Erma Odom McGowan, 72, of Hopewell, Va., died Wednesday, April 9, 2003, in John Randolph Medical Center.
A native of Lamar, she was a daughter of the late Maurice (Mug) and Eva Ranzie Odom, a retired fine jewelry sales consultant for Best Products, Inc., a member of the Ft. Lee Officers' Wives Club, Ft. Lee Retired Officers' Wives Club, Viking Sewing Group of Richmond, Va., American Sewing Guild of Richmond, Va., American Quilting Guild, the Gad-a-bouts Group of Hopewell, and the recipient of the Gold and Silver Olympic Medals in senior bowling.
Survivors include her husband, Garrett Edwin (Mac) McGowan, LTC, USA, Ret.; four children, Shelia Bennett and husband, John, of Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., Deborah Ann Dummond of Chester, Va., Garrett E. McGowan Jr., and wife, Pat, of Chester, Va., and Patricia G. Viccaro of Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Ella Mae Meadors and husband, Rev. James, of Walnut Ridge, Lorene Spain and husband, Robert, of Nashville, Tenn., and Marcia Wade and husband, Jerry, of Chester, Va.
Funeral was at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in Hopewell Chapel of J. T. Morriss and Son Funeral Home with Rev. Michael Murray officiating. Interment will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, in the Arlington National cemetery in Arlington, Va.
Raymond Corbishley
Raymond E. Corbishley, 71, of Coal Hill died Saturday, April 12, 2003, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
He was a native of Russellville, son of the late Jesse and Sadie Jones Corbishley, former resident of Little Rock, retired wood worker, and was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; two brothers, Paul and Glen Corbishley; and two sisters, Minnie Morgan and Helen Dye.
Survivors are four daughters and sons-in-law, Jan and Jim Head of Little Rock, Carol and Butch Warren of Clarksville, Billie Jean and Rick Crandall of Fort Smith, and Charlene and Michael Johnson of Bryant; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Ray and Tammy Corbishley of Little Rock and James Corbishley of Coal Hill; three sisters, Beatrice Stenson of Mabelvale, Audrey Broderick of Russellville, and Charlene Nabisco of Carlsbad, N. M.; one brother, Joe Corbishley of Cabot; six grandchildren, Ron Thompson of Clarksville, Jon Crandall of Fayetteville, Natasha Crandall of Fort Smith, Michael Warren of Iwakuni, Japan, Megan Corbishley of Little Rock, and Acee Johnson of Bryant; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services and burial were at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 15, at the Woodland cemetery with Rev. Steve Wingo officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Ron Thompson, Jon Crandall, Natasha Crandall, Micheal Warren, Megan Corbishley, and Acee Johnson.
Rev. Travis A. Miller
Rev. Travis Allen Miller, 76, of Lamar died Saturday, April 12, 2003, at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith.
He was a son of the late John and Annie Tilley Miller, member of the Holman Freewill Baptist Church, retired Bibler Lumber Company employee, school bus driver for Lamar Schools and a minister. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Elizabeth Bates and Tressie Hutchins; and three brothers, Leroy Miller, Ray Miller, and Jimmy Payne.
Survivors include his widow, Louise Daniel Miller; two daughters, Janice Ritchie of Fort Smith and Sandra Willis of Clarksville; one son, Billy Miller of Lamar; one sister, Ella Jones of Crescent, Okla.; one brother, Loy Dean Miller of Lamar; ten grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at the Holman Freewill Baptist Church with Rev. J. C. Kinder officiating.
Burial was in Holman cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Billy Featherston, Roger Bates, Glenn Crotts, Bobby Joe Wilkins, Kenneth Turner, James Daniel, and Johnny Handley.
Archie Dean Willis
Funeral for Archie Dean Willis, 69, of Kibler, who died Thursday, April 3, 2003, was at 10 a.m. Monday, April 7, at the Sunnyside Assembly of God Church. Burial was in Porter cemetery at Hunt under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Pallbearers were Gail Ellison, Jerry Ellison, Wayne Ellison, Carl Sears, Wayne King, Charles Willis, Bobby Willis, and J. C. Shipp.
He was a member of the Sunnyside Assembly of God Church.
Survivors include his mother, Lennie Willis of Kibler; four sisters, Shirley Corbin of Effingham, Ill., Renda King and Kaye Ellison, both of Van Buren, and Jane Ellison of Alma; and two brothers, Benny Willis of Van Buren and David Willis of Kibler.
Ruth E. Mason
Ruth Ellen Beesley Mason, 76, of Clarksville died Thursday, April 3, 2003, at Clarksville Convalescent Home.
She was a daughter of the late Earl Castle and Minnie Florance Poling Beesley, widow of James Evans (Jim) Mason, retired from Johnson Regional Medical Center as an x-ray and EKG technician after 28 years, member of the First United Methodist Church since 1960, the Friendship Sunday School Class and the Power Circle of the United Methodist Women. She was preceded in death by one brother, Byron Earl Beesley.
Survivors include one daughter, Carolyn Rae Mason of Jonesboro; three sons and daughters-in-law, Douglas Earl and Dottie Love Mason of Gallup, N. M., David and Beth Hays Mason of Walnut Ridge, and George Edward and Lucinda Lowry Mason of Irvine, Calif.; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two step grandchildren.
Graveside services and burial were at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at Oakland cemetery followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Steve Wingo officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Honorary pallbearers were Ben Phillips, Harold Johnson, Lee White, Keith Lewis, John Frost, and Len Bradley.
Robert L. Fisher
Robert Louis (Bob) Fisher, 84, of Clarksville, publisher of the Johnson County Graphic for 32 years, died Sunday, March 30, 2003, at Clarksville.
He and his wife, Christene, bought The Graphic in 1971 and later merged the Herald-Democrat with The Graphic in 1974. He had been associated with newspapers either as an editor or a publisher for 59 years having owned the Yell County Record in Danville where he was publisher for 23 years; managing editor of the Jacksonville Daily News and a senior editor at the Oklahoma Daily Times in Oklahoma City, Okla. He was a member of the Arkansas Press Association and National Newspaper Association and served as president of the APA in 1955. He was honored as a 50-year recipient of the association's Distinguished Service Award. He was a former mayor of Danville and a charter member of Chambers Memorial Hospital Board in Danville where he served on the board for approximately 20 years, served on the Johnson Regional Medical Center board in Clarksville for 16 years where the physical therapy unit was named in his honor, served 24 years on the Clarksville Housing Authority, served on the board of Johnson County Development Corporation, was a former member of the Clarksville Kiwanis Club, was a 32nd degree Mason and received his 50-year Masonic pin from Franklin Lodge No. 9 of Clarksville, graduated from Oklahoma A&M with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, earned a master's degree in statistics and psychology and worked for Douglas Aircraft Company in Oklahoma City, Okla.
He was born at McAlester, Okla., son of the late Ward and Yvonne Fisher of Oklahoma City, Okla., and a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarksville. He was also a member of the Johnson County Chamber of Commerce and the recipient of the Chamber's Pillar of Progress Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. He was an avid runner and supporter of the Johnson County Peach Festival annual 4-mile race in addition to he and Mrs. Fisher serving as the festival's parade marshals in 1996 at which time the festival was dedicated in their honor.
Survivors include his widow, Christene Fisher; two sons and one daughter-in-law, David and Mary Fisher of Danville and Bobby Fisher of Plano, Texas; one sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Ervin Roe of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one brother, Dick Fisher of Oklahoma City, Okla.; two grandsons, Davy Fisher and wife, Shara, of Fayetteville, and Chris Fisher of Russellville; two granddaughters, Tamara Morris of Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Teresa Osborne and husband, Steve, of Batesville; sister-in-law, Margaret Wylie and husband, Ron, of Clarksville; two brothers-in-law, Harvey George and wife, Sue, of Alma, and Chestene George and wife, Mary, of Clarksville; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews including Matt Wylie and wife, Megan, of Clarksville.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at the First Baptist Church in Clarksville with Dr. Robert Brown and Rev. Dick Fisher officiating.
Burial will be in Oakland cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers will be Ken Wood, Jack Patterson, Lee White, J. D. Martin, Mike Jacobs and George Overbey Jr.
Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Chambers, Bood Keathley, Scott Peek, Jake James, Fay Mathis, Lloyd George, Todd Sanders, Jack Wilson, Dr. L. Compton George and the staff of the Johnson County Graphic.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 525, Clarksville, AR 72830 or the Arkansas Press Scholarship Foundation, 411 South Victory, Little Rock, AR 72201-2932.
Ardella Willis
Ardella Willis, 73, of Kibler, died Wednesday, March 26, 2003, at Alma Health and Rehab.
She was a daughter of the late Roscoe Lee and Pearl Rylee Ship, widow of Vurn Willis; member of the Alma Full Gospel Church, and retired employee of Fort Smith Rim and Bow.
She was preceded in death by one son, Roy Dean Willis; one grandson, Justin Rockwood; one sister, Barbara Bridewater; and two brothers, J. M. Shipp and Alvey Shipp.
She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, Everett (Ebb) and Edith Willis of Ozone, Claude and Louise Willis and James and Lorene Willis, all of Kibler, and Bill and Diane Willis of Van Buren; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Jean and Bob Wilkey and Mary Lou and Wayne Bowles, all of Kibler, Sue Bowles of Alma, and Brenda and Danny Rockwood of Van Buren; two sisters, Imogene Hobson of Van Buren and Ilee Wilmon of Alma; 16 grandchildren including Jamie Willis and wife, Kesha, of Clarksville; and 20 great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Friday, March 28, at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren with Rev. Willie Mooney and Rev. Howard Tillery officiating. Burial was in Hogan cemetery at Hunt.
Pallbearers were grandsons Jimmy Willis, Jamie Willis, Dusty Willis, Tim Willis, Vernon Wilkey, and Roy Allen Bowles.
Barry Wayne Pyron
Barry Wayne Pyron, 52, of Clarksville died Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in Johnson Regional Medical Center.
He was a native of Clarksville, graduate of Clarksville High School, attended the University of the Ozarks and R. G. Le Turneau College in Longview, Texas, member of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, and a truck driver.
He is survived by two sons, Gregory Pyron of Keller, Texas, and Jason Pyron of Euless, Texas; parents, Wayne and Bonnie Pyron of Clarksville; and two grandchildren, Alexandria Pyron and Sebastian Pyron, both of Keller, Texas.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at Landmark Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Vernon Bass and Rev. Kenneth Ashlock officiating.
Burial was in Liberty Hill cemetery at Hunt under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Jim Phillips, Brian Syfert, Don Warren, Fred Lewis, Bridges Crumrine, Ted Young, Mark Kraus, and Dickie Garrett.
Honorary pallbearers were Eddie King, Bill Driver, Roy Melson, Tim Mooney, Bennie Ross, Howard Clinton, Ken Miller, Larry Griffin, Jack Allen, Charles Clinton, Wendell Lee, James Jaggers, Rip Teal, Frank Hiles, Ted Laneer, Steve Willis, Bill Rosson, and Don Lafarlette.
Carl E. Berry
Carl E. Berry, 62, died March 25, 2003, in Tulsa, Okla.
He was a native of Oark, son of the late James and Lelar Wilson Berry, supervisor at Pacer Oils, and was preceded in death by one daughter, Connie Lee Berry; two brothers; and three sisters.
Survivors include his widow of 42 years, June Edith Smith Berry; one daughter and son-in-law, Carla and Dave Smith; one grandson, Russell Hyatt of Tulsa, Okla.; two step grandchildren, Landon and Clover Smith; three step great-grandchildren, Hailey Hoffman, Taylor Smith and Destrey Smith; one brother and sister-in-law, Harl and Annie Mae Berry of Oark; four sisters, Wilma Clayborn and Willie Clayborn, both of Deer, Nova Vaughn of Houston, Texas, and Thelma McCarty of Hope; four half brothers and sisters; and mother-in-law, Lee Smith of Malvern.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Friday, March 28, at Butler-Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel in Tulsa, Okla. Burial was in Resthaven cemetery at Sperry, Okla.
