Charles Dean Abercrombie, 58, of Ozark died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2001,
at Clarksville.
He was a native of the Grenade's Chapel Community, son of the late John
H. Abercrombie, a welder, member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, VFW, and
Eagles, and a veteran of the U. S. Army and U. S. Navy.
Survivors include his widow, Doris Jean Boyd Abercrombie; one son, Harold
Dean Abercrombie of Hartman; mother, Annie Pledger Abercrombie of Clarksville;
and two sisters, Shirley Boling of Clarksville and Ruby Bradford of Clinton.
Rosary was at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at Shaffer Funeral Home in Ozark.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at St. Mary's Catholic Church
with Father Hilary Filiatreau officiating. Burial was in Jackson Cemetery
north of Ozark.
Active pallbearers were Otto Wall, Ben Yates, Dee Yates, Walter Rinke,
Dale McGee, and Cliff Roberts.
Honorary pallbearers were Joe Thomas, Vernon Vire, Morris Boseman, Dwight Regan, Richard Doss, and Harold Jennings.
Allen Christopher Keith, 28, of Hartman died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, at
Countryside Manor Nursing Home from injuries sustained in a construction
site accident near the 49 mile marker on Interstate I-40 on Nov. 14, 2000.
Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Janet and Randall Downen
of Hartman; father and stepmother, Allen and Tressa Keith of Clarksville;
two brothers, Jeff Keith of Clarksville and Jason Keith of Hartman; three
stepsisters, Stacie Downen of Hartman, Jennifer Collier of Lamar, and Sherry
Graham of Missouri; two stepbrothers, Brian Downen of Lamar and Nathan
Downen of Hartman; grandparents, Edna Morrow of Lamar and the late John
Morrow, Alvin Keith of Lamar and the late Hettie Keith; two nieces; and
one nephew.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Roller-Cox Chapel with Rev.
Amos Pledger officiating. Burial was in Holman Cemetery.
Pallbearers were David Alcorn, Paul Gene, Johnny Keith Morrow, Eric McCormick, Paul Lewis Kendrick, and Teddy Morrow.
Dorothy Thompson Edwards, 72, of Clarksville, died Wednesday, Jan. 3,
2001, at Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith.
She was a native of Clarksville, daughter of the late Jess Thompson
Sr., widow of Joseph B. Edwards, 1947 graduate of Clarksville High School
and attended the University of the Ozarks for two years, former resident
of Fort Smith, member of the First Baptist Church in Fort Smith, and a
former employee of Arkansas Medical Society in Fort Smith.
Survivors include her mother, Eleonora Thompson of Clarksville; three
sisters, Mary Henderson of Rogers, Anna Brewer of Tulsa, Okla., and Barbara
Wilson of Clarksville; two brothers, Jess Thompson Jr. of Clarksville and
Raymond Thompson of North Carolina; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services and burial were at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at Forest Park Cemetery in Fort Smith with Rev. Dale Thompson officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Dexter B. Self, 89, of Ozark died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at Mercy Hospital/Turner
Memorial in Ozark.
He was a retired employee of Eureka Brick and Tile, Army veteran of
World War II, native of Newton County, son of the late Jake and Velta McKnight
Self, and was preceded in death by his wife, Alta Self.
He is survived by two daughters, Brenda Brison and Reba Bankston, both
of Ozark; one sister, Mabel McIntire of Brookville, Fla.; one brother,
Gorman Self of Anderson, Ind.; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at Shaffer Funeral Home Chapel
with Rev. Jan Akins officiating. Burial was in Mt. View Cemetery at Ozark.
Pallbearers were Paul Stacy, Larry Stacy, Charles Stacy, Gordon McCain, Herbert Watson, and Johnny D. Brison.
Floyd Eugene Brooks, 82, of Fayetteville, father of Deborah Goodman
of Clarksville, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at Washington Regional Medical
Center in Fayetteville.
He was a native of the Combs Chapel Community, son of the late Claud
and Grace Carney Brooks, grower for Tyson, a cattleman and attended Temple
Baptist Church.
Survivors include his widow, Leora Williams Brooks; three sons, Douglas
Brooks of Tulsa, Okla., Edward Brooks of Dallas, Texas, and Timothy Brooks
of Fayetteville; one other daughter, Laura Milioni of Albion, Mich.; two
brothers, Bill Brooks of Fayetteville and Charles Brooks of West Fork;
three sisters, Doris Roberts, Edna Couch, and Margaret Murphy, all of Fayetteville;
ten grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at Beard's Funeral Chapel
at 855 South Happy Hollow Road in Fayetteville with Pastor Mark Milioni,
Pastor Dwayne Milioni and Pastor Don Elmore officiating. Burial will be
in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan.
10, with the family present from 6-8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Temple Baptist Church for Foreign Missions or Meals-On-Wheels.
Faye Ellen Pitts Russell, 67, of Cordova, Tenn., died Jan. 3, 2001,
at St. Francis Hospital.
She was a daughter of the late Eldon and Mildred Mooney Pitts and was
preceded in death by her husband, Bob Russell; the father of her children,
Derl Tucker; and one sister, Donna Dowdy.
She is survived by two daughters, Vickie Rutherford of Memphis, Tenn.,
and Debbie Whittiemore of Somerville, Tenn.; one sister, Mary Ann Ledbetter
of Tulsa, Okla.; one brother, Dane Pitts of Hartman; three grandchildren;
and one great-grandchild.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at Roller-Cox Chapel with Rev.
Amos Pledger officiating. Burial was in Lone Pine Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Randy Mooney, David Price, Bobby Mooney, Mark Price, Jimmy Butler, and Cody Pitts.
Jean Betnar, 72, of Clarksville died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at Paris
Health and Rehabilitation Center.
A native of Spadra, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Pearl Gallant
Timmons, widow of Vernon Betnar, retired employee of the University of
the Ozarks, attended Trinity Chapel Pentecostal Church of God, and was
preceded in death by one sister, Nora Hawkins; and two brothers, William
and Lonnie Timmons.
She is survived by two daughters, Kay Carmody of Hartman and Brenda
Perry of Clarksville; three brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Lavon and
Margaret Betnar, Leon and Phyllis Betnar, and Marvin and Shirley Walker,
all of Clarksville; three sisters; five grandchildren, Jimmy Miner of Pampa,
Texas, Travis Miner of Harrison, Glenda Jay of Russellville, Karen Turpin
of Lamar, and Angela Huffman of Lewisville, Texas; eight great-grandchildren;
and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at Trinity Chapel Pentecostal
Church of God with Rev. Terry Schlinker officiating.
Burial was in Oakland Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral
Home.
Pallbearers were Jimmy Miner, Travis Miner, Joel Jay, Justin Treat, Gerry Turpin, and Tim Huffman.
J. T. Patterson, 85, died Friday at home in the Woodland community north
of Clarksville. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lucile; a son,
Dr. Jack Patterson of Clarksville; Lisa Carlton, of Clarksville; a daughter
and son-in-law, Ann Patterson and Max Snowden, of Little Rock; a niece,
Beth DuVall of Van Buren; four grandchildren, Jack T. Patterson, II, of
Little Rock, Sharon Beth Amaral of Oak Harbor, WA, Katherine Ann Patterson,
of Clarksville and Scott Snowden, of Little Rock; two great-grandchildren,
Jason and Taylor Amaral, of Oak Harbor, WA.
He is preceded in death by two brothers, Vernon M. and Heartsil Patterson,
of Clarksville, and a sister-in-law, Maurine Patterson, of Clarksville
and Van Buren.
A funeral service was held Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 3:00 in the First Presbyterian
Church of Clarksville. A graveside service and interment followed in the
Woodland Cemetery.
J. T. Patterson was born on April 29, 1915, to W. N. "Newt"
and Clara Burt Patterson of Woodland. Growing up, he helped his father
and brother raise peaches on the family farm. He attended the Woodland
School through the eighth grade, and graduated from Clarksville High School
in 1934. He attended the University of the Ozarks and Draughon's Business
College in Dallas, TX, where he met his wife, Lucile; the couple were married
December 24, 1937 in Hubbard, TX, the same year as his graduation from
Draughon's. He worked as an accountant for Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Company
in Dallas until 1943, when he returned to Clarksville to serve as Business
Manager for the University of the Ozarks. He retired from that position
in June of 1980. The University administration asked him to return in September
of 1981, and Patterson worked another year. His career at the University
spanned 38 years and he served under 10 presidents.
Patterson's commitment to the University and its students was matched
by his love for his native communities of Woodland, Clarksville, Johnson
County, the state of Arkansas.
Patterson was active in many state and local service organizations.
He was a member of the Clarksville Rotary Club for over 50 years, and was
a past president. He helped to establish the Horsehead Water Users Association
and served as its chairman. He was a member and past president of the Johnson
County Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Johnson Regional Medical Center
Board from 1972 to 1996, and chaired the Board during the planning and
construction of the new hospital. He was appointed to the Statewide Health
Coordinating Council for Arkansas by Governor David Pryor and served as
its vice-chairman. He was member and treasurer of the Executive Committee
of the United Fund, and served on the Executive Board of the Westark Area
Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Patterson was a Mason and member
of the Lone Pine Social Club. He was a lifetime democrat.
The Board of Trustees of the University of the Ozarks awarded Patterson
an honorary doctorate of Business Administration in 1970. He was made a
Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club, and received the Pillar of Progress
Award from the Johnson County Chamber of Commerce. In 1997, the University
of the Ozarks dedicated the J.T. Patterson Business Office as part of the
new administration building. The following year, a new intensive care unit
was named after Patterson and dedicated in his honor at the Johnson Regional
Medical Center.
Patterson was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Clarksville.
He served the Church both locally and regionally as an elder, a vice-moderator
and past president of the Board of Trustees, and as member of various Synod
and Presbytery committees.
Pallbearers include Dr. Fritz Ehren, Harold Hyden, Dr. R. L. Qualls,
Larry Stroud, Denton Tumbleson, Jerry Wagoner, Turner Whitson, and Darrell
Williams; honorary pallbearers include Reece Hudson, Phil Pittman, Dr.
Robert Basham, and Lonnie Qualls.
Memorials may be sent to the J.T. and Lucile Patterson Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of the Ozarks. Please direct correspondence to Steve Edmisten, Office of Development, University of the Ozarks, 415 N. College Avenue, Clarksville, AR 72830-2880.
Leymon Freeman, 82, of Lamar died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, in Little Rock.
He was a son of the late John and Rebecca Stewart Freeman, member of
the Lee's Chapel Assembly of God Church, retired truck driver and bus driver
having driven for Lamar Schools for 29 years.
Survivors include his widow, Ollie English Freeman; three daughters
and sons-in-law, Carolyn and Earl Sanderson of London, Bonnie and Steve
Chamberlin of Lamar, and Darlene and Dean Pratt of Clarksville; one son
and daughter-in-law, Larry and Kris English of London; one sister, Etna
Avery of Denair, Calif.; one brother, Zearl Freeman of Lamar; six grandchildren,
Angie James of Hagarville, Scott Sanderson of Knoxville, Chad Pratt of
Fayetteville, Nathan Pratt of Clarksville, and Caleb English and Ryan English,
both of London; and five great-grandchildren, Eric and Weston James, both
of Hagarville, and Chase, Bryce, and Hannah Sanderson, all of Knoxville.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at Roller-Cox Chapel with
Rev. Amos Pledger and Rev. Ira Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Annie's
Chapel Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Chad Pratt, Caleb English, Jason James, Don Freeman,
Nathan Pratt, and Scott Sanderson.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Lorene Hardgrave, 80, of Clarksville died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, at Johnson
Regional Medical Center.
A native of Morris, Okla., she was a daughter of the late Ben and Nettie
Tyler Mason, widow of Carl Hardgrave, and a Methodist.
She is survived by one son, Dennis Hardgrave of Garden Grove, Calif.;
five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services and burial were at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at West Mount Zion Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Velma J. Askins, 85, of Hunt died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at Johnson
Regional Medical Center.
She was born at Alpena, daughter of the late Robert and Bertie Fultz
Morrow, widow of William Mathew Askins Sr., and a Baptist.
Survivors include five daughters, Ann Grigsby, Wilma Grigsby and Louise
Arbaugh, all of Hunt, and Sue Stepp and Ginger Hodge, both of Oark; four
sons, William Askins Jr. of Ozark, Colman Askins and Varl Askins, both
of Hunt, and Glen Askins of Clarksville; one sister, Ona Mae Cox of Hunt;
26 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and ten great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel with
Rev. Fred Nichols Jr. officiating. Burial was in Liberty Hill Cemetery
at Hunt.
Active pallbearers were Bobby Grigsby, Ricky Grigsby, Jerry Arbaugh,
Jimmy Arbaugh, Larry Yates, and Jody Dalton.
Honorary pallbearers were Jason Stepp, Mike Stepp, Junior Stepp, Larry Askins, Wade Askins, Frank Grigsby, Don Grigsby, Johnny Robinson, and Jason Askins.
Wilda Orpha Baker, 83, of Lamar died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, at Johnson
Regional Medical Center.
She was a daughter of the late Walker and Bessie Davis Dean, widow of
Cecil Howell Baker, and a Baptist.
She is survived by four grandchildren, Janet Shoptaw of Dardanelle,
Kim Baker of Clarksville, Greg Baker of Pottsville, and Gary Baker of Ozone;
five great-grandchildren, Tray Hargrave, Zachary Hargrave, Scott Baker,
Jared Guinnip, and Cidney Baker; three sisters, Melba Verning of Harrison,
Ella Freeman of Lincoln, and Cornelia Davidson of Oklahoma; and two brothers,
D. W. Dean of Harrison and Willard Dean of Siloam Springs.
Graveside services and burial will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10,
at the Holman Cemetery with Rev. Amos Pledger officiating. Arrangements
are under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Greg Baker, John Shoptaw, Jared Guinnip, Cidney Baker, Gary Baker, and Tray Hargrave.
Kevin Patrick Crook, 36, of College Station, Texas, died Monday, Jan.
8, 2001.
He was a native of Little Rock, graduate of Vilonia High School and
Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, member of Central Baptist Church
in Bryan, Texas, and employed as division manager of production for Sanderson
Farms.
Survivors include his widow, Paula A. Holt Crook, a former resident
of Lamar; two sons, Robert Paul (Bobby) Crook and Benjamin Patrick Crook,
both of the home; parents, Bob and Minerva Crook of Vilonia; one sister,
Gay Leifer of West Helena; and grandparents, Polly Merrifield and Mr. and
Mrs. R. V. Crook, all of Little Rock.
Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at Roller-McNutt Funeral
Home Chapel in Conway with Rev. Joe Engdahl officiating. Burial will be
in Vilonia Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway.