Billy Edward Spicer, 62, of Scranton died Monday, May 4, 2009, in Paris.
A native of Scranton, he was a son of the late Hassel Spicer, and was employed as a heavy equipment operator for the county and a store manager for several years.
Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Rosetta Floren Spicer; one son, Jamie Spicer and wife, Jami, of Scranton; one daughter, Shelley Turner and husband, Paul, of Scranton; mother, Ocie Knight Spicer of Paris; and two sisters, Grace Fholer and Margie Core, both of Tulsa, Okla.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Friday, May 8, at Roller Funeral Home Chapel in Paris followed by burial at McKendree Cemetery in Subiaco.
Active pallbearers were Lyndall Rogers, Tim Moffet, Earnie Mellon, Roy Houser, Troy Houser, and Tony Schluterman.
Honorary pallbearers were Jerry Koerdt, Ryan Wilson, T. J. Pridgin and Paul Turner.
Clara Bachus Blackwell, 81, of Clarksville died Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at Clarksville Health and Rehab.
She was a native of Lamar, daughter of the late William and Katie Gompf Kreipke, widow of Norman (Woody) Bachus, Baptist, and preceded in death by one granddaughter, Beverly Bewley; one sister; and four brothers.
Survivors include her husband, Earl Blackwell; two daughters, Linda Garrett of Gainesville, Texas, and Jane Little of Clarksville; one son, Leon Bachus of Lamar; two sisters, Dora Smith of Los Angeles, Calif., and Irene Tanner of Wichita, Kan.; two stepchildren, John Blackwell of Decatur, Ill., and Kay Peace of Camp Verde, Ariz.; six grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Friday, May 8, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bob Oden officiating. Burial was in Holman Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Darrell Clubb, Leo Knoernschild, Terry D. Miller, Buddy Smith, Clyde Patterson, and Jeff Wood.
Dennis W. Young, 59, of Clarksville died Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at Little Rock.
He was a member of the Clarksville Church of Christ and son of the late Bill and Adean Dunlap Young.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra Metzker Young; two daughters, Jessica Bartlett and husband, Dustin, of Clarksville and Jennifer Webb and husband, Coley, of Ozone; one son, Jason Young of Clarksville; one sister, Donna Bean of Cottonwood, Ariz.; three nephews, Terry Young, Todd Bean, and Tim Bean; and two uncles, Edd Young and Ted Young.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at the Clarksville Church of Christ with John Ballard officiating.
Burial was in Woodland Cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Coley Webb, Terry Brandenburg, Craig Dollar, Terry Young, Raymond Holt, and Mike Bosold.
Honorary pallbearers were Ted Young and Edd Young.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at the Lone Pine Cemetery for J. Doy Doke and his son, Dan W. Doke. All who wish to attend are welcome.
Eula Mae Stewart Hill, 78, of Springdale died Sunday, May 3, 2009, at Fayetteville.
She was born in Oark to George W. and Susie Mayfield Stewart, member of House of Worship in Hindsville, and retired from Danaher Tool Group in 1992. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Norma Martin; one sister, Vickie Sue Mitchell; one granddaughter, Teresa Ann Beck; and three great-grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband of 61 years, J. C. Hill; one daughter, Oma Long and husband, Dennis, of Springdale; two sons, T. J. Hill of Springdale and David Hill and wife, Nancy, of Winslow; seven sisters, Euca Faye Easterley of Hiwasse, Ruby Morris of Ontario, Calif., Maudie Acord and Linna Kay Mobbs, both of Batson, Wilma Vae Adams of Ozone, Judy Burns of Joplin, Mo., and Mary Russell of Fallsville; two brothers, George Stewart of Springdale and Bobby Stewart of Elkins; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 7, at Westfield Chapel with Rev. Bill Williams officiating. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville.
Active pallbearers were Darrell Long, Jeff Meadors, J. T. Hill, Ray Dean Hill, John Cambron, and Scott Hill.
Honorary pallbearers were Justin Bryant and Jacob Hill.
Floris Haasis, 89, of Lamar died Thursday, April 30, 2009, at her home.
She was a native of Manchester, Iowa, daughter of the late Earl and Letha Smith Barger, member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarksville where she was also a member of the choir, taught art classes in Clarksville for a number of years, and was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Howard Haasis.
Survivors include three sons, Michael Haasis and wife, Arlene, of Los Angeles, Calif., Jeff Haasis and wife, Mary, of St. Louis, Mo., and Richard Haasis and wife, Linda, of Lamar; and five grandchildren, Justin Haasis of Los Angeles, Calif., and David, Jen, Anna and Tim Haasis, all of St. Louis, Mo.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 8, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarksville with Rev. David Hanshaw officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Harold Grant Gateley, 77, of Fayetteville, father of Susan Gateley Levin of Oark, died Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at his home.
He was a native of Yell County, son of the late Paul Vernon and Miriam Sandlin Gateley, and served in the U. S. Air Force for five years as a foreign language specialist stationed in Japan. After graduating from the University of Arkansas and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, he served as a missionary to South Korea with the Southern Baptist Convention from 1965 to 1980. Upon returning from Korea he served as the director of missions for Washington-Madison Baptist Association from 1982 to 1997. In addition to pastoring five churches he served as a civilian chaplain at Fort Sill, Okla., two veteran hospitals and the Nicut (Oklahoma) Volunteer Fire Department. He and his wife of 56 years, Audrey Viola Temple Gateley, managed their ranch in Sequoyah County, Okla., where they raised cattle, horses and goats and he frequently served as preacher at Fellowship Baptist Church in Nicut with his last sermon being delivered on March 1. He was preceded in death by one brother, Paul Wayne Gateley.
In addition to his wife and daughter, he is survived by four other children, Wade Gateley of Burlington, Colo., David Gateley of Van Buren, Paul (Rusty) Gateley of Fayetteville, and Elizabeth (Vicki Sue) Kinsey of Fayetteville; one brother, Robert Gateley of Yell County; two sisters, Nina Fisher of Russellville and Denise Robison of Duvall, Wash.; and 11 grandchildren.
Funeral was at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 12, at Beards Funeral Chapel in Fayetteville. Burial with full military honors followed at the Fayetteville National Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were eight grandsons.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the Nicut Volunteer Fire Department.
Memorials may be made to Fellowship Baptist Church in Nicut, Okla., Nicut Volunteer Fire Department, or Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale.
John Aberdeen O’Sullivan Phillpotts, 85, whose child, Zeo Phillpotts resides in Lamar, died Sunday, April 26, 2009, in Gloversville, N. Y.
He was born in Spanishtown, Jamaica, to Lena and Chester Phillpotts, married Margaret K. Alden of Surrey, England in 1956, and immigrated to the United States where he resided in Montara, Calif., avid woodworker, horticulturist, traveler, and former resident of Ozark.
Other survivors include children, Kevin Phillpotts of Everett, Wash., and Kim Tinsley of Ozark; one stepdaughter, Evelyn LeFevre of Montara, Calif.; and siblings, Joshua, Eben, Ruth, Naomi and Allan.
Luke Anthony Stratton, infant son of James Weldon (J.W.) and Christa Marie Kimbrough Stratton of Russellville died Friday, May 8, 2009, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville.
He was preceded in death by one great-grandmother, Mary Stratton; and two great-grandfathers, Russell Stickley and Donald Kimbrough Sr.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by one brother, Elijah James Stratton; one sister, Mary Margaret Stratton; maternal grandparents, Robert and Tina Kimbrough of Clarksville; paternal grandparents, Gary and Peggy Stratton of Russellville; and great-grandparents, Mary Kimbrough of Lamar, Weldon Stratton of Russellville, Mary Stickley of Hartman, and Jim and Margaret Sweeden of Fort Smith.
Service arrangements by Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville are private.
Nettie Ruth Marlow, 70, of Clarksville died Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at UAMS in Little Rock.
She was a native of Richmond, Va., Baptist, and preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frankie and Al Marlow.
Survivors include her husband, John Marlow; three daughters, Frances Mooney and husband, Michael, Betty Danver and husband, Donnie, and Frankie Frazier, all of Clarksville; three sons, William Marlow and wife, Becky, and Johnny Marlow and wife, Rhonda, all of Clarksville, and James Marlow and wife, Barbara, of Knoxville; 18 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 14, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Amos Pledger officiating.
William Henry Grotheer, 88, of Ozone died Saturday, May 2, 2009, at Countryside Manor Nursing Home.
A native of Boone, Iowa, he was a son of the late Henry and Nora Bohner Grotheer, long-time resident of Ozone, pastor and evangelist of the Seventh Day Adventist Church for several years, head of the religion department of Madison College in Tennessee and was instrumental in organizing the Adventist Laymen’s Foundation where he had served as executive secretary since its existence. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothea Grotheer; and one daughter, Nancy Renk.
He is survived by one daughter, Anne Shull of Chattanooga, Tenn.
Burial was Monday, May 4, at Mt. Airy Cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Wilma Duvall, 86, of Lamar died Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
She was a daughter of the late Jimmy and Della Welcher Mackey, native of Caglesville, widow of Burl Ray Duvall, Pentecostal, and was preceded in death by one daughter, Teresa Lynn Duvall; one grandson, Douglas Roach; and four brothers.
Survivors include four sons, Jimmy Duvall and Eddie Duvall, both of Hector, David Duvall of Lamar, and Junior Duvall of Mt. Magazine; four daughters, Barbara Collins and Debbie Simpson, both of Russellville, Patsy Millner of Dardanelle, and Dana Althouse of Fort Smith; one sister-in-law, Johalou Mackey of Conway; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Friday, May 8, at Shinn Funeral Service Chapel in Russellville with Rev. Roy Cain officiating. Burial was in Shady Grove Cemetery north of Atkins.
Grandsons served as pallbearers.
Paul Baskin, 80, of Clarksville died Monday, May 4, 2009, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, retired USDA Inspector and poultry producer, 32nd degree Mason, native of the Harmony Community, member of Harmony Church, son of the late James Randolph and Lizzie May Basham Baskin, and was preceded in death by three brothers, Eugene, John P. and David Baskin; and two sisters, Lottie Bean and Theda Cobb.
Survivors include his wife, Bethel Drummond Baskin; two sons, James Baskin and Douglas Baskin and fiancée, Kelly Reed, all of Clarksville; one brother, James (Jack) Baskin of Kansas City, Mo.; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Amos Pledger officiating. Burial was in Harmony Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Phillip Cato, Mike Harris, Larry Baskin, Randy Baskin, Bobby Gene Bean, Truman Dean Drummond, Troy Burl Stout, and Gary Baskin.
Honorary pallbearers were Larry Hughes and Bill Sampley.
Thomas G. Park of Perryville, Arkansas, died Friday, May 8, 2009, surrounded by his children. Tom was born on July 24, 1922, in Clarksville, Arkansas to Goldburn and Thelma Park. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Lucy Snow Park, and his grandsons, Josh Park, Brandon Hopper and Jody Marcum; and his older brother Bill Park. He is survived by three children, Sharon Marcum of Little Rock, Cindy Hopper (John), and Tommy Park (Debbie) all of Perryville; 5 grandchildren: Kristie Cronkhite (Mike), Gretchen Barham (Kevin), and Hannah Carter (Trey); Brooke Maness (Brad); Jennifer Watts; 6 great grandchildren: Olivia Watts, Kendal and Evan Cronkhite, Natalie Barham, Katherine Maness, and Colin Carter due June 22; siblings Joann Park Walton (Henry), Bob Park (Betty), Jerry Park (Cheryl), as well as extended family and friends and Spot.
His formative years were shaped by the love and values of Dad and Mom Farris, his maternal grandparents, who provided direction, love, fast cars, and his beginning college years. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and was proud to have been a veteran. Tom married his high school sweetheart, Lucy Snow in 1942, and for the next 63 years they shared a life rich in love, family, community, church and friends.
After the war, Tom and his brother Bill Park had a flying service out of Clarksville, and his stories about their flying escapades when there was no instrumentation in the small planes, when thick cloud cover and running out of gas were challenges to be met, revealed an adventurous side of Tom that was unknown to most. He also went to the University of Arkansas on the GI Bill, and graduated with a degree in agriculture. He began work with the USDA Farmers Home Administration in Murfreesboro, and in 1957 came to Perryville as County Supervisor. Tom always enjoyed working with the Perry County farmers and families to assist them in their farming endeavors and in building new housing. Best of all, he counted as friends many of those he served.
Tom also served with the local National Guard as a SFC for several years, and always drove home on the weekend of the two week active duty at Ft. Polk to see Lucy.
Tom retired from the Farmers Home Administration after 36 years, and then began a whole new life of service. He was appointed to fill a term as Perry County Tax Assessor. Then he volunteered as an ambulance driver with the Perry County EMS, eventually going to EMT training at Camden, becoming a certified EMT at age 65. His certification included rappelling down a 5 story building, a feat he had promised Lucy he would not have to do. He served for 10 years as an EMT, only retiring from that when he began having heart attacks.
His service to his community was wide and deep. He was a volunteer fireman from the mid fifties in Murfreesboro and then for the Perryville volunteer fire department. He was a member of the Lions Club International for 64 years, with perfect attendance, and was a charter member of the Perryville Lions Club. In 1997 he was the recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Services. He served on the Perry County Fair Board for decades, working in any and all committees and jobs. He was also a member of the City Planning and Zoning Commission, and was currently serving on the Perryville City Council. The Perryville Masonic Lodge Named Tom “Man of the Year” in 2000 for Outstanding Service to the Community of Perryville. Following the Katrina disaster, Tom headed south with the group from the Methodist Church, and made new friends preparing personal kits for victims of this tragedy.
Tom was active in the Methodist Church wherever he was, and for the past 52 years that was the Perryville United Methodist Church. He served on every board, every committee, served as lay leader, and was adult Sunday school teacher for years. While he actively worked to help build the new church, no task was too lowly for him, and he was often called on to change the light bulbs in the old Perryville Methodist Church. In recent years Tom came to dearly love the fellowship of the Thursday morning coffee at the church. He loved the support of his church family and his faith was unwavering.
His love of family extended to the friends of his children, and many of those friends considered Tom a special mentor and supporter. There were never enough hugs for Tom from all his friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Building Fund of Perryville United Methodist Church.
Visitation was from 5:00-7:00 on Sunday, May 10, 2009, at Perryville United Methodist Church. Funeral services were at 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 11, 2009, at Perryville United Methodist Church with Reverend David Baker officiating. Burial was at Perryville Cemetery by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton. Online guestbook: www.harrisfuneralhomes.net.
