Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Mrs. Frances E. Baker
Mrs. Frances E. (Bam Bam) Baker, 79, of Lamar died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000, at Mercy Hospital/Turner Memorial in Ozark.
She was a daughter of the late Fred and Ruth Gardner, widow of Marquis Delafayett Baker, member of the Baptist Church, and was preceded in death by one daughter, Sharon Kay Seiler.
Survivors include one son, William Baker of Lamar; one sister, Betty Jane Loas of Little Rock; three grandchildren, Marcus Seiler of Clarksville, David Seiler of Lamar, and Charlene Lashley of Coal Hill; and six great-grandchildren.
The body was cremated.
Local arrangements were under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Garner Lee Taylor Sr.
Garner Lee Taylor Sr., 86, of Clarksville died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000.
He was a native of Clarksville, son of the late Jonathan M. and Phoebe Alice Garner Taylor, attended Clarksville public schools, and was a 1934 graduate of The College of the Ozarks with a bachelor of arts degree after which he entered the abstract business where he was employed until entering the military service in 1943. During World War II he served in the 84th Training Battalion in the United States and as the chief clerk in the Provost Marshall section with the 5th and 13th Port Authorities in Antwerp and Brest, Belgium. He participated in the Battles of Northern France and the Rhineland and as a staff sergeant was awarded the World War II Victory Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the EAME Theatre Ribbon, two Bronze Service Stars, and a Citation from the city of Antwerp, Belgium.
In 1946, he was elected Johnson County clerk where he served three terms before being elected Johnson County judge. During his eight years as judge he served as president of the Arkansas County Judges Association. Upon retiring from full-time political office, he entered the insurance business with his brothers as vice president of Armil Taylor Agent, Inc., a position he held until retiring in 1982. For nine years he served on the Clarksville Planning and Zoning Commission. He was elected to the Legislature in 1962 and served two years in the House of Representatives and four years in the Senate.
He joined the First United Methodist Church of Clarksville in 1922 and served on the board of trustees, administrative board, as Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher, lay leader, member of the district board of trustees, and was a member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class. Taylor was awarded the University of the Ozarks Alumni Merit award in 1984 for his ongoing dedication and service to the alumni association. In 1938, he joined the Clarksville Rotary Club, where he was a past president and recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship. He was a founding member of the Clarksville Supper Club and a 50-year plus member of the American Legion. He served on the Clarksville cemetery Association board of directors for 20 years and was president of the board when he retired in 1997.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mrs. Isobel Allison Taylor; four brothers, Armil A. Taylor, Joseph E. Taylor, John M. Taylor, and G. Robert Taylor; and two sisters, Ethel Taylor and Ruby Taylor Villines.
Survivors include two sons, Garner Lee Taylor Jr. and Ron Taylor, both of Clarksville; one daughter and son-in-law, Alison and Phil Pettit of Springfield, Mo.; one sister, Eileen Taylor Pitts; and four grandchildren, Anne Elizabeth Pettit, Sara Catherine Pettit, William Taylor Pettit, and Alissa Catherine Taylor.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, at the Clarksville First United Methodist Church with Rev. Lowell Eaton officiating.
Burial will be in Oakland cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Garland Bean, L. J. Simms, Dick Silvey, Denton Tumbleson, George Reece, Heartsill Hall, Junior Young, and Jack Phillips.
Jessie Ray Cox
Jessie Ray Cox, 53, of Clarksville died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, at his home.
He was a native of Mena, son of the late William and Mary Morgan Cox, Army veteran of the Vietnam War, member of the Coal Hill VFW Post No. 8532, a truck driver, and was preceded in death by one brother, Sammy Morgan.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Stella Cox; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Tony Cox of Mena, Shane and Kathy Cox of Rowland, Okla., and Jeff and Michelle Cox of Mena; three stepsons and two stepdaughters-in-law, Lonnie and Rose Gilbert of Lamar, Larry and Lori Gilbert of Clarksville, and Donnie Pritty of Mena; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Ruth Alldridge of California, Gertrude Cleon Shelton of Bowles, and Melba and Ed Thompkins of Needmore; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Roger Dale and Debbie Cox of Oregon and Edward and Sharon Cox of California; 15 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel with Rev. Johnny Case officiating. Burial was at 2:30 p.m. at Rock Spring cemetery in Mena.
Active pallbearers were Gary Moore, Lester Thompkins, Danny Curtis, Jason Gilbert, Walter Marler, and Tim Wagner.
Honorary pallbearers were members of Coal Hill VFW Post No. 8532.
Memorials may be made to Johnson County Hospice, 103 West Parkway Drive, Clarksville, AR 72830.
Jim Eichenberger
Jim Eichenberger, 65, of Stigler, Okla., died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, in Muskogee, Okla.
He was a native of Clarksville, son of the late Robert and Edna Young Eichenberger, and a retired mechanic.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Shirley Eichenberger; three daughters, Laura Conrick and Becky Eichenberger, both of Lowell, Ind., and Mary Lou Eichenberger of Florida; and four grandchildren, Sara, Douglas, Breann, and Alesha.
Graveside services and burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, at the Fort Smith National cemetery with Rev. Robert Maxwell Jr. officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Mallory Funeral Home of Stigler, Okla.
James Everett Hughes
James Everett Hughes, 72, of Little Rock died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, at Baptist Medical Center.
He was a native of Morrilton, son of the late William Dayton and Sally Cox Hughes, former resident of Lamar, and was employed by KARK Television Station in Little Rock as a broadcast television technician/engineer for 40 years.
Survivors include his stepmother, Josephine Hughes of Lamar; one stepbrother and stepsister-in-law, Doug and Patricia Laughter of Little Rock; two nephews; and one niece.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Kenneth A. Willis
Kenneth A. Willis, 62, of Van Buren died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000.
He was pastor of Hamtown Church in Mulberry and conducted a nursing home ministry. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Lee Willis, and one brother, William Riley Willis.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Martha Willis; three daughters, Tammy Teague of White Hall, Regina Marrs of Lexington, N. C., and Sonya Yates of Clarksville; two sons, Doug Willis and Donnie Willis of Clarksville; one stepson, Kenneth Ray Beckham of Van Buren; mother, Lennie Willis of Kibler; four sisters, Sarah Ellison of Kibler, Shirley Corbin of Altamont, Ill., and Renda King and Kay Ellison of Van Buren; three brothers, Dean, Benny and Davis Willis, all of Kibler; seven grandchildren; and two step grandchildren.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 10, at Edwards Van-Alma Chapel with burial at Porter cemetery near Clarksville.
Pallbearers were Bobby Gregory, David Flippin, Larry Ellison, Reginald Deaton, Tony Ritchie, and Larry Williams.
Mrs. Mary Alice Acord
Mrs. Mary Alice Acord, 71, of Hartman died Sunday, Jan. 2, 2000, in Clarksville.
She was a native of Hartman and daughter of the late Hugh and Mary Ford Butler.
Survivors include her husband, Dewey Acord; two daughters, Diana Mayo of Fort Smith and Vicki Bowman of Hartman; two brothers, Dewayne and Ronnie Jackson, both of Tulsa, Okla.; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, at Shaffer Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mark Soucy officiating. Burial was in Hartman cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Bowman, Brandon Bowman, Shane Bowman, Floyd Bowman, Bill Bowman Jr., Nick Taylor, and Ronnie Ohler.
