WILLIAM ROBERT "BOB" LYNCH, a resident of Berryville, Arkansas since 1948, was born February 6, 1927 near Clifty, Arkansas a son Isaac Thurman and Gladys Beryl (Potts) Lynch. He died on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 in Berryville at the age of 76.
Bob enjoyed music and played with various bands in the area and had three bands of his own, including the Kings River Playboys, the Carroll County Accident and the Boston Mountain Playboys. Until his retirement he was employed by Carroll Electric as a purchasing agent. He was of the Baptist faith and attended Southern Heights Baptist Church.
On October 2, 1948 he was united in marriage with Dorothy (Hadley) Lynch who survives him. He is also survived by his five children, Peggy and her husband Jerry Hermann of Diamond, Missouri, Jerry Lynch of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Eric and his wife Cathy Lynch of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, Susan and her husband, Fred Paine of Berryville, and Chris Lynch of Fayetteville, Arkansas; his sister, Iva and her husband, Tom Wheeler of Garfield, Arkansas; two brothers, Doyle and his wife Barbara Lynch of Berryville amd Jack and his wife Melinda Lynch of Springdale, Arkansas; his sister-in-law, Mrs. Jackie Lynch of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; sixteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, James Buford "J.B." Lynch and a granddaughter, Margaret Helene Dunn.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 24, 2003 at the Clifty Church in Clifty, Arkansas with Rev. Dean Smith and Rev. Dwayne Land officiating. Interment followed in the Clifty Cemetery under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Foundation.
Bernice R. Nelson
BERNICE R. NELSON, 96, of Rockford, Ill., formerly of Eureka Springs, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 2003, at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center in Rockford, after a brief illness.
Born July 25, 1907 in Rodutt, Ill., to Oscar and Martha (Lincoln) Weiler. Mrs. Nelson married Arthur P. Nelson on Aug. 22, 1928, in Ridott. Mr. Nelson was well-known as a high school industrial arts and vocational education teacher in Eureka Springs from 1962 to 1974. Bernice was an elementary teacher in Rockford for 18 years before she retired and moved to Rockhouse Road near Eureka Springs in 1974.
During the next 15 years, she was active with many local organizations including Lone Star Bible Church, where she worshiped, played piano for Sunday school, and taught a Sunday class for many years.
Her participation with other local groups included the Carroll County Christian Women's Club, Retired Teachers Association, singing in a women's choir and playing piano for the group, and singing at many annual Winona Church homecomings held near her home on Rockhouse Road. In 1989, she returned to Rockford, Ill. to reside in Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center.
Survivors include daughter Darlene (Warren) Demetrick of Lopez Island, Wash.; sons Lonay M. and wife Susan, of Redmond, Ore., Bergen A. and wife Joanne, of Columbia, Mo., and Canden R. and wife Catherine, of North Vernon, Ind.; a sister, Belva Staas, of Freeport, Ill.; foster brother, Millard Kettle, of Manteno, Ill.; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.
Memorial services were held Saturday, Aug. 16 in the Chapel at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Machesney Park, Ill.
Responses may be sent to Canden R. Nelson, 1580 South County Road 125 West, North Vernon, IN 47265. Arrangements were by Fred C. Olson Funeral Chapels, Ltd. in Rockford, Ill.
Ronald Franklin Duncan
Ronald Franklin Duncan, 41, of Berryville, died Friday, March 22, 2003, at his home.
He was born Aug. 21, 1961, in Panama City, Panama, son of Clifton LeeRoy and Ruby Mae (Clark) Duncan.
Mr. Duncan was a disabled veteran, having served his country in the U.S. Army with the 1st and 142nd Field Artillery Brigade during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
He was of the Baptist faith. He was a supervisor with an office equipment production.
On July 27, 1979, he married Kathy (Turner) Duncan, who survives him, of the home. He is also survived by three sons, Ronald Jason Duncan, Michael Alan Duncan, and Brian Scott Duncan, all of Berryville; his father, Clifton LeeRoy, and his stepmother, Jeneanne, of Berryville; a brother, Martin Leroy Duncan of Berryville; a sister, Debra Ann and husband Sonny Brandt of Berryville; his grandmother, Allie Mae (Walker) Duncan of Berryville; several nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruby Mae (Clark) Duncan; his paternal grandfather, Ira Clark Duncan; and his maternal grandparents, Walter Forest Franklin and Lillie Bell (Davis) Clark.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 26, at the Gobbler Church near Rudd, with the Rev. Freddy Blevins officiating. Interment will follow, under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service.
Adele Raishel Speltz
Adele Raishel Speltz, 84, of Eureka Springs, died Monday, March 17, 2003.
She was born May 26, 1918, in Memphis, Tenn., daughter of Matt and Annie (Fabacar) Raishel.
Mrs. Speltz was a devout Roman Catholic, attending daily mass for the past several years. She was active in the National Council of Catholic Women, and she was a Eucharistic Minister and a volunteer in her church's gift shop. She was a member of the Hospital Guild, the Hollow Garden Club, the Mountain Echoes Club, the Emblem Club, and the Eureka! Quilters. She enjoyed sewing, handicrafts, quilting, and line- and square-dancing.
She and her husband, Nicholas Peter Speltz, retired to Eureka Springs in 1970. He preceded her in death, as did her parents.
She is survived by her son, Charles Speltz and wife Roberta of Denver, Colo.; two daughters, Susan Feltus and husband David of Hopkinton, N.H., and Sheila Speltz of Lawrenceville, Ga.; two grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and her sister, Ann James of Mountain Home.
Memorial Mass will be said at 11 a.m. on April 11, at St. Elizabeth Parish Hall, by the Rev. Thomas Arackal. Cremation arrangements were by Nelson Funeral Service.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Wilma F. Williams
Wilma F. Williams, 87, of Berryville, died Tuesday, March 18, 2003, in Berryville.
She was born Jan. 30, 1916, in Waka, Texas, daughter of Austin Pearl and Ernestine (Woodhouse) Coleman. She was a graduate of Waka High School.
She married George A. Pope, who preceded her in death. She resided in San Isabel, Colo., for several years. In 1962, she moved to Tucson, Ariz., and was employed by the University of Arizona. In 1972, she married Ola Williams. She moved to Berryville in 1976.
She is survived by two nieces, Cheryl A. Weintraub of Midwest City, Okla., and Dr. Ann Hohmann of Skaggsville, Md.; two nephews, Michael R. Gibson of El Paso, Texas, and Dr. John W. Hohmann of Phoenix, Ariz.; her sister-in-law, Pauline Cook Hohmann of Tucson; and three great-nephews, Jason Weintraub of Tulsa, Okla., Daniel Weintraub of Dallas, Texas, and Paul Gibson of Captain Cook, Hawaii.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, George A. Pope; her second husband, Ola Ernest Williams; her parents, Austin and Ernestine Coleman; three brothers, Dr. George W. Hohmann, Melvin F. Coleman, and A.W. (Johnny) Coleman; and a sister, Mabel L. Gibson.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 22, at the Charles M. Nelson Memorial Chapel, with Bro. Ray Edwards officiating. Interment followed in the Berryville Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service.
John Arthur Socin
JOHN ARTHUR SOCIN, 82, of Holiday Island, died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2003, in the Eureka Springs Hospital. He was born June 21, 1921, in Muncie, Ind., the son of Roy and Ada (Harshman) Socin.
Mr. Socin served in the air force during World War II, serving overseas in the China-Burma theater. He was a graduate of Ball State University with Bachelor and Masters degrees. He spent 11 years as school band director in Ohio and Indiana and taught upper elementary grades in Munster, Ind. until his retirement in 1976. He married Eleanor (Cecil) on Aug. 14, 1948, who survives him. He is also survived by two sons, Eric A. Socin of Highland, Ind. and Jerome R. Socin of Arlington, Tex., one daughter, Carmen A. Peterson of Highland, Ind., three grandchildren, Michael John Socin, Dana and Neal Peterson
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge # 386 in Eureka Springs, the First Methodist Church in Eureka Springs, the Ozarks Chorale, Holiday Island Singers, and past president of the Holiday Island Homeowners Association. He served 10 years as a volunteer fireman and was active in the Holiday Island Men's Golf Association.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements were made by Nelson Funeral Service. Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Eureka Springs.
Ted P. Coxsey
TED P. COXSEY, a resident of Berryville, was born Sept. 19, 1907, in Green Forest, a son of William Poynor and Grace (Wells) Coxsey. He died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004, in his home at the age of 96.
In 1929, Ted P. Coxsey began his 75-year career in law as Berryville City Attorney. He then served two terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives, the youngest person to be elected to that position, followed by six years as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. After serving three years in the Marine Corps during World War II, he was appointed Circuit Judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit. In 1947, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Washington, Madison, Benton and Carroll counties, an office he held for 22 years, which was the longest period anyone had served in that capacity.
In 1969, he was elected Chancery Judge for Carroll, Madison and Benton counties. He held that position until his retirement in 1977, at which time he joined his son Kent in private law practice, a 27-year partnership he enjoyed until his death.
He served as director of the First National Bank of Green Forest for 44 years and was a member of the Berryville Rotary Club and the Masonic Lodge for over 50 years. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Berryville.
He is survived by one daughter, Cynthia, and her husband Darsol Caton of Villa Hills, Ken.; one son, Kent, and his wife Jo Coxsey of Berryville; four grandchildren, Danielle and Andrea Caton both of Villa Hills, Ken. and Hilary and Jaren Coxsey both of Fayetteville; one nephew Richard Coxsey of Hanford, Calif. and a host of friends.
On Jan. 17, 1942 he was united in marriage with Shirley Ree (Hanby) Coxsey who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Lyle Coxsey and Lloyd Coxsey and a sister, Leota Hudson.
Funeral services were to be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, at the Charles M. Nelson Memorial Chapel in Berryville. Interment was to follow in the Berryville Cemetery under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Memorial donations may be made to the First Christian Church in Berryville or to the First United Methodist Church in Green Forest.
Russell Keith Stricklind
RUSSELL KEITH STRICKLIND, 37, of Prairie Grove, died Friday, April 30, 2004, at Washington Regional Medical Center. He was born March 12, 1967, in Bakersfield, Calif. to Gary and Billie Hart Stricklind. He moved to the area when he was 14.
Mr. Stricklind was employed by MSI in Avoca. He enjoyed fishing and the outdoors. He married Julie Beckner on Jan. 14, 2002, in Fayetteville.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, James Stricklind of Springdale; three daughters, Shantel Stricklind and Christy Stricklind, both of Eureka Springs, and Mandy Mortensen of Mapleton, Iowa; parents Gary and Billie Stricklind of Berryville; two brothers, Jamie Stricklind of Marietta, Okla., and Jason Stricklind of Eureka Springs; grandparents Elmer and Christeen Gamel of Harrah, Okla, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, at Hickory Creek Cemetery.
Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Sisco Funeral Home in Springdale.
Ella Bell Huff
Ella Bell Huff, 87 of Osage, Ark, died Monday, June 28, 2004, at Hillcrest Home in Harrison.
Funeral services were held Thursday, July 1, at Holt Memorial Chapel. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery.
She was born March 7, 1917, in Tuscola, Texas, a daughter of Rex and Maggie Bell (Gaither) Diltard. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmer Huff; brothers, Clayton, Rex and Le Roy Dillard; and a sister, Beatrice Newman,
She was a charter member of Osage Baptist Church. She was a homemaker and loved being with her family. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Survivors are her two sons and daughters-in-law, Coy and Rita Huff and Kenneth Rex and Angie Huff all of Alpena; grandchildren, Kim Huff Allen and husband, Michael of Green Forest, Shane Huff and wife, Lisa of Harrison, and Susan Fancher and husband, Joe of Rudd; and her great-grandchildren, Austin Allen, Olivia Huff, Kyle Allen, Allison Fancher, and Isabella Huff.
Bertie Hutchison Butler Cox
BERTIE HUTCHISON BUTLER COX, a resident of Berryville, was born Feb. 12, 1903, in Oak Grove, Arkansas, a daughter of G.W. and Belle (Pittman) Hutchison. She died Thursday, July 29, 2004, in Berryville at the age of 101.
Mrs. Cox was a homemaker. She was a member of the Hook and Thimble Club in Blue Eye, Mo. She was also a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Blue Eye.
She is survived by her daughter, Avonelle Butler Badley of Blue Eye; her son and daughter-in-law, Gene and Linda Butler of Quincy, Calif.; her daughter-in-law, Della Butler of Blue Eye; eight grandchildren, Ronny and his wife, Barbara Badley, R.D. and his wife, Carrie Butler, Janet and her husband, Jim Cantrell, Tony and his wife, Ranee Butler, Peggy Henak, Dalene Moore, Steve Green, Dave Green and; 19 great-grandchildren; two great- great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Hattie Hutchison and Edna Hutchison; several other relatives; and a host of friends.
On May 17, 1922, she was united in marriage with William Butler, who preceded her in death. On Aug. 3, 1969, she wed Ernest Cox, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her parents, G.W. and Belle Hutchison; her son, Dale Butler; six brothers; four sisters; one grandchild, William Richard Badley; and one son-in-law, Stanley Badley.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 31, 2004, at the First Baptist Church in Blue Eye with Bro. Jim Cantrell and Bro. Freddy Blevins officiating. Interment followed in the Blue Eye Cemetery under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service.
