Sammy Lee Bates, 10, of Bee Branch passed away Monday, Dec. 1, 2014. Born Oct. 3, 2004, in Conway, Arkansas, Sammy loved music, learning and being a dare devil. He also loved anything about Batman and was very close to his mother and sister.
Left to cherish these memories are his mother and stepfather, April and Chad Fowler of Bee Branch, Arkansas, and his father and stepmother, Kenneth and Deana Bates of Chandler, Texas; his sisters, Jordyn Bates of Bee Branch, Arkansas, Sophia Bates of Chandler, Texas; and brother Kenneth Bates Jr. of Chandler, Texas. Grandparents include Lee and Teresa Gates of Clinton, Arkansas, Sammy Bates, Barbara Wood, Donna Casucci, Joe Brady, all of Texas, Pamela and Dalton Britt of Perryville, Arkansas; and Billy Fowler of Wooster, Arkansas. Great-grandparents include Geneva Gates and L.D. and Trudy Cox of Clinton, Joyce Eaton of Conway, Wayne Bates, Ressie Seller, Pat and Joe Caccamo and Phyllis Brandy, all of Texas.
Visitation was Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, at the Chapel of Clinton Funeral Service from 5-7 p.m. Services were Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, at 2 p.m. at Clinton Funeral Service Chapel. Burial was in Plant cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the Autism Association. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Clinton Funeral Service of Clinton, Arkansas.
Viola Patterson
Viola Patterson, 89, of Clinton passed away Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014. She was born at Many, Louisiana, Aug. 31, 1925, to James Thomas and Orilla Marr.
preceded in death by husband Billy Patterson; daughter Kaye Story; son Lott; five brothers; two sisters. Survivors: sons, Andy Patterson, Billy Patterson; son-in-law, Roy Story; daughter, Pat Lawrence; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home Chapel. Burial at Clinton cemetery.
Melvin Duncan
Melvin C. Duncan, 74, of Dennard, Arkansas, passed away Dec. 1, 2014. Born June 27, 1940, at Shirley to Daniel and Ruby Duncan. He served in the Navy and was an author.
preceded in death by one brother, one sister, and one daughter, Ruth Ellen Black. Survivors: wife, Sarah; four daughters, Elizabeth Basham, Anita Wilkinson, Karrie Gross, Patricia Coley; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three sisters; one brother.
Funeral service was 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at Roller-McNutt, Clinton. Burial in Dennard cemetery.
Willie Morrison
Willie Mae (Chadwick) Morrison, age 84, of Marshall, Arkansas, departed this life on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, at Ozark Health Nursing Center in Clinton, Arkansas. She was born in Rock Springs, Arkansas, on Sept. 14, 1930, to Ulis T. Chadwick and Stella Martha (Massey) Chadwick.
Willie lived her entire life in the Landis community in Searcy County. She was a faithful member of the Walnut Grove Missionary Baptist Church. She was a homemaker, and enjoyed taking care of others and spending time hunting and fishing with her family.
Willie married
William Clell Morrison on Dec. 6, 1947, and to this union four children were born: Billy Joe Morrison and wife Cynthia of Harrison, Bennie Lee Morrison and wife Judy of Marshall, Ilene Ragland and husband Allen of Leslie and Ida Faye Keith and husband Scooter of Clinton. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two brothers; and one sister.
Arrangements are by Roller-Coffman Funeral Home in Marshall, Arkansas. Graveside services were 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Campbell cemetery near Leslie with Brother Gary Ragland officiating. Pallbearers were her grandsons, William Keith, Kevin Morrison, Billy Blair, Carson Blair, Billy Lee Keith and Billy Morrison. Honorary pallbearers are all the remaining grandchildren.
Steven Iburg
Steven Iburg, 44 , of Conway, passed away Dec. 10, 2014 in Conway, Arkansas. Born July 5, 1970, in Conway, Steven had most recently worked in manufacturing for Kimberly-Clark Corp.
Steven was a member of Saltillo Heights Baptist Church and in his spare time loved trout fishing, bowling and, most of all, basketball.
Left to cherish his memory are his children, Justice, Darrian and Courtney Iburg, Ethan and Nevaeh Stranschinski, Rachael Wilstrop. Also surviving are his parents, Sherry and Bill Russell of Bee Branch, Arkansas, and Larry and Regina Iburg of Vilonia, Arkansas; sisters Angela and Jennifer Russell and Christie Capps; and a grandmother, Billie Iburg as well as Elizabeth Iburg and Brandy Stranschinski along with other family and friends. Steven is preceded in death by grandparents, Raymond and Opal Sawyer and Clarence Jr. and Florence Iburg.
Services were Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at 11 a.m. at the Bee Branch Baptist Church with Brother C.W. Blood officiating. Interment was in Quattlebaum cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Clinton Funeral Service of Clinton.
Jerry Griffith
Jerry Wayne Griffith, 65, of Clinton, Arkansas, passed away Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. He was born Feb. 22, 1949, in Eglantine Community to Orville Nelson and Hazel (Jackson) Griffith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, and son Cisroe. He is survived by wife Margrett; two sons, Gerald Wayne Griffith and Justin Lane (Christa); two grandchildren; adopted son, Brian Schooley.
Funeral service was 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home Chapel. Burial: Half Moon cemetery.
Arther Rolen
Arthur Wayne Rolen, 63, of Clinton passed away Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, in Clinton. Born May 7, 1951, in the Half Moon community to the late Arthur P. and Genny Faye Gardner Rolen, Arthur was a commercial truck driver but his passions were hunting and fishing.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Joann Payne Rolen of the home; children Andy and wife Lacy Rolen of Montana, David Rolen of Danville, Arkansas, Brandy and husband James of Tookle, Utah, and Elliott and wife Monica Rolen of Mountain View, Arkansas. Also surviving are grandchildren, Gaberialla, Drew, Colby, Madison, E.J., Haley, Destani and Elizabeth Rolen, Benjamin and Jamie Linn, Nova Lott, Kailyn and Bethany Kidd, and Hayden Jones; sisters Fredda Picklesimer of Half Moon and Hazel Sutton of Mayflower; two nieces; one nephew and many other family members and friends. Arthur is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters.
Visitation was Monday, Dec. 15, at Clinton Funeral Service. Funeral services were 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, at Clinton Funeral Service Chapel with Sister Sheila Gardner officiating. Interment will follow at Half Moon cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Clinton Funeral Service of Clinton.
Lillie Tillery
Lillie Mae Tillery, 87, of Clinton, Arkansas, passed away Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. She was born Sept. 27, 1927, to John and Flora G. (Hadabaugh) Martin.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Hebert Tillery Sr., four sisters, one brother, and two grandsons, Brian Bane and Wayne Owen. She is survived by her two sons, Hebert Tillery Jr. of Dardanelle, Arkansas, and Robert Tillery of Rudy, Arkansas; four daughters, Thelma Hunt (Roy) of Dardanelle, Flora Owen of Sulfur Rock, Arkansas, Mary Bane (Gary) of Shirley, Arkansas, and Joyce Tillery of Atkins, Arkansas; nine grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; one great-great-great-grandchild; and many close friends.
Pallbearers: Paul Bane, Roy Hunt, Jack Wilburn Jr., Ryan Hunt, Raymond Johnson, and Chad Laymon.
Honorary Pallbearers: Gary Gasho, Thomas Tillery, and Daniel Eubanks.
Visitation was Sunday, March 1, 2015, at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home Chapel, Clinton. Funeral service was 1 p.m. March 2, 2015, at Full Gospel Tabernacle, 128 Catland Lane, Shirley, Arkansas, with Pastor James Hutto officiating. Burial will follow in Bradley cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Clinton, Arkansas.
Jeff McKnight
Jeff “Moon” McKnight, 52, of Bee Branch, Arkansas, died March 1, 2015, at his home surrounded by family and friends.
Jeff was born Feb. 18, 1963, in Conway, Arkansas, to Joy Smith McKnight and the late Jamie McKnight Sr. He graduated from South Side High School and attended Westark Community College in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Jeff was an accomplished athlete and played college baseball and professional baseball throughout his career. His professional baseball career included six seasons in the major leagues with the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets. Jeff was a “utility” player and could play any position on the field. His hard work and dedication allowed him to succeed in baseball and life. He was a quiet, gentle soul and loved spending time with family and friends playing games and reminiscing. He found humor in everyday life and always had a witty remark even in his last days. His two sons were his proudest accomplishment and he loved them dearly. Jeff had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and he will be missed.
Jeff was met at Heaven’s gates by his late father, and his recently departed brother, Jimbo McKnight.
He is survived by his sons, Matthew Dylan McKnight and Samuel Garret McKnight of Fort Smith; his mother Joy Smith McKnight; his brother Jack McKnight; his sisters JoAnne Beaulieu, Jill Boeckmann and Jackie Treat. He has numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews that loved him dearly and will miss him.
There will be a memorial service honoring his life at 2 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2015, at Pleasant Valley General Baptist Church in Bee Branch, Arkansas, with Pastor Kirk Hardy officiating. A fellowship and visitation with the family will follow the service. Cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Clinton, Arkansas.
