Obituaries from April 2007

Austin B. Crotts (04/03/07)
Austin B. Crotts, 75, Pleasant Hill, was born Sept. 30, 1931, in Ardasty, Ark., the son of Lester and Gilley Ettermarie (Roberts) Crotts. He died March 2, 2007, at the Pleasant Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center. On May 16, 1958, Austin was united in marriage to Pearley Estes in Salem, Ark.He was a heavy equipment operator for the Missouri Department of Transportation. ...

Arthur B. Taylor (04/03/07)
Arthur B. Taylor, 87, of Pocahontas, died March 25, 2007, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. He is survived by: his wife, Geneva Taylor of the home; three sons, Danny Ray Taylor and wife, Diann of Imboden, Dennis Taylor of Ravenden and Jeffrey Taylor and wife, Lisa of Jonesboro; one daughter, Alesa Mitchell and husband Danny of Imboden; one sister, Elsie Prewitt of Pocahontas; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. ...

Elizabeth Simpson (04/03/07)
Elizabeth Collene "Beth" Simpson, 13, was born April 9, 1993, and died at her home March 25, 2007. She is survived by her parents, Dewayne and Tina Simpson; her sister, Laura Simpson of the home; her grandparents, Girtman and Colene Lewis of Cave City and Mary Elizabeth Howe of Jonesboro and the late Gary Simpson and Don Howe; an aunt and uncle, Gina and Roger Myers of Cave City; an uncle, Greg Simpson of Jonesboro; cousins, Typhanie Franke and husband Gavin of Cave City, Megan Martin and husband Trent of Mountain View, Robbie Myers of Jonesboro, Alli Shands and Abri Franke of Cave City. ...

Forest Dean Love (04/03/07)
Forest Dean Love, was born the son of Arlie Love and Bonnie Sample Love on May 1, 1936, in Koshkonong, Mo., and died March 21, 2007, in North Kansas City, Mo., at the age of 70. He was united in marriage Jan. 8, 1960, in Kansas City, Mo., to Louise DeMars.He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving his country during the Korean Conflict. ...

Gene Wreggelsworth (04/03/07)
Gene Lester Wreggelsworth, age 69, of Horseshoe Bend died March 28, 2007, at the White River Medical Center in Batesville. He was born Aug. 25, 1937, the son of William Joseph and Ida Mae Jones Wreggelsworth in Benton, Harbor, Mich. He worked at General Motors for 37 years, was a member of the Horseshoe Bend Lions Club, Auxiliary Police, Horseshoe Bend Bowling League and a member of the Horseshoe Bend Church of the Nazarene. ...

Mary G. Kellam (04/03/07)
Mary G. Kellam, 87, of Cherokee Village died March 24, 2007, at her home. She was born May 19, 1919, in Moulton, Iowa, the daughter of the late Ellis Darnell and Neola (Morrow) Darnell. She worked many years in Iowa as a cost accountant before retiring and moving to Cherokee Village 24 years ago from Des Moines, Iowa. ...

Merlyn Wesley Jones (04/03/07)
Merlyn Wesley Jones, 68, of Horseshoe Bend died March 25, 2007, at the Fulton County Hospital in Salem, Ark. He was born Feb. 26, 1939, in Quincy, Ill., the son of the late John Wesley and Frances (McCoy) Jones. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during peace time, and was a member of the Loraine Christian Church in Loraine, Ill. ...

Rexene Haskins Estes (04/03/07)
Rexene Haskins Estes, 89, of Ash Flat died March 31, 2007, in Horseshoe Bend. She was born Nov. 1, 1917, in Ash Flat, Ark., the daughter of the late Jack Haskins and Ettie (Roberts) Haskins. She graduated from high school at the age of 16 from Ash Flat as an honor student and was a state spelling bee champion. ...

Edith Robinson (04/12/07)
Edith Joanne Robinson, 90 died April 3, 2007, at her residence in Mogadore, Ohio. She was born on June 3, 1916, on the family farm on Spring River near Hardy, in the Afton Community Township, the daughter of the late Spencer Edgar and Elva Flora Daugerty Taylor...

Atha Garner Heflin (04/12/07)
Atha Claudine Garner Heflin, 88, of Ash Flat, died April 6, 2007, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. he was born Jan. 27, 1919, in Ash Flat, Ark., the first child of Thomas W. Garner and Isa (Godwin) Garner. During World War II she served in the Women's Army Corp (WAC) serving most of her time in Presque Isle, Maine. ...

Bert E. Whitt (04/12/07)
Bert E. Whitt, 70, of Williford, Ark., died April 6, 2007, at the Fulton County Hospital in Salem. He is survived by: his wife Gale Sowers of Williford, and one brother, David Lee Whitt of Felton, Del. Graveside services were held April 10 at the McCullough Cemetery with Floyd Rikard officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Tri-County Funeral Home of Highland...

James Christenberry (04/12/07)
James Jewell Christenberry, age 90, of Smithville, Ark., died April 7, 2007, at the Cave City Nursing Home in Cave City. He was born Oct. 11, 1916, in Sharp County, Ark., the son of the late Clee and Naomi (Powell) Christenberry. He was a retired farmer and of the Baptist faith. ...

James Garrett (04/12/07)
James Edward Leon Garrett, 67, of Banner, Ark., died April 7, 2007, while at the University Hospital in Little Rock fighting lung cancer. Born Sept. 17, 1939, in Banner, Leon was the son of the late Everett Garrett and Verlie (Arnold) Garrett. He was raised at Banner by his mother and step-dad, the late Ed Garrett. ...

John W. Sharp (04/12/07)
John W. Sharp, age 86, of Melbourne, formerly of Evening Shade, died April 5, 2007, at the Hospice House in Mountain Home. He was born on March 13, 1921, at Love, Ark., the son of Frank A. and Francis (Roberts) Sharp. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran, a retired farmer, on the board of the ASCS office in Izard County and the Soil Conservation Board and a member of the Southern Baptist Church in Searcy. ...

Melvin George John Dujardin (04/12/07)
Melvin George John Dujardin, 70, of Evening Shade, Ark., died March 31, 2007, at his home in Evening Shade. He was born Aug. 2, 1936, to George William Harry and Vida Mae Hughes Dujardin in Black Hawk, S.D. He was a carpenter in the construction business for many years and was of the Protestant Faith. ...

Ralf Leo Klosky (04/12/07)
Ralf Leo Klosky, age 79, of Escanaba, Mich., formerly of Cherokee Village, died March 30, 2007, at his home with his family by his side. His wife, Diane is among many who survive him. The Klosky family is being assisted by the Skradski-Boyce Funeral Home of Escanaba, Mich., and the Prasser-Kleczka Funeral Home of Milwaukee.For additional information or to leave the Klosky family a message of condolence go to www.skradski-boycefuneralhomes.com...

Simon Lepreston Norris (04/12/07)
Simon Lepreston Norris, age 85, of Kokomo, Ind., formerly of Williford, died April 6, 2007. He is survived by: two sons, Larrell Norris and spouse Charlene, and Ronald Norris, of Kokomo; one daughter, Carolyn and spouse Robert Cardwell of Kokomo.eral services were held at the Heath Oak Hill Chapel with W. E. Norris officiating, interment followed at Baker Cemetery in Ozark Acres. Arrangements were handled by Heath Funeral Home of Highland...

Shirley Mejia (04/12/07)
Shirley Delores Nager Mejia, of Salem, daughter of Della Belcher Lenz and the late Aubrey Jennings Wall, was born April 23, 1951, in Harvy, Ill. She died April 3, 2007, at her home in Salem. She was united in marriage to Steven Nager in 1968. She later married Genario Mejia. ...

Vernon E. McKinney (04/12/07)
Vernon E. McKinney, 66, of Hardy, formerly of Greenfield and Indianapolis, died April 5, 2007, in Springfield, Mo. He was born June 21, 1940, in Indianapolis to the late James A. and Evelyn V. (Broadstone) McKinney. He served in the U.S. Army, retired from Chrysler of Kokomo and worked at Wal-mart of Ash Flat. ...

Vera Ruth Richards (04/12/07)
Vera Ruth Richards, age 83, of Cherokee Village, died April 7, 2007, at her residence. She is survived by: one daughter, Pat Bratcher of Cherokee Village; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. No service is scheduled at this time. Arrangements were handled by Heath Funeral Home of Highland...

Donald Elijah Self Sr. (04/19/07)
Donald Elijah Self Sr., 73, of Horseshoe Bend, died Tuesday, April 10, 2007, in Little Rock, Ark., at UAMS. He was born Nov. 9, 1933, in Brady, Texas, the son of the late Richard Warren and Pearl (Garner) Self. He served his country with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, worked as a property manager at several hotels and condominiums and was a member of the boating and fishing club of Horseshoe Bend. ...

Linda Brakebill (04/19/07)
Linda Brakebill, age 61, of Cherokee Village died Friday, April 13, 2007, in Benton, Ky. She is survived by: her husband Thomas Brakebill; three sons, Butch Brakebill of Pekin, Ill., Rich Rodgers of Hattiesburg, Miss., and Thomas Brakebill of Cherokee Village; two sisters, Shirley Wilson of Hopkinsville, Ky. ...

Mary Jo Kester (04/19/07)
Mary Jo Kester, of Nashville, Tenn., died April 12, 2007, at the age of 69. She was born Sept. 3, 1937, in Williford, Ark., the daughter of the late Dan and Marie Crues Bettis. Survivors are: one daughter, Laurie Kester of Nashville, Tenn.; two sons, Tracy Marositesy of Horseshoe Bend and Greg Erwin of Pa.; one brother, Dan Bettis of Bono, Ark. Funeral services were held April 18 at the Williford Cemetery. The services were under the direction of the Higginbotham Funeral Service of Hardy...

Oran Dwight Estes (04/19/07)
Oran Dwight Estes, of Holts Summit, Mo., son of the late Guy Estes and Aubrey Godwin Estes, was born July 29, 1924, in Agnos, Ark. He died April 9, 2007, at his home, at the age of 82. He was united in marriage to Juanita McCullough on July 18, 1942, in Thayer, Mo. ...

Raymond J. Grigutis (04/19/07)
Raymond J. Grigutis, 83, of Cherokee Village, Ark., died April 6, 2007, at his residence. Mr. Grigutis was born Oct. 1, 1922, in Waukegan, Ill., the son of John Grigutis and Agnos (Seeder) Grigutis. He worked many years for Johnson Motors. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving during World War II. ...

Devan Leon Poulette (04/24/07)
Devin Leon Poulette, was born Feb. 24, 2003, at West Plains, Mo., the son of Bevan A. Poulette and Crystal Bowers Poulette. He died April 14, 2007, in Springfield, Mo., at the age of four years. He was precious to his family and a delightful joy to his friends and will be sadly missed by all. ...

Janis Wilkes Heath (04/24/07)
Janis Wilkes Heath, 67, of Poughkeepsie died April 21, 2007, at the White River Medical Center in Batesville. She was born April 17, 1940, at Evening Shade, Ark., the daughter of Kennard and Madge Lee (Thompson) Wilkes. She was a homemaker, worked at the Poughkeepsie Post Office for several years and worked for General Tire and Rubber in Batesville. ...

Norman Browder (04/24/07)
Norman Lavern Browder, 71 of Cave City, formerly of Monticello died April 18, 2007, at the White River Medical Center in Batesville. He was born May 8, 1935, at Humphrey, Ark., the son of Lavern and Lela (McGinty) Browder. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a retired agent for Greyhound Bus Lines in Monticello...

Verba Lee Johnson (04/24/07)
Verba Lee Johnson, 81, of Cave City, Ark., died April 19, 2007, at Cave City. She was born Sept. 22, 1925, at Cave City, Ark., the daughter of Nelson and Elizabeth (Stewart) Laman. She was a homemaker, a farmer, having raised watermelons and cattle for many years, a Foster Grandparent at Cave City School for over 20 years and a member of Maxville Missionary Baptist Church in Cave City...