George Merrin Brooks, 80, of Altus, father of Gail Henslee of Coal Hill, died Friday, Oct. 22, 2004, at Mercy Hospital/Turner Memorial in Ozark.
He was a son of the late Finis and Nancy Lock Brooks, native of Waurika, Okla., Army veteran of World War II, and retired furniture manufacturing employee.
Survivors include his wife, Viola Ellis Brooks; one other daughter, Christine Brooks of Santa Clair, Calif.; one son, James Brooks of Rio Rancho, N. M.; one sister, Cleo Brooks of Sisco, Texas; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Graveside services and burial were at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, at Highland cemetery at Ozark with Rev. Bobby Jack Covert officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home.
John F. Babson
John Franklin Babson, 84, of Clarksville died Friday, Oct. 29, 2004, at his home.
He was a son of the late Jesse James and Penelope Inman Babson, member of Spadra Baptist Church, Moose Lodge and American Legion, automotive recycler owner, and was preceded in death by two brothers, Sarkis and Ernest Babson.
Survivors include his wife, Naomia Babson; one daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Joe Black of Coal Hill; three sons and one daughter-in-law, Gary and Beth Babson of Hutchinson, Kan., Daniel (Boone) Babson of Branson, Mo., and Chris Babson of Clarksville; one sister, Ione Napier of Ash, N. C.; grandchildren, Terry, Kenny, David, Teresa and Leann Babson, Cody and Kylie Black, Brandi, Josh, Chelsia and Blake Babson, and Jaye and Megan Babson; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1, at Roller-Cox Chapel with Rev. Bob Oden and Josh Bazyk officiating. Burial was in Bethlehem cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Cody Black, Blake Babson, Josh Bazyk, Jeremy Avaritt, Paul Harris, and D. J. Schouweiler.
Honorary pallbearers were Winston May, John Woodard, Jim Patterson, Wallace Ritchie, Gordon Reese, Jack Elrod, and Jim Mitchell.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice of Russellville.
James Walter Henson Jr.
James Walter Henson Jr., 70, of Clarksville died Sunday, Oct. 31, 2004, at his home.
He was a native of Hunt, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Walter (Annis Clinton) Henson Sr., graduate of Clarksville High School, attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the University of the Ozarks, member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and the Cattlemen's Association, retired Master Lock Company employee, and was preceded in death by one half-brother, Douglas Jacobs.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Harlene Janelle Henson; two sons and daughters-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. James Walter (Stacie) Henson III of North Little Rock and Mr. and Mrs. Clint (Marti) Henson of Hot Springs; and four grandchildren, J. W. Henson IV of North Little Rock, and Hannah Henson, Emma Henson and Elle Henson, all of Hot Springs.
Rosary was at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, at Hardwicke Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church with Father William Wewers officiating. Burial will be in Liberty Hill cemetery at Hunt.
Pallbearers will be Charles Callahan, Robert Ed Farris, Bob Hurley, Dr. John Dunham, Donald Meek and Dale Meek.
Memorials may be made to the Liberty Hill cemetery Association, c/o Betty Maples, 943 CR 3060, Ozark, AR 72949 or the charity of the donor's choice.
Lorin W. Schoepp
Lorin W. (Bud) Schoepp, 95, died Friday, Oct. 29, 2004, at his home at "Breezy Hill Ranch" at the top of Ozone Mountain.
He was born Dec. 24, 1908, in Davenport, Iowa, to Ludwig and Margaret Agnes Hoffman Schoepp but moved to Chicago, Ill., in 1909. He attended Knickerbocker Grade School in Chicago, Ill., Lane Technical High School, and Armour Institute of Technology where he received BS and ME degrees. He also attended numerous other courses including real estate, sales promotion, and electrical engineering.
He began his career as engineer and later business manager for the Irving Park YMCA. He was formerly employed in sales by Bonnar Vaughter Fan Fold Company in Cleveland, Ohio, invited to become personnel director of Chicago Rawhide Manufacturing Company, former president of Wright & Huber, Inc., member of the Lions and Rotary clubs of Chicago, member of Chicago Sales Executive Club, director of Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders Association, board member of the National Safety Council of Illinois, organizer and president of Irving Park Camera Club in Chicago, Ill., owner of Breezy Hill Farm in Illinois where he bred, raised, raced and rehabilitated thoroughbred horses, and originated and operated the L. W. Schoepp Company Graphic Arts, Sales Promotion and Business Development in Chicago, Ill., for 21 years.
He moved to Johnson County in October 1970 and became active in the First United Methodist Church, Kiwanis Club, and Johnson County Chamber of Commerce, where he served two three-year board terms. In 1972, he started a Ford tractor sales and service business in Clarksville which he operated for six years. He was a catalyst in the formation of Johnson County's first rural fire district, RFD No. 1, in the Mt. Vernon-Ludwig Community. He assisted in the numerous fund-raisers and the construction of the fire station as well as serving as an active fire fighter and a fire spotter from his mountain home in addition to keeping officials posted from his CB base station. He brought back and donated to RFD 1 a large amount of fire fighting equipment secured from a fire department in Illinois which was updating its own equipment. He served on the Board of Directors of RFD No. 1 for four years.
He was an active member of the Johnson County Emergency Services team, assisted in the Johnson County Sheriff's office and county collector's office and installed the first two computers and developed a program to produce personal property printed statement. He was a former photographer for the Johnson County Graphic.
Survivors include one niece, Judie Ferguson and husband, Frank, of Upper St. Clair, Pa.; one nephew, Burton Schoepp and wife, Viola, of Des Plains, Ill.; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Steve Wingo officiating.
Burial was in Oakland cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Stan Stull, Dr. Bobby Noonan, Len Bradley, Alan Almgren, Ronnie Mefford, and Keith Ferguson.
Mary J. Garrison
Mary Juanita Garrison, 72, of Clarksville died Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
She was a retired home health employee, member of Second Baptist Church in Clarksville, daughter of the late Henery and Mae Underwood, widow of Clarence M. Garrison, and was preceded in death by two sisters, Ann Hume and Virginia Underwood; and six brothers, Norman, Alfred, Vernon, Bill, Edger, and Willard Underwood.
Survivors include one daughter, Alice Ann Harris of Dayton, Ohio; one adopted daughter, Carolyn Phillips; two grandchildren, Melissa Armstrong and husband, Chris, and Thomas Williams; and two great-grandchildren, Justin and Tyler Armstrong.
Funeral was at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 1, at Roller-Cox Chapel with Rev. Amos Pledger officiating. Burial was in Oakland cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Kenny Phillips, Ken Young, Chet Wages, Thomas Smith, Pat Hilton, and Patrick Baker.
Honorary pallbearers were Rick Goodrich and Thomas Williams.
Robert Blackford
Funeral for Robert (Ray) Blackford, 64, of Bauxite, who died Friday, Oct. 29, 2004, was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, at Hardwicke Funeral Home with Rev. Larry Horne officiating. Burial was in Lamar cemetery.
He was a native of Van Buren, former resident of Lamar, and son of the late Robert Guy and Elva Annette Blackford.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Ernestine Blackford; and two sons and daughters-in-law, Bob and Donna Blackford of Mayflower and Allan and Toni Blackford of Benton.
Robert D. Holt
Robert Dwayne Holt, 60, of Gore, Okla., died Oct. 19, 2004, at the Veterans Medical Center in Muskogee, Okla.
He was a native of Lamar, truck driver, Army veteran and was preceded in death by two brothers, Sonny Sparks and Michael Sparks of Clarksville, and grandparents, Pete and Myrtle Mae Holt of Lamar.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon Holt; two sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Diane Holt of Clarksville and Billy and Paula Holt of Baton Rouge, La.; five daughters, Susan Mayes and husband, Tim, of Gore, Okla., Lisa Holt of Dennison, Texas, Tracy Holt of Fayetteville, and Kim Holt of Hartman; two stepchildren and spouses, Tim and Angie Wheeler and Tammy and Todd Matthews of Muskogee, Okla.; mother, Gladys Sparks of Clarksville; three brothers, Carl Lee Sexton of Barling, Troy Sparks of Scranton, and Billy Dean Sparks of Clarksville; six sisters, Jimmie Peters of Dallas, Texas, Thelma Stewart of Pryor, Okla., Sylvia Smith of Lincoln, and Linda Woods, Brenda Higgs and Rhonda Sparks, all of Clarksville; 18 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral and burial were at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, at Fort Gibson National cemetery in Fort Gibson, Okla., with Rev. Wendell Cox officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Millsap Funeral Home of Webbers Falls, Okla.
Mrs. Alice Ann Dade
Mrs. Alice Ann (Retha) Whitaker Dade, 63, of Altus died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998, at her home.
She was a waitress, former resident of Tulare, Calif., daughter of the late Ray and Alice Drew Whitaker, widow of Don Dade, and attended Hartman High School and the Assembly of God Church.
She is survived by one son, Harold Ray Boren of Altus; one stepdaughter, Ruth McGhee of Corcoran, Calif.; one stepson, Don Dade Jr. of Visalia, Calif.; four sisters, Shirley Boen of Clarksville, Agnes Oliphant of Branson, Mo., Betty Morgan of Quapaw, Okla., and Elizabeth O'Rander of Augusta, Ga.; one brother, Thomas R. Whitaker of Oklahoma City, Okla.; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Amos Pledger officiating. Burial was in West Mount Zion cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Dustin Boren, Robbie Van Den Berg, Virgil Kessler, Earnest Bohannon, Dean Morgan, and James Owen.
Honorary pallbearers were Johnny W. Reed, Randy Reed, and Kenneth Reed.
