Grace B. Weems, 100, died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2001, at Dumas Nursing Center in Dumas.
Born Nov. 12, 1900, at Bluffton, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Callie Lazenby Weems, a retired teacher and a member of Bluffton United Methodist Church. She was a graduate of Bluffton High School and attended Arkansas Tech University and State Teacher's College in Conway. Miss Weems had lived with her sister, Claudia Blagg, at Dumas prior to going to the nursing home to recover from a broken hip.
She began her teaching career in 1919 at Bluffton, where she earned $50 a month, according to her nephew, Berzent Blagg. "That first year she helped her father buy a Ford automobile for the family," he said. "Since it was during the Depression, she couldn't cash her checks, so she boarded with her cousin on the credit until getting money on the checks."
She later taught at Wing, Rover, Ola, Bells Chapel and Fourche Valley. She taught summer sessions at Briggsville and Danville in the 1930s. She retired after 46 years to care for ill parents.
"Aunt Grace, as she was known by many, was an avid fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks, and until the last few years she could name all the players for both football and basketball programs even though she never attended a game," said Blagg.
In addition to Mrs. Blagg, survivors include another sister, Alene Derrick of Cabot, and several nephews and nieces.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Feb. 20 at Bluffton United Methodist by the Rev. Royce Savage and the Rev. Buddy Ratliff. Burial was at the Bluffton cemetery.
Pallbearers were her nephews and great-nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Bluffton cemetery Association, Bluffton United Methodist Church or a favorite charity.
Dale C. Ward
Dale C. Ward, 61, of Russellville and formerly of Wichita, Kan., died Saturday, Nov. 18, 2000, at his home.
He was born April 7, 1939, at Wichita to Loss Clinton and Ruby Mock Ward. Mr. Ward was a co-owner and worked with his sons at the D & D Machine Shop in Valley Center, Kan., for a number of years. In 1983, he moved to the Russellville area working first for Ladish Company where he was an union steward and more recently for Bibler Brothers Lumber Company. He was a member of the Shiloh Masonic Lodge at Pea Ridge and the Eagles Lodge in Valley Center. He married
Patricia Ann Hampton on April 16, 1994, in Russellville.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Ward of Russellville; two sons and daughters-in-law, Lee Clinton and Sandy Ward of Valley Center and Larry Wayne and Vickie Ward of Dover; one daughter, Dala Mesa of Golden, Colo.; one stepdaughter and stepson-in-law, Carrie A. and Ronnie L. Williams; one stepson and stepdaughter-in-law, J. Kendall and Tonya Hampton of Dover; one sister and brother-in-law, Dolores and Robert Morgan of Russellville; two grandchildren, Chad Clinton and Aubrey K. Ward of Valley Center; and three step grandchildren, Richard Scott Short and Cody Shane Hampton of Dover, and Dillon Lee Williams of Mt. View, Ark.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22 at the Humphrey Chapel and will be officiated by Bro. Hank Duvall. Burial will be at the Shady Grove cemetery at Atkins. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Chad Clinton Ward, Randy Ferguson, Gary Hicks, Eric Duvall, Mike Brown, and Tim Brown. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles, Wesley and Joshua Duvall.
Memorials may be made to Area Agency on Aging Hospice, 103 Suite 2A W Parkway, Russellville, AR 72801.
Ola Beth Wadkins
Ola Beth Wadkins, age 80, of Russellville, died Monday, August 14, 2000, at her home. A daughter of the late T.E. and Hettie Speer Rackley, she was born May 1, 1920, at Pottsville. She had taught school in the Pottsville area for many years, and was a member of the Grand Avenue Methodist Church in Hot Springs. In addition to her parents, her husband, A.J. Wadkins, a daughter, Sherry June Wadkins, and four brothers, Raymond, Ren, Thurman and Robb Rackley, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Kim Wadkins of Borger, Tex.; a daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Kerry Moore of Dover; two brothers: Dolan Rackley of Lubbock, Tex.; and Paul Rackley of Claremore, Okla.; four sisters: Dana Looper of Fairfield Glade, Tenn.; Lenora Teeter of Lubbock, Tex.; Eula Thompson of Little Rock; and Sue Horton of Kaufman, Tex.; and three grandchildren: Nash and Marika Moore, both of Dover; and Chris Wadkins of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Graveside service and burial will be 10 a.m., Thursday, August 17, 2000, at Bowden cemetery near Pottsville, with Rev. Jeff Paxton officiating. Arrangements are by Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.
Memorials may be made to the Dover First Baptist Church Building Fund, Post Office Box 397, Dover, Ark. 72837.
John Wade
John Carl Wade, 85, a resident of Atkins, died Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000, at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center at Russellville.
He was born on April 23, 1915, at Russellville to William and Cora Belle (Davis) Wade. He was an electrician with McDonald-Douglas Aircraft at Tulsa, Okla. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ora Lee Warren Wade; and two brothers, William Homer Wade and Abe Wade. He was a member of the Atkins Church of Christ.
Survivors include two brothers and a sister-in-law, Duard Wade of Atkins and Emmett and Atheleen Wade of Russellville; three sisters, Gladys Fields Bennett, Mabel Kimberlin, and Effie Miller, all of Russellville; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was Saturday, Dec. 2 at Humphrey Chapel and was officiated by Mr. Bobby Kuonen. Burial was at the Brearley cemetery at Dardanelle under the direction of Humphrey Funeral Service.
Memorials may be made to Southern Christians Home, Morrilton.
Annie York
Annie York, 73, of Cleveland, Ark., died Dec. 2, 2000, at Conway Regional Medical Center.
She was a homemaker and member of the First Assembly of God Church in Scotland, Ark.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, one granddaughter, and one great-grandson.
Survivors include her husband, Archie York of Cleveland; one daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and William Cook of Appleton; three sons and daughters-in-law, Coleman and Donas York of Jacksonville, N. C., Tommy and Betty York of Pottsville, and Ricky and Kim York of Cleveland; two brothers, George Smith, Jr. of Appleton and Eugene Smith of Texas; one sister, Ellen McElroy of Iowa; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Dec. 5 at Scotland Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Arlie Strong officiating.
Pallbearers were Scott Bell, James Holland, Jason Andrews, Chuck Smith, William Ashcraft, Jose Villasenor, and William Cook.
Ruby N. Duvall
Ruby N. Duvall, 67, of Atkins, died Friday, August 24, 2001 in Russellville.
She was a housewife. She was born March 7, 1934 in Atkins, daughter of Huie T. and Reba Davis Dixon. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; Doyle Duvall, sisters; Lula Bell Cross, Linda Sue Dixon, a brother, Chester L. Dixon and a grandson, James Loyd Bridges.
Survivors include three sons and a daughter-in-law, David and Helen Duvall, Lonnie Paul Duvall and Danny Duvall; three daughters and son-in-laws, Evelyn and Jim Chronister, Kathy and Robert Standridge, and Mary Jane and Rick Bird; one sister, Lucille Roberds; three brothers and two sister-in-laws, Thelbert and Geneva Dixon, William and Caroline Dixon and Dewayne Dixon, all of Atkins; twenty nine grandchildren, thirty eight great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral was Monday Aug.27 at Shady Grove Free Will Baptist church. Officiating the service was Rev. Robert Darter and Rev. C.W. Henderson. Burial was at Shady Grove cemetery by Lemley Funeral Service.
Active pallbearers were Randy Turner, Rickey Dixon, Gary Jones, Terry Anthony and Jamie Jones.
Honorary pallbearers were Cliff Bridges, Derrick Duvall, Brian Moudy, Wayne Polk, James Henderson and Brian Walker.
John Faucett
John Elmer Faucett, 81, of Atkins, died Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2000.
He was born March 11, 1919, in Atkins and was the son of the late William Roy and Ada Catherine Reed Faucett. He was a retired farmer, attended the Missionary Baptist Church at Blackwell, and was a member of the Farm Bureau.
Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Eddie R. and Barbara Ann Faucett of Lowell, Ark.; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Johnnie and Joe Fougerousse of Russellville, Linda Givens of Benton, Ark., and Diana and John Crites of Russellville; two granddaughters, Kim Fougerousse and Kelly Olson; one grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Blake and Traci Fougerousse; four great-grandchildren, Dustin and Drew Olson, and Cori and Alex Fougerousse; and a special friend of the family, Tommy Wade.
Funeral services were Thursday, Dec. 21 at the Lemley Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Doug Little officiating. Burial was at the Atkins City cemetery.
Pallbearers were David Faucett, Calvin Gipson, Carnell Gipson, Blake Fougerousse, Charles Alan May, and Dustin Olson.
Memorials can be made to the American Lung Association of Arkansas, 211 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, AR 72205-9869.
