Rev. Chester R. Higgs Jr., 74, of Russellville died Thursday, Dec. 18,
2003, at AMI St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Russellville.
A native of Knoxville, he was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Chester
Richard (Anna Bell Ketcheside) Higgs Sr., retired preacher having
preached in different area churches for 30 years-plus, former custodian
for Dwight Elementary School in Russellville, United States Army
veteran of the Korean War, member of the Pottsville Free Will Baptist
Church, and was preceded in death by one stepson, Randy Moore; three
brothers, Albert Higgs, J. W. Higgs, and Everett Higgs; and one
great-grandchild, Landon Pritchard.
Survivors include his widow, Norma Higgs; one son, Timothy Higgs of
Russellville; four daughters, Cynthia King of Ruston, La., Deanna
Dunlap of Lamar, and Tonya Smith and Carla Cossey, both of
Russellville; one stepson, Gary Moore of Russellville; one
stepdaughter, Debbie Sanders of Dover; one brother, Virgil Higgs of
Russellville; one sister, Marilyn Hankins of Dover; 22 grandchildren;
and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at Shinn Funeral Service Chapel
in Russellville with Rev. Bud Walker and Rev. David Downum officiating.
Burial was in Rest Haven Memorial Park.
Active pallbearers were Frank Hicks, Geno Johnston, Joe Matt Freeman,
Buster Chronister, Carroll Hanna and J. C. Kinder.
Clarence Eugene Morris, 74, of Clarksville died Friday, Dec. 19, 2003.
He was a retired auto-body repairman, Army veteran, member of the First
Presbyterian Church, and son of the late Buster and Dorthy Mae
Standridge Morris.
Survivors include his widow, Georgia McLain Morris; two sons, Harold
William Morris of Colorado and Clarence Eugene Morris II of California;
one sister, Margaret McNeely of Rison; one brother, James Morris of
California; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, at the First
Presbyterian Church with Rev. Lance Jones officiating. Arrangements
were under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Howard D. Clinton, 89, of Hartman died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at his
home.
He was a son of the late Jasper and Leona Lee Clinton.
Survivors include his widow, Elaine Garrett Clinton; one niece, Carol
Enderling of Conway; two nephews, James Henson of Hunt and Charles
Clinton of Clarksville; and four great-nephews, Jim Henson of Little
Rock, Dr. Clint Henson of Hot Springs, Larry Clinton of Colorado, and
Greg Clinton of Clarksville.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at the Liberty Hill Church at
Hunt with Rev. Orla Lawson officiating.
Burial was in Liberty Hill Cemetery at Hunt under the direction of
Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Don Garrett, Charles Jones, Paul Timmerman,
Keith Garrett, Jerry Jones, and Don Castleberry.
Hazel L. Dewberry, 90, of Clarksville died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at
Countryside Manor Nursing Home.
She was a member of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, native of
Baldwin, and was preceded in death by two sons, Robert Over and George
Over; and one daughter, Loretta Ritchie.
She is survived by one brother, George Allen Williams of Illinois; 14
grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and six
great-great-grandchildren.
Irene Wiley, 87, of Searcy died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2003.
She was a native of Hagarville, widow of Lester Wiley, retired
dietitian from Central Arkansas Hospital and a member of McRae Church
of Christ. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Annie
Gertrude Troop Neal and Verna Neal; three sisters, Norma Bramlett, Kate
Hodges, and Annie Neal White Quinton; and four brothers, Nathan Neal,
Hugh Neal, James Neal, and Champ Clark.
Survivors include one daughter, Carolyn Jane Wiley of Searcy; three
sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Edith Wiley of Searcy, Bob and Ann
Wiley of Austin, Texas, and Larry and Isophene Wiley of Ash Flat; two
sisters, Gertrude Barr and Jessie Mae Brown, both of Clarksville; seven
grandchildren, Denise Covington, Kim Gentry, Janet Wright, Jason Wiley,
Michelle Wiley, Shawna Wiley and Jeff Cass; and nine
great-grandchildren.
Jimmie Lee Bush, 72, died on December 16, 2003 at the Johnson Regional
Medical Center in Clarksville, Arkansas.
He was the son of the late Dennis Bush of Clarksville, Arkansas and
Alva Bush of Clarksville, Arkansas. He was a native of Clarksville,
Arkansas. He served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Korean
War, providing service for his country in Korea for two years. He was a
retired coal miner and a member of the United Mineworkers of America.
He leaves behind one son, Jimmie Carl Bush of Fort Smith, Arkansas; one
brother, Harold Dean Bush of Clarksville, Arkansas; various nephews and
nieces; and a special friend, Nan Holland of Clarksville, Arkansas.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Friday, December 19, at Roller-Cox Funeral Chapel
in Clarksville, Arkansas with Rev. Gary Blair officiating. Burial was
at the Union Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers were David Bush, Ron Bush,
Glen Canion, Brian Clinton, Roy Elkins, and Tim Rich. Honorary
pallbearers were Tony Delk and John Helmert.
Visitation 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Thursday, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home,
Clarksville, AR.
Jack R. Hobbs, 71, of Clarksville died Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, at
Johnson Regional Medical Center.
A native of Mountainburg, he was a son of the late Joseph Bradford
Hobbs, graduate of Mountainburg High School and the University of
Arkansas, member, deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist
Church, former football, basketball and baseball coach at Clarksville
High School, and former purchasing agent at Formal Company.
Survivors include his widow, Bettye Furlow Hobbs; two sons and
daughters-in-law, Brad and Dana Hobbs of Clarksville and Ray and Debbie
Hobbs of Rogers; mother, Zora M. Hobbs of Van Buren; and four
grandchildren, Darcy Hobbs and Chelsey Hobbs, both of Clarksville, and
Amanda Hobbs and Jonathan Hobbs, both of Rogers.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, at First Baptist Church
with Rev. Robert Brown officiating.
Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke
Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Lonnie Qualls, Alan Brooke, Dan Leeds, David Ross,
Dane Woodard, and Earl Green.
Louise Vaught, 94, of Clarksville died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003.
A native of Clarksville, she was a daughter of the late Tom and Maud
Porter Hervey, widow of Odra M. Vaught, graduate of Clarksville High
School, lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she was
also a member of the Presbyterian Women's Group, and former employee of
Clarksville Florist and the University of the Ozarks.
She is survived by one son, Tommy Vaught of Greenville, Texas.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at the First Presbyterian
Church with Rev. Bill Woodard officiating.
Burial was in Oakland Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral
Home.
Leola M. Williams, 92, of Clarksville died Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, at
Johnson Regional Medical Center.
She was a native of Clarksville, daughter of the late Jesse and Mattie
Minney Martin, widow of Roger S. Williams, seamstress, former employee
of ARVAC, the Johnson County Circuit Clerk's office and the Johnson
County Tax Assessor's office for several years, nursery attendant at
First Baptist Church for many years, and was preceded in death by one
son, Archie L. Johnson.
Survivors include one stepdaughter and spouse, Verladean and Loy Park
of Clarksville; one daughter-in-law, Charlsie Johnson of Clarksville;
one sister, Florence Medford of New Orleans, La.; six stepgrandchildren
and spouses, Barry and Debbie Park, Sandra and Jackie Cline, and Lisa
and Jerry Martin, all of Clarksville, Sheila Vincent of Connecticut,
Debra Brogan of Maryland, and Brenda Wilson of Oklahoma; and several
stepgreat-grandchildren, stepgreat-great-grandchildren, and nieces and
nephews.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel
with Rev. Robert Brown and Rev. Billy Usery officiating. Burial was in
Oakland Cemetery.
Mildred Vernice Bennett, 72, of Little Rock died Thursday, Dec. 18,
2003, in Little Rock.
She was a daughter of the late Yell and Etta Wheeler Bennett, artist,
class valedictorian, and was preceded in death by four brothers,
Alfred, Clark, Rowland, and R. H.
She is survived by one sister, Juanita Meadows of Dover; two brothers
and sisters-in-law, William D. and Olitta Bennett of Hot Springs and
Yell (Junior) and Bonnie Bennett of Whittier, Calif.; and several
nieces and nephews.
Margaret M. Dilks, 70, of Knoxville died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003, at
her home.
She was a native of Woodbridge, N. J., daughter of the late Louis and
Margaret Paston, widow of Robert W. Dilks, member of the Knoxville
Extension Homemakers Club, and an employee of Ellison Enterprises for
12 years.
She is survived by one son, Lewis Palmer of Knoxville; two stepsons,
Steven Laney of Skillman, N. J., and Michael Dilks of Clarksville; one
stepdaughter, Michelle Dilks of Bradenton, Fla.; one sister, Helen
Barsi of Woodbridge, N. J.; two grandchildren, Scotty Palmer of
Arkadelphia and Ashley Goodman of Lamar; and one great-grandchild, Abby
Goodman of Lamar.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel
with Rev. Leon Ketcherside officiating. Burial was in Knoxville
Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Art Jennen, Art Hinch, Ike Eichelberger, Mike Morgan,
Jerry Watson, and Charlie Manns.
Mary Katherine Pyron, 73, of Hartman died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, at
her home.
She was a daughter of the late William Lee and Mary Enola Smith Dyce,
widow of Leroy Pyron, Baptist, and member of the Coal Hill VFW Post
8532 Ladies Auxiliary.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and James Hurst
of Hartman and Judy and Don Williams of Sheridan; three sisters, Gwin
Ray of West Helena, Lois Kelley of Haskell, Stella Sharp of
Jacksonville; two brothers, Gene Dyce of Alvarado, Texas, and Walter
Dyce of Othella, Wash.; two grandchildren, Melissa Bittle of Hartman
and Vicki Parrish of Sheridan; and three great-grandchildren, Kaylee
and Gabriel Bittle of Hartman and Alexis Johnson of Sheridan.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, at Roller-Cox Chapel with Rev.
Amos Pledger officiating. Graveside services and burial followed at 4
p.m. at the Sunset Cemetery Memorial Park in West Helena with Rev. Rudy
Davis officiating.
Paul Clayton Leonard, 94, of Clarksville died Friday, Dec. 19, 2003, in
Clarksville.
He was a native of El Dorado, Okla., son of the late Eerie and Grace
Harvel Leonard, World War I veteran, retired USDA inspector, Methodist,
and lifetime member of the Arkansas Cattleman's Association. He was
preceded in death by two brothers, Bennie Leonard Sr. of Pleasant
Plains and Denvil Leonard of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one sister, Faye
Tholen of Lubbock, Texas; and one niece, Maxine Daniels of Shreveport,
La.
Survivors include his widow, Elna Leonard; one nephew, Bennie Leonard
Jr. of Clarksville; three nieces, Belinda Horton of Mayflower, Francis
Dee Aldridge of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Carol Ann Carter of Pine
Bluff; and several great-nieces and great-nephew.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, at the Willis-Hays Chapel in
Batesville with Rev. Rommie Chesier officiating. Burial was in Maple
Springs Cemetery near Oil Trough.
Raymon T. Ford, 70, of Hickory, Ky., died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003, at
Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky.
He was a former resident of Johnson County, son of the late Dewey Ford,
member of the Hickory Baptist Church, retired from the Air Force, and
was preceded in death by his first wife, Hazel Ford.
Survivors include his widow, Jane Johnson Ford; mother and stepfather,
Florence and David Wells of Delaware, Ohio; one daughter, Cathy
Cummings of Grand Junction, Colo.; one son, Steven Ray Ford of
Russellville; two stepsons, Greg King of Wingo, Ky., and Steve King of
Hickory, Ky.; one brother, Gene Ford of Delaware, Ohio; one
half-brother, Jim Wells of Delaware, Ohio; five grandchildren; three
great-grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren.