Paul Raymond James Sr., 84, of Ozark, father of Paul Ray James Jr. of Clarksville and Kathy Williams of Lamar, died Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
He was a native of the Watalula Community, son of the late Earl and Lillie White James, a retired road maintenance employee with the U. S. Forest Service, Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Ozark Free Will Baptist Church and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He was preceded in death by one son, Cletus Earl James.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Willow Dean Thomas James; three other daughters, Judy Wright, Regina Howe and Tammie Sturdivant, all of Ozark; one other son, Bill James of Ozark; one brother, Dennis James of Ocala, Fla.; 13 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the Ozark Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Sawrie officiating.
Burial was at Highland cemetery under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Bill James, Paul James Jr., Jerry Howe, T. L. and Russell Sturdivant, and Randal Wright.
Honorary pallbearers were Jimmy and Doug Thomas, Vard Carpenter, Seldon Russell, Kenneth, Greg and Donavon Easom and Dennis James.
Sondra L. Jones
Sondra Lynn Robertson Jones died 8/25/03 at Johnson Regional Medical Center. She was born 8/17/43 in Henderson, TN and is survived by her spouse, Lance Jones of Clarksville; one sister, Pat Bright of Little Rock; two daughters, LeAnn Beyerley of Hope and Robin Whitten of Beaufort, SC; one grandchild, Ashley Zimmerman of Beaufort, SC.
Ms. Jones worked for several years as a licensed social worker with the mentally retarded at the School of Hope in Hope, AR. She worked many more years as an unlicensed social worker, serving as a wife of a Presbyterian pastor. Her body was donated to the University of Arkansas Medical Center for research. Her funeral service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Clarksville 11 AM Friday with the Rev. George Armstrong of Baton Rouge, LA officiating, assisted by the Rev. David Davies of Atkins. Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church of Clarksville. Because of a special family custon, floral arrangements will not be placed in the sanctuary for the service, but if given will be used to decorate the outside steps leading up to the church entryway.
Velda F. Cooley
Velda Faye Rice Cooley of Paris, sister of Freda Bean of Clarksville, died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003.
She was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Paris and a retired nurses aide.
Survivors include one son, Steve Cooley of Paris; three other sisters, Elsie Hanan of Russellville and Orene Gattis and Sandy Rice, both of Paris; one brother, Gerald Rice of Paris; and three grandchildren, Rebecca Cooley, Suzanna Barrow, and Richard Barrow.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Roller Chapel in Paris with burial in Baxley cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Eddie Rietman, Michael Cruz, Cecil Bean, David Loveless, David Rice and Roger James.
Vuna Mayfield
Vuna Mayfield, 92, of Coal Hill died Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, at her home.
She was a daughter of the late John Walker and Martha Kuykendall Robinson, widow of Roy Lee Mayfield, and a Baptist.
She is survived by one son, Bob Mayfield of Coal Hill; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Shaffer Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gerald Morris officiating. Burial will be in Kendall cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Paul Wayne Williams, Bobby Hatchett, Jeremy Hatchett, Mike Williams, Brian Robinson, and Billy Bert Reynolds.
Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Mayfield, Mark Rofkahr, Gary Edwards, Don Davidson, and Ricky Mayfield.
Christopher Dierene
Christopher Lynn Dierene, 38, of Clarksville died Aug. 9, 2003, at the scene of an apparent drowning near a commercial boat dock in the Spadra Creek Area near Jamestown.
He was a welder, Pentecostal, and son of the late Bernice Ann Hilbish.
Survivors include his widow, Kathy Lynn Boyster Dierene; one daughter, Megan Dierene Dixion of Clarksville; four stepchildren, Amber, Kayla, Steven and Phillip Boyster, all of Clarksville; father, Arlis Lee Dierene of Clarksville; stepmother, Bernice O. Champion of Altus; four sisters, Patrica Ann Atkins of Spring, Texas, Brenda Blake and Linda Dierene, both of Mesa, Ariz., and Robin Dierene of Clarksville; two stepsisters, Diann Martin of Clarksville and Jessica Barnett of Redfield; two brothers, Michael Ray Dierene and Arlis Jeffrey Dierene, both of Amarillo, Texas; and one stepbrother, Bobby Dewayne Langston of Bakersfield, Calif.
Private funeral and burial were held. Local arrangements were under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Edward J. Neihouse
Edward Joseph Neihouse, 77, of Coal Hill died Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, at Ozark.
He was a retired carpenter, World War II Army veteran, member of VFW Eagles, American Legion and Catholic Church, son of the late George A. and Thersa M. Rinke Neihouse, and was preceded in death by three wives, Bernadine Neihouse, Lucille Neihouse and Helen B. Neihouse.
He is survived by two stepdaughters, Marsha Oehischlager of New Mexico and Diana Goad of Oklahoma; one sister, Geraldine Ball of Kansas City, Mo.; one brother, Gerad Neihouse of Coal Hill; six step-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Rosary was at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Altus with Father Hilary Filiatreau officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Edward Cecil, Anthony Neihouse, John Bill Bartlett, Mark Cecil, Gary Neihouse, and Gary Neihouse Jr.
E. L. Sparks
E. L. (Sparky) Sparks, 84, of Clarksville died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, at his home.
He was born in northeast Johnson County, son of the late George McKinley and Eula Curtis Sparks, Johnson County Clerk for 26 years, member of the Lions Club for 16 years and recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow Award, Army Air Corp veteran, member of Franklin Lodge No. 9, 32nd degree Mason, and member and past worthy patron of Clarksville Chapter No. 172 Order of the Eastern Star. He served as president and member of Johnson County Peach Festival Association Board for several years, salesman for RMB Produce for several years, member of the First United Methodist Church, employee of Hardwicke Funeral Home for several years, and was preceded in death by one son, George Sparks; one granddaughter, Sara Beth Sparks; and one brother, Morris Sparks.
Survivors include his widow, Lillian Keith Sparks; two sons, Hank Sparks of Clarksville and Jerry Sparks of Hooks, Texas; and nine grandchildren, Curtis Sparks, DeDe Sparks, Kevin Sparks and David Sparks, all of Texas, Andy Sparks of Russellville, Todd Sparks of Pennsylvania, Randy Sparks of Colorado, and Sherri Rozwodowski and Robin Sacksteder, both of Florida.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel with Rev. Steve Wingo officiating. Burial was in Oakland cemetery.
Active pallbearers were E. L. Jacobs, Gene Raible, Alvin James, Jimmy Dickerson, Wesley Kendrick, and Duane Steele.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the Lions Club, Franklin Lodge No. 9 and Clarksville Chapter No. 172 Order of the Eastern Star, and Hardwicke Funeral Home employees.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 535, Clarksville, AR 72830.
Jessie E. Baker
Jessie Evelyn Baker, 86, of Lamar died Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, in Little Rock.
She was a member of Lamar Baptist Church, retired shoe factory employee, daughter of the late Tom and Lydia Hammons Hibbard, and widow of John W. Baker.
She is survived by one son, Clifford Baker of Lamar; three grandchildren and spouses, Wesley Baker of Lamar, James and Kathy Baker of Russellville and Marcia and David Applegate of Keiser; three great-grandchildren, Joshua Applegate, John Baker, and Hanna Applegate; three step-great-grandchildern, Tim Homan, Mark Homan, and David Patterson; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Lamar Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Fowler and Rev. Clyde Vire officiating.
Burial will be in Lamar cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers will be deacons of Lamar Baptist Church and honorary pallbearers will be great-grandchildren.
Mary Ethel Carter
Mary Ethel Carter, 92, of Clarksville died Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003, at her home.
She was a Baptist, daughter of the late Alber G. and Mary Ellen Smith Ward, and widow of Wesley Carter.
She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Lawrence and Kim Carter of Casa; one granddaughter, Katelyn Carter of Casa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral was at 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18, at Roller-Cox Chapel with burial in the Knoxville cemetery.
Pallbearers were Jody Storms, Alvie Smith, Dustin Reynolds, Bob Nickles, Sherman Lee Smith, and Clinton Daniels.
Ewell T. Sexton
Ewell Thomas Sexton, 85, of Clarksville died Monday, Aug. 11, 2003, at his home.
He was a native of Ludwig, son of the late Dewitt and Maude Nunley Sexton, and member of the Church of Christ where he was a former deacon and had served as an elder for the last 40 years.
He was a retired farmer having been a peach grower for 40 years, strawberries for 10 years, and chickens for 31 years, Johnson County Farm Family of the Year in 1964, and served on the Arkansas Soil Conservation Service Board several years.
Survivors include his widow, Lois King Sexton; two sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Mary Sexton and Ronnie and Kathy Sexton, all of Clarksville; one brother, Norman Sexton of Clarksville; four grandchildren, Kim Ballard of Clarksville, Lori Johnson of Knoxville, Stephanie Smith of Russellville and Scott Sexton of St. Paul; and four great-grandchildren, Kaci Ballard, Brett Ballard, Tori Wilhelms and Brody Wilhelms.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the Clarksville Church of Christ with John Ballard officiating.
Burial will be in the Mount Airy cemetery at Ludwig under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers will be Bob Frost, Troy Taylor, Elvin Brown, James Horn, Larry Holman, and Duane Steele.
Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Sexton, Lee Jack Sexton, Alvin James, Malvern Gray and Stanley Robinson.
