Obituaries from the The Eagle Democrat, Warren, Bradley Co., AR for 4 Jun 1997 - 25 Jun 1997 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by ? ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ From the 4 June 1997 edition of "The Eagle Democrat", Warren, AR MARY E. NEWMAN MRS. ELIZABETH RAPER NEWMAN, age 67, Smackover, died at the Baptist Medical Center of Little Rock Friday. She was the sister of Coach James M. Raper, Warren, and was the wife of longtime State Representative Bobby Newman of Smackover. Mrs. Raper was born at Louann on September 23, 1929, to Mrs. Ruth Martin Raper and the late Homer Raper. She was a teacher in Smackover Elementary School for 21 years. She was a graduate of Ouachita University in the Class of 1951 and was the first member appointed to the Arkansas Oil and Brine Museum Advisory Board. In addition to her husband and brother, her survivors include a son, Brad, of Little Rock; a daughter, Lacy Rodgers of Smackover; and 3 grandchildren. Funeral was Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Smackover by the Rev. Dr. Bob Parsley. Interment was in the Smackover Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the First Baptist Church of Smackover or the Union County Animal Protection Society. ------------------------------ LEON FRENCH LEON FRENCH, age 79, of Rowell died Sunday June 1, at his home. Born January 22, 1918 in Rowell a son of the late Edgar and Mary Davis French he was a farmer, a logger and a Baptist. Survivors are his spouse Arbell Harton French whom he married April 15, 1934; 4 daughters Leavy McKinney of Rye, Shirley Patrick of Rowell, Linda Strandridge of Rowell and Donna Nixhols of Tye; 1 brother Elbert Ray French of Pansy; 2 sisters Rachel Stuckey of Rowell and Ruby Sheperd of Springdale; 15 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son Leon French, Jr., a brother James E. French and 2 sisters Ellen Payroe and Lois French. Funeral services were Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Center Missionary Baptist church at Rowell with Rev. J.C. Rawls and Rev. Doney Blackbly officiating. Burial was in Rowell Cemetery by Frazer's Funeral Home. -------------------------------- WILLIE RAGSDALE WILLIE MAE RAGSDALE, age 61 of Los Angeles died May 25 at Washington Nursing Convalescent Hospital in Los Angeles. She was born October 13, 1936 to Johnnie and Ella Ragsdale. She was an only child. After graduating from Bradley County High School she resided in the Los Angeles area for so many years. She is survived by two daughters, Jamie and Chrlotte, one son, Ivan all of Los Angeles, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Also surviving are Mr. and Mrs. Otis McCoy, close friends and a host of other relatives and friends. Services were held Friday, May 30 at Simpson Mortuary in Inglewood, California. Interment followed at Angeles Abby Memorial Park, Compton, California. Rev. Otis, the Chapel Minister, officiated. ---------------------------- MRS. CLARETHA JOHNSON MRS. CLARETHA RHODES JOHNSON, 62, died May 15. She was born September 9, 1934,the daughter of L.T. and Clara Bell Rhodes. Survivors include her husband, Theodore Johnson; four sons, James Preston Ragland of Warren; Theodore Johnson II and Clarence Johnson of Dallas; Johnny Ray Johnson of Wilmar; three daughters, Helen Rhodes, Sherita Hughlett (Timothy) and Sharon Johnson of Dallas; 20 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; 2 nieces and one nephew: Linda Riley (Edward) of Detroit, Mi.; Peggy Preddy and Johnny Johnson(Alfeda) of Wilmar; her mother, Clara B. Rhodes; 2 sisters: Vivian Floyd and Viola Cooper (Darnell) of Wilmar; 1 brother, James Rhodes of Wilmar; 2 sisters-in-law, Marjorie Walton of Warren; Esther Mae Anderson (Arthur) of North Little Rock; numerous other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Funeral services were held Saturday, May 24, 1 p.m. at Greater Shady Grove A.M.E. Church in Wilmar. Rev. Jessie Washington officiated. Burial was in St. Stephen Cemetery by Hammons Funeral Home. ---------------------------------- CLIFTON H. RODGERS CLIFTON H. RODGERS, age 87, of Warren died Thursday May 29, at Wagnon Place Nursing Home in Warren. Born February 22, 1910 in Cleveland County a son of the late Charlie and Dora Carter Rodgers he was a retired farmer, member and deacon of Harmony Freewill Baptist Church and the widower of Irene Isbell Rodgers who died September 27, 1995. There were united in marriage January 7, 1933 in Rye. Survivors are 1 son Bobby Joe Rodgers of Little Rock; 1 daughter Edna Faye Taylor of Warren; 2 half brothers Jewell Clark and Glen Clark both of Warren; 2 half sisters Ruth Swinney and Kathleen Swinney both of Warren; 4 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Saturday May 31, at 2 p.m. at Harmony Freewill Baptist Church with Rev. J.C. Raws and Rev. Victor Hunter officiating. Bernadine Jones was soloist. Burial was in Union Cemetery by Frazer's Funeral Home. Active pallbearers were Thomas Bradley, Mike Young, Ed Bradshaw, Dean Nichols, Bob Young and Bill Young. Honorary pallbearers were Joe Fletcher, San Winstead, Larry Reynolds and Paul Steed. ------------------------------- ADA JANE EARNEST ADA JANE EARNEST, age 43, of Stephens, died Wednesday, May 28, at home. She was born January 9, a954 at Lanark, a daughter of Lola Mae Vail Jones, Warren, and the late Howard Wesley Jones. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Stephens and a homemaker. Surviving in addition to her mother is her husband Steven W. Earnest whom she married June 1 1972; 2 sons Shannon Wayne Earnest and Lewis Wesley Earnest both of Stephens; 2 brothers Kenneth Jones, of Hampton and Charles Jones, Camden; 1 sister Christine Means, Hampton and a mother-in-law Helen Earnest, Warren. Funeral services were held Saturday May 31, 1997 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Stephens with Rev. John Blase officiating. Burial was at 4 p.m. Saturday at Mosely Cemetery by Frazer's Funeral Home. Active pallbearers were Cody Cranford, Shane Williams, Alan Nations, Michael Salmon, Joey Herring and Clay Roberson. ------------------------------- MRS. LUCILLE CLARK MRS. LUCILLE GRACE MCDOWELL CLARK, age 77 of Warren died Friday at Pine Lodge Nursing Home in Warren. Born May 25, 1920 in Warsaw, Missouri a daughter of the late Jay J. and Grace Hamilton McDowell she was a retired registered nurse, member of the First Baptist Church and the widow of Charles Laverne Clark who died January 7, 1979. There were united in marriage May 12, 1948. Survivors are 1 son Robert Clark of fort Smith; 2 daughters Julia Ferrell of Warren and Louise Foyil of Madisonville, La.; 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Sunday June 1, at 2 p.m. at Frazer's Funeral Home with Rev. Wayman Mann officiating. Paige Grider was organist and Debbie Spencer soloist. Burial was in Prospect Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Jerrel Stanfield, Scott Stanfield, Wayne Ferrell, Buddy Grider, Jerry Grider and Mark Spencer. ----------------------------- NANCY MCMURRY SUCCUMBS AT 73 MRS. NANCY MCLELLAN MCMURRAY, 73, of Warren, died Wednesday, May 28, at John McClellan VA Hospital at Little Rock. She was born February 26, 1924 at Pine Bluff, a daughter of the late James F. McLellan and Mae Nunn McLellan. She was a member and choir member of First United Methodist and was a retired Bradley County Judge's secretary serving 21 years. She married J.D. McMurry February 9, 1946 at Pine bluff, and he died February 6, 1979. Surviving are 4 sons David McMurry, Camden; Jim McMurry, Benton; Mike McMurry, Little Rock; and Mark McMurry, Van Buren; 1 daughter Lynn Thompson, Dumas; 2 sisters Betty Jones and Moppy J. Smith both of Pine Bluff and 9 grandchildren. Funeral services were held Friday May 30, at 4:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Warren with Rev. David Steele and Rev. Al Hennigar of McGehee officiating. Mary Lou Martin was organist. Soloist was Todd Murry. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery by Frazer's Funeral Home. Active pallbearers were Ted Thompson, Met Jones, Bill Jones, Jr., Bob McLellan, Doug McLellan, Mac McLellan and Ralph Smith, III. Honorary pallbearers were Judge LaVerne Rice, Gerard Sangster, Harry Stevens, C.A. Milton, Herbert McKinney, Dale Taylor, Joe L. Fowler, Jack West, Dr. Bob Rushing, Maury Barnes, W. D. Jones and Ralph Smith, Jr. ------------------------------------- From 11 June 1997 edition of "The Eagle Democrat", Warren, AR (Bradley Co): COL. WM. B. MAYES, JR. Colonel William B. Mayes, Jr., USAF Retired, of Conway died Friday June 6, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Little Rock. Born February 26, 1921 at New Albany Mississippi, he was the only child of Beulah Craig Mayes and William B. Mayes, Sr. He was a World War II combat veteran, having flown B17s off Saipan in the South Pacific. His decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross (with oak leaf clusters), the Bronzw Star, the Purple Heart (w/olc), the Air Medal (w/7olc), and Relations Assistant to the President of the Gulf Mobile and Ohio railroad in Mobile, Alabama (obiously some lines missing here). It was there that he met and married his wife of 48 years, the former Martha Katharine Calvert of Warren AR. He was recalled to service for the Korean conflict and retired from the Air Force in 1967. He taught history at the university of Central Arkansas for 17 years where he specialized in Military History and Civil War and Reconstruction. He held an A.B. Degree from the University of Alabama, a Masters Degree from the University of Central Arkansas, and completed doctoral work at the University of Texas at Austin, Ole Miss, and Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. He was a life member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Life member of the National Rifle Association, and Sons of Confederate Veterans. He edited the Faulkner County Historical Journal for several years, served as Faulkner County Republic Chairman, and President of Arkansas Republican County Chairmen's Association which he helped to found. He attended First Baptist Church of Conway. Survivors are his wife Katharine Calvert Mayes; his son William Brewsyter Mayes III, and his daughter Karen Mayes Replogle. Burial was from United Funeral Home, New Albany, Miss., Monday June 9. Internment at Old Liberty Cemetery in New Albany. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, June 11 at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church Chapel in Conway. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Arthritis Foundation. --------------------------- JEP GAVIN Jep Gavin, age 88, of Pansy, died Saturday, June 7, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center at Pine Bluff. He was born January 27, 1909 at Rye, a son of the late Abb Gavin and Laura Morgan Gavin. He was a farmer, a retired employee of Potlatch Corp. and a school bus driver for the Woodlawn School District. He was a member of the Prosperity United Methodist Church. Surviving are his wife Ruby Harper Gavin whom he married December 2, 1933 at Rowell, 3 sons Jerry Gavin, Vic Gavin and Steve Gavin all of Pansy; 1 daughter Carolyn Clark, Pansy; 1 brothr R.C. Gavin, Pansy; 1 sister Madge Johnson, North Little Rock; 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by a son Daniel Gavin. Funeral services were 2 p.m. on Monday, June 9, at Prosperity United Methodist Church by Rev. Rusty Jones. Music was provided by Betty Jo Thompson and Katie Blake. Burial was in Pansy Cemetery by Frazer's Funeral Home. Active pallbearers were John Edward Ashcraft, John Wayne Taylor, Dickie Thomasson, Morris Byrd, Joe Ralph Thompson, Billy Gene Stewart and Roy Boyd. Honorary pallbearers were Nephews, Charles Gavin, Kelly Gavin, Bill Gavin, Bob Gavin, Don Gavin, Joe Mercer, Sam Mercer, Subert Davis and Larry Johnson. ----------------------------- KENNETH BOST Kenneth H. Bost, age 57, of 5413 Thompson, Jonesboro, died Thursday afternoon at his residence. Born in Malvern, Mr. Bost had lived in Benton, before moving to Jonesboro in 1969. He owned and operated the Jonesoro Photocopy Inc., was a graduate of Batesville High School, attended Arkansas College of Batesville, was past chairman of the Board of Recovery Inc. of Jonesboro, a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Jonesboro, and was preced in death by his father, Estel Bost. Survivors include: his wife Sylvia Buercklin Bost of the home; 1 son Kenneth Alerd Bost of Jonesboro; 2 daughters Cynthia Ann Leftwich of Jonesboro, and Bett Elaine Burns of Collierville, Tennessee; his mother Neadis Bost of Malvern; 1 sister Alma Lou Lequieu of Malvern; 6 grandchildren; 2 nieces, 2 nephews and a host of friends. Funeral services were held at 1:30 Saturday afternoon at Jonesboro with Rev. Rauck officiating. Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro will be in charge. Anyone wishing to leave lasting memorials please consider the Recovery incorporated of Jonesboro. ----------------------------------------------- From the 18 June 1997 edition of "The Eagle Democrat" Warren, AR (Bradley Co.) HERBERT LAWRENCE Herbert Kaufman Lawrence, age 83, of Warren, died Monday, June 9, at Bradley County Memorial Hospital. He was born July 17, 1913 at Aplin, Ark. a son of the late James Claude Lawrence and Lizzy Dooley Lawrence. He attended Perry County School and earned his GED in 1973 at Warren. He was a retired employee of Potlach Corp. with 47 years of service and a member of the Walnut Street Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife Juanita Steadman Lawrence; 3 sons Jerry Lawrence, Little Rock, Merl Venoy Lawrence, Hamburg; and Jimmy Lawrence, Warren; 2 daughters Sue Woodard, Warren; and Judy Beard, Monticello; 2 step sons Spence Steadman, Key Largo, Fla. and Scott Steadman, New Edinburg; 3 step-daughters Sharon Barton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., Shirley Griffin, Hereford, Ariz. and Sandra Langford, Warren; 30 grandchiildren and 20 great-grandchildren; an uncle L.C. Dooley, Ablin. He was preceded in death by his wife Velma Bradford Lawrence, a brother Merl Venoy Lawrence, a sister Lucille Brown; a grandson Stephen M. Woodard, Jr. and a great-granddaughter Kimberly Word Morgan. Funeral services were 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Frazer's Chapel by Brother Charles Pogue. The McGuires and Bob Haygood sang. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery by Frazer's Funeral Home. Pallbearers were Chris Langford, Eddie Don Russell, Ronnie Ford, Gary Langford and Scott Steadman. ---------------------------------- BILLY MCDOUGALD E. L. "Billy" McDougald, age 69 of Jersey, died Thursday, June 12, at St. Vincents Infirmary at Little Rock. He was born December 7, 1928 at Gravelridge a son of the late Rufus Roy McDougald and Versa Gates McDougald. He was a Koren War Veteran, a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church and Pipe Fitts Local 706. He was a retired pipe fitter. Surviving are his wife Marjie Doggett McDougald whom he married May 31, 1949; 3 sons Richard McDouglad and spouse Karen, Warren; David McDougald and spouse Karen, Hermitage; and Greg McDougald and spouse Paula, Jersey; 1 brother Bobby McDougald, Warren,; 1 sister Claravene Kelly, Warren; 8 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. He was also preceded in death by a sister Maeveen Sipes. Funeral services were held Saturday June 14, at 2 p.m. at Frazer's Funeral Home with Rev. Leroy Jones and Rev. David Inzer officiating. Janice Sullivan was prganist with special music by the Mike McDougald family. Burial was in Shady Grove Cemetery at Jersey. Active pallbearers were Marcus McDougald, Brian McDougald, Brent McDougald, Joey McDougald, Jason McDougald and Marty McDougald. Honorary pallbearers were Rusty McDougald, Mike McDougald, Johnathan Mcdougald, Denny Dixon, Kenny Kelly, Prather Cox, Gordon Anders, Shawn McDougald, Jeremy McDougald, Phillip Kelly, Kenny Don Kelly and Dr. Joe H. Wharton, M.D. -------------------------------------------------- From the 25 June 1997 issue of "The Eagle Democrat," Warren, Arkansas: Ollie Brown Ollie Brown, 85, died in the hospital here June 9. Funeral was June 11 at 4 p.m. at the Stephenson Dearman Funeral Chapel in Monticello with burial in the 16th section Cemetery. Officiants were the Rev. Wayman Mann and the Rev. Maxwell Williams. Pallbearers were Lamar Butler, Carl Hunter, Lavon Brown, Leo McCarty, Billy Jones, and Billy Ray Brown. Memorial may be made to the Valley Cemetery Fund. Mr. Brown was preceded in death by his wife, Lura White Brown and two sons James Ollie Brown and Roy Dewayne Brown. He was the son of the late Will Brown and Nell Cox Brown. He was a retired farmer, timber worker and a Baptist. Survivors include two sons, Van Austin Brown and Ricky Don Brown both of Wilmar; one daughter, Mamie Ilene Harton of Warren; one brother, Jim Brown of Monticello; five sisters, Maggie White of Conway, Bertie Butler of California, Gurtie McCarty and Clara Higgarson both of Wilmar and Letha Glennon of Crossett; fourteen grandchildren; twenty four great-grandchildren; numerous loving inlaws and many friends. Pauline A. Smith Pauline A, Smith, aged 79, of Chatham, Louisiana, formerly of Cleveland County, died Tuesday, June 3. She was a homemaker and the widow of M.J. Smith. Born in Rye on September 10, 1917, she was a daughter of the late Eugene Ashcraft and Katherine Roberts Ashcraft. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Winsome Sunday school class at the First Baptist Church in Chatham. She was also a member of the Enon Baptist Church at Rye. She was also preceded in death by a great-grandson, Adam Smith. Survivors include three sons, James M. Smith, Bobby E. Smith and Paul E. Smith, all of Chatham; a daughter, Katherine S. Kervin, of Winnfield, Louisiana; two brothers, Grady Ashcraft of Pine Bluff; a sister Edna Reep, of Warren; eight grandchildren and five great-grandsons. Funeral services were held Friday afternoon, June 6 at the First Baptist Church in Chatham, conducted by Bill Moore and Truman Leach. Burial was in Chatham Cemetery, with Southern Funeral Home of Jonesbor, Louisiana, in charge. ___________________________________________________________