Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
James Estep
James D. Estep, 54, of Fort Smith died Monday, Dec. 31, 2002, at his home. He was a self-employed construction contractor, a Navy veteran, member of the VFW, a Baptist and an avid outdoors man.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Estep; two sons, Michael Estep and Brian Sparkman, both of Fort Smith; his mother, Frankie Estep of Fort Smith; one sister, Janie Watson of Barling and one brother, Randy Estep of Van Buren.
Funeral service was held Jan. 3 at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was held at Gracelawn Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
Pallbearers were Fred Woodruff, Jackie Hopkins, Darrell Burrow, Gene Beller, Billy Ray Brown, Bob Henry and Bob Croft.
Dr. Robert Calaway
Dr. Robert L. Calaway, M.D., 86, of Alma died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, at a local nursing home. He was a retired medical doctor and held a private practice in Mulberry for many years. He served in the Army and coached basketball at Lyon College in Batesville. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jayne Branch Calaway.
Survivors include three daughters, Nancy Phillips of Fayetteville, Camille Anderson of Batesville and Patricia Walden of St. Petersburg, Fla.; two sons, Robert Calaway Jr. of Alma and Paul Calaway of Denver; 13 grandchildren and four great-grandsons.
Graveside service was held Jan. 5 at Alma Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Edna Hill
Edna Mae Hill, 101, of Alma died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, at a local nursing home. She was a retired lunchroom worker for Alma school district and a member of First Baptist Church of Alma.
Survivors include two sons, Russell Hill of Alma and Harold “PID” Hill of Van Buren; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Jan. 7 at Edwards Van-Alma Chapel. Burial was at Peters Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren. Pallbearers were Merle Hill, Harold Hill, Doug Hill, Tom Hill, Don Hill and Ronnie Allen.
Jack Payton
Jack Payton, 78, of Mountainburg died Dec. 27. He was a retired, self-employed furniture builder.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; two daughters, Brenda Hite of Farmington and Melba Payton of Fayetteville; one son, Larry Payton of Edwardsville, Ill.; two sisters, Imogene Barker of Rogers and Juanita Payton of Grove, Okla.; three brothers, Joe Payton of Pryor,Okla., Dean Payton of Baldwin and Frank Payton of Mountainburg; four grandsons, five granddaughters and ten great-grandchildren.
The body was cremated under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Danny Rickman
Danny Earl Rickman, 52, of Alma died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001. He was a member of the Dean Springs Church of Christ, owner of Rickman Heating and Air and was a member of the Air National Guard for 11 years.
Survivors include his wife, Alma; two daughters, Tasha D. Rickman and Trisha D. Rickman; his parents, Thomas and Fannie Rickman of Alma; and two sisters, Pat Meadors and Debbie Valentine, both of Alma.
Funeral service was held Dec. 31 at Ocker Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Burial was held at Mt. McCurry Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Rocky Walker, Joey Butler, Dave Lovegrove, Johnny Howard, Guy Dean Jr. and John Callahan.
Honorary pallbearers were Bob Ross, John Warner, Bruce Coleman, Phil Smith, Howard Holland and Bobby Pinkerton.
Mary Frazier
Mary K. Frazier, 72, of Van Buren died Friday, Dec. 28, 2001. She was a homemaker and was retired from Allen Canning Co. in Alma. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie “Doc” Frazier.
Survivors include two stepdaughters, Vickie Hooper of Alma and Frances Hooten of Fayetteville; two stepsons, Alvie Frazier of Dyer and James Frazier of Alma; eight sisters, Patsy Kosier, Betty Kerschner, Allene Wiley, Thelma Beckham and Peggy Rogers, all of Alma, Carol Skelton of Rudy, Velma Carter of Mountainburg and Helen Felps of Fort Smith; and three brothers, Joe Willhite, Don Willhite and Ikey Willhite, all of Alma.
Funeral service was held Dec. 31 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was held at Gregory Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren
Pallbearers were James Frazier, Wayne Bush, Rodney Beckham, Gary Carter, John Willhite and Scotty Stockton.
Estella Pense
Estella Pense, 90, of Winslow died Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, at a local hospital. She was a homemaker and a member of the Winfrey Valley Tabernacle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rual Pense.
Survivors include eight daughters, Alice Shell of Fort Smith, Ellen Seeley of Hot Springs, Betty Sanders of West Fork, Ann Bemrose and Sharon Fraley, both of Winslow, Evelyn Pense of the home, Kay Langley of Mountainburg and Connie Gunem of West Siloam Springs; five sons, Amos Pense of Fall River, Kan., Alvis Pense of Mountainburg, Jack Pense and Lonnie Seeley, both of Winslow, and Charles Pense of Fort Smith; and 24 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Dec. 31 at the Winfrey Valley Tabernacle Church. Burial was held at Pense-Reed Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Jerry Allen
Jerry D. Allen, 55, of Rosettill, Kan. died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001. He was the owner of Allen’s Drywall Co. He was a member of the Kansas Quarter Horse Association, American Quarter Horse Association and had been a member of the Wichita Pigeon club for several years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Irene Allen.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy; one daughter, Debbie Bergman of Derby, Kan.; brothers, Fred Allen of Cedarville, Kan.; Ted Allen of Van Buren; two sisters, Caron Pritchard and Mashelia Scott of Van Buren; Bonnetta Kurz of Wichita, Kan.; one grandson, Kevin Hutchison of Derby, several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
H. Zed Gant
H. Zed Gant, 87, of Van Buren entered into rest Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002, at a local hospital. He was a retired attorney and Chancery Judge.
He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Imogene; one daughter, Linda Beth Harwood of Fort Smith; one son, Paul D. Gant of Van Buren; seven grandchildren, Joe D. Schoolcraft of Owasso, Okla., Jean Schoolcraft Hunt of High Point, N.C., Judy Schoolcraft Parson of Grapevine, Texas, Jimmy Schoolcraft of Maumelle, Kyle Harwood of Colorado Springs, Colo., Kristen Harwood Arrington of Allen, Texas and Kimberly Gant Griffin of Waco, Texas. Also surviving are ten great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Alice Margaret Schoolcraft, and one son, Zed George Gant.
Judge Gant was born, April 1, 1914 in the Oliver Springs Community north of Van Buren, the son of George and Ida Gant. After completing his Law Degree at the University of Arkansas in 1936, he returned to Van Buren where he practiced and served as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Crawford County. After commencement of World War II, he was appointed as an attorney for the War Relocation Authority in Washington D.C.. He later volunteered for the Navy where he served as a Gunnery Officer and subsequently retired from the Naval Reserves as a Lt. Commander. After working as a Field Attorney for the Veteran Administration from 1947 until 1973, he was appointed by Governor Dale Bumpers for the position of Chancery Judge of the 15th Judicial District of Arkansas. Judge Gant then served the 12th Judicial District as Master-in-Chancery from 1976 through 1991 while engaging in the private practice of law with his son in the firm of Gant & Gant.
He has served as Master of the Masonic Lodge in Van Buren; Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Harbor House; Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Association; President of the Board of Directors for the Western Arkansas Legal Services; and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Boggan Educational Scholarship Trust Fund. He loved the First Baptist Church of Van Buren very much. He greatly enjoyed serving there as Sunday School Superintendent, trustee and a deacon for many years. In 1995, he was named as a “Living Legend” for the City of Van Buren.
Funeral service was held Jan. 16 at the First Baptist Church in Van Buren. Burial was at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Earl Robinson, Gene Bell, Lewis Ballard, Gene Hobbs, Mike Hurst, Lowell Glass, Jerry Medlock, and Judge Warren Kimbrough.
Honorary pallbearers were the deacons of the First Baptist Church of Van Buren and the Bar Association for Crawford and Sebastian Counties.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Van Buren Building Fund, 1121 E. Main, Van Buren, AR 72956.
Jean Roam
Jean Roam, 72, of Mountainburg died Friday, Jan. 12, 2002, at a local hospital. She was a homemaker and attended the First Assembly of God church in Mountainburg.
Survivors include, two daughters, Carol Birchfield of Mountainburg and Brenda Coggin of Killeen, Texas; one son, Victor Darris of Van Buren; three sisters, Orpha Lane and Gladys Childers, both of Van Buren, and Thelma Cluck of Whittier, Catif.; three brothers, Harold Atwell of Van Buren, Floyd Atwell of Alma and Paut Atwell of Shawnee, Okla.; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Jan. 15 at the First Assembly of God Church in Mountainburg. Burial was held at Mt. McCurry Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Jerry Don Atwell, Shane Darris, Tony Taber, Cody Darris, Bradley Birchfield and Jody Birchfield.
Jewet Patterson
Jewet L. Patterson, 90, of Van Buren died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002, at a local hospital. She was a homemaker and attended the New Home Community Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Patterson.
Survivors include one daughter, Wilma Jean Winstead of Uniontown; two brothers, Jack W. Speer of Littte Rock and Jerry Speer of Roland; six grandchildren, Karen Collier, Ross Winstead, Holly Osborne, Randy Winstead, Londa Johnson and Jeff Winstead; 12 great-grandchitldren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Jan. 16 at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren. Burial was held at Macedonia Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Donald Holser, Lloyd Hosier, Cotton Morrison, Jimmy McMurry, J.T. McMaster and Sammye Collier.
H. Howard Gordey Jr.
H. Howard Gordey Jr., 63, of Morgantown, W.V., died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2002. He was an automobile salesman for Ford Motor Company and was formerly from Kansas City, Mo.
Survivors include one daughter, Vicki Moore of Fairmont, W.V.; three sons, Ricky Gordey of Morgantown, Johnny Gordey and Jerry Gordey, both of Independence, Mo.; two brothers, Darrell Gordey of Barling and Wilburn Gordey of Kansas City, Mo.; three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was held Jan. 14 at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren. Burial was held at Conley Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Ricky Gordey, Darrell Gordey Sr., Darrell Gordey Jr., and Danny Conn.
Mary Deffenbaugh
Mary Virginia Deffenbaugh, 74, of Van Buren died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002. She was retired from Sparks Memorial Hospital Food Service and a life-long resident of Crawford County.
Survivors include several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral service was held Jan. 15 at Ocker Memorial Chapel. Burial was held at Hall Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Dorothy Howard
Dorothy Ann Howard, 74, of Van Buren died Monday, Jan. 14, 2002, at a local hospital. She was of the Baptist faith, former operator of the Koffee House and East Side Cafe, and was retired from Unitog.
Survivors include her husband, Jesse Howard; two daughters, Barbara Frazier of Van Buren and Ruby Howell of Camden; one son, Jackie Howard of Fort Smith; one brother, Ben Lincks of Sallisaw, Okla.; 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Gracelawn Arbor under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers will be Jimmy Lincks, Tommy Lincks, Eddie Lincks, Steve Lincks, Billy Charles Lincks and Jason Coleman.
Jane Morrow
Jane Morrow, 49, of Cedarville died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, at a local hospital. She was a member of the Shamrock Community Church, a homemaker and a former licensed practical nurse.
Survivors include her husband, Gary; one daughter, Lynn Shelly of Cedarville; one son, Gary Morrow II of Natural Dam; three sisters, Sue Perryman of Shawnee, Okla., Louise Burkhart of Cedarville and Rita Grisham of Seminole, Okla.; three grandchildren, Brandon Shelly, Bryan Shelly and Lucy Jane Shelly, all of Cedarville.
Funeral service was held Jan. 12 at Ocker Memorial Chapel. Burial was at Shamrock Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Ronny Jordan, Roger Jordan, Mark Kattich, Greg Shelly, Brandon Shelly and Gary Morton II.
Margarette Denton
Margarette Carol Denton, 41, of Fort Smith died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002, at a local hospital. She was a member of Grand Avenue Baptist Church.
Survivors include her parents, Bob and Evelyn Denton of Fort Smith and several aunts and uncles.
Memorial service was held Jan. 14 at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren. Burial was at Gracelawn Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Crystal Davidson
Crystal Louise Davidson, 73, of Fort Smith died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002. She was of the Catholic faith and a homemaker.
Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Ann McGehee of Rudy; two sons, Bobbie Gene Davidson Jr. of Paris and William Joe Davidson of Fort Smith; eight grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside service was held Jan. 11 at U.S. National Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Betty Scott
Betty Marie Scott, 73, of Van Buren died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002, at a local hospital. She was a member of the Oliver Springs Full Gospel Church and was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, LeeVern B. Scott; one son, Gary Scott of Van Buren; two brothers, Elmer Crawley of Texas and Earnest Crawley of Missouri; three grandchildren, Chris Scott of Greenwood, Amanda Scott of Van Buren and Jeremy Scott of Van Buren; and one great-grandchildren, Garon Scott of Greenwood.
Funeral service was held Jan. 16 at Ocker Memorial Chapel. Burial was held at Gill Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Jimmy Scott, Dave Sanders, Kenny Sanders, Steve Gann, Pat Dugan and Barry Presson.
