Jacob Potts
Jacob Warren Potts, 74, of Ozark died Monday, Jan. 13, 2003, at a local nursing home. He was retired from International Paper Co.
Survivors include three daughters, Linda Looper and Karen Jenkins, both of Oklahoma City, and Dixie Phillips of Van Buren; three sons, Brian Rogers of Alma, Roger Rogers of Lamar and Jacob Potts II of Oklahoma City; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Graveside service was held Jan. 15 at Sherrillville Cemetery in Johnson County under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Katheryn Dean
Katheryn V. Dean, 79, of Fort Smithdied Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, at her home. She was a retired bookkeeper, a former owner and operator of Bill Dean Heating and Air and a former member of Women in Construction. She was a member of numerous civic and church organizations. She was a Methodist.
Graveside service was held Jan. 13 at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Putman Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
She is survived by her husband, Bill M. Dean; a daughter, Nancy K. Dean of Fort Smith; a son and daughter-in-law, Paige and Carmella Dean of Richmond, Texas; a brother, Rudolph Burrough of Fort Smith; a grandchild, Nancy M. Dean of Richmond; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 901 N. University, Little Rock, AR 72207.
Billy Joe Crabtree
Billy Joe Crabtree, 68, of Mulberry died Friday, Jan. 10, 2003, in Fort Smith.
He was a self-employed civil engineer.
Memorial service was held Jan. 14 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Chapel in Van Buren. The body was cremated.
He is survived by a son, Rayce Crabtree Sr. of Fort Smith; one grandson, Rayce Crabtree Jr. of Springdale; and a number of cousins.
Harold Weeks
Harold H. Weeks, 76, of Fort Smithdied Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at his home. He was a retired engineer at Whirlpool, a Navy veteran of World War II and a former volunteer for Mercy Hospice.
He is survived by his wife, Faye; two daughters, Alice Bonanno of New York and Linda Ewald of Caro, Mich.; a son, Harvey Weeks of Plano, Texas; two stepsons, William and Wendell Westfall, both of Van Buren; a sister, June Crosby of Caro; five grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside service was held Jan. 14 at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Putman Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
Pallbearers were Larry Presson, Thomas Lee, Joe Porter, William and Wendell Westfall and Christopher Ewald.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 1274, Fort Smith, AR 72902; Fort Smith Public Library, Children’s Books, 3201 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72903 or Fort Smith Meals on Wheels.
Franklin Allen
Franklin Delano Allen, 61, of Mulberry died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, in Mulberry. A retired ironworker, he served 25 years with the 148th Evac Unit of the National Guard. While in the guards, he achieved the rank of staff sergeant, serving as a medic and a cook. Frank was a 32nd Degree Mason in Lodge No. 232 in Waldron and a member of First Baptist Church of Mulberry. He was an avid turkey hunter and outdoorsman.
He is survived by his wife, Greta Sherrill Allen; a daughter, Sherrilleta Foster of Fort Smith; a son, Sean Allen of Van Buren; two brothers, Dan Allen of Harvey and Kennith Allen of Holebrooke, Okla.; and three grandchildren, Cole and Caly Allen and Sydney Foster .
Funeral service was held Jan. 14 at First Baptist Church of Mulberry under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Mulberry. Masonic graveside service was at Lamb Cemetery in Waldron.
Pallbearers were Fred Moon, Johnny Crocket, John Moody, Jeff and David Marvin and Ray Jackson. Honorary pallbearers were David Moody, Mark Newman, John Noggle, Jimmy Moore, Larry Goodnoh and William Toby.
Geneva Hopkins
Geneva Mae Hopkins, 83, of Natural Dam died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at a local hospital. She was a native of Crawford County and a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, W. Ransford Hopkins; three daughters, Clara Hopkins and Shirley Smithson, both of Van Buren, and Mary Lois Carter of Natural Dam; two sons, Darall Hopkins of the home and Carrol Hopkins of Natural Dam; one sister, Dora Pruitt of Owasso, Okla.; one brother, Dee Brown of Perryville, Ark.; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was held Jan. 11 at Grandview Assembly of God Church. Burial was at HallCemetery near Natural Dam under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were T.J. Brown, Johnny Bond, Scott Knight, Carl Franklin, Noel Cook and Raymond Russell. Honorary pallbearers were Bud Pruitt, Jim Hopkins, Floyd Rogers, Johnny Conner, Vernon Russell and David Goss.
J.D. Smith
J.D. Smith, 69, of Fort Smithdied Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at his home. He was retired from the Army after 22 years, having served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was owner of Superior Appliance, member of American Legion, Mason and member of the Governor’s Council on Developmental Delayed Association.
Survivors include his wife, Gladys Smith; two daughters, Patrica Smith and Deborah Ruffner, both of Fort Smith; two sons, John Smith of Van Buren and Jerry Smith of Fort Smith; three sisters, Mary Smith and Lucille Kirby, both of Tennessee, and Rosezella Shults of Indiana; four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was held Jan. 13 at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren. Burial was at Gill Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were John Smith, Billy Cameron, Justin Cameron, Will Camerson, Jesse Mann and Doug Cameron.
Lisa Mathis
Lisa Lynn Mathis, 38, of Van Buren died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, at a local hospital. She attended New Heights Baptist Church in Alma, was a graduate of Harrison High School Class of 1982 and an employee of Federal Express.
She is survived by her parents, Morris and Juanita Mathis of Harrison; a brother and his wife, Jeff and Gay Mathis of Van Buren; one niece, Ashley Mathis of Van Buren; and one nephew, Kyle Mathis of Van Buren.
Funeral service was held Jan. 11 at Ocker Funeral Home Memorial Chapel in Van Buren with burial at Osborne Cemetery near St. Joe.
Pallbearers were Winford Navrath, Mark Shelton, Justin Schambron, Roy Hicks, Paul Shipman and John Williams.
Memorial contribtutions may be made to New Heights Baptist Church, P.O. Box 244, Rudy, AR 72952.
Arthur Hunter
Arthur “Brud” Hunter, 65, of Van Buren died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, at his home. He was a maintenance welder for the Fort Smith School District and a member of Jubilee Christian Center.
Funeral service was held Jan. 11 at Jubilee Christian Center with burial at Gill Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanette; a daughter, Myrna Nichols of Van Buren; three sons, David E. Hunter of Alma, Mike Hunter of Dyer and Monty Hunter of Mountainburg; two stepdaughters, Anita Dodson of Kibler and Susan Cooper of Springdale; four stepsons, Rex and Scott Cooper, both of Poway, Calif., Charles Cooper of Phoenix and Steve Cooper of Florida; three sisters, Betty Jo Alverson and Carol Jones, both of Van Buren, and Brenda Free of Kibler; a brother, Don Hunter of Alma; and several grandchildren.
Robert Lamb
Robert Lee Lamb, 73, of Van Buren died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at a local nursing home. He was a retired salesman for National Distributing.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Lamb; two daughters, Debbie Swaim and Sarah Shockley, both of Van Buren; two sons, Rick Lamb of Forrest City and Terry Lamb of Fort Smith; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Graveside service was held Jan. 11 at Alma City Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma.
Rev. Robert Hogan
The Rev. Robert Lee Hogan, 61, of Van Buren died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, at a local hospital. He was an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War and a member and minister of Wood Memorial Christian Church.
Memorial service was held Jan. 10 at Wood Memorial Christian Church in Van Buren under the direction of Ocker Funeral home of Van Buren.
He is survived by his wife, the Rev. Joyce Hogan; a daughter, Beverly Hogan of Fayetteville; a son, Charles Hogan of Durant, Okla.; three sisters, Hazel Allen of Palmetto, Ga., Lucille Hogue of Gentry and Verna Edwards of Springdale; and a brother, Tom Hogan of Tavares, Fla.
Raymond Thomas
Raymond W. Thomas, 84, of Van Buren died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003, at a local nursing home. He was an Army veteran and served in World War II and was a member of 43 Assembly of God.
He is survived by two daughters, Gale Brewer of Van Buren and Jeanie Faye Dougan of Oklahoma City; two sons, Tommy Ray Thomas of Alma and Jerry Lee Thomas of Van Buren; three sisters, Christine and Mary of Van Buren and Jean of Colorado; 13 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Jan. 9 at Ocker Funeral Home Memorial Chapel in Van Buren with burial at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren.
Pallbearers were grandsons, Forest Russell, Bobby, Darrell, Jerry and John Dougan and George Workman.
Hazel Brown
Hazel Brown, 84, of Dyer died Monday, Jan. 6, 2002, at a local nursing home. She was a homemaker and a member of Dyer Methodist Church. She was the widow of Idus Brown.
She is survived by a daughter, Carol Sargent of Springdale; three sons, Michael Brown of Alma, Raymond Brown of Arkadelphia and Bobby Brown of Van Buren; a brother, Stewart Porter of Dyer; 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Funeral serevice was held Jan. 9 at Edward Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel in Van Buren with burial at Dyer Cemetery. Pallbearers were her grandsons.
Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation, 320 N. Greenwood Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901.
Ruby Crawford
Ruby Nell Crawford, 81, of Van Buren died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at a local hospital. She was a member of Van Buren First Baptist Church and a homemaker.
Surlvivors include her husband, Wilbur Crawford; one daughter, Sharon Sullivan of Van Buren; one son, Wilbur Crawford II of Vilonia, Ark.; one brother, Michael Woolverton of Choctaw, Okla.; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Jan. 11 at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren. Burial was at Gill Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Gary, Jimmy Don, Jimmy, Wayne, Truman Jr., Mark, Greg and Josh Crawford.
Birdie Estes
Birdie Lavelle Estes, 87, of Van Buren died Monday, Jan. 27, 2003, at her home. She was a member of Van Buren First Baptist Church and a retired school teacher, having taught at Oak Groove and No. 12 Schools for 33 years. She was the widow of Claude Estes.
She is survived by a daughter, Claudette Parks of Van Buren; a son, Andrew Estes of Russellville; a sister, Adell Hankins of Bartlesville, Okla.; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Jan. 29 at Ocker Funeral Home Memorial Chapel in Van Buren with burial at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Jackie, Bobby and Johnny Taylor, Odean Belt, Ronnie Coble and Perry Edwards.
Alma McGuire
Alma Marvin McGuire, 94, of Kansas City, Mo., died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003, at a Kansas City nursing home.
Funeral service was held Jan. 21 at Mount Moriah Funeral Home in Kansas City. Dr. Larry E. Gallamore, minister of St. John’s United Methodist Church, officiated. Burial was at Mount Moriah Cemetery.
She was born on July 25, 1908, in Mulberry. She graduated from Mulberry High School with honors, was a member of the Mulberry Order of Eastern Star and received her certification as a nurse at Sparks Regional Medical Center where she worked as a supervisor in surgery.
She served as a registered parliamentarian for over 20 years and was president of the Parliamentary Club of Kansas City, National Association of Parliamentarians. She was a member of the Presidents and Past Presidents General Assembly; the Salvation Army; the Kansas City Rose Society; Auxiliary to the Truman Medical Center; The Academy of Parliamentary Procedure and Law; served as a personal aide to the president of the National Association of Parliamentarians; was a teaching instructor for the Darby Study Club; was a long-time member and officer in various departments of the K. C. Athenaenum; and enjoyed many years of membership in the Women’s City Club.
Her husband, A.P. McGuire, preceded her in death in 1982.
Survivors include one sister, Mary Dean Gregory of Van Buren; sister-in-law, Lois Marvin of Fort Smith; two nieces, Carol J. Anderson of Leawood, Kan., and Bunny Arbuckle of Grandview, Mo.; and nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, all of Arkansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saint John's United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo. 64113.
Virgil Goff
Virgil Goff, 83, of Van Buren died Sunday, Jan. 26, 2003, at a local hospital. He was a retired chief of police for the Van Buren Police Department and an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn; two sons, James Goff of Springdale and Tommy Goff of Charleston; one sister, Elsie Reynolds of Fort Smith; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Edwards Van-Alma Chapel. Burial will be at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons.
Thomas Primm
Thomas A. Primm, 53, of Doyline, La., formerly of Van Buren, died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003, in Doyline. The native of Altus was a former resident of Natural Dam, an Army veteran and former employee of Matlock Electric Co.
Survivors include one daughter, Alena Janet Primm of Sallisaw; two sons, Thomas Eldon Primm and Jason Leigh Primm, both of Sallisaw; two sisters, Phyllis Schmalz of Van Buren and Sue Weaver of Doyline; one brother, Ronald Lee Primm of Alma; and seven grandchildren.
Graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
