Grant Rodgers
Grant Rodgers, 80, of Mountainburg died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002, at a local hospital. He was an Army veteran of World War II and was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Rodgers.
Survivors include five daughters, Joyce Trigg of Houston, Patricia Kitchens of Fort Smith, Mary Alice Adair of Magazine, Jean Merriweather of Alma and Linda Kaufmann of Mountainburg; a son, Grant Jimmy Rodgers of North Little Rock; a sister, Opal Love of Lake City; a brother, Gene Rodgers of Mulberry; 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be held at the U.S. National Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Edmund Shearer
Dr. Edmund C. Shearer, 59, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002, at a Hays, Kan., hospital. He was chair and professor of the chemistry department at Fort Hays State University, a former preacher for the Church of Christ in Agra, Kan., and a member of the Church of Christ, the Optimist Club and the American Chemical Society.
Survivors include his wife, Frances; two daughters, Terri Bray of Naperville, Ill., and Tammy Shearer of Marietta, Ga.; a son, Tim Shearer of Kansas City, Kan.; two brothers, William Shearer of Alma and James Shearer, D.V.M., of Paris; and one grandchild, Hannah Bray of Naperville.
Funeral service was held Tuesday at the Church of Christ in Hays. Burial was held at the Fort Hays Memorial Gardens in Hays under the direction of Hays Memorial Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Edmund C. Shearer Scholarship Fund for the chemistry department at Fort Hays State University.
Rev. Welcome Nix
The Rev. Welcome Thornton Nix, 84, of Van Buren died Friday, Jan. 25, 2002, at a local hospital. He was an Army veteran of World War II, a Southern Baptist minister and a member of the Van Buren First Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred; three daughters, Evelyn Scott of Fort Smith, Linda Joanne Polly of Killeen, Texas, and Bonnie Lee Haag of Van Buren; a son, William Henry Nix of Van Buren; two sisters, Jessie Brown of Fresno, Calif., and Willie Mae Moore of Cullman, Ala.; 25 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral service was held Jan. 29 at Van Buren First Baptist Church. Burial was held at Ewing Chapel Cemetery in Stilwell under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Adams, David Wright, Emmitt Hampton, Andy and Scotty Scott.
Honorary pallbearers will be ministers.
Lois Graves
Lois Jean Graves, 85, of Mountainburg died Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002, at a local hospital. She was retired postmistress for the postal service, the forestry service, past grand mistress of the Clearcreek Eastern Star No. 332, grand warder and past deputy for her district and a member of Mount View Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Graves.
Survivors include a son, Charles Graves of Fayetteville; several grandchildren and one great-grandson; and her caregivers, Dorothy Hayre and Connie Seratt, both of Mountainburg.
Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ocker Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be held at Vaught Cemetery in Mountainburg under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma.
Pallbearers will be Chris Nolen, Dustin Leakey, Wayne Leakey, Jim Moody, Andy Brown and Ronald Beliles.
Carol Klaus
Carol Klaus, 58, died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2002. She was a resident of the Mont Belvieu, Texas, and Baytown, Texas, area for 38 years. For the last five years, she had resided in Mulberry. She was a former member of Redeemer Lutheran Church of Baytown and a current member of Vine Prairie Baptist Church in Mulberry. She had been a nurse in the greater Houston area for 30 years.
Survivors include her husband, Charles B. Klaus of Mulberry; four daughters, Cheryl Sheffield of Mont Belvieu; Kally Licciardo from the United Kingdom; Melissa Abate of Baytown; Julie Medlin of Dayton, Texas; grandmother, Evelina Reed of Tacoma, Wash.; mother, Yvonne Dintleman of Wenatchee, Wash.; four brothers, Bill Bowen of Grant's Pass, Ore.; Dan Bowen of Old River, Texas; Ron Bowen of Baytown and Jim Bowen of Tacoma, Wash.; two sisters, Sandra Merwin of Everett, Wash.; and Debbie Armstrong of Snohomish, Wash.; and 11 grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Jan. 21 at the Earthman Funeral Home Chapel. Interment was held at the Earthman Memory Gardens Cemetery in Baytown.
Memorials contributions may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Baytown; Vine Prairie Baptist Church, Highway 64, Mulberry, Arkansas, 72947; or the Gideon Memorial Bible program.
Pallbearers will be David Klaus, Danny Klaus, Larry Harrison, Wesley Klaus, Tony Trchalek and Pat Wurm.
Honorary pallbearers are Koby Licciardo, Brandon Sheffield, Harold Frances, Darrell Klaus, Robert Klaus, Roy Klaus, Lynn Wood Klaus, Fred Klaus, Kennety Klaus and Calvin Klaus.
Julie Bryan
Julie Ann Bryan, 40, of Van Buren died Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002, at a Little Rock hospital. She was an Whirlpool employee, a graduate of Mountainburg High School and of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include her husband, Bill Bryan, Jr.; one daughter, Joanna Bryan; mother, Barbara Farrar of Van Buren; paternal grandmother, Mary Farrar of Barling; three sisters, Carrie Burchman and Adell Copeland, of Van Buren and Tammy Elkins of Fort Smith; three brothers, Gene Farrar of Fort Smith, Mike Farrar of California and Albert Farrar of Rudy; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Mt. McCurry Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma.
Charles Newman
Charles Wendel Newman, 71, of Van Buren died Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002. He was self-employed in construction.
Survivors include one daughter, Connie Dorothy of Van Buren; two sisters, LaVonda Kay Mitchell of Bonaparte, Iowa, and Sheila Carr of Salem, Iowa; one brother Gary Newman of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Salem Friends Church. Burial will be held at Salem South Cemetery. Local arrangements will be under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Edna Jones
Edna Lee Jones, 88, of Van Buren died Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002, at a local nursing home. She was a retired apartment manager and a Protestant.
Survivors include a sister, Mary Jean Taylor of Lemoore, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ocker Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Burial will be held at Gill Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers will nephews, David Hunter, Mike Hunter, Larry Alverson, Danny Nicely, Robbie Harman and Bryan Foster .
Ewell Lasiter
Ewell L. Lasiter, 74, of Roland died Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002, at a local hospital. He was a retired horse trainer.
Survivors include two daughters, Lynn Spain of Pocola and Robin Wilkins of Van Buren; a sister, Bernice Smith; a brother, Jerry Dale Lasiter Sr. of Roland; and four grandchildren, K.C. Spain and Derek Spain, both of Pocola and Rikki Wilkins and Katy Wilkins, both of Van Buren.
Graveside service was held Jan. 25 at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Jerry Lee Lasiter, David Lasiter, Jerry Dale Lasiter Jr., Ronald Gene Harvell, Jerald Harvell and K.C. Spain.
Henry Nicolas
Henry G. Nicholas, 58, of Elsmere, Ky., died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2002, in Florence, Ky. He was a former employee of Benjamin Hey Company in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Survivors include his companion, Stanley Reis of Elsmere, Ky.; two brothers, Charles Nicholas of San Pablo, Calif., and William Nicholas of San Antonio, Texas; one niece, Pam Rose of Waldron; four nephews, Jeffery Neill and William Neill, both of Fort Smith, Richard Neill of Poteau, Okla., and Jason Neill of Waldron.
Graveside service was held Jan. 25 at Forest Park Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Ora Lewis
Ora Lewis, 94, of Alma died Jan. 24, 2002, in her residence. She was a homemaker and a member of Maple Shade Church of the Nazarene. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Lewis; a daughter, Mary Louise Lewis; and a son, Russell Farrell Lewis.
Survivors include one daughter, Freda Mae Smith of Alma; four grandchildren, Sheryl Ann Dotson of Van Alstine, Texas, Douglas Keith Smith of Alma, Karen Elaine Lewis and Russell Dewayne Lewis, both of San Antonio, Texas; and four grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Maple Shade Church of the Nazarene. Burial will be held at Newberry Cemetery in Alma under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
The family will visit with friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Hazel Hamilton
Hazel L. Hamilton, 67, of Rudy died Monday, Feb. 4, 2002. She was a member of Bethlehem Freewill Baptist and a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, R.G.; two daughters, Peggy King of Rudy and Melinda Trent of Van Buren; one son, Ronnie Hamilton Sr. of Van Buren; two sisters, Ida Bell Meadows of Van Buren and Darcie Shrum of Fort Smith; four brothers, Elmer Moses of Hackett, Delmer Moses of Alma and Russell Moses and Larry Tim Moses, both of Van Buren; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside service was held Feb. 6 at HallCemetery Arbor under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Jimmy Dodson, Timmy Hamilton, Gary Ray Meadows, Danny Moses, Larry Gene Moses and David Skaggs.
Fred Campbell
Fred L. Campbell went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2002 in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at the age of 67.
Fred was born in Mulberry on Jan. 28, 1934. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. Fred was preceded in death by his mother Effie; father, William and brother Hugh. He is survived by wife, Wanda; daughters, Audrey, Janice and Sandra; son, Keith; brothers Bill of Hemet, Calif., and David of Sonora, Calif.; sister, Lucy Willson of Mulberry; and grandchildren Amanda, Ryan, Terry, Andrew and Kellie.
Fred was blessed to have had a full life and happy retirement, retiring from PG&E at the age of 53 after 35 years of employment. He was an avid golfer, serving on the Board of Directors of Mace Meadows Golf and Country Club and was 2001 club champion as well as 2001 club champion at Desert Center golf course.
A funeral service to celebrate Fred’s life was held at Daneri Mortuary in Jackson on Friday, Jan. 25.
Jerry Parker
Jerry Thomas Parker, 37, of Farmington, N.M., formerly of Greenwood, died Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002, in Houston. He was a crane operator for Four-Corners Pre-Cast and a member of Calvary Apostolic Church in Farmington where he was involved with the Bus Outreach and was a drummer and a College and Career Sunday School teacher. He was also a foster parent.
Survivors include his wife, Christina; a daughter, Aimee Parker of the home; two sons, Brent Parker and Bryan Parker, both of the home; his parents, John C. and Thelma Parker of Farmington; two sisters, Karen Howell and Kathryn Killman, both of Farmington; and two brothers, Johnny Parker of Pagosa Springs, Colo., and Larry Parker of Greenwood.
Funeral service was held Feb. 6 at Calvary Apostolic Church in Farmington. Burial was held at Greenlawn Cemetery in Farmington under the direction of Cope Memorial Chapel of Farmington.
Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Apostolic Church Building Fund, c/o 405 East Gladden, Farmington, NM 87401.
Edith Vanbrunt
Edith Vanbrunt, 87, of Mulberry died Friday, Feb. 1, 2002. She was a homemaker and a Baptist.
Survivors include her husband, Omer; five daughters, Beulah Jacobs of Stevinson, Calif., Mary Lou Kershner of Van Buren and Shirley Ann Renfro, Lois Quick and Clara Fay Willson, all of Mulberry; a son, Alfred Harold Vanbrunt of Fort Smith; a sister, Eula Patterson of Mulberry; 17 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Feb. 5 at Shaffer Funeral Home Chapel in Mulberry. Burial was held at Oak Bower Cemetery under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Mulberry.
Pallbearers were Gary Renfro, Jimmy Vanbrunt, Jason Vanbrunt, Kyle Kershner, Tony Dunn and Tommy Quick.
Honorary pallbearers were Billy Frank James, Quincy Jacobs, Paul Jacobs, Wallace Patterson, Don James, Roy Patterson, Kenneth Patterson, Herman James, Delmer Patterson, James E. Patterson, Billy Joe Crabtree and Dwight James.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oak Bower Cemetery Fund.
Ruth Hall
Ruth Violet Hall, 91, of Rudy died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002, at a local nursing home. She was a life-long resident of Crawford County, a Baptist and a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Muggins Hall.
Survivors include two daughters, Kay Marie Smith and Donna Faye Brown, both of Rudy, one son, John Hall of Rudy; one sister, Ellen Gail Robertson of Bryan, Texas; six grandsons, Brad Hall, Cliff Hall, David Smith, Scott Smith, Kevin Brown and Rick Brown; two granddaughters, Sherry Hays and Diana Smith.
Funeral service was held Feb. 1 at Ocker Memorial Chapel. Burial was at Oliver Springs Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were her grandsons.
Willie Allen
Willie R. Allen, 96, of Van Buren died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002, at a local nursing. He was a retired mechanic for International Harvester, a former volunteer for the Fort Smith Boys Club and a member of Trinity Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eva.
Survivors include one son, James Allen of San Antonio, Texas; two sisters, Edna Miller of Brookhaven, Miss., and Evelyn Douglas of Crystal Springs, Miss.; two brothers, John Robert Allen of Jacksonville, Fla. and Charles Allen of Archibald, La.; nine grandchildren, Janet Shahan of Van Buren, Frances "Casey" Hulsey of Greenwood, David Truett, Sammie Jo LaTour, Toni Odom, and Scott Truett, all of Fort Smith, Eva Neldner of Torrance, Calif., Mary Parker of Colorado Springs, Colo., and John Allen of San Antonio; 15 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Feb. 1 at Putman Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was held at Woodlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Putman Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
Pallbearers were Greg Caughman, Sam Truett, James Hulsey, Les Odom, Jackie Lewis, Justin Haller, David Truett and Scott Truett.
Mildred Bell
Mildred L. Bell, 88, of Van Buren died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002, at a local nursing home. She was a member of the Van Buren First Baptist Church and a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar R. Bell.
Survivors include one sister, Ellen Anderson of Van Buren; three grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside service was held Feb. 2 at Gill Cemetery Arbor. Burial was at Gill Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
