Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Lizzie Mefford
Lizzie Mefford, 88, of Lamar died Monday, July 21, 2003, at Countryside Manor Nursing Home.
She was a daughter of the late John and Tamsey Atwell Chavers, Pentecostal and preceded in death by one daughter, Florence Massey; and two sons, Leon Ellison and Kenneth Greenhaw.
Survivors include five daughters, Jackie Pelts of Lamar, Louise Culley and Donna Mefford, both of Clarksville, Dimple Cross of Hartman, and Imogene King of Ozone; two sons, Jimmy Greenhaw of Lamar and Doyle Mefford of Clarksville; three brothers, Nelson Chavers of Springdale, Walter Chavers of Ozark, and Lee Chavers of Ponca City, Okla.; 33 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 24, at the Jamestown Assembly of God Church.
Burial will be in Knoxville cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Troy Byrd, Trey Pitts, Kevin Massey, Bob Hall, John Massey, and James Massey.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, at Roller-Cox Chapel.
Norman Conway Sr.
Norman Conway Sr., 93, of Linden, Mich., died Wednesday, July 16, 2003, in Linden, Mich.
He was a native of Coal Hill, son of the late Thomas and Etta Mae Gould Conway, retired employee of General Motors in Detroit, Mich., and was preceded in death by his wife, Ethridge Carmen Conway; two sons, Charles Conway and Thomas Conway; and one brother, Hansel Conway.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Norma J. and Gene Leslie of Novi, Mich.; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Kenneth W. and Rose M. Conway of Linden, Mich., and Norman Conway Jr. of Waters, Mich.; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Edward and Jennie Conway, Hughey and Helen Conway, and Raymond and Eunice Conway, all of Michigan; ten grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Graveside services and burial were at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 19, at the Coal Hill cemetery with Rev. David Zeiler officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Peg Newton Smith
Peg Newton Smith, 88, of Little Rock died Sunday, July 20, 2003.
She was a native of Little Rock, daughter of the late Evlyn (Hempstead) and Thomas Newton III, graduate of Mount St. Mary's Academy, attended Little Rock Junior College, member of Holy Souls Catholic Church, volunteer at the Historic Arkansas Museum where she served as commission chair for several years, founder of the Arkansas Museums Association and the Quapaw Quarter Association, served on the Arkansas Bicentennial Commission and the Review Committee of the State Historic Preservation Program, and the board of advisors of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and as president of the Junior League of Little Rock.
She was a charter member of the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas, active in the Pulaski County Historical Society, supporter of the Butler Center and the Little Rock Public Library, and served on the boards of the Ada Thompson Home, the Speech Correction School, the Visiting Nurse Association and the Little Rock Community Concert Association. She was the first woman elected to the board of Downtown Little Rock Unlimited Progress, now the Downtown Partnership, president of the Aesthetic Club, and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arkansas Museums Association in addition to being the honoree of numerous awards from various groups in the Little Rock area. She was the widow of Judge George Rose Smith and preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas and Allen Newton; and one sister, Evlyn McDade.
Survivors include one daughter, Dr. Laurie Fisher and her husband, Dr. Steve Fisher of Clarksville; one brother, William Newton of Bristow, Okla.; one grandson, Michael Fisher of Clarksville; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 23, at Our Lady of Holy Souls Catholic Church with Msgr. David LeSieur as celebrant. A reception will follow the service. A private family interment will be held at Mt. Holly Cemeter. Arrangements are under the direction of Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth in Little Rock.
Memorials may be made to the Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 East 3rd Street, Little Rock, AR 72201, Mt. Holly cemetery, P. O. Box 250118, Little Rock, AR 72225, or the Central Arkansas Library System, 100 Rock Street, Little Rock, AR 72201.
Richard T. Morris
Richard Troy Morris, 87, of Fort Smith, formerly of Clarksville, died Friday, July 18, 2003, in Fort Smith.
He was of the Assembly of God faith, a 32nd degree Mason, and was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Ina Dell Morris.
Survivors include three daughters, Jan Echols, Karen M. Sharp and husband, William A. Sharp Jr., and Teresa Thornton, all of Fort Smith; one son, Greg Richard Morris and wife, Anita, of Clarksville; one sister, Bessie Goodin Guthrie of Hartman; eight grandchildren, Julie Bell, William Echols III, Nicole Sharp Moore, Kelsey Sharp, Tiffany Thornton, Richard Cole Thornton, Garrett Morris and Nathan Morris; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, July 21, at Fentress Mortuary Chapel with burial at Roselawn cemetery in Fort Smith.
Nephews served as pallbearers.
Memorials may be made to Bost Marilyn Foster Skills Center, 7701 Zero, Fort Smith, AR 72903.
Velma Epperson
Velma Epperson, 89, of Thousand Palms, Calif., died Tuesday, July 15, 2003, in Thousand Palms, Calif.
She was a former Hartman resident, daughter of the late William and Alice Rash Daggett, widow of Beamon Epperson, member of the Church of Christ, and was preceded in death by one brother, Arthur Daggett.
She is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Brenda and John Holloway of Orange, Calif., Dorothy and Doug Hoyt of Thousand Palms, Calif., and Charlotte and Jay Baskin of Hartman; four grandchildren, Michael Holloway, Lisa Morris, Greg Parker, and Tracy Morales; and four great-grandchildren, Aston, Bayley, Presley and Beamon.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 22, at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel with Rev. Gene Yeager officiating. Burial was in Oakland cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Dean Yeager, Ralph Adams, Jimmy Walker, Danny Daggett, Jody Daggett, Doug Hoyt, Jay Baskin, Greg Parker, and Damon Morris.
Honorary pallbearers were Jack Epperson, Glen Yeager, and Charles Daggett.
Billy Bock
Billy Bock, 68, of Pine Bluff died Tuesday, July 8, 2003, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff.
He was a native of Kansas City, Mo., son of the late Neil J. and Sophia Bock Boles, raised in Clarksville where he attended Holy Redeemer Elementary School prior to graduating from Subiaco Academy where he holds the school record for receiving the most letters during his high school years. He was a four-year letterman in football, basketball, baseball, track, and tennis and five years in boxing. He received all-state and all-district honors and the Curry Award as a junior.
He received a BS degree from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville and a MS degree (ed) from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla. At the University of the Ozarks he was a four-year letterman in football, baseball and boxing.
In boxing, he was a five-time State Golden Gloves Champion, Mid-South Champion, AAU Champion, Louisiana-Arkansas National Guards Champion and was named "Outstanding Boxer" in the Regional National Golden Gloves Tournament in Tulsa, Okla., and participated in the National AAU Tournament in Toledo, Ohio, and in the Chicago National Golden Gloves Tournament. He also sparred with Muhammed Ali when he was known as Caucias Clay.
He coached in Arkansas for 44 years. During this time, he served as head coach in football, basketball, golf, tennis, boxing, and 35 years in baseball. Six years in baseball were as head coach at Henderson State University, 29 years were at St. Anne's Academy in Fort Smith, Sylvan Hills High School in North Little Rock, Arkansas High at Texarkana, and Pine Bluff High School. His teams won nine state championships, five state runners-up, and six state semi-finalists. His teams had appeared in 27 state tournaments and won 23 district championships with an over-all record of 641-121. He never had a losing season in any sport.
He coached in State All-Star games in football, basketball, and baseball. He was the head coach in the first Arkansas High School Baseball All-Star game and was also the head coach in the first Arkansas Intercollegiate Baseball All-Star game. He was the 1986 head coach of the "Gold Medal" winning South Team in the USA Olympic Festival.
Bock received awards including District Baseball Coach-Of-The-Year (18 times), ABCA District VI Coach-Of-The-Year (three times), ABCA Coach National Coach-Of-The-Year (two times), NAIA District 17 Baseball Coach-Of-The-Year, AIC Baseball Coach-Of-The-Year, National High School Gold Baseball Coaching Award, NFICA Outstanding Coach for Arkansas, USBF Golden Diamond Award, US Baseball Coach-Of-The-Year for Arkansas, District Football Coach-Of-The-Year (three times), and District Basketball Coach-Of-The-Year (two times). Collegiate baseball named him Coach-Of-The-Decade for the 1980s and then Co-Coach-Of-The-Century. He was honored twice by the Arkansas Legislature and twice had a "Billy Bock Day" in Arkansas proclaimed by then Governor Bill Clinton.
Bock served as chairman of the executive board of the Arkansas High School Baseball Coaches Association and ABCA District VI chairman for the past six years. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award at Subiaco Academy and also the University of the Ozarks. He was inducted into the University of the Ozarks Hall of Fame and also the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. This year he was selected for induction into the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. He is the 14th high school coach to ever receive the award. The induction will be in January 2004, at San Antonio, Texas.
Bock was a veteran of the U. S. Army and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Joe Ann West Bock; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Kraig Bock of Austin, Texas, and Kirk and Lillian Bock of Harrison; two daughters and one son-in-law, Kellie and Jeff Cohen of Fort Smith and Kim Buck of Texarkana, Texas; five grandchildren, Jennifer Buck, Jessica Buck, Garrett Bock, Caroline Bock and Katie Cohen; two aunts, Laura Belle Bock of Ozark and Freda Lee Bock of Clarksville.
A rosary service was held at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 10, at Ralph Robinson and Son Chapel in Pine Bluff.
Funeral was at 11 a.m. Friday, July 11, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Rev. Andrew Smith, Rev. Nicholas Fuhrman, Rev. Harold Heiman and Monsignor John O'Donnell officiating. Graveside services and burial followed at 5 p.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic cemetery under the direction of Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Directors.
Memorials may be made to Subiaco Academy, 405 North Subiaco Avenue, Subiaco, AR 72865, University of the Ozarks, University of the Ozarks (Advancement), 415 North College Avenue, Clarksville, AR 72830, or to the Pine Bluff High School Baseball Booster Club to establish a Billy Bock College Scholarship Fund in his memory, c/o David Mazzanti, P. O. Box 9563, Pine Bluff, AR 71611.
Billy Gene Crabtree
Billy Gene Crabtree, 71, of Jasper, formerly of Harrison, died Tuesday, July 8, 2003, at North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison.
A native of Coal Hill, he was a son of the late Robert Ernest and Vian Evans Crabtree, meat cutter for Bob's Market in Jasper, veteran of the Korean War, and member of the Mary Mother of God Catholic Church in Harrison. He was preceded in death by one son, Christopher Crabtree; two brothers, Arlis Crabtree and Andy Crabtree; and three sisters, Reba Favor, Lila Faye Crabtree, and Bobbie Lou Crabtree.
Survivors include his widow, Mary Traeger Crabtree; three sons, Billy Joe Crabtree of Houston, Texas, Michael Crabtree of Springfield, Mo., and John Crabtree of Jasper; three daughters, Marilyn Hensley of Everton, Laura Smith of Cecil, and Karen Messer of Jasper; one sister, Micki Hart of Conway; three brothers, Bernard Crabtree of Clarksville, Leon Crabtree of Coal Hill and Frank Crabtree of Altus; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A vigil service was held at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 10, at Coffman Chapel in Jasper. Funeral mass was at 11 a.m. Friday, July 11, at Mary Mother of God Church in Harrison with Father Gregory Hart officiating. Burial was in Jasper cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Rob Tanner, Brent Tanner, Tyler Hensley, Terry Hensley, Roger Tucker, and Travis Osbourne.
Honorary pallbearers were James Compton, Shannon Willis, Darrell Jones, Mike Coolidge, Jeff Smith, Dr. Hawk, Dr. Chitsey, and Phillip Willey.
Jack Hanson
Jack Hanson, 94, of Hartman died Monday, July 14, 2003, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
He was a member and deacon of the Coal Hill Baptist Church, coal miner, farmer, son of the late Sam and Turly Scott Hanson, and was preceded in death by his wife, Lula Ogden Hanson.
He is survived by one daughter, Doris Jean Hanson of Hartman.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 18, at the Coal Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Olin Odgen, Rev. Gene Bowles, and Rev. Dennis Reynolds officiating.
Burial will be in the Hess cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers will be Tommy Dean Hanson, Walter Nagel, Chris Nagel, Dean Miller, Glenn Willhite, Nick Aldana, Jerry Willhite, and Hurchel Bowles.
Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Marvel, Tommy Garner, Ron Robertson, Joe Holmesley, Frankie Jones, Paul Walker, Charles Willhite and Johnny Ogden.
Memorials may be made to the Coal Hill Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 10, Coal Hill, AR 72832.
