Irene Beard
Irene Olive Beard, 78, of Mammoth Spring died Jan. 16, 2002, at her home.
Born May 16, 1923, at Prescott, she was the daughter of Alfred Roy Maxwell and Rosa Helen Pritchard Maxwell.
She was a homemaker and was of the Catholic faith. She served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. She was married to Alfred W. Beard who preceded her in death in 1974.
Survivors include a daughter, Brenda Helen Traw of Mammoth Spring; two brothers – Arthyr Maxwell of Warsaw, Mo., and William Maxwell of Rapids, Wisc.; a sister, Betty Barnes of Idaho; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral was Jan. 19 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Cherokee Village. Burial was in the Wirth Cemetery.
Arrangements were under the direction of Heath Funeral Home, Oak Hill Chapel of Hardy.
LaVern Begalske
LaVern "Vern" Kenneth Begalske, 76, of Cherokee Village, died May 6, 2001, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro.
Born June 14, 1924, in Hawkeye, Iowa, he was the son of Caroline Zupke Begalske and Ernest Begalske. He was the former owner of B&B Plumbing Heating & Air. His son took over that business in 1994. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, a member of the American Legion post in Williford, the Elks Club and Peace Lutheran Church in Cherokee Village.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Begalske; two sons Richard Begalske and Rollin Begalske, both of Hardy; three daughters Colleen Coker of Evening Shade, Carol Sackett of Cherokee Village, and Kate Strautman of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; three sisters Mildred Graf of Mission, Texas, Dorothy Gunderson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Donna Schult of Oelwein, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
The funeral was May 10 at Peace Lutheran Church with the Rev. Brian Pummill officiating. Burial followed at Peace Lutheran Memorial Garden in Cherokee Village.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 100 W. Washington, Suite 304, Jonesboro, AR 72401.
Richard Behmler
Richard "Dick" Behmler, 78, of Cherokee Village died Dec. 2, 2000, at his home.
He is a retired president of Swift & Armour Meat Company in Italy, and worked in the United States, Africa, Brazil and Argentina. He served in the Army during World War II and lived in Cherokee Village for the past 17 years.
Survivors include two daughters - Julie Wapper of San Diego, Calif., and Christine Zolper of El Paso, Texas; and one sister, Louise Hagedorn of Minnesota.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly, and his parents.
The funeral was Dec. 6 at Heath Oak Hill Chapel of Hardy, officiated by Rev. JoAnn Ewaldsen. Burial followed in Oaklawn Cemetery in Highland.
Arrangements, were under the direction of Heath Funeral Home-Oak Hill Chapel of Hardy.
Minerva Biggers
Minerva Biggers, 88, of Ash Flat, died Jan. 9, 2002, at Ash Flat Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Born Oct. 17, 1913, in Ash Flat, she was a homemaker and was a member of the Church of Christ for over 70 years.
Survivors include two sisters – Ella Twilley of Ash Flat and Myrtle Davis of Memphis, Tenn., and several nieces and nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents – Asa Newton McCord and Della Jane McCord; her husband, Garland Biggers; three brothers – Albert McCord and twins, Asa and Rashie McCord; and two sisters – Ruby Johnston and Melena McCord.
The funeral was Jan. 12at Agnos Church of Christ with Leo Rainey and Jack Richardson officiating. Burial followed in Wiles Cemetery at Ash Flat.
Pallbearers were Dean Abney, James Abney, Dale Godwin, Stacy Horton, Larry Smith and Gary Tyner.
Arrangements were under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home Inc. of Paragould.
Ruth Bishop
Ruth Inez Bishop, 79, of Horseshoe Bend died June 1, 2001, at Eastern Ozarks Regional Health System in Cherokee Village.
Born in Sidney, Ohio, she was involved in health care and restaurant work during her lifetime.
Survivors include five daughters Karen Thompson of Sidney, Ohio, Wanda Herndon of West Plains, Mo., Betty Clark of Eagle Rock, Mo., Norma Miller of Horseshoe Bend, and Suellen Jones of Dayton, Ohio; two brothers Paul Sullenberger of New Mexico, and Sam Sullenberger of Christiansburg, Ohio; a sister, Bernice Clark of San Bernadino, Calif.; 15 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, four brothers and two grandchildren.
The service will be held at a later date.
Bernard Black
Bernard Black, 78, of Ash Flat died Feb. 3, 2001, at his home.
Born Feb. 17, 1922, near Evening Shade, he was the son of Luther and Fannie Davis Black. He was a farmer and a member of Hickory Flat Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Vernell Lankford Black; two brothers T.O. Black of Evening Shade and Charlie Black of Virginia Beach, Va.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two infant children.
The funeral was Feb. 6 at Qualls Funeral Home Chapel in Cave City with Noble Wiles officiating. Burial followed at Roberts Cemetery near Franklin.
Pallbearers were Paul Stuntz, Jake Johnson, Dale Wright, Guy Branscum, Douglas Herron and Jim Flannigan.
Charlotte Booth
Charlotte Austin Booth, 93, of Springfield, Mo., died March 19, 2001, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Springfield.
Born Nov. 18, 1907, in Fort Worth, Texas, she was the daughter of James and Mamie Griffin Wilson. She married Bryan W. Booth of Williford and was a member of the West Hovey Pentecostal Church of God in Springfield.
Survivors include two daughters, Mary Wright of Eureka Springs, and Barbara Swadley of Springfield; two grandchildren, Pamela Sue Fuller and Jeffery Scott Falley; three great-grandchildren, Amanda Dawn Bunch, Logan Ryker Falley and Dakota Chance Falley.
The graveside service was March 22 at Baker Cemetery in Williford with the Rev. Tommy Garner officiating.
Harold Bouknecht
Harold Bouknecht, 89, of Cherokee Village, died Jan. 21, 2002, at White River Medical Center in Batesville.
Born Sept. 22, 1912, in Troy, Ohio, he was the son of William B. Bouknecht and Helena May Carson Bouknecht. He was manager of Plumbing Warehouse in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Survivors include his wife, Agnes Bouknecht of Cherokee Village; four sons – William Bouknecht of Tallahassee, Fla., Max Bouknecht of Boca Raton, Fla., Paul Bouknecht of Satellite Beach, Fla., and Tom Bouknecht of Lexington, Ga..
The body was cremated and a memorial service will be held at a later day in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Local arrangements are under the direction of Heath Funeral Home Oak Hill Chapel of Hardy.
James Bradley
James Lowell Bradley, 76, of Cherokee Village died May 25, 2001, at White River Medical Center in Batesville.
Born Aug. 3, 1924, at Morrilton, he was the son of C.L. and Leona Bradley. He was a retired instructor for the Cotton Bowl Vo-Tech School in Verdette, an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and a member of the American Legion and Ash Flat Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanne Bradley; a son, James C. Bradley of Baltimore; his mother, of Searcy; a brother, C.L. Bradley Jr. of Searcy; two sisters, Ruth Hare of Searcy, and Carolyn Howk of Breckinridge, Texas; two grandchildren, Sarah Bradley and Laura Bradley, both of Baltimore; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father.
The funeral was May 27 at Ash Flat Church of Christ with Keith Gregson officiating.
Lillian Branecki
Lillian Branecki, 81, of Cherokee Village died Feb. 14, 2001, at the Ash Flat Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
She is survived by her husband, John; a son; and two daughters.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two sons.
A Mass service was Feb. 16 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Cherokee Village.
Ruthie Break
Ruthie Pearl Break, 88, died Dec. 30, 2001, in West Plains, Mo.
Born Nov. 23, 1913, in Mammoth Spring, she was the daughter of George W. Byers and Mary Murphy Byers. She married Samuel N. Break Aug. 5, 1932, in Mammoth Spring. He preceded her in death May 10, 1989.
She was a homemaker and a devoted mother and grandmother. She was a member of Banks Baptist Church for 53 years.
Survivors include six children – Mae Tate of Mammoth Spring, J. W. Break of Thayer, Doyle Break of Hardy, Ima Ruth Bolton of Knob Noster, Mo., Mary Break of Alton, Mo., and Rick Smoot of Hardy; 28 grandchildren, including Durreall, Darren and Dallina, whom she raised; 54 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; two brothers – Lloyd Byers of Cherokee Village and Virgil Byers of St. Louis, Mo.; a sister, Thelma Oakes of Hardy; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three sons – Oliver Break, Johnnie Break and Carl Break; an infant daughter, Vickie Break; four grandchildren, – Dywayne, Peggy, Melissa and Sarah; a great-granddaughter, Amanda Faith Ryan; two brothers – Johnnie and Herschel Byers; and a sister, Delphia Smith.
The funeral was Jan. 4 at Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer with the Rev. Charles Barnett officiating. Eulogist was the Rev. Floyd Rikard. Burial followed in the McCullough Cemetery at Wirth.
Pallbearers were Ricky Smoot Jr., Samuel Break, David Break, Freddie Neldon, Terry Break and Ronnie Oakes.
Arrangements were under the direction of Carter Funeral Home Inc. of Thayer.
Sharlee Brestler
Sharlee Diane Brestler, 58, of Horseshoe Bend, died Jan. 6, 2002, at Calico Rock Medical Center.
Born in California she was employed as a telephone operator for a local telephone company.
Survivors include her father, Jack Billing of Horseshoe Bend; a son, Jamie Brestler of Springfield, Mo.; two daughters – Sheryl Audiss of Corona, Calif., and Christie Bolding of Nixa, Mo.; a brother, John Billing of Palmdale, Calif.; and two sisters – Cris Shafer of Palm Springs, Calif., and Kathy McNamara of Lake Arrowhead, Calif.
No service is planned at this time. Local arrangements are under the direction of Horseshoe Bend Memorial Chapel.
Franklin Brewer
Franklin “R.E.” Brewer, 69, of Thayer, Mo. died Nov. 18, 2001, at Shady Oaks Health Health Care Center.
Born Nov. 8, 1932, in Myrtle, Mo., he was of the Baptist faith and was a veteran of the Korean War. He enjoyed being outdoors and such activities as hunting and fishing.
Survivors include three brothers – Jay Brewer of Hardy, Junior Brewer of Thayer, Mo., and Grover Brewer of Pocahontas; four sisters – Vada Wilburn of Springfield, Mo., Patsy Griffith of Thayer, Sadie Foulks of Pocahontas, and Wilma Williams of Kokoma, Ind.; a daughter, Tonya Adamik; her mother, Lea Davisson; a granddaughter, Bailey Adamik; two stepchildren – Debra Boyd and Darrell Clark, both of Fair Grove, Mo.; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ward and Emma Viola Combs Brewer; two brothers – Paul and Bob Brewer; and a sister, Joan Wornica.
A graveside service was Nov. 19 at Cotton Creek Cemetery with David Honeycutt and Grover Pingleton officiating.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clary Funeral Home of Mammoth Spring.
Donald Brooks
Donald Gene Brooks, 49, of Guion, died Jan. 11, 2002, at his home.
Born March 2, 1952, at Batesville, he was the son of Jack and Rintha Campbell Brooks. He was a maintenance man for the city of Guion and was of the Church of Christ faith.
Survivors include three brothers – Carl Lee Campbell of Springdale, Bob Brooks of Guion and Chris Allen Brooks of Hardy; and a sister and brother-in-law, Anita and Kenneth Brown of Hardy.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Jackie Lee Brooks.
The funeral was Jan. 13 at Pine Grove Church near Guion with Larry Sellers and Gerald Coleman officiating. Burial followed in Reeves Cemetery located at Guion.
Pallbearers were Chris Brooks, Connie Johnson, Dewey Love, Phillip Johnson, Kenneth Brown, Randy Engles, Danny Condrey and Howard Lamb.
Arrangements were under the direction of Qualls Funeral Home of Cave City.
G. Alvin Brooks
George Alvin "Al" Brooks, 64, of Cherokee Village, formerly of Augusta, Kan., died Dec. 3, 2000, at White River Medical Center in Batesville.
Born Jan 3, 1936, in Friars Point, Miss., he was the son of the late George Vivian Brooks and Vena Mae Brooks.
He was the former owner of Budget Heating and Cooling of Mountain Home. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Mountain Home and served in the U.S. Air Force. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed cooking and antiques.
Survivors include his wife, Joy Schroeder Brooks; a daughter, Tamara Michaels and husband George of Louisiana; a stepson, Randy Brooks and wife Dana of Osage, Okla.; a stepdaughter, Sandra Preston and husband Ron of Augusta, Kan.; a brother, Virgil Brooks and wife Kathy of Long Key, Fla.; a sister Berniece LaRue and husband Bill of Bassett; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Ruth.
A graveside service was Dec. 6 at Gassville Cemetery. Military honors were provided by the North Central Arkansas Veterans Council with Ozark VFW Post 3246 serving as honor guard.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Brian Taylor
Brian Edward Taylor, 23, of Hardy died Feb. 2, 2002, in an automobile accident near Hardy on Highway 175.
Born July 15, 1978, in Mountain Home, he was the son of John R. Taylor and Kathie R. Casey Taylor. He was a graduate of the Williford High School and worked as a maintenance worker for Martin Marietta Materials Company in Black Rock, formerly Meridian Aggregates Co.
Survivors include his parents, John and Kathie Taylor of Jacksonville, Ark.; a brother, Andy Taylor of Hardy; a sister, Amber Bell of Hardy; his maternal great-grandmother, Lorraine Sodergren of Macon, Ill.; and his maternal grandfather, Robert Casey of Memphis.
The funeral was Feb. 4 at Tri-County’s Cherokee Chapel in Highland with the Rev. Floyd Rikard officiating. Burial followed in the Baker Cemetery near Ozark Acres.
Arrangements were under the direction of Tri-County’s Cherokee Chapel of Highland.
Stephanie Burton
Stephanie Leona Burton, 21, of Poughkeepsie died Nov. 14, 2000, at her home.
Born Oct. 19, 1979, in Pocahontas, she was the daughter of Steve and Doris Mashburn Dotson. She married Brett Burton Nov. 4, 1997, in Walnut Ridge. She was a homemaker and member of the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Sitka.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Lucas Hunter Burton; a daughter, Haylie Starr Burton; her parents; three brothers - Steven Mashburn of Black Rock, Robbie Mashburn of Walnut Ridge, and Tim Dotson of Batesville; grandmothers - Bessie Dotson of Poughkeepsie and Christine Mashburn of Black Rock; and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandfathers, Glen Dotson and Eugene Mashburn.
The funeral was Nov. 18 at the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church with burial at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Sitka. The Rev. Jim Pagen officiated.
Arrangements were under the direction of Higginbotham Funeral Services Inc. of Hardy.
