Robert Charles Kottmer, 81, of Ozark died Wednesday, June 2, 2005. Mr. Kottmer was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Jean Patrick Kottmer, on March 20, 2005. He was a veteran of both the U.S. Army and 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy, serving in World War II and Korea. Before his heath failed, he was an avid fisherman and hunter. Mr. Kottmer was a lifetime member of Coal Hill Veterans of Foreign Wars. Military memorial service will be at Shaffer Funeral Home Chapel in Ozark on Wednesday, June 8, at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association and/or the American Cancer Society.
Dorothy Mae "Nippy" Harris, 62, of Oark, the widow of Henry Harris, died Friday, June 3, 2005, at her home. She was a farm laborer and Baptist. Local survivors include a stepdaughter, Stephanie Harris of Oark; a son, John William Harris of Mulberry; and a bother, Lonnie Lee Cummins of Oark. Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Monday at Peterson's Cemetery in Alma, with burial under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home of Clarksville.
Bill John Breashears, 77, of Dardanelle, formerly of Ozark, died Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. He was retired from the Arkansas State Police as highway patrolman after 26 years of service. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rebecca Sue Banks Breashears. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Saturday at Cornwell Chapel in Dardanelle, with interment at Brearley Cemetery, Dardanelle. Memorial contributions may be made to Arkansas Hospice Foundation, 5600 W. 12th St., Little Rock, AR 72204. Arrangements were by Cornwell Funeral Home of Dardanelle.
Alex Christopher Jeffries, 2 1/2-year-old son of Thomas and Zantana Maxwell Jeffries of Glen Ellen, Ill., died Friday, June 3, 2005, in a drowning accident. He was born Dec. 19, 2002, in Clarksville and formerly lived in Ozark. He was the grandson of Johnny and Carol Maxwell of Ozone and Maria Villini of Ozark. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Clairden Hills Cemetery in Westmont, Ill.
SPC Dustin Cole Fisher, 22, of Van Buren was killed in action Tuesday, May 24, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq. He was the son of Waldo Fisher, formerly of Mulberry, and Brenda Fisher. He graduated from Van Buren High School in 2001, joined the U.S. Army in 2003 and attended basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Sill, Okla. He was stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., with Bravo 1/76 Field Artillery, 4th BDE, 3rd ID and had deployed to Iraq on Jan. 29 of this year. Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Monday at Community Bible Church in Fort Smith. Burial with full military honors was at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith, under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith. Memorials may be made to VVA Chapter 467, P.O. Box 10431, Fort Smith, AR 72917.
Mary Lessley, 84, of Sherwood died Friday, June 3, 2005, in her home. Survivors include her husband, Harold Lessley, formerly of Franklin County. Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Monday at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Cemetery in North Little Rock. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Squire Junior Clayborn, 80, of Lamar died Friday, June 3, 2005, at Johnson Regional Medical Center, Clarksville. He was employed in the timber industry. He was preceded in death by his wife, Faye, and was the father of Diane Fox of Ozone. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Monday at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel, Clarksville, with burial at Lamar Cemetery.
Quita Lois Debes, 84, of Ozark died Wednesday, June 1, 2005, in her home. She was a homemaker, a member of Ozark First United Methodist Church; a 50-year member of the Ozark Extension Homemakers Club and a member of NARFE. Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Saturday at Shaffer Funeral Home Chapel, with burial at Highland Cemetery.
Rebecca Margaret Bramlett, 40, of Maumelle died Monday, May 30, 2005, in her home. Born in Ozark, she was a catering manager for the Double Tree Hotel in Little Rock and a member of the Arkansas Hospitality Association, currently serving as treasurer of the Central Arkansas Chapter. She participated in the Arkansas Hospitality Education Foundation as a mentor and served on the committee for the AHS's Annual Trade Show and Convention. She was the daughter of Walter and Judy Rinke of Coal Hill. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Thursday at Shaffer Funeral Home Chapel, Ozark.
Xenya Earlene Williams, 76, of Alma died Tuesday, June 14, 2005, in an area hospital. Born at Coal Hill, she was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Alma, a retired employee of the State Rehabilitation Office in Fort Smith and the widow of Robert Williams. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Coal Hill Presbyterian Church, with burial at Coal Hill Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma. The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Lawton B. "Slim" Aitchison, 85, of Augusta, Kan., died Saturday, June 11, 2005, at LakePoint Nursing Center in Butler, Kan. Born in Franklin County, he was a former sheet metal mechanic with Cessna Aircraft in Wichita, Kan., and was an U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Local survivors include a brother, David Aitchison of Ozark; and two sisters, Joyce Kenny and Ola Mae Bowman, both of Ozark. The funeral was Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Headley Funeral Chapel in Augusta, Kan. Burial was at Elmwood Cemetery in Augusta. Memorial contributions may be made to Odyssey Healthcare, 125 N. Market, Wichita, KS 67202.
Charlie Mack "Cotton" Jones, 80, of Subiaco died Tuesday, June 7, 2005. He was an oil field worker for over 45 years and a deacon at the Subiaco Free Will Baptist Church. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Friday at the Free Will Baptist Church in Paris, with burial at McKendree Cemetery in Subiaco.
Ruth E. Shockley, 90, died June 9, 2005, in Yucaipa, Calif., while vacationing with her grandchildren. She had moved to Arizona in October of 2004, after living in Ozark for 14 years and Charleston for two years. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50+ years, Paul A. Shockley, who died in Ozark in February 1995. She made her home with her son and wife, Bill and Nancy Shockley of Golden Valley, Ariz. A memorial service for the family was held at The United Methodist Church of Yucaipa, and interment will be at Highland Cemetery in Ozark, under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date.
Jim McCartney, 64, of Ozark died Friday, June 10, 2005, in Ozark. Born at Mountain Top, he was a farm laborer. Graveside services were at 10 a.m. Monday at Oak Grove Cemetery in Johnson County, under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home.
Marion L. Lewis, 65, of Jacksonville, Texas, formerly of Paris, died Sunday, June 5, 2005, in Jacksonville. He was a Baptist and was a retired plant manager with Campfire Charcoal in Jacksonville after 36 years employment. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Friday at Roller Chapel in Paris, with burial in Caulksville Cemetery.
Archie Gordon "Salty" Smith, 79, of Bartlesville, Okla., died Wednesday, June 8, 2005, in Fort Smith, following an extended illness. Born in Altus, he graduated from Ozark High School in 1943 and received an Associate of Science Degree from the Frank Phillips Junior College in Canyon, Texas. He enlisted in the Army March 29, 1944, at Little Rock and served during World War II, receiving his discharge on July 28, 1945. He was a Methodist and a member of the Adobe Walls Masonic Lodge #1355 in Borger, Texas, and the Tulsa, Okla., Consistory of Scottish Rite. A former employee of the Standard Oil Company and U.S. Rubber Company, he retired in 1985 from the Phillips Petroleum Company following 40 years of service. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Claudia Jones. Local survivors include a sister, Margaret Morgan of Ozark. Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville, Okla., with full military honors by the James H. Teel American Legion Post #105 of Bartlesville.
Monta Ray Sells, 86, formerly of Ozark, died Sunday, June 5, 2005, at his home in Vacaville, Calif. He was born in 1919 near Watalula to Troy and Allsie Beck Sells. He was the cousin of Virginia Smith of Ozark. Graveside services were at Vacaville on June 8.
Paul E. Tate, 72, of Clarksville died Tuesday, June 7, 2005, at Johnson Regional Medical Center in Clarksville. He was the husband of the former Beatrice Leding of Altus and was a used car dealer. Local survivors include two daughters, Brenda Tate of Ozark and Nancy Hurst of Coal Hill; a sister, Ruby Fowler of Ozark; and two brothers, Guy and Joseph Tate of Ozark. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Friday at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel, with burial at St. Mary's Cemetery in Altus.
Doug Holzman, 62, of the Roseville community south of Ozark died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005, in Logan County. He was a retired farmer and Baptist. Local survivors include two daughters, Glenda Kellar and Katy Floyd of Ozark. Graveside services were at 10 a.m. Saturday at McVay Cemetery, Paris, under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home.
Kaye Hewett, 52, of Paris died Wednesday, June 8, 2005, in a Fort Smith hospital. Born at Charleston, she was a member of Charleston First. Local survivors include a brother, Stanley Hewett of Charleston. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Friday at Smith Mortuary Chapel, Charleston, with burial at Center Valley Cemetery on Fort Chaffee.
Letha Mae Childers, 88, of Ozark died Wednesday, June 8, 2005, in Ozark. She was a retired L.P.N. and a member of Cass Baptist Church. Mrs. Childers was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis; and two daughters, Jannette and Betty Wasson. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Monday at Shaffer Funeral Home Chapel, with burial at Highland Cemetery.
Allen Keith Foster, 43, of Fort Smith died Friday, Aug. 19, 2005, at his home. He was a truck driver. Local survivors include his wife, Laurie; his mother, Sammie Foster; his stepmother, Lee Foster of Mulberry; and his grandmother, Geneva Kirby of Mulberry. Memorial services were at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Van Buren. The body was cremated under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
Kathleen Jones Watts, 49, of Ratcliff died Friday, Aug. 19, 2005, in an accident near Delaware in Logan County. She was a homemaker and a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Caulksville. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Monday at Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Caulksville. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery in Booneville, under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home.
