael of Searcy, Sean Keen and Scotty Shellnut of Sheridan, Zachary and Haley Moore of Bauxite, and Dallas and Shelby Carson of Beebe; one great-great-grandchild, Kylie Frost of Jackson, Tenn.; two brothers, David Allison of Xenia, Ill., and Billy Allison of Reading, Pa.; one sister, Ida Atterberry of Flatrock, Ill.; many beloved nieces and nephews and wonderful care-givers, Evelyn Rutherford and Carol Ham.
Funeral services were Oct. 26 at Beebe First Assembly of God. Funeral arrangements were by Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
Charles Franks
Charles Thomas 'Tommy' Franks, 59, of Lonoke died Oct. 23, 2007 at Lonoke.
He was born April 3, 1948 in Dyess. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Kathy Thomason Franks; one daughter, Lesley Ann Faulkner of Little Rock; twin sons, John Phillip Franks and his wife Kristy, and Joseph Bartley Franks of Lonoke; three grandchildren, Kylie Smith and twins Karson and Kate Franks; his mother and stepfather, Emil and James Blackard of Lonoke; three sisters, Peggy Bewley of Scott, Mary Moore of Ward, and Carol Ann Scott of Lonoke; one brother, Craig Blackard of Lonoke; three nieces and five nephews; two great nieces; two great nephews and his beloved terrier, Jack.
Tommy was a graduate of Little Rock Central High School. He was proud of his profession as a journeyman lineman, beginning his career with Arkansas Power and Light Co. (forerunner to Entergy).
After marriage, he and his wife dairy farmed in the Wattensaw community for several years.
For the past 10 years, he has worked for Diversified Electric Contractors in various areas of California.
In 1999, he was chosen to be the lineman picked from California to go to Chicago for 'bare hand' training.
Tommy was devoted to his family, loved adventure, was an avid reader, a talented wood worker and an inventor.
One of his interests was dirt track racing. A number of years ago he rebuilt a car and drove it from Arkansas to California.
He became a grandfather recently and was known as 'Grumpy.' A tall, handsome man, Tommy was known among his wife s family as 'The Marlboro Man.'
Funeral services were Oct. 25 at Wattensaw Baptist Church in Lonoke; interment followed at Wattensaw cemetery.
Pallbearers were Craig Blackard, Michael Franks, Larry Cash, Danny Hazelwood, Bob Trickey and Randy Zeps. Honorary pallbearers were John Franks, Joe Franks, Tom Browning, Wade Finley and Bill Trickey.
Memorials may be made to Wattensaw cemetery, c/o Neal Colclasure, 3700 Hwy. 31 N., Lonoke, Ark. 72086. Funeral arrangements were by Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
DERRELL HARRISON
Derrell James Harrison, 64, of Beebe, was born Feb. 11, 1942, in Little Rock and died July 18, 2006.
He was a retired truck driver for ABF after working for 34 years, and a devoted employee of Kelly-woodyards of Alabama.
His favorite pastime was rebuilding and programming computers. He was a member of Union Valley Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, James Myrl Harrison; and grandparents, Earl and Maude Stamps and Robert and Effie Harrison.
He is survived by his mother, Marlene Taylor of Beebe; one daughter, Gina Harrison of Beebe; one granddaughter, Jamie Lack of Cabot; two sisters, Jane and Lee Goodson of New Orleans, La., and Rita Bass of Beebe. The family wishes to say a special thank you to White County Hospice.
Visitation begins 1 p.m. Friday at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Funeral will follow at 2 p.m. Friday at Westbrook Funeral Home, with burial in Stoney Point cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Union Valley Baptist Church Building Fund, 932 Hwy. 64 W., Beebe, Ark. 72012.
STEVIE COSSEY
Stevie Cheyenne Cossey, infant, of Ward passed away July 16, 2006 at Arkansas Children s Hospital.
She was born July 12 in Jacksonville to Stephen and Kelly Cossey of Ward.
She was preceded in death by grandparents, Wilson and Rena McGee and great-grandparents, William L. Cossey, Tom and Doris Wilkins, Edmond and Fronie Williamson and Daisy McGee.
She will be missed by her parents; brother, Trevor Patterson and sister Jade Cossey of the home; her grandparents Ray and Debbie Cossey of Ward; her great-grandmother Mammie Cossey of Jacksonville; along with several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at New Horizon Baptist Church with Pastor Kevin Bernard officiating. Interment will follow at Mr. Carmel cemetery.
Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Service in Cabot.
William Hays
William Wesley Hays, 86, died July 17, 2006 at his home in Austin. He was the son of the late Charles and Lillian Suttle Hays.
He was born in Austin on March 28, 1920. He attended Westside Junior High and Little Rock Central High School.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he entered the Army Air Corps in January 1942.
Sgt. Hays received, among other decoration, eight Bronze Stars, a Good Conduct Medal and a unit citation with two oak leaf clusters.
He served one of the longest deployments overseas during WWII.
Hays returned home Sept. 11, 1945 and has lived and worked in Lonoke County until his death, at Cochran s Cotton Gin, Bryant Construction and for himself.
He was a member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church for 60 years, and he served on the board and in many other capacities, including moving, cleaning, painting and whatever needed to be done for the church.
Survivors include one sister Judy Hays Lowman of Little Rock; a nephew, Larry Lowman of Wynne; a nephew Len Lowman and his wife Sherry of Little Rock, and a niece, Mary Jane Lowman also of Little Rock. He also had a great niece, Lindsey Lowman and a great nephew, Jonathan Lowman, both of Little Rock.
Services will be 2 p.m. today at Cabot United Methodist Church and will be officiated by Rev. Richard Lancaster assisted by Rev. Jerry Nipper and Rev. John Clotch.
The family will greet friends at the church one hour before the service. Burial will be at Old Austin cemetery with arrangements by Cabot Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be his cousins, James Hays, Bill Hays, Ray Scroggs, Walter Scroggs, Jay Scroggs and Gene Plummer.
Memorials can be sent to Bethlehem Methodist Church, 1281 Bethlehem Rd. Austin, Ark., 72007 or Cabot United Methodist Church, 2003 S. Pine St. Cabot, Ark. 72023.
COLEY BREWER
Coley L. Brewer, 72, of Beebe, beloved father, grandfather and brother, died July 16, 2006.
He was born Aug. 6, 1933, in Widener, to Hilliard and Loyce Coleman Brewer. He was a retired auto mechanic and a veteran of the Korean War.
He was preceded in death by a son, Wayne Brewer, and is survived by two sons, Vernon Brewer of Beebe, Elton Hale of Forrest City; a daughter, Darlene Cash of Bald Knob; two brothers, H.L. Brewer of O Fallon, Mo., Cecil Brewer of Lonoke; a sister, Barbara Gilmer of Colt; nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held Tuesday at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens, Beebe.
LOLA LOWERY
Lola Mae Lowery, 90, of Lonoke died Friday, July 21, 2006.
She was a member of Lonoke United Methodist Church and was a retired employee of Remington Arms.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Pearlie Glover; her husband, Curtis Lowery; a son, Baxter Lowery; two brothers, Luther and Roy Glover, Sr., and a sister, Maoma Cochran.
Survivors include a sister-in-law, Lois Glover; nephews, Roy Glover of North Little Rock, Robert L. Glover of Lonoke and Wayne Zelk of El Dorado, and a niece, Mary Ruth Elmore of Lonoke.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lonoke United Methodist Church.
GAIL OLSON
Gail Elaine Olson, 67, of Cabot passed away Thursday, July 20, 2006 in North Little Rock.
She was born to the late Walter A. and Emma E. Wolf Meyers on October 18, 1938 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her son, Mark S. Olson, also preceded her in death.
Survivors include her loving husband, Edwin G. Olson; two sons, Alan K. Olson of Cabot and Edwin W. Olson and wife Marci of Palm City, Fla.; a daughter, Debra A. Olson of New Haven, Conn.; a brother, Todd Allen Meyers of Garden City, N.Y.; a sister, Judy Widowski of Amarillo, Texas; two grandchildren, Edwin Olson and Erika Thompson, as well as one great-grandchild, Nicole Thompson.
Funeral services will be held Monday at Moore s Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jerold Posey officiating.
Sharon Waters
Sharon Waters, 47, of North Little Rock was born March 24, 1959 at Little Rock to Gene and Margaret Kaucher Waters. She died Friday, July 21, 2006.
She was preceded in death by her father, and is survived by her mother, Margaret of Ward; one brother, Robert Waters of Austin; a niece, Magen Waters and nephew, Chance Waters.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Sixteenth Section Methodist Church.
Burial will be in Sixteenth Section cemetery, with funeral arrangements by Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe.
