Garry Lynn Brackett, age 59, of Concord, Arkansas, passed away Wednesday, November 5, 2003, at the White River Medical Center in Batesville, Arkansas. Born March 17, 1944, at Concord, Arkansas, he was the son of the late Rosco and Freda (Johnson) Brackett. Mr. Brackett retired with thirty years experience as a truck driver. He was a lifetime resident of Concord and enjoyed hunting and fishing. Mr. Brackett s religious belief was Baptist and Methodist. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Donnie Ray Brackett, and one nephew, David Whitener. Survivors include his wife, June (Wyatt) Brackett one son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Leeanne Brackett, all of Concord, AR two brothers, Larry Brackett of Mt. View, AR and Don Brackett of Pleasant Plains, AR two sisters, Glenda Bailey of Batesville, AR and Carolyn Slater of Newark, AR and four grandchildren, Donnie Brackett, Taylor Brackett, Breeanna Brackett, and Allison Brackett, all of Concord, AR Mr. Brackett is also survived by his many other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held Friday, November 7, from 6:00-9:00 P.M. at Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 8, at 2:00 P.M. in the Concord Methodist Church with Pastor Alene McCracken officiating. Interment will follow in the Concord cemetery. Pallbearers will be Seth Brackett, Kenny Brackett, Rodney Brackett, Gary Bullard, Kevin Bullard, and Shane Hargrove. Honorary pallbearers will be Lynnie Dale Brackett and Donnie Reed. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc., 601 W. Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Mrs. Bessie Beshears Lowrey
Mrs. Bessie Beshears Lowrey, 85, of Dennison, Texas, passed away Tuesday, November 4, 2003, at Dennison. Born July 3, 1918, at Pearson, Arkansas, she was the daughter of the late Luther and Mary DeBusk. Mrs. Lowrey was a homemaker and a former resident of Quitman, Arkansas. Her religious belief was Free Will Baptist. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Wilburn and Billie Beshears of Plano, Texas and Max and Nita Beshears of Pottsboro, Texas two sisters, Alta Dumas of Sara Madre, California and Viola Kelly of Jonesboro, Arkansas four grandchildren, Mechele McMichael of DeKalb, Texas Jana Schubert of Littleton, Colorado Sheila Badgett of Pottsboro, Texas and Brian Beshears of Lewisville, Texas nine great grandchildren, Christa, Cayla, and Cody McMichael of DeKalb, Texas Amanda and Mitchell Schubert of Littleton, Colorado David and Danielle Carlile of Pottsboro, Texas and Rachelle and Matthew Beshears of Lewisville, Texas and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Lowrey is also survived by other relatives and her many friends.
Visitation will be held Friday, Nov. 7, from 3:00-5:00 P.M. at Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc. in Heber Springs. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, at 2:30 P.M. at the Wesley Chapel Church with Rev. Steve McMichael officiating. Interment will follow in the Wesley Chapel cemetery. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc., 601 W. Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Mr. Melvin Doyle Butch Fairfield, Sr.
Mr. Melvin Doyle Butch Fairfield, Sr., age 56, of Heber Springs, Arkansas, passed away Monday, November 3, 2003. Born in Cleburne County, Arkansas, on June 11, 1947, Butch was the son of the late Tommy and Bertha G. (Sullivan) Fairfield. He had been a resident of Cleburne County most of his life and was employed as a truck driver for Headstream Trucking Company of Salido, Arkansas. Butch was a veteran of the United States Navy, and he was a member of the American Legion and AARP. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Nugene Fairfield. Survivors include two sons, Melvin Doyle Fairfield, Jr. of Duson, Louisiana and William Brandon Fairfield of Jacksonville, Florida one daughter, Doyla Carol Ann Sullivan of Flagstaff, Arizona two brothers, Thomas Fairfield of Concord, Arkansas and Irvin Fairfield of Enola, Arkansas three sisters, Frances Rackley of Heber Springs, Arkansas Robbie Allen of Ida, Arkansas and Angie Perrin of Little Rock, Arkansas one half brother, Jim Fairfield of Liberty, Texas one half sister, Laverne Johnson of Liberty, Texas and five grandchildren, Michael Bresnahan, Alexus Bresnahan, Kassie Fairfield, Tiffani Fairfield, and Alex Jones. Butch is also survived by other relatives and his many friends.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Nov. 6, from 7:00-9:00 P.M. at Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc. in Heber Springs. Funeral services will be held Friday, Nov. 7, at 10:00 A.M. in the Olmstead Chapel with Rev. Raymond Stroud officiating. Interment will follow in Shiloh Cross Roads cemetery with military honors by the American Legion. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc., 601 W. Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Mr. Forrest E. Dill
Mr. Forrest E. Dill, age 72, of Wilburn, Arkansas, passed away Sunday, November 2, 2003, at Beverly HealthCare in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Born at Ida, Arkansas, on May 24, 1931, Mr. Dill was the son of the late William Levi and Susie (Higgs) Dill. Mr. Dill was a retired timber worker and a lifetime resident of Cleburne County. He was well-known by his C. B. handle, Beer Can . Mr. Dill was a member of the Pleasant Ridge Union Church. Survivors include his wife, Jewel (Kelsey) Dill of Wilburn, Arkansas four brothers, Cleon Dill of Heber Springs, Arkansas Claude Dill and Dale Dill, both of Wilburn, Arkansas and Robert Dill of Ida, Arkansas and two sisters, Bernice Goforth of Wilburn, Arkansas and Floy Dean Baugus of Potosi, Missouri. Mr. Dill is also survived by other relatives and his many friends.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc. Services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 2:00 P.M. in the Pleasant Ridge Union Church with Rev. Odell Altom officiating. Interment will follow in the Pleasant Ridge cemetery. Pallbearers will be David Creasy, L. E. Decker, Lloyd Sartain, Jimmy Thompson, Robert Reeves, Ray Higgs, and Mike Gadell. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc., 601 W. Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Mrs. Kathryn Sutter
Mrs. Kathryn Sutter of Pangburn, Arkansas, passed away Saturday, November 1, 2003, at her home. Born in the State of Arkansas, she was the daughter of Bessie (Clark) Saxton and the late Oscar Saxton. Mrs. Sutter was a homemaker, and she was preceded in death by her husband, Carlton Sutter. She is survived by one son, Dennis Williams of Searcy, AR one daughter, Donna King of Spartanburg, South Carolina her mother, Bessie Saxton of Pangburn, AR two brothers, Maurice Saxton of Pangburn, AR and J. D. Saxton of Vilonia, AR one sister, Pat Weaver of North Little Rock, AR seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mrs. Sutter is also survived by other relatives and her many friends.
Graveside services for Mrs. Sutter will be held Tuesday, November 4, at 2:00 P.M. at the Henderson cemetery. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc., 601 W. Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Mr. James Bernard Jenkins
Mr. James Bernard Jenkins, age 58, of Quitman, Arkansas, passed away Saturday, November 1, 2003. Born in Everett, Washington, on April 25, 1945, Mr. Jenkins was the son of the late Bernard and Jean (Anderson) Jenkins. A former resident of Bismarck, Arkansas, he had lived at Quitman for the past three years. Mr. Jenkins enjoyed his job as a general contractor. He loved dogs and training horses. His religious belief was Baptist. Mr. Jenkins was preceded in death by one sister, Eleanor Jenkins. He is survived by his wife, Debbie (Curtis) Jenkins of Quitman, Arkansas one son, Joel Jenkins of Camano Island, Washington four daughters, Jolyn Knapp, Julie Stach, and Jeri Molnar, all of Camano Island, Washington and Jana Szczublewski of Appleton, Wisconsin three brothers, David Jenkins of Billings, Montana and Gary Jenkins and Steve Jenkins, both of Camano Island, Washington one sister, Margaret (Peggy) Shortt of Lynden, Washington and eleven grandchildren. Mr. Jenkins is also survived by other relatives and his many friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Jenkins will be held Friday, November 7, at 2:00 P.M. in the Olmstead Chapel. Interment will follow in St. Mary s cemetery. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc., 601 W. Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Ruby Mae Clark
Ruby Mae Clark, age 85, of Heber Springs, Arkansas, passed away Sunday, December 28, 2003, at Southridge Village Nursing Center in Heber Springs. Born at Judsonia, Arkansas, on July 22, 1918, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Ora (Bell) Cooper. A lifetime resident of Cleburne County, Mrs. Clark was a homemaker, devoted wife, and loving mother and grandmother. She was famous for her cooking and quilt making. Her religious belief was Methodist. She was preceded in death by her son, Connie Clark; one brother, Hayden Cooper; and three sisters, Pauline Fox, Willa Rae Reed, and Melba Jo Hall. Survivors include: her husband, Louie R. Clark, one son, Kerry Clark and his wife, Barbara, two daughters, Jeannie McGary and her husband, Frank, and Kathy Ward and her husband, Sam, all of Heber Springs, AR, her daughter-in-law, Freida Clark of Drasco, AR, two brothers, Don Cooper, Jr. and Doyle Cooper, one sister, Bennie Louks, nine grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Clark is also survived by other relatives and her many friends.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, Dec. 30, from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 10:00 A.M. in the Drasco General Baptist Church with Rev. Billy Henderson officiating. Interment will follow in the Oak Grove cemetery at Wolf Bayou. Pallbearers will be Gary Bowman, Walter McElroy, Gary Burford, Michael Rogers, Kevin Cooper, and George Davis. Honorary pallbearers will be John Nichols, Leslie Ray Thorne, and Toby Phillips. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc., 601 W. Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Eddie Dwayne (Rusty) Endsley
Eddie Dwayne (Rusty) Endsley, son of Aulman (Gene) and Eunice (Lee) Endsley, was tragically killed in an auto accident on Friday, December 26, 2003. Born in Heber Springs on July 17, 1962, Rusty was 41 years of age. He was a lifetime resident of Heber Springs, and a Mason. His occupation was a meat processor. Rusty enjoyed music having played the guitar and singing with several bands. He was preceded in death by a brother, Freddy Endsley, his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Endsley and Mr. And Mrs. R.H. Prince. Rusty is also survived by a brother, Tony Endsley of Drasco, AR. A sister, Brenda Osburn of Heber Springs, AR., two nephews, Justin Endsley and Reo Osburn, a niece, Leanna Endsley, and many other family and friends. You will be missed by all. Graveside Services were held Monday, December 29, 2003 at Chastain Chapel cemetery at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Samuel Wildmon officiating. Pallbearers were Bryan Endsley, Tim New, Randy New, Tim Norton, Jimmy Adcock and Steve Bull. Arrangements by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc. Heber Springs, Arkansas.
Mrs. Hazel Omega McGrew Norton
Mrs. Hazel Omega McGrew Norton, age 90, of Drasco, Arkansas, passed away Thursday, December 25, 2003, at Beverly HealthCare in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Born in Roxton, Texas, on October 12, 1913, she was the daughter of the late Rev. S. H. and Bertha Mae (Cotton) McGrew. Mrs. Norton was a homemaker and mother, and she was a member of the Drasco General Baptist Church. Her husband, Doyne Ward Norton, preceded her in death on August 25, 2000. She is survived by one son, Norman Ward Norton of Drasco, AR, two daughters, Ava Partridge of Quitman, AR and Linda Crawford of Greenbrier, AR, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Mrs. Norton is also survived by other relatives and her many friends.
Visitation will be held Friday, Dec. 26, from 5:00-7:00 P.M. at Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 27, at 2:00 P.M. at Drasco General Baptist Church with Rev. Billy Henderson officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Grove cemetery. Pallbearers will be Michael Stinnett, Charles N. Stinnett, Earl Wayne Crawford, Darrell Norton, Jimmy Buckman, Russell Dillard, Chris Norton, and Kenny Allen. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc., 601 W. Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Mr. Wendell H. Clark
Mr. Wendell H. Clark, age 77, of Rose Bud, Arkansas, passed away at his home on Thursday, December 25, 2003. Born in Rose Bud, Arkansas, on August 2, 1926, he was the son of the late Dick C. and Ethel (Jones) Clark. A lifetime resident of Cleburne County, Mr. Clark was an active farmer and a retired school bus driver for Rose Bud School with twenty-six years of service. He was a veteran of the United States Army. Mr. Clark was a member of Friendship Free Will Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Thelma (Goff) Clark of Rose Bud, AR, two sons, Gary Clark of Rose Bud, AR, and Randy Clark of Searcy, AR, one daughter, Beverly Wortham of Rose Bud, AR, one brother, Carlton Clark of South Bend, Indiana, one sister, Dorothy Hazen of Cicero, Indiana, four granddaughters and one great grandson. Mr. Clark is also survived by other relatives and his many friends.
Visitation will be held Friday, Dec. 26, from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 27, at 2:00 P.M. at Friendship Free Will Baptist Church at Hopewell with Rev. Mike Morrison and Rev. Sidney Sawrie officiating. Interment will follow in the Friendship cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joe Heck, Scott Wingert, Matt Morrison, Chris Garner, Glenn Walters, and John Riley. Honorary pallbearers will be William Dixon, Utah Bench, Vernon Barnes, Sonny Cagle, and Otha Latch. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc., 601 W. Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Mr. Billie Charles Higginbotham
Mr. Billie Charles Higginbotham, age 71, of Quitman, Arkansas, passed away at his home on Saturday, December 20, 2003. Born in Woodruff County, Arkansas, on January 8, 1932, he was the son of the late Virgil Lee and Winnie (Brown) Higginbotham. Mr. Higginbotham had been a resident of Quitman for ten years, and he was a retired truck driver. He was a veteran of Korea, having served in the United States Army. His religious belief was Baptist. Mr. Higginbotham was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Jean, in September of 2001. Survivors include: two sons, Jim Higginbotham and Mark Higginbotham, both of Winters, CA, one brother, Harold Higginbotham of Heber Springs, AR, one sister, Mary Lee Low of Heber Springs, AR, three grandchildren and his nieces and nephews. Mr. Higginbotham is also survived by other relatives and his many friends.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 10:00 A.M. at the Center Point cemetery with James Parr officiating. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc., 601 W. Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Mrs. Mildred Elizabeth Love
Mrs. Mildred Elizabeth Love, age 87, of Springdale, Arkansas, passed away Friday, December 19, 2003, at the Northwest Medical Center in Springdale. Born in Quitman, Arkansas, on October 27, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Earl and Ethel (Hicks) Patchell. A lifetime resident of Arkansas, Mrs. Love was a longtime resident of Quitman and had been living at Springdale for the past four years. She was a retired secretary for Quitman Public School, where she worked for many years. Mrs. Love was a member of the United Methodist Church. Her husband, Wallace Love, preceded her in death on December 25, 1975. She is survived by one son, Bob Love and his wife, Gale, of Springdale, AR, one daughter, Louise Morris and her husband, Dick, of Plymouth, North Carolina, one brother, T. E. Patchell of Heber Springs, AR, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Mrs. Love is also survived by other relatives and her many friends.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 2:00 P.M. in the Quitman cemetery with Rev. John Miles officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a favorite charity. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc., 601 W. Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Mrs. Bernice Anderson Witham
Throughout a lifetime, Mrs. Bernice Anderson Witham wore many hats as she served her family, her church, and her community. On December 23, 2003, she claimed her final headpiece, a crown placed on her head by the Savior Jesus Christ, whom she loved and exemplified throughout her lifetime.
Born on October 4, 1908, to Oliver Maria (Collier) Wahl and Martin Conrad Wahl, Mrs. Witham grew up and attended Paris, Arkansas, Public Schools through her high school graduation in 1928. She graduated from Columbia College, Columbia, Missouri, in 1930, and from Arkansas State Teachers College, now University of Central Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas, on May 29, 1933.
On October 12, 1935, she married
Harold Lee Anderson of Heber Springs. To this union, one daughter Phyllis Anderson Tarkington, was born. Mr. Anderson preceded his wife in death on July 20, 1968. On February 3, 1974, she married
Reverend Ernest Witham, who preceded her in death on October 26, 1990.
An individual with multiple talents, Mrs. Witham was first and foremost the epitome of a lady. She continuously wore a smile and lent a helping hand. A wife and mother, she welcomed Phyllis friends into their home.
A respected and beloved schoolteacher, Mrs. Witham taught in Arkansas schools, including her hometown of Paris, and later, in El Dorado, West Side-Greers Ferry, and her adopted hometown of Heber Springs. During her Heber Springs tenure, she was voted Junior Class sponsor in 1947-1948, and set a precedent by staying with the class as their Senior Class Sponsor. Although a favorite teacher, she took teasing from the boys in good humor. Yet whenever needed, she added her firm disciplinary hand to both boys and girls.
Throughout the years, she remained interested in the life s pursuits of her students, their spouses, their children, and even their grandchildren. Mrs. Witham was the first class sponsor to attend the Early Decades Banquet in Heber Springs when the graduation class of 1949 was honored in 1999.
Mrs. Anderson, as her former students affectionately called her long after she became Mrs. Witham, directed school plays and drama presentations. She helped many pageant contestants prepare for their talent competitions. Along with Rev. Witham, she hosted 1949 class reunions in her home. Rev. Witham introduced himself as Mrs. Anderson s husband.
Bernice Anderson Witham actively participated as a member of the First Baptist Church of Heber Springs. She taught Sunday School, Bible School, Training Union, and served with the Women s Missionary Union. As long as her health permitted, she hosted bridal showers and tended to numerous behind-the-scenes tasks in her church.
Mrs. Witham believed her Christian witness extended to committed involvement in community activities, civic organizations, and volunteer services. In the Heber Springs Federated Women s Study Club, she held many offices, including President. She also served as President for the Batesville District Arkansas Federated Women s Club.
For over 65 years, she belonged to the Order of Eastern Star, first in Paris, and later in El Dorado, where she served as Worthy Matron. The accomplished lady was a member of Town and Country Homemakers Club, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, and Cleburne County and Arkansas Retired Teachers Association.
Her volunteer services included literacy tutoring with the Lauback Literacy Program, Gideon Ladies Auxiliary, the Cancer Society fundraising drives, and the Heber Springs Hospital Auxiliary. She and the late Rev. Witham received pins for 600 hours of dedicated service to the Cleburne County Hospital, which is currently Baptist Medical Center of Heber Springs.
First with her husband, Mr. Anderson, and in later years with Rev. Witham, the former schoolteacher fulfilled her dream of travel to several foreign countries, bringing to life stories from books and presentations to her classes. Many items collected on her trips decorated her home.
A prim and proper style of dress and Southern lady manners merited Mrs. Witham the title of Mrs. Senior Citizen of Arkansas. The attractive and articulate matron believed that attire befitting a lady required matching accessories, including hat, purse, shoes, and gloves. On her 88th birthday, her large collection of hats adorned some of the 1949-graduating classmates, who entertained the residents of The Manor with a style show. For the last few years, Mrs. Witham resided at The Manor in Heber Springs.
Her daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Erwin Tarkington of Cordova, Tennessee, and two grandsons, Michael Tarkington of Memphis, Tennessee, and Dr. Phillip Tarkington of Richmond, Virginia, survive Mrs. Witham. She leaves to her family, her many friends, and former students a legacy of loving kindness and a gracious example of Christian commitment.
Funeral services for Mrs. Witham will be held Friday, December 26, at 2:00 P.M. in the First Baptist Church of Heber Springs with Dr. J. R. DeBusk officiating. Interment will follow in the Heber Springs cemetery. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc., 601 W. Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
