Obituaries from the Clay County Courier, Clay County, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Rita - Date: Apr 3 2009 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Recent obits taken from the Clay County Courier, Corning, Clay County, Arkansas. BRIAN MICHAEL DAY Brian Michael DAY was born in Pocahontas May 24, 1983, son of Mike and Shelia SAWYER DAY. He died at his residence in Doniphan Friday, Feb. 27, 2009. He was 25. He was an active member of the New Hope Baptist Church and was employed at WW Woodworks in Dudley, MO. On Oct. 12, 2002 he was married to Kimberly Ann FRENCH at New Hope Church in Ripley County. She survives. Also surviving are one son, Tanner Michael DAY and one daugher Gracen Ann DAY, both of the home; his parents Michael Joe and Shelia SAWYER DAY of Doniphan; one sister, Amber DAY of Doniphan; and maternal grandparents, Harice and Cleola SAWYER of Doniphan. Funeral services were conducted Monday, March 2, 2009 at EDWARDS Funeral Home in Doniphan with Rev. Hubert PAYNE officiating. Burial in New Hope Cemetery. DOLLIE CLARK Dollie Estelle CLARK, Rector, was born in the Blue Cane Community May 10, 1929. She died in Rector, Feb. 25, 2009. She was a retired telephone operator for Southwestern Bell. Survivors are her son Lindel and wife Terrie; one sister-in-law Ethel FULTZ and many other relatives and friends. Graveside services were conducted in Linwood Cemetery, Paragould, Sat. Feb. 28, 2009 with Mark TROUT officiating. Arrangements under the direction of MITCHELL Funeral Home of Rector. VANAS LEACH Vanas J.W. LEACH, Rockford, IL. was born in Datto, May 4, 1934, son of John and Clara LEACH, one of 14 children of the LEACH family. He died in Alden-Park Strathmoor Care Center March 1, 2009. He was 74. Owner and operator of J.W. LEACH Painting for over 40 years, he was a member of the West End Businessmen's Ass. and was voted "Man of the Year" at one time. He married the former Vonda KEELIN on Sept. 25, 1953 in Corning and she survives. Other survivors include one daughter, JoVita MAXWELL; grandchildren, Kevin (Dana) GANTZ, Livonia, MI, Chris GANTZ, Rockford, Amanda MAXWELL, Rockford, Kira GANTZ, Florida; great-grandchildren, Mikyle, Landon and Kaidyn GANTZ of Livonia, MI, Haydan LUCAS and Jeremy SMITH, Jrl, Rockford; brothers and sisters, Arvil "Boon" (Betty) Leach, Rockford Bobby (Tom), Ontario, NY, Johnie SCHNEIDER, Yakima, WA, Jim (Carol) Leach, Bollinger Green, KY, Sarah SPITZER, Rockford, Max (Cathy) LEACH of Percy, Peggy BUSH, High Springs, FL, Eddie (Gail) LEACH, Paragould, Linda STRICKLAND, Collier Hills, GA, Sharon MOORE, Maryland Heights, MO; special brother-in-law, William TILLIE; and lots of nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents; daughter, Deborah GANTZ; siblings J.R., Bernice and Betty. Funeral services will be conducted Fri. March 6, 2009 in Advantage Funeral Home, 7000 West State Street, Rockford, IL. Burial will follow in Willwood Burial Park. Memorial may be sent to the family. VIRGINIA HUTCHINSON Virginia HUTCHISON was born in Toledo, OH, Oct. 18, 1931 daughter of Gordon and Ava DeVILLE. She died in Evergreen Nursing Home, Rector, Wed. March 4, 2009. She was 77. She was preceded in death by her husband John HUTCHINSON, parents and one brother, Bob DeVILLE. Survivors are three sons, Bob (Lorraine) HUTCHINSON, Lewisville, TX, John (Debbie) HUTCHINSON, Cabot, Scooter HUTCHINSON, Mountain Home; one daughter Debby (Bob) RICE, Corning; one sister Diana (Richard) NELSON, Toledo, OH; 5 grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren. No services were planned at this time. Memorial may be made to Corning Library, 613 Pine, Corning. to be continued........................... -- Sometimes the angels fly close enough, you can feel the flutter of their wings....... JOHN DAVIS General "John" DAVIS, Poplar Bluff, was born in Moark, June 28, 1943, son of Henry and Estelle DAVIS. He died in his home, March 5, 2009. He was 65. A member of Midland Church in Poplar Bluff, he had worked as a butche for Wallace and Owens. July 9, 1983, he married Marian DAVIS and she survives. Other survivors include four daughters, Carolyn NISWONGER, Doniphan, Linda EMERSON, Rector, Heather KILBREATH, Poplar Bluff and Amanda JORDAN, Qulin; two brothers Bill DAVIS and Ronnie DAVIS both of Corning; five grandchildren, Heath MILLER, Jerry NISWONGER, Jr., Breanna EMERSON, Kendra JORDAN and Blake JORDAN. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother H.D. DAVIS. Funeral services were conducted Sunday, March 8, 2009 in ERMERT Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Bill SNOW and Rev. Rick WHITE officiating. Burial in Corning, Cemetery. W.C. BANKS W.C. BANKS, Pocahontas, was born in Corning, Dec. 9, 1918, son of Marcus and Clara BANKS. He died in John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, March 5, 2009. He was 90. April 10, 1948 he married his wife, Eula and she survives. A veteran of the U.S. Army serving in WW II, he was a farmer and of the Baptist faith. Survivors are his wife, Eula; two sons, James (Sarah) BANKS, Hensley, Terry (Theresa) BANKS, Pine Bluff; one brother Sam BANKS, Corning; 5 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers James Earl BANKS and Milburn BANKS. Graveside services were conducted Sat. March 7, 2009 at Richwoods Cemetery under the direction of ERMERT Funeral Home of Corning. LOUISE SMITH Louise SMITH, Knobel was born in Peach Orchard, Feb. 16, 1922, daughter of Noel and Emma BOWERS BOOTH. She died March 4, 2009 in Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, Paragould. She was 87. A homemaker and member of Union Assembly Church of Knobel, she was married to William Ervin SMITH who preceded her in death. Survivors are four sons, Calvin SMITH and Roger SMITH, both of Knobel, Gene SMITH, Copeland, TX and Jimmy SMITH, Sacramento, CA; two sisters, Wilma BENNER and Vera ROWE both of Rockford, IL; two brothers Clifford BOOTH, Susanville, CA and Arvil BOOTH, Rockford, IL; 6 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and one daughter Debbie ROGERS. Graveside services were conducted Sat. March 7, 2009 in Bond Cemetery at Knobel under the direction of ERMERT Funeral Home of Corning. MARY NIDAVER Mary Ethel NIDAVER, Pocahontas, formerly of Biggers, was born in Kennett, Aug. 16, 1911 daughter of John and Stella ALLEN. She died in Randolph County Nursing Home in Pocahontas March 6, 2009. She was 97. A homemaker and member of Success Pentecostal Church, she married Homer NIDAVER of Dec. 23, 1933. He preceded her in death June 19, 1984. Survivors are one son, Delmer NIDAVER, Davis Junction, IL; one daughter Dorothy INGRAM, Pocahontas; 8 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren. Also she was preceded in death by her parents John Allen and Stella ALLEN HILL; two daughters Wanda RAPIER and Shirley HOCKING; four brothers George ALLEN, Paul HILL, Elmer HILL and Everett HILL; three sisters Pauline ALLEN, Lorene HILL and Maxine HILL. Funeral services wer conducted Mon. March 9, 2009 in the chapel of ERMERT Funeral Home with Rev. Richard MAHAN officiating. Burial in Corning Cemetery. to be continued................ -- Sometimes the angels fly close enough, you can feel the flutter of their wings.......