Obituaries from February 2008

Bryan Keith George, 45, of Jonesboro, passed away suddenly on Monday, Jan. 29, 2008. Keith was the beloved son of Hollice and Louise Mitcherson George of Trumann. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Luther and Molly George and Mamie and Lee Mitcherson...

Firest Stanford Parrish, 92, died Monday, January 28, 2008 at the family residence in Jonesboro. He was born on Friday, August 6, 1915, son of the late Willie Stanford and Mary Elizabeth Sims Parrish in Damascus, Ark. He had lived in Jonesboro for the past five months and was formerly of Trumann. He was a retired factory worker and of the Assembly of God faith...

Glenda Pearl Vinson Tippitt, 58, died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008 at the family residence in Jonesboro. She was born on Sunday, May 8, 1949, daughter of Lonzie and Beatrice Williams Vinson Winingear. She was born in and a lifetime resident of Jonesboro, was a truck driver, an accounting department manager and worked in the food service for many years. She was a graduate of Valley View High School and of the Baptist faith...

Margaret Whitman, 79, died Monday, January 28, 2008 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born on Friday, January 18, 1929, the daughter of the late William Curtis and Annie Skaggs Harrell. She was a lifetime resident of Trumann, a retired nurse and of the Assembly of God faith...

Betty Maxine Ballard, 80, of Trumann died Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 at Trumann Health and Rehab in Trumann. She was born in and a lifetime resident of Trumann. She was a retired beautician, former employee of the Singer Company and a member of the First United Pentecostal Church in Trumann...

Clara B. Atchley Payton, 78, of Marked Tree, died Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, at St. Bernard Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was a homemaker and a member of the Revival Center of Lepanto. Payton was an avid gardener and loved to fish, sing and cook...

Shirley Ann Ward, 63, died Feb. 4, 2007 in Jonesboro. She was born in Florence, Ala, and was a homemaker and of the Pentecostal faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank Smith and Maudie Strickland; two brothers, Dick Smith and Samp Smith and a sister, Minnie Brown...

James Oliver Cook, 81, of Trumann died Mon., Feb. 4, 2008 at his residence. He was a member of Corner's Chapel Baptist Church for 49 years, active in Nailbenders for 18 years and Lay Renewal Ministry for 23 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, V.L. and Lillie Mae Cook; granddaughter, Jennifer Shempert; and son-in-law, Dale Shempert...

James Oliver Cook, 81, of Trumann died Mon., Feb. 4, 2008 at his residence. He was a member of Corner's Chapel Baptist Church for 49 years, active in Nailbenders for 18 years and Lay Renewal Ministry for 23 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, V.L. and Lillie Mae Cook; granddaughter, Jennifer Shempert; and son-in-law, Dale Shempert...

Shirley Ann Ward, 63, of Trumann died on Feb. 4, 2008 in Jonesboro. She was born April 4, in Florence Ala. She was a member of Pentecostal Faith. She is survived by four daughters, Tammy McCorkle, Lisa Kilgore, Patricia Ward, and Sandra Smullin, all of Trumann; three brothers, Earl Smith of Trumann, Clarence Smith of Trumann and Rex Smith of Marked Tree; four sisters, Helen Turner of Payne way, Edna Davis of Trumann, Elsie Witt of Trumann, and Merl Hood of Tyronza; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.. ...

Naomi "Dumpy" Ungaro, 82, of Memphis passed away Sun., Feb. 10, 2008 at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis. She was born in Lepanto on Feb. 14, 1925. She was preceded in death by her husband, Quirino Ungaro; brothers, Roy Huddleston and Kuhron Huddleston; and her sister, Lorene Foster...

Michael Evans "Mike" Wilson of Wilson passed away on Feb. 8, 2008, at the age of 65. He is survived by his wife, Patricia P. Wilson, his son Perry Lee Wilson; his daughter, Natalie Evans Wilson Brownlow; his daughter-in-law Kimberly Davis Wilson; and his son-in-law Thomas James Tyne Brownlow. A graveside service for the family was held on Feb. 13, 2008, at Rivercrest Gardens in Marie, Arkansas, and a memorial service was held in the City of Wilson, Town Square at 2 p.m. the same day...

Frances Lucille Smith, 70, of Rogers, passed away Sun. Feb. 3, 2008 in Springdale. Smith was born Nov. 5, 1937 in Dyess Colony. She was the daughter of Elvin Otis and Agnes Gertrude Guthrie Woody. Smith was the Manager for the Colby Kansas American Legion and for Dollar General Stores and also for E-Z Mart. She was a member of the Southside Church of Christ in Rogers...

James Presley Gamble, 76, died Feb. 9 at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Formerly of Baldwin, Miss, he was a member of the Trinity Baptist Church, a barber and served in the Army. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Earl Gamble , J.W. Gamble and Elledge Gamble; and two sisters, Pearl Waters and Mable McGee...

Mary D. Franks, 76, of Moline, died Jan. 29, 2008 at Trinity Medical Center, Rock Island. Mary was born Nov. 21, 1931 in Lepanto to Calvin and Martha (Hatten) Finchum. She married Thomas Franks on Oct. 16, 1948 in Senatobia, Miss. He preceded her in death on Aug. 11, 1988...

Thomas Whitner "T.W." Dorton, 92, died Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008. Dorton was born Aug. 13, 1915, at Redford, Mo., to the late Houston and Ida Morton Dorton. He retired after 27 years with Frolic Footwear Company and was of the Baptist belief. During his earlier years, he was a farmer...

James Alvie Kirby, 73, of Mountain View died Tuesday, February 5, 2008. He was born August 8, 1934 in Tennessee and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alvie Kirby. He was a retired carpenter and served in the U. S. Marine Corp during the Korean Conflict. James is survived by his son, James Kirby, Jr. ...

Clarence E. "Red" Jensen, 90, of Lepanto died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at Crittenden Regional Hospital in West Memphis. He served his country during World War II in the Army 28th Ordnance Maintenance Company for two and one-half years in Europe and the Philippines. He received the World War II Victory Ribbon Good Conduct Medal, EAME Theater Ribbon, four Bronze Service Stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the AP Theater Ribbon...

Thomas Carter Sr., 75, of Lepanto died Monday, Feb. 11 in Trumann. Survivors include his wife, Kathy Carter of Lepanto; children, Donna Carter of Lepanto, Linda Tucker of Blytheville, Sherry Long of Jonesboro, Thomas Carter Jr. of Trumann, Sandy Gann and Angie Cottingham, both of Hardy; sister, Joyce Ann Kelly of Lepanto; brother, William Carter of Lepanto; 14 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren...

Anne Howell Watson, 92, of Marked Tree died Monday, Feb. 18, 2008, at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis. Mrs. Watson was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church in Marked Tree. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Edwin Watson; one son, Jerry L. Watson and...

Jesse Robert Ferguson, 70, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008 at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born on Friday, December 3, 1937, son of the late Jesse and Lula Jackson Ferguson in Des Arc. He lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. He was a farmer, musician who loved to sing and play his guitar and was of the Pentecostal faith...

Thomas Carter Sr., 75, of Lepanto died Feb. 11, 2008 in Trumann. He was born May 22, 1932 in Athens, Ala. He was a retired carpenter and served in the Navy. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emeroy Carter and Lossie Gatlin; three sisters, Mable Harris, Flora Mae Hall and Opal Roach and three brothers, Columbus Carter, Rufus Carter and Douglas Carter...

Thomas Wayne Womble, 63, of Dyess died on Feb. 22, 2008 in Osceola. He was born on Feb. 26, 1944 in Dyess. He was Heavy Equipment operator and served in the Air Force. Womble was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Keiser. He is survived by his wife, Louise Sharp Womble of Dyess; two daughters, Donna (Calvin) Bartlett of Ravenden, Diane (Larry) Winter of Gosnell; one son, John David Womble of Memphis; two sisters, Faye Thorpe of Dyess, Judy Jewell of Benton; three brothers, James Hall of Proctor, John Hall of Carlisle, Va., Bob Hall of Beebe; and 7 grandchildren.. ...

Phurman O Taylor, 85, of Cahokia, Ill. passed away on Tues., Feb. 5, 2008 at the Lincoln Home in Belleville, Ill. Taylor was born on May 10, 1922 in Union, Miss. He was retired from the A.O. Smith Co., in Granite City, Ill. He was a member of the Christy Park Baptist Church in St. Louis, Mo. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran...

Thelma Virginia "Polly" Ham Taylor, 85, of Cahokia, Ill. died Wed., Jan. 30, 2008 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Ill. She was born Mar. 4, 1922, in Caraway to Clarence W. and Helen Carrie Wagner Ham. She was a member of the Christy Park Baptist Church, St. Louis, Mo...

Donald Lynn Peridore, 51, of Rivervale died on Mon., Feb. 25, 2008 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born May 22, 1956 in Marked Tree to the late Andrew "Ted" and Helen Peridore. He is survived by his wife, Rose Peridore of Rivervale; one son, Donald Lynn Peridore of Rivervale; one daughter, Helen L. ...

Tommy Nester, 68, of Marked Tree died on Feb. 23, 2008 in Jonesboro. He was born Feb. 7, 1940 in Marked Tree. He was a carpenter and served in the National Guard. Nester was a member of the First Baptist Church in Marked Tree. He is survived by two daughters, Shannon Way and Kelly Cavis, both of West Memphis; one son, Scott Nester of Marion; three sisters, Cindy Deutschendorff of Turtle, Okla., Peggy Obrien of Marked Tree, Billie Tacker of Harrisburg; 21 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren...

M.E. McKinney, 76, of Marked Tree died on Thurs., Feb. 21, 2008, at the Baptist East Hospital in Memphis. He was of the Baptist Faith and was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and a son, Michael. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Hipps McKinney of the home; one son, Ricky McKinney of Denim Springs, La.; two daughters, Michelle Eldridge of Marked Tree, Glenda Farrell of Houston, Tex.; eight grandchildren, Zach, Haley, Josh, Jeremy, Shanna, Brandon, Sheree, Tammy and many great grandchildren.. ...

Robert Edward (Douger) Kendal, 81, died Thursday, Feb.21, 2008 at Woodbriar Nursing Center in Harrisburg. He was born on Monday, Feb.14, 1927, son of the late Elsworth and Ruby D. Armstrong Kendall. He was born in Murfreesboro and had lived in Trumann for the past 46 years and was formerly of Marked Tree. He was a retired factory worker and member of the Melton Avenue Church of Christ...

Mr. Theo O'Neal Austin, Sr., 90, died peacefully while surrounded by his family on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008 at the family residence. He was born on Monday, June 4, 1917, son of the late James Robert and Dora Dalton Sandfur Austin. He was born in Newark and had lived in the Trumann area most of his lifetime. ...

Mr. Robert Edward (Douger) Kendal, 81,l died Thursday, February 21, 2008 at Woodbriar Nursing Center in Harrisburg. He was born on Monday, February 14, 1927, son of the late Elsworth and Ruby D. Armstrong Kendall. He was born in Murfreesboro and had lived in Trumann for the past 46 years and was formerly of Marked Tree. He was a retired factory worker and member of the Melton Avenue Church of Christ...

Buddie Lewis Wallace, 69, of Blytheville, died Feb. 18, 2008 at the Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. He was born in Sikeston, Mo. and had lived in Paragould for 13 years. He retired from Wal-Mart as a manager after 37 years, was in the Nation Guard, of the Baptist Church, was a former member of the Lions Club, Kiwanas Paragould Pilot Association and J.T. Dive Scuba Association in the Blytheville area for 15 years...