Florence Van Camp
Florence Van Camp, 93, of Gurdon, widow of Ben Van Camp, died Thursday, November 9, 2006.
She was a retired sales clerk for Austin’s Variety and Dew-Orr Department Store and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gurdon.
Survivors include brother, Charlie Dodgen of Caddo Valley; step son, Jimmy Van Camp of Pineville, LA. step daughter, Nellwyn Gillette of Longview, Texas; and a host of nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Gurdon with Rev. James Raines officiating. Burial was in Decipher cemetery under the direction of Horne Funeral Home of Gurdon.
James Harden
James Donald Harden, 76, died Saturday, November 11, 2006, at Medical Park Hospital in Hope.
Mr. Harden was a retired truck driver with A and P Trucking and Fikes Trucking. He attended Central Baptist Church in Prescott and was Veteran of the Korean War serving in the Philippines. He was born September 26, 1930 in Emmett, to Nick and Trudie (Wilson) Harden.
He is survived by his loving wife, Nellie (Blevins) Cox Harden of Prescott; three sons, Tommy Cox of Bryant, James Cox of Rosston and Paul Cox of Prescott; two daughters, Linda Hicks and Barbara Brzeski both of Prescott; a brother, Paul ''Buddy'' Harden of Prescott; two sisters, Faye Patton of Wayland, Ky. and Dorothy Smith of Prescott, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, also survive.
Funeral services were Monday, November 13, 2006 at 2 p.m. in Shackelford Funeral Home Chapel with interment in Liberty cemetery by Shackelford’s of Prescott.
John Sams
Mr. John W. Sams, 82, of Emmet, died Thursday, November 9, 2006, at his home.
He was born on August 30, 1924, in Haynesvill, La., to Marion Palmer and Ida Gunn Sams. He was a retired farmer and Army Veteran of World War II.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Odell Holloway.
His survivors include, his wife of 63 years, Bertha Ree Sams of Emmet; two son, Carl Douglas Sams and Johnny Dean Sams, both of Prescott; four daughters, Betty Brantley of Prescott, Elaine Cross of Hope, and Carolyn Harper and Ida Goins, both of Prescott; three sisters, Mary Ann Colbert of Fort Worth, Texas, Marie Forkner of Mansfield, Texas and Beatrice Hampton of Kilgore, Texas; nine grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Sunday, November 12, 2006, at Brazzel/Oakcrest Funeral Home in Hope, with Revs. Jerry Westmoreland and Jimmy Teeter officiating. Military graveside and burial followed in Midway cemetery in Prescott. Arrangements by Brazzel/Oakcrest Funeral Home in Hope.
Family received friends Saturday, November 11, 2006 from 6-8 p.m. at Brazzel/Oakcrest Funeral Home in Hope.
Dorothy Hunt
Dorothy Lee Hunt, 80, of Forsyth, Mo., formerly of Prescott and Sheridan, died Sunday, November 12, 2006, in Branson, Mo.
She was born October 11, 1926 in Troy, Kans., the daughter of Herbert and Dorothy Dickey Baker. She was a Baptist, a homemaker, and worked in health care for many years, being retired from St. Joseph’s Hospital, Chicago, Ill.
Survivors include five sons, Ronald Smith of Ashkum, Ill., Ken Reynolds of Martin, Tenn., Tom Reynolds of South Bend, Ind., Wayne Tilley of Hanford, Cal. and David Hunt of Prescott; three daughters, Barbara Sullivan of Forsyth, Mo., Patricia Hill of Delight, and Dottie Reynolds of Prescott; 23 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and two great, great grandchildren.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 14, 2006, at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Chapel in Arkadelphia, with Rev. Danny Eckert officiating. Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens, under the direction of Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia.
Visitation was just prior to funeral services, from noon-2 p.m., Tuesday.
Sonja Ridling
Mrs. Sonja Jean Steed Ridling, 40, of Hope, formerly of Prescott, died Saturday, November 25, 2006, in a Little Rock Hospital.
She was born on May 28, 1966, in Prescott, to Glyn and Martha Steed. She was coordinator of contractor recruiting with Fikes Truck Lines of Hope for nine plus years. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church of Hope.
She was preceded in death by her father, Glyn Steed; her paternal grandparents, Ellis and Inez Steed and her maternal grandparents Ernst and Miriam Adam.
Survivors include her husband of 17 years, Rev. Neal Ridling of Hope; one daughter, Morgan Ridling of Hope; and her mother, Martha Steed of Prescott.
Funeral services was at 2 p.m., Wednesday, November 29, 2006, at Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home Chapel in Prescott, with Rev. Larry Jones and Rev. Josh Steed officiating. Burial will be in Nubbin Hill cemetery, Nubbin Hill Community, in Prescott. Arrangements by Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott.
Family received friends Tuesday, November 28, 2006, from 6-8 p.m. at Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to church or charity of your choice.
McKinley Purifoy
Mr. McKinley Purifoy, 81, of Prescott, died Sunday, November 26, 2006 at Medical Park Hospital in Hope.
He was born on September 21, 1925, in Bluff City, to Ton and Rosie Gulley Purifoy. He was a member of St. John’s Baptist Church in Bluff City.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Martin Purifoy; three sister, Agnes Haynie, Pearlene Blackley and Merline Purifoy.
His survivors include one brother, McCullen Purifoy and Ruth Ellen of Bluff City; one sister-in-law (favorite), Burna D. Purifoy of Bluff City; one niece (favorite), Patsy Ruth Taylor of Prescott; and several other nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m., Saturday, December 2, 2006, at St. John’s Baptist Church, in Bluff City, with Rev. Herbert Blakley officiating. Burial was in St. John’s cemetery in Bluff City. Arrangements by Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott.
Family received friends Friday, December 1, 2006, from 10 a.m.-12 noon at Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott.
James Crigg
James Marrion Crigg, 72, of Gurdon, died December 14, 2006 at his residence.
He attended the Assembly of God Church in Gurdon, was a self employed painter and served in the Navy during the Korean War.
Survivors include his wife, Stella Marie Crigg of Gurdon; son, Robert M. Crigg of Gurdon; daughter, Sheila Kay Hobbs of Paron; sisters, Alberta Women of Star City, Judy Church of Scott, and Charlotte Hawkins of California; step-children, Mike and Sheryl Hooks of Camden, Ava and Johnny Mac Prince of Opelika, Ala., Randy Hooks of Whelen Springs, Tommy and Belinda Stanley of Texas, Rhonda and Warren Harper of Locust Bayou; 15 grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, December 16 at the First Assembly of God Church in Gurdon with Rev. Jim Farris officiating. Arrangements by Horne Funeral Home, Gurdon.
Earl Smithpeters
Earl Smithpeters, 88, died Tuesday. He was a retired Forestry Technician for International Paper Company and a member of the Maryetta Pentecostal Church in Okolona. Survivors include three sons, Robert Smithpeters and wife, Shirley of Okolona, Jimmy Smithpeters and wife, Patsy and Kenneth Smithpeters and wife, Vada, all of Gurdon; daughter, Earline Key and husband, Harold of Eldorado; brother, Lindal Smithpeters, Sallisaw of Okl.; seven grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Estelle and a daughter, Betty Lou.
Funeral services were Friday, December 15 at 2 p.m. in Horne Funeral Home Chapel with interment in Center Ridge cemetery by Horne Funeral Home.
Visitation was Thursday, December 14 at Horne Funeral Home between 6-8 pm. Memorial maybe made to the Maryetta Pentecostal Church %Jeanie Stewart 1311 Sticky Road Gurdon, AR 71743 or a charity of your choice.
Thomas Nixon Sr.
Thomas Leroy Nixon Sr., 68, of El Centro, Cali., passed away after a battle with cancer Wednesday, November 22 at Hospice of San Diego.
Thomas was born in Prescott on September 23, 1938.
Thomas entered the U.S. Navy at the young age of 16 and graduated high school while serving in the Navy. He received many good conduct and achievement awards. Thomas married
Norma LaJoyce Hill on June 25, 1960 in Long Beach. He came to the Valley in July of 1971, when he was transferred to the Naval Air Facility in El Centro from Naval Air Station, Kodiak, Alaska. Thomas retired from the Navy on September 25, 1974, at 36 years of age, after serving 20 years in the Navy.
HE went to work for the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office in March 1975 as a Commissary Officer. HE attended Imperial Valley College and earned an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration. Thomas attended the Police Academy in Riverside and became a Deputy Sheriff in 1978. He worked for 5 years as a narcotic officer and was promoted to Sergeant in February 1984. He served as OIC Jail Operations, Bailiff, OIC of South End Patrol and Investigations before retiring in December 192.
While waiting for his wife to retire, Thomas went to work for the U.S. Marshal’s Service, first as a bus driver, then as Court Security Officer, where he worked until March of this year.
Thomas was a member of Imperial Valley’s Faith Assembly of God Church, where he served as an Usher. His hobbies included baseball, shade-tree mechanics, photography, travel and weight lifting. In 1970, Thomas won the Iron Man Award while stationed at Naval Air Station, Kodiak, Alaska. His favorite hobby was playing with the grandchildren.
Visitation was held Friday, December 1, from 6-9 p.m. at Hems Brothers Mortuary in El Centro.
Services were at 9 a.m., Saturday, December 2, at Faith Assembly in Imperial with Revs. Daniel Bruce and William Brewer officiating. Burial was at Evergreen cemetery in El Centro.
Thomas was preceded in death by his father, Leon; mother, Hazel; infant brother, James; and in 2005, his youngest sister, Arlinda Gulley.
He is survived by his wife, Norma, of 46 years; sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas Jr. and Nina of Ranch Cucamonga, Jared and Gabriela of Imperial and Norman of El Centro; daughters Jennifer of Los Angeles, Marya of El Centro, and daughter of the heart, Gracie Valenzuela of El Centro; three grandchildren, Maliq (Boss Man), Jalen (Miss J) and Jared Jr. (The Dot); sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary A. Railey, Sarah C. and Thomas Johnson of Prescott, Brenda K. and James Sloan and Iris R. Carter, all of San Diego, Lucy Nixon of Vallejo and Wilma O. McNeil of Atlanta, Ga.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Donald and Mae of Prescott; Leon and Coretta of Atlanta, Ga., and John of Prescott; aunts, uncles and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Katie Pittman
Mrs. Katie M. Pittman, 88, of Fort Worth, Texas, (formerly of Prescott), died on Friday, December 15, 2 006 at Richland Hills Nursing Home in Fort Worth, Texas.
She was born on April 8, 1918, in Prescott, to Herbert and Tinnie House Ridgell. She was a loving mother, wife, grandmother and homemaker. If there was a craft, she knew about it. She was an active member of Boughton Baptist Church, Boughton Community, in Prescott, until she moved to Ft. Worth, Texas in 1998.
She was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband, Willie E. Pitman; and by one daughter, Joyce Crabtree.
Her survivors include, two daughters, Peggy Roper and Sue Austin, both of Fort Worth, Texas; one brother, Joel Ridgell of Sulphur Springs, Texas; one sister, Evelyn Hooks and Willie of Prescott; six grandchildren, Brian Crabtree and Tamico, Jason Crabtree and new wife, Dawn Kosmatov and Nick, Mike Bell and Paula, Pam Christian and Tony and John Hopper; and nine great, grandchildren.
Funeral services were at 10 a.m., Monday, December 18, 2006, at Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home Chapel in Prescott, with Rev. Neal Ridling officiating. Burial in Piney Grove cemetery in Boughton Community near Prescott. Arrangements by Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott.
Family received friends Sunday, December 17, 2006, from 2-5 p.m. at Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott.
Dovie McKissack
Mrs. Dovie M. Bailey McKissack, 89, of The Woodland, Texas, formerly of Hope, died peacefully on Sunday, December 10, 2006, surrounded by her family, in the Woodlands, Texas.
She was born on July 13, 1917, in Rosston, to T.E. and Lela Fincher Bailey. She was a retired clerk. She was a Baptist.
She was preceded in death by her parents and by er husband, Thomas Ross McKissack.
Her survivors include one daughter, Carolyn Davis and husband, Joe of The Woodlands, Texas; one granddaughter, Kristen Curzan and husband, Mark of The Woodlands, Texas; one grandson, Brant Davis of The Woodlands, Texas; three great, grandchildren, Kendall, Garrett, and Claire Curzan.
Grave side services were at 10 a.m., Thursday, December 14, 2006, at Rosston cemetery, in Rosston, with Rev. Jim Cross officiating. Burial followed. Arrangements by Brazzel/Oakcrest Funeral Home of Hope.
Family received friends on Wednesday, December 13, 2006, from 6-8 p.m. at Brazzel/Oakcrest Funeral Home in Hope.
