Reba Clair Cooper
(September 25, 1931 - August 29, 2015)
Reba Clair Kirksey Cooper, age 83, of Arkadelphia, passed away Saturday, August 29, 2015 at her home. She was born September 25, 1931 to Roy William Andrew and Winnie Hazel Adams Kirksey. Reba was a member of Second Baptist Church where she served as church pianist for many years. She was retired from the Arkadelphia Human Development Center. Reba was a member of Daughters of American Revolution and the Clark County Historical Association. She contributed several genealogical publications and was very active in genealogical work.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert 'Bobby' Lynn Cooper Sr. and one granddaughter, Amy Lea McCauley.
Survivors are her children, Robert Lynn Cooper Jr. and wife, Cheryl; Rose Ann McCauley and her husband, Randy all of Arkadelphia; grandchildren, Amanda (Ross) Burroughs and their children, Evan, Lucas and Wyatt of Arkadelphia; Rebecca (Carson) Gaines and their children, Maddie, Claire, Olivia and Paislee of Fayetteville; Carrie (Nick) Flora and their children, Benjamin and Emaline of Nashville, TN; Suzy (Lance) Gray and their children, Ashley, C. J. and Cayla of Texas; Andy Moore of Arkadelphia, Christopher 'Kirk' Kirksey (Beth) McCauley and their children, Alexandria and Adreonna of Saline County Arkansas; Jarred Bryant (Rachel) McCauley and their children, Adeline and Sean of Bryant, AR; Joshua Park McCauley and Megan Hope McCauley both of Arkadelphia; Joanna Claire (Andrew) West and their children, Kierstin, Gabriellla and Aria of Baton Rouge, LA. and Caleb Andrew McCauley of Arkadelphia; and a very special thanks to Gail Marshall and Mary Jane Cooper for their loving devotion.
Visitation will be 6-8 PM Monday at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, September 1st at Rose Hill cemetery with Stan Parris officiating.
Memorials may be made to Clark County Historical Association.
Christopher Jones
(May 8, 1966 - August 27, 2011)
Christopher Graham Jones, age 45 of Prescott, passed from this life on Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Arkansas Hospice in Little Rock. Christopher was born May 8, 1966 in Russellville, the son of Russell J. and Frankie Belle Mooney Jones. He was a painter, lawn care specialist and attended First Baptist Church of Prescott. Christopher was preceded in death by his mother.
Survivors are his father, Russell J. Jones of Prescott, one brother Russell Frank Jones of Paris, four sisters, Frankina Fitzhugh of Emmet, Sherrie Farrer of Scranton, Melinda Jones of Newport and Sheila Jamel of Russellville.
Private family services will be held.
Cremation arrangements entrusted to Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.
Violet C. Thompson
(April 10, 1924 - November 26, 2011)
Violet C. Thompson, age 87, of Arkadelphia passed away on Saturday, November 26, 2011 in Hot Springs. She was born April 10, 1924 the daughter of Elbert and Bertha Baker Thompson. Violet was a member of Vantrese Methodist Church and worked at the Rialto Theatre in El Dorado, Arkansas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, Edwin Thompson, Hazel Burrow, Norma Jean Wright and Dixie Armour.
Survivors are one daughter, Elizabeth Roberson; grandson, Harry Roberson both of Hot Springs; several loving nieces and nephews.
Services were held at Richland cemetery near Arkadelphia on Sunday, November 27th by Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice of Hot Springs.
Frances Reynolds
(January 28, 1931 - February 28, 2015)
Frances Louise Stewart Reynolds, of Gurdon, Arkansas died February 28 following a lengthy illness at Twin Rivers Health and Rehabilitation. Frances was born January 28, 1931, in Okolona to George and Lola Iris Smithpeters Stewart. Frances retired from Levi Strauss, and was a member of South Fork Baptist Church. She died surrounded by family and friends. Our hearts are broken, but full of love. In the words of her granddaughter: 'We lost an amazing woman. She helped raise most of her siblings and their children, sewed Levis like a beast for 32 years, cooked like Paula Deen wishes she could and was an overall awesome broad!' Heartfelt thanks to the staff at Twin Rivers for almost three years of wonderful care. She was preceded in death by her husband, J. O. (Billy) Reynolds, sister, JoAnn Brady and niece, Karen Stewart.
She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Sherry Gail Mullins and husband Jack of Waco, Texas; granddaughter Jessica Mullins-Ta and husband, Thomas of Dallas, Texas, great-granddaughters, Lola-Iris and Linley; brothers David Stewart and wife Betty and Buddy Stewart and wife Jeanie, all of Gurdon; sister, Judy Henrite and husband Chuck of Nashville, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be 2 PM Friday, March 6th at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ed Anderson, Bro. Mark Crawley, and Bro. Ricky Poyner officiating. Burial will be in the Southfork cemetery. Visitation will be 1 PM till service time at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to South Fork Baptist Church cemetery Fund.
Laura Faye Wingfield
(March 7, 1933 - September 9, 2011)
Laura Faye Wingfield age 78 of Conway, formerly of Arkadelphia, died Friday, September 9, 2011. She was born March 7, 1933 in Nevada County the daughter of Hartsfield and Ollie Waters Martin. She was a retired florist for Harvest Foods, former member of Junior Auxiliary, Conway Garden Club and a member of Conway First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband Clinton L, "Mack" Wingfield, three sons, Mark Wingfield and his wife Gena of Little Rock, David Wingfield, and Keith Wingfield and his wife Debbi all of Conway, five grandchildren, Katelind and her husband Dr. Branson Bolden, Chase Wingfield, Laura Paige Wingfield, Sydney Wingfield and Ty Wingfield.
Graveside funeral services will be 11 AM Monday in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens near Arkadelphia with Pastor Charles Murry officiating. Visitation will be Monday 9 AM till 10:30 AM the funeral home.
Memorials may be to Conway First United Methodist Church, 1610 Prince St., Conway, AR 72034.
Earl Stanley Wagner Jr.
(October 30, 1948 - April 8, 2012)
Earl Stanley Wagner Jr. age 63 of Arkadelphia, died Sunday, April 8, 2012. He was born October 30, 1948 the son of Rev. E. Stanley and Wynona Madge Deweese Bridgewater Wagner. Survivors include his mother, Wynona Wagner of Malvern, two brothers, Robert David Wagner of Sand Springs, OK, Mike Wagner of Marion IN., three sisters, Jean W. Gaspard of Crowley, LA., Georgia Crumpler of Texarkana, TX., Lauana Milnes of Benton, AR. one uncle, Bobby Joe Warner of Stockbridge Michigan.
A memorial service will be held 10:30 A.M. Wednesday April 11, 2012 in the Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Chapel with Rev. Carroll Jackson officiating.
Tommy Ricketts
(August 24, 1934 - September 11, 2011)
U.S. Veteran
Tommy Ricketts age 77 of Gurdon died Sunday, September 11, 2011. He was born August 24, 1934 the son of Clarence E. and Esta Wingfield Ricketts. He was owner and operator of Ricketts Diesel and Wrecker Service, a Navy Veteran of the Korean War, and a member of the Gurdon First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife Carolyn Shackelford Ricketts, two daughters, Cindy Duke and her husband Steve of Gurdon and Debbie White and her husband Larry also of Gurdon, two sisters, Freda New and her husband Kerry of Little Rock, and Linda Whitmarsh and her husband Glen of Hope, four grandchildren, Elizabeth Hill and her husband Kurt, Lezlee White, Carolanne Pinegar and her husband Zack and Tommy Ross White, two great grandchildren, Zane and Ben Hill.
Funeral services will be 2 PM Wednesday in the Gurdon First United Methodist Church with Pastor Lloyd Perry and Pastor Gregg Burks officiating. Burial will be in the Center Ridge cemetery under the direction of Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home of Arkadelphia. Visitation will be 6-8 PM Tuesday in the Gurdon First United Methodist Church.
Memorials may be made to the Gurdon First United Methodist Church, 201 E. Walnut, Gurdon, AR 71743.
Noble Dean Holt
(August 14, 1925 - August 16, 2011)
Noble Dean Holt, age 86, of Bismarck, died Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at his home. He was born August 14, 1925 in Bismarck, the son of the late Ernest and Neva Thomas Holt. Noble was a lifelong resident of Bismarck.
He was preceded in death by one brother, O. C. Holt; and three sisters, Ernestine Byrd, Madeline Clark and Maxine Couch.
Survivors include two brothers, Gene Holt and wife, Mona of Katy, Texas, Gilmer Holt and wife, Christine of Irving, Texas; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM Friday, August 19th at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia with Bro. Don Goodman officiating. Interment will be in Forrest Hill cemetery. Visitation will be 1:00 PM Friday until service time.
Coy Mendrel Thomas
(November 20, 1935 - May 8, 2012)
Coy Mendrel Thomas 76, of Bismarck, went to meet his Lord May 8, 2012. Born November 20, 1935, Mendral was the son of Patrick and Ola Mae Loy-Thomas, a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, and was devoted to his wife and his family. His passion in life was being a farmer.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Wilburn Thomas, Juanita Herrin, and Onieta Cowart.
He is survived by his lifelong companion of 57 years, Geneva Thomas, and his children, Wayne and Neva Thomas, Vickie and Wayne Lowe, June and Jimmy Whitley, Mike and Karen Thomas, 11 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren, his brothers Arlie and Kenneth Thomas, and sisters Margie Thomas, Lorraine Walker, Athalee Myers, and Teresa Herrin. He was dearly loved by his family and friends, and will be deeply missed.
Services will be Thursday May 10th at 2:00 pm in the Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home Chapel in Arkadelphia with Don Goodman and Doyle Caldwell officiating. Burial will follow in New Bismarck cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday, May 9th, from 6-8pm.
Joe Nelson Watson
(January 29, 1934 - August 29, 2011)
U.S. Veteran
Col. Joe Nelson Watson USAF retired, was born in Dallas Texas on January 29, 1934 and went home to see his Lord Jesus Christ on August 29, 2011. He was 77 years old.
Col. Joe had three main treasures and passions during his lifetime. The first was knowing his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Father and the Holy Ghost.
The second was his family, including his wife Judy, who survives him after 52 years of a wonderful marriage, and his four sons, Patrick Michael Watson, Daniel Wayne Watson, Joseph Brian Watson, and Joshua Brown. He also had the honor of knowing a young lady named Lisa Dammann, who adopted him as her second father. He had five grandsons, Guy, Jean-Luc, Pascal, Andre, and Matthew; one granddaughter, Lily Judith; and three wonderful daughter-in-laws, Diccie, Claire and Susan. All survive him, as well as his brother, Patrick Hembey Watson and Patrick’s wife, Glenda Ann. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Nora Bokelman. He is predeceased by his mother, Marie Hembey Watson Essary; his father, Joe Watson; his stepfather Arved J Essary; and two grandchildren, Paul and Sylvia.
The third treasure in his life was all the friends he acquired and still has from all over the world. He ended up with hundreds of friends both here and in many foreign countries. They gave him the strength to continue no matter how bad the times were. They are very good people, each and every one of them and he loved all from the bottom of his heart.
Joe graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas in 1952, and from Texas A&M; with a degree in Engineering in 1957. He later became fully qualified as an astronomical and aeronautical engineer for the Air Force. He completed both the Air Force Command and Staff School, as well as the Senior Management Course of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Col. Joe had a wonderful career. He started out as an airman second class and retired as a full colonel. In the Air Force, he had several outstanding jobs. In the early 1960s, he was in charge of an orbiting satellite program that collected intelligence data for the Air Force. He was also the Division Chief in charge of development and testing of all air-to-air and air-to-ground smart bombs and missiles (including GPS and laser guided systems) at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. He was a test engineer for the high-speed rocket sled track in New Mexico. He served three tours at Arnold Air Force Base in Tullahoma, Tennessee, and was the Air Force Chief of the Von Karman Facility for some time there.
After retiring, Joe backpacked over 6000 miles. He thru-hiked the 2000-mile Appalachian Trail In 1986 from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine. He also hiked over 700 miles along the continental divide through New Mexico, 300 miles across Australia and on many hikes in New Zealand. That is where he got his trail name of ‘Col. Joe’.
Joe also was a horse lover. He got his first horse when he was five years old and never outgrew the cowboy instinct. He loved to trail ride all over the place, including Canada. He rode the backcountry and pulled mules with his friend Ian Copithorne, and counted over 22 grizzlies in the wilds. Joe owned and bred horses at his farm in Tullahoma, Tennessee.
Col. Joe had numerous other hobbies and activities such as painting watercolors, raising beefalo, growing Christmas trees, taking photos, raising cattle, and building houses, to name a few. He voluntarily served as the executive director at the AEDC federal credit union, a junior officer career counselor, and as a Boy Scout troop leader.
He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Tullahoma and was a past president of the church and served as the evangelism director for 10 years, where he served honorably and faithfully.
Joe Watson’s funeral will be held at Faith Lutheran Church at 101 Bragg Circle at 4pm on Sunday, September 3, with visitation at the church one hour prior to the service. A dinner will be held at the church after the service.
Interment with full military honors will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at Delight cemetery under the direction of Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.
In lieu of flowers, Joe made the following request: ' I have a special place where I would like memorials to go. I wish them to be designated to help build a nice new LED sign in front of Faith Lutheran Church at 101 Bragg Circle, Tullahoma, TN 37388. I believe it will really help for our church to proclaim the gospel message of Jesus Christ by word and deed to every person.
