Florene Creekmore
Florene Creekmore, 85, of Las Vegas, Nev. died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002. She was a retired school teacher and former resident of Van Buren. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Creekmore.
Survivors include one son, Don Creekmore of Las Vegas; two brothers, Truman Boatright and Billy Boatright, both of Alma; two grandchildren, Kristie and Kellie both of Las Vegas.
Funeral service was held Jan. 15 at Ocker Chapel of Alma. Burial was at Pope cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma.
Pallbearers were Waymond Betterton, Bob Betterton, James Winborn, Paul Winborn, Johnny Holt and John Holt.
The family will visit with friends, Monday, Jan. 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Hazel Mae James
Hazel Mae James, 82, of Alma died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002, at a local hospital. She was a former employee of OK Industries Inc., a homemaker and of the Freewill Baptist faith.
Survivors include two daughters, Phoebe Rogers of Van Buren and Betty Flurry of Bonanza; three sons, Bill Mitchell of Alma, Johnny Lee James of Van Buren and Bobby Dougan of Dyer; one sister, Leota Loveall of Van Buren; 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was Jan. 14 at Ocker Memorial Chapel. Burial was at U.S. National cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Steven Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell, Jim Loveall, Mark Brown, Denny Brown and Danny Brown.
Carolyn Foster Carolyn Ann Foster , 52, of Van Buren died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, in Sallisaw, Okla. She was of the Pentecostal Faith and a homemaker.
Survivors include a daughter, Vickie Hurd of Van Buren; one stepdaughter, Debbie Wood of Bakersfield, Calif.; three sons, Bobby Johnson and Robert Johnson, both of Van Buren, and Vendle Johnson of Gans, Okla.; two stepsons, Mike Foster of Muldrow, Okla. and Ronnie Foster of Bakersfield, Calif.; four sisters, Joyce Suggs of Alma, Wanda Jones and Margie Foster , both of Fort Smith and Ruth Yandell of Little Rock; four brothers, Donnie Barber of Uniontown, Donald Barber of Alma, Gary Barber and Bennie Barber, both of Van Buren; and 17 grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Jan. 12 at Ocker Memorial Chapel. Burial was at Yoestown Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Jim Barber, James Allen Shelton, Anthony Shelton, Johnny Jones, Shawn Barber, Curley Jones, Harry Jones and Bubbie Jones.
Sonja Moore
Sonja Moore, 60, of Van Buren died Tuesday, March 4, 2003, at her home. She was an employee of Whirlpool Corp. and attended Faith Tabernacle Church.
Survivors include her husband, John; one daughter, Peggy Aldridge of Van Buren; two sons, James Moore and David Moore, both of Van Buren; five sisters, Juanita McCaleb of Rochester, Minn., Maxine Wiley of Natural Dam, Norma Corbett of Choteau, Okla., Betty Peterson of Salinas, Kan., and Barbara Edwards of Cedarville; two brothers, Hubert Evans of Cedarville and Donnie Evans of Fort Smith; and seven grandchildren, Alica Gage, Christina, Cliff and Mary Aldridge and Tara, Bradley and Jonathan Moore.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren. Burial will be at Shamrock Cemetery near Cove City under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Paul Moore, Art Corbett, Jonathan Hicks, Gerry Edwards, Barry Wilson, Marlin Evans and Kevin Hicks. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandsons.
The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Ocker Funeral Home, 700 Jefferson St., Van Buren.
Virginia Brasuell
Virginia “Ginger” Brasuell, 72, of Whittier, Calif., formerly of Van Buren, died Saturday, March 1, 2003, in Whittier. She was a retired library clerk with the South Whitter School District and the widow of Herman Brasuell.
Survivors include three daughters, Terri Chelgrin and Nina Brasuell, both of Whitter, and Susan Neighbors of Carson City, Nev.; one sister, Judy Francis of Belleville, Kan.; four brothers, Gene Francis of Mission, Kan., Dick Francis and Scott Francis, both of Belleville, and Paul Francis of Paola, Kan.; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral will be held Thursday in Whittier. Burial will be at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home.
Jessica Carter
Jessica Lynn Carter, 12, of Mulberry died Saturday, March 1, 2003, at her home. She was a student at Ozark Junior High School, a cheerleader and a member of the Church of Christ of Mulberry.
Funeral service was held March 4 at Mulberry Church of Christ with burial at Rankin Cemetery under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Ozark.
She is survived by her parents, Bruce Carter of Mulberry and Teresa Davis of Alma; her grandfather, Louis Carter of Ozark; three sisters, Kathren Carter of Van Alma, Amy Wilson of Van Buren and Sonny Davis of Kansas; and a brother, Bruce Carter Jr. of the home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Jessica Carter Fund, c/o Bank of the Ozarks, Account No. 8511284.
Dorothy Wyatt
Dorothy Isabell Wyatt, 87, of Branch died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2003, at a Fort Smith hospital. She was born June 7, 1915, in Delaware, Ark. She was a homemaker, member of the Order of Eastern Star and Branch First Baptist Church and widow of John Wyatt Sr.
Survivors include three daughters, Shirley Cox of Little Rock, Barbara Lovell of Fort Smith and Alicia Wyatt of Branch; three sons, Jim Wyatt of Fort Smith, Bill Wyatt of Van Buren and Phillip Wyatt of Caulksville; 18 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held March 1 at Branch First Baptist Church. Burial was at Hampton Cemetery, north of Branch, under the direction of Smith Mortuary of Charleston.
Jerry Flaherty
Jerry Edward Flaherty, 52, of Ozark died Saturday, March 1, 2003, at a Fort Smith hospital. He was born Feb. 15, 1951, in Spiro.
He is survived by his mother, Doris Flaherty of Ozark; 11 sisters, Brenda Phillips of Hunt, Gloria Bartsch of Subiaco, Linda O’Kula of Las Vegas, JoAnn McMasters of Blue Mountain, Kathy Jackson of Ozark, Mary Moore of Clarksville, Angela Predmore, Molly Brixie, Otta Ruston, and Polly Henslee, all of Alexander, and Doris Calhoun of California; five brothers, Lewis Flaherty of Lamar, Truman Flaherty of Coal Hill, Jackie Flaherty of Altus, Steven Flaherty of Lavaca and Thomas Flaherty of Scranton.
Graveside service was held March 5 at Peevyhouse Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Ozark.
Pallbearers were Charles Bartsch, Harold Phillips, Doyle Bowman, Randy Henslee, Ricky Jackson and Phillip Brixie. Honorary pallbearers will be brothers and nephews.
Billy Crabtree
Billy Howard Crabtree, 72, of Ozark died Sunday, March 2, 2003, at a Fort Smith hospital. He was born Dec. 10, 1930, in Coal Hill. He was a retried master sergeant in the Air Force and attended Ozark First Assembly of God. He was the widower of Margaret Crabtree.
He is survived by three daughters, Rita Perry of Van Buren, Regina McElhaney of Ozark and Rowena Anderson of Clearwater, Fla.; two sisters, Hortense Peterson of Fresno, Calif., and Francis Ellis of Tulsa; six brothers, Robert, Lloyd, Charles, Ronnie, Jerry and Darrell Crabtree, all of Porterville, Calif.; and six grandchildren.
Funeral service was held March 5 at Shaffer Funeral Home Chapel in Ozark with burial at Highland Cemetery in Ozark.
Pallbearers were James and Lonnie Perry, Nathan McElhaney, Lloyd Rausher, Randy Bowman, Dan Anderson, Jimmy Pledger and Paul Turner.
Shirley Painter
Shirley Temple Painter, 59, of Alma died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003, at a local nursing home. She was born July 6, 1943, in Moredell, Mo. She was a homemaker and a member of Bible Mission in Alma.
She is survived by two sons, Arlo and Jason Painter, both of Alma; four sisters, Viola Burchett, Hellen Brisher, Ruby Painter and Sue Brisher, all of California; two brothers, Ellis Brisher of Fort Smith and Bailey Brisher of California; and three grandchildren, Nathan, Niki and Tommy Painter.
Funeral was held Feb. 27 at Ocker Funeral Home Chapel in Alma with burial at Alma City Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Daniel Hurst, William, Jeff and Greg Painter, Charles Brisher and Jim Burchett.
John Hobbs
John Francis Hobbs, 84, of Fort Smithdied Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at a Van Buren nursing home. He was born Nov. 14, 1918, in Youngstown, Ohio, and spent much of his life in Canfield, Ohio, where he was very active in St. Michael Catholic Church. He participated in the Eastern Ohio Conservation Club, was employed at McKelvey’s Department Store, managed their semi-pro baseball team and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. After retiring, his pastimes included woodworking and painting.
Survivors include his sister, Audrey Ferguson of Fort Smith; one niece, two nephews and a great-niece and nephew.
Memorial mass was held March 1 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Fort Smith with intermenty in Christ the King Columbarium under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
Helen Hall
Helen K. Hall, 92, of Van Buren, formerly of Alma, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at a local nursing home. She was a retired elementary school teacher for Alma School System and a member of First Baptist Church of Alma, where she had been active in the choir and as a Sunday school teacher and pianist. She also helped found the Library at First Baptist Church of Alma and was a graduate of Fort Smith Junior College, U of A.
Funeral service was held March 1 at First Baptist Church in Alma. Private committal was at Forest Park under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
She is survived by two daughters, Hellen Watson of Lilburn, Ga., and Mary Epperson of Little Rock; a sister, Betty Rhodes of Wichita, Kan.; four granddaughters and and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Peachtree Hospice, 4300 Rogers Ave., Suite 33, Fort Smith, AR 72903 or First Baptist Church of Alma, P.O. Box 819, Alma, AR 72921 or charity or organization of donor’s choice.
Morris Moon
Morris J. Moon, 84, of Modesto, Calif., died Sunday, Feb. 9, 2003. He was born and raised in the Cedarville area, graduated from Cedarville High School in 1938 and moved to Modesto in 1960. He served with the Army Engineers from 1942 to 1945 in New Guinea during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Helen; three sons, one daughter, eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, one sister and one brother.
Memorial service and burial was held at Lakewood Cemetery in Modesto, Calif.
Maria Pearson
Maria E. Pearson, 88, of Van Buren died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, in Van Buren. She was the retired owner and operator of Marie Pearson Homes in Pine Island, Minn.
Survivors include her husband, Don; three daughters, Joanne Rhoades of Albuquerque, Minn., Koryl Magnuson of Red Wing, Minn., and Kris Hammel of Rochester, Minn.; one sister, Adeline Stroh of Petaluma, Calif.; seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two nephews and one niece.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Pine Island. Cremains will be interred at Zumbota Cemetery in Zumbota, Minn. Local arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home.
Billy Wilson
Billy G. Wilson, 70, of Alma died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2003, at a local hospital. He was a retired owner and operator of Wilson Upholstery Shop in Alma, an Army veteran of the Korean War, a member of First Baptist Church of Alma, past master Alma Masonic Lodge No. 735, the Royal Arch in Van Buren, past patron of the new Alma Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and Remy Chapter of Order of Eastern Star in Mulberry.
He is survived by his wife, Susie; two daughters, Patricia Kirkley of Fort Smith and Marcella Wilson of Fayetteville; and two brothers, Guy and Tom Wilson, both of Alma.
Funeral service was held March 1 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel in Van Buren with Masonic rites at Evergreen Cemetery in Alma.
Pallbearers were Doug, Mike, Scott and David Wilson, Merle, Harold and Doug Hill. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Masonic Lodge No. 735.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Alma Building Fund, P.O. Box Alma, AR 72921.
Henry Harp
Henry C. Harp, 88, of Van Buren died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at a local nursing home. He was born March 19, 1914, in Natural Dam. He was a factory worker and a reverend in the Full Gospel Pentecostal Church.
Graveside service was held March 1 at HallCemetery in Natural Dam under the direction of Lewis Funeral Chapel of Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Gladys; a daughter, Barbara Atwell of Rudy; two sons, Charles Harp of the home and Farris Harp of Van Buren; a brother, Jim Harp of Fayetteville; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Timothy McCoy
Timothy Alan McCoy, 36, of Alma died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003, at a local hospital. He was an employee of Allen Canning Co. for 13 years and of the Assembly of God faith. He was born Sept. 13, 1996, in Van Buren.
Survivors include his wife, Lateshia McCoy; his mother, Geraldine McCoy of Fern; father, Buck McCoy of Mulberry; one sister, Connie Westbrook of Ratcliff; one brother, David McCoy of Van Buren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was held Feb. 28 at Ocker Chapel of Alma. Burial was at Nichols Chapel Cemetery in Franklin County under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Jackey Franklin, Garry Franklin, Bryan Nichols, Devin Fancler, Dalton Bundy and Dusty Franklin. Honorary pallbearers were Herman Walls, Bobby Walls, Joe Nichols and Bud Frees.
Freddie Samples
Freddie Joe Sample, 75, of Van Buren died Wednesday, March 5, 2003, at a local hospital. He was a retired employee of Fort Smith Bus Terminal and a cattle farmer.
He is survived by his wife, Merl of the home; a daughter, Sherry O’Bar of Van Buren; two sisters, Louise Woods of Van Buren and Betty Younger of Roland; a brother, John Samples of Van Buren; a granddaughter, Christal Gilmore; a step-grandson, Cory O’Bar; two great-granddaughters, Chelbi and Chloe; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was held March 7 at Ocker Funeral Home Memorial Chapel in Van Buren with burial at Macedonia Cemetery near Uniontown.
Pallbearers were Randall, Billie and Harold Richmond, Gary Jeremiah, Johnny and Jeff Mizell and Lance Bradford. Honorary pallbearers were Kenneth Hicks, Jearl and Paul Watkins, Phil Honeycutt, Curtis Workman, Jack Matthews, Herb Lewis and Lee Henson.
