Obituaries from December 2008

Elbert "Ace" White (12/30/08)
Elbert "Ace" White, 76, of Highland, Ark., died Dec. 22, 2008, at Eaglecrest Nursing and Rehab in Ash Flat, Ark. He was the son of the late Don White and the late Nellie (Linville) White. He served in the Army and worked for the Veterans Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, for over 20 years...

Henry Harvey McKee (12/30/08)
Henry Harvey McKee was born Feb. 13, 1916, and died Dec. 26, 2008, at the home of his daughter in Las Cruces, N.M. He was born in Jeff, Oregon County, Mo., to John H. and Gola Williams McKee. He served his country in World War II in the Philippines as a member of the Army Signal Corp. ...

Sean Alan Baldridge (12/30/08)
Sean Alan Baldridge, 19, of Mammoth Spring, Ark., was born Feb. 24, 1989, in West Plains, Mo., and died Dec. 21, 2008. He is survived by: his parents, Phillip and Deborah Baldridge; one brother, Dustin Baldridge; one sister, Samantha Baldridge; one niece, Candyce Baldridge; his paternal grandparents, Willard and Maxcine Baldridge, all of Mammoth Spring; his maternal grandparents, George and Sue Reeves of Hardy, Ark., Linda Pope of McAlester, Okla.; his fiancée, Brianna Lindner of Hardy; two god-children; and numerous other relatives and friends.. ...

George W. Norris (12/30/08)
George W. Norris, 84, of Ash Flat, Ark., died Dec. 20, 2008, at his residence. He was born Feb. 22, 1924, in Poughkeepsie, Ark., the son of the late Jeff and Nora (Gay) Norris. George was born in Arkansas but moved to Kansas City, Mo., and lived there for 43 years before moving back to Arkansas...

Jason Farris (12/30/08)
Jason Farris, 27, of Paris, Texas, formerly of Cave City, Ark., died Dec. 19, 2008, at a Paris, Texas, hospital. He was born April 16, 1981, at Batesville, Ark., the son of Marty and Ruby Farris. He was a member of the Haven of Rest Ministries in Paris, Texas...

Maggie Herron (12/30/08)
Maggie Lorena (Tootsie) Bristow Herron, 92, of Ash Flat, Ark., died Dec. 25, 2008, at White River Medical Center in Batesville, Ark. She was born Nov. 3, 1916, at Williford, the daughter of the late John and Luetta Davis Bristow. She was united in marriage to Frank Herron on Oct. 31, 1929, in Sharp County, Ark. She was a housewife and a member of the Church of God in Peace Valley...

Faye Marie McCradic (12/26/08)
Faye Marie McCradic was born April 30, 1927, in Seymour, Ind., the daughter of the late James Wayne Mitchell and Amanda Richardson Mitchell. She died Dec. 13, 2008, in Batesville, Ark., at the age of 81. She was united in marriage March 23, 1944, at Indianapolis, Ind., to Elmo Lloyd McCradic who preceded her in death Aug. 11, 1995...

Tamara McComas (12/26/08)
Tamara Ann "Tammy" McComas, 51, of Saddle, Ark., died Dec. 14, 2008, at the Cox South Medical Center in Springfield, Mo. She was born Nov. 4, 1957, in Leachville, Ark., the daughter of John L. Goodwin and Lena Vea (Taylor) Goodwin. She was united in marriage to Mark D. ...

George Earl Huff (12/26/08)
George Earl Huff, 86, of Cherokee Village, Ark., died Dec. 16, 2008, at White River Medical Center in Batesville, Ark. He was the son of the late George Huff and the late Vida (Robertson) Huff. Earl retired from the state of Iniana as a entomologist. He served in the Army during WWII. He was a member of the Masons, American Legion and the Lion's Club...

Lula Maurean Bilbrey (12/26/08)
Lula Maurean Bilbrey, 95, of Poughkeepsie, Ark., died Dec. 18, 2008, at the Fulton County Hospital. She was born June 7, 1913, at Powells Chapel, Ark., the daughter of Jasper and Rosa Maud (Kent) Runsick. She was a homemaker and a member of the Poughkeepsie Church of Christ...

Marjorie Oliver Heard (12/26/08)
Marjorie Oliver Heard, 74, of Cherokee Village, Ark., died, Dec. 11, 2008, at White River Medical Center in Batesville, Ark. Marjorie was born April 4, 1934, in Elton, La., to the late Melina and Wayne Oliver. She worked as a manager of a cancer clinic in Lafayette, La., and as a church secretary and a legal secretary and was a house wife from 1975 on...

Charles Lee Dunn (12/18/08)
Charles Lee Dunn, 73, of Mammoth Spring, Ark., was born July 9, 1935, in Birch Tree, Mo., and died Dec. 7, 2008, at his home. He was united in marriage to Betty K. Baker on May 7, 1955. He is survived by: his wife, Betty K. Baker; two sons, Gary and Brenda Dunn of West Plains, Mo., Randy and Diane Dunn of Mammoth Spring; two grandsons, Charles and Amanda Dunn of Cave City, Ark., Bryan Dunn of Mammoth Spring and Tonya Dunn of West Plains, Mo.; three great-granddaughters; three step-grandsons, Shawn, James and Justin; three step-sisters, Betty Willison, Donna Collins and Edith Forrester; two aunts; sister-in-laws, Carolee and Bartus Allen, Rosalie and David Wilson, Elaine and Mason Moody; brother-in-laws, Truman and Ann Baker, Bill and Sherry Nelson; and numerous other nieces and nephews.. ...

Willodene Brewer (12/18/08)
Willodene Brewer, 92, formerly of Marmaduke and Hardy, died Dec. 13, 2008, in Germantown, Tenn. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. She was the daughter of the late Armedis Nicholas and Rena Dickerson Nicholas. She was preceded in death by: her parents; her husband, E.F. Brewer; and brothers, J.W. and Willis Nicholas...

Joseph Richard McKenzie (12/18/08)
Joseph Richard McKenzie Sr., 73, of Mammoth Spring, Ark., was born Dec. 30, 1934, in St. Louis, Mo., and died Dec. 6, 2008, at his home. He is survived by: his wife, Melvina McKenzie of the home; four sons, Joseph Lee McKenzie Jr. of Ft. Worth, Texas, Dennis Dwayne McKenzie of Thayer, Mo., Lonnie Dale James McKenzie of Cherokee Village, Ark., Ronald Patrick McKenzie of Mammoth Spring; one daughter, Sherrie Lynn Clark of Thayer; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and friends.. ...

Dr. Stephen A. Trana (12/18/08)
Dr. Stephen A. Trana, 61, of Monticello, Ark., died Nov. 30, 2008. He was born in Dearborn, Mich., Feb. 8, 1947, the son of Gordon and Alma Trana. Dr. Trana was a professor of music at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Ark. He is survived by: his wife, Carol Michael Trana; his daughter, Rachel Trana, of Chicago, Ill.; his son Ethan Trana of Los Angeles, Calif.; his brother-in-law, Samuel Michael of Monticello; his parents, Gordon and Alma Trana of Cherokee Village, Ark.; his sister, Karen Starr, and husband Chris of Warrenville, Ill.; his sister-in-law, Shirlee McDaniel and husband, Ron of Houston, Texas; and five nieces and nephews.. ...

Ivan Eugene Welch (12/18/08)
Ivan Eugene Welch of Salem, Ark., son of the late David Aquilla Welch and Eliza Agnes Godwin Welch, was born March 3, 1919 in Love, Ark. He died Dec. 8, 2008, at Cox South Medical Center in Springfield, Mo., at the age of 89. He was united in marriage to Floy Evelyn Thomas in August 1937, at Salem, Ark. To this union three children were born. She preceded him in death and in February 1947, he married Norma Martin, who also preceded him in death...

Ethel Margaret Jestila (12/18/08)
Ethel Margaret (Peggy) Utley Snow Jestila was born Oct. 13, 1916, in Bay, Ark., and died Nov. 30, 2008, in Hot Springs, Ark. Her family moved to Hardy, Ark. in 1925. She attended school in the area and married Arthur Collins Snow in Hardy where her only son, Gene Carroll Snow, was born in 1934. She met William Adolph Jestila and married him in June, 1944, in Toledo, Ohio. She attended Fairdale Baptist Church in Hot Springs...

Robert J. "Bob"Murphy (12/18/08)
Robert J. "Bob" Murphy, 74, of Cherokee Village, Ark., formerly of Ramsey, Ill., died Dec. 9, 2008, at White River Medical Center in Batesville, Ark. He was born Aug. 29, 1934, at Ramsey, Ill., the son of William Franklin "Willie" Murphy and Mabel Gladys (Meyerholz) Murphy...

Charles Porter (12/18/08)
Charles Hailmann Porter, 75, of Mammoth Spring, Ark., died Dec. 11, 2008, at his residence. He was born on July 16, 1933, in Camp, Ark., the son of the late John William Porter and Thelma (Stewart) Porter. He was a member of the Masons. He served in the U.S. Navy and his last promotion was at the rank of E7 Chief Petty Officer. After he served his country for 21 years he drove a truck for Valley Steel Company. He was a Pentecostal by faith...

Michael Gene Ruby (12/18/08)
Michael Gene Ruby was born Oct. 24, 1969, in Harrisonville, Mo., the son of Richard L. Ruby Sr. and Barbara Jean Wade Ruby. He died Nov. 30, 2008, in Salem, Ark., at the age of 39. He was united in marriage March 12, 1999, at Ash Flat Ark., to Sandra Henry. He was an electrical construction worker...

Dan Joseph Holloway (12/11/08)
Dan Joseph Holloway, 61, of Judsonia, Ark., died Nov. 27, 2008. He attended River of Life Church in Judsonia, was a retired police officer and a veteran of the United States Air Force. He is survived by: his wife of 40 years, Deborah; one son, Scott Holloway and wife Stephanie; two daughters, Rachel Moore and husband Earl and Maegan Combs and husband Brent; one brother, Rick Holloway and wife Vicki; and 12 grandchildren including Karanda Willey; along with a host of other family and friends...

Mary Kathryn Brewster Grider Courtwright (12/11/08)
Mary Kathryn Brewster Grider Courtwright, 77, of Ash Flat, Ark., daughter of the late Kenneth Merle and Helen Monica (Randolph) Brewster, was born Dec. 16, 1930, in Borger, Texas. She died Nov. 27, 2008, at the Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains, Mo...

Loretta Ida Dawson (12/11/08)
Loretta Ida Dawson, 82, of Peculiar, Mo., died Nov. 24, 2008, at The Rehabilitation Center of Raymore in Raymore, Mo. Loretta was born Dec. 26, 1925, in Salem, Ark., the daughter of Robert and Roxie (Rosier) Foster. She married Norman Dawson on Dec. 1, 1945, in Salem. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Peculiar, a homemaker and she had previously worked at Montgomery Ward...

Bernice Marie Grigutis (12/11/08)
Bernice Marie Grigutis, 82, of Cherokee Village, Ark., died Nov. 24, 2008, at a Morrilton nursing home. She was born Feb. 7, 1926, at Waukegan, Ill., the daughter of Jaco and Antonette Zilolnik Dolinar. She was a homemaker and of the Catholic faith...

Wilma Marine Break (12/11/08)
Wilma Marine Break, 63, of Hardy, Ark., died Nov. 29, 2008, at her residence. She was born Oct. 23, 1945, in Sikeston, Mo., the daughter of Levi Wells and Edith (Phillips) Wells. She was united in marriage to Doyle Break on July 22, 1963, in Sikeston, Mo. She was a member of the Banks Baptist Church but had recently been attending the Highland Community Church...

Frank Fuller (12/11/08)
Frank Fuller, 85, of Horseshoe Bend, Ark., was born Nov. 12, 1923, in Rockford, Ill. He died Nov. 26, 2008, at the Crown Point Health and Rehab Center in Horseshoe Bend, Ark. Frank worked in construction. No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are under the direction of Barker Funeral Home in Salem...

Gail Wayne Steele (12/11/08)
Gail Wayne Steele, 69, of Bald Knob, Ark., died Nov. 25, 2008, at a Little Rock hospital. He was born Feb. 28, 1939, at Cave City, Ark., to Joe R. and Lettia White Steele. He was a U.S. Army veteran, owner of AAA Window Cleaning in Bald Knob, a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and of the Methodist faith...

Betty Miksch (12/11/08)
Betty Miksch, 87, of Batesville, Ark., formerly of Cherokee Village, died Dec. 3, 2008, at Wood-Lawn Nursing Home. She was born in Lancaster, Ohio, on June 19, 1921, and was the daughter of Porter and Edna (Poling) Ingram. Betty was a member of the Cherokee Village United Methodist Church; the United Methodist Women; and the Lion's Club in Cherokee Village...

Samuel Niles Decker (12/03/08)
Samuel Niles Decker, 84, of Horseshoe Bend, Ark., son of the late Leroy and Lowena (Sheldon) Decker, was born May 3, 1924, in Star City, Ind. He died Nov. 22, 2008, at his home in Horseshoe Bend. He was united in marriage to Martha Ann Sims on Aug. 20, 1948, at Monticello, Ind. ...

David C. Glass (12/03/08)
David C. Glass, 61, of Violet Hill, Ark., died at home on Nov. 23, 2008. He was born Sept. 9, 1947, in Waterloo, Iowa. David was married to Margo Heggen on Nov. 19, 1976, at Charleston, Ill. He was in the hotel business. He was founder and president of Paladin and Associates, a hotel construction and renovation company. His illness forced an early retirement in 1997, when he and his wife Margo moved to their farm in Violet Hill...

Betty "Lorene" Pool (12/03/08)
Betty Ann "Lorene" Reynolds Pool, a resident of New Boston, Texas, was born Nov. 3, 1928, in Sandtown, Ark., the daughter of Earl and Nettie Reynolds. She died Nov. 25, 2008, in Texarkana, Texas. She was a homemaker and of the Free Will Baptist faith...

Freda F. Lashley (12/03/08)
Freda F. Lashley, 76, of Evening Shade, Ark., died Nov. 25, 2008, at the White River Medical Center in Batesville. She was born July 17, 1932, at Eugene, Mo., to Woodrow and Birde Emmerich Guinnip. She was a licensed nurse, a homemaker and a member of the Calvary Baptist Church at Evening Shade...

Ralph "Gene" Peden (12/03/08)
Ralph Eugene (Gene) Peden, 83, son of the late Harry and Minerva Peden, was born March 20, 1925, in Canton, Ohio. He died Nov. 15, 2008, at Horseshoe Bend, Ark. Gene was united in marriage to Helen Elizabeth Swonger on March 26, 1946, at Magnolia, Ohio...