Obituaries from March 2008

Rev. Elvie Garland Smith, 90, died Tuesday, Feb.26, 2008, at the family residence in Fort Smith. He was born on Sunday, Nov. 11, 1917, son of the late George Lee and Eliza Jane Thompson Smith in Alton, Mo. He had lived in Fort Smith for the past nine years and was formerly of Trumann where he lived most of his lifetime. ...

Jessie Griffith, 96, a lifelong resident of Bay, died Monday, Feb. 25, 2008, at Trumann. She was a member of Bay Church of Christ and survived by a stepson, Lacy Griffith, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were Feb. 28 at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Tim Wilkes officiating and burial to follow at Oaklawn Cemetery with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements...

Reba Dean Greenlee, 88, of Trumann died Friday, March 1, 2008, at Primacy Healthcare at Memphis. She was a retired baker and a member of Anderson Tully Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lucius Ned Greenlee; her parents, Neal and Gertrude Dean; one brother; and three sisters...

Frances H. Jones, 88, formerly of Lepanto, passed away Feb. 26, 2008. Mrs. Jones was born Feb. 18, 1920, in Waterford, Miss., to John and Golie Henderson. She was a devoted mother and grandmother and found her greatest pleasure being surrounded by her family...

James "Trigger" L. Pipes of Portland, formerly of Tyronza, died Feb. 15. Born Oct. 7, 1931 in Savannah, Tenn, he was a veteran of the United States Army. He fought bravely during the Korean Conflict for three years participating in three different campaigns. He later came to Michigan to work for Fisher Body and married and moved to Portland...

Reba Dean Greenlee, 88, of Trumann died Friday, March 1, 2008, at Primacy Healthcare at Memphis. She was a retired baker and a member of Anderson Tully Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lucius Ned Greenlee; her parents, Neal and Gertrude Dean; one brother; and three sisters...

Robert Ed Madden, 67, of Three Rivers Nursing Center in Marked Tree, died March 4, 2008. He was a farmer and a member of the Baptist Faith. He is preceded in death by his parents John Madden and Lila Ray, and one brother, Curtis Madden. He is survived by five daughters, Sandra Dobbins, Stephanie Madden, Sheila Lewis, Sharon Booker, Debra Madden, all of Lepanto; five brothers, Jessie Madden of Jonesboro, Johnny Madden of Forest City, Okla., George Madden of Marked Tree, James Allen Madden of Elgin, Ill.; three sisters, Elizabeth Madden of Lepanto, Alene Bass of Jonesboro, Earlena Madden of Kalamazoo, Mich.; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.. ...

Wayne Cates, 82, of Trumann died Thursday, March 6, 2008 at Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. He was an Army Veteran of the Korean War and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers and one sister...

Geneva Georgia Carter, 84, of Jonesboro, formerly of Marked Tree, died Wednesday, March 5 at St. Bernard's Medical Center. She was a member of Stone Street Assembly of God Church. She worked at the Prince Gardner factory in Marked Tree. Survivors include one son, Lloyd Eldridge; one grandson, Jody Eldridge; three great-granddaughters that were the love of her life, Janah, Julia and Jessie; two brothers, L.D. Prysock and James Prysock; and two sisters, Betty Perez and Lucy Patterson...

James Travis Blansett, 64, of Tyronza died on Mar. 3, 2008 at St. Bernard's Regional Hospital in Jonesboro. He was a U.S. Army Veteran and a member of the Corner's Chapel Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Virdie Blansett of Tyronza; sisters, Jackie Russell of Bono, Linda Dempsey of Mammoth Springs, Gracie Hall of Wynne; brothers, Joe Blansett of Harrisburg, Carroll Blansett, Cris Blansett, Ricky Blansett, all of Tyronza; and numerous nieces and nephews...

Jerry Gail Brittain, 64, of Lepanto died Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was a member of First Assembly of God in Lepanto and was a founding member of the Southern Missouri Basketball League. He was preceded in death by his parents Lowell and Ida Brittain...

Connie O. Byrd, 93, died Feb. 19, 2008 surrounded by his family at his home is Washington. He was born, Feb. 9, 1915 to Willie and Ruth (Morris) Byrd in Rector. He resided in Silverdale, Wash. since 1985, where he attended Olympic View Assembly of God Church. He was a quiet and private man who was greatly loved...

Rev. William Thomas "Willie" Clem, 84, Sunday, March 2, 2008 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born on Saturday, September 29, 1923, son of the late Y. L. and Vernie Clark Clem. He was born in Cave City and had lived in Trumann since 1950. He was a Pentecostal Church of God minister for 50 years, was a retired employee for the former Singer plant in Trumann, and a member of the Healing Hands Community Church...

Mrs. Susan Lynn Coggin, 49, died Sunday, March 2, 2008 at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. She was born on Monday, August 10, 1959, daughter of Franklin and Sara Dixon Buckelew. She was born in Millington, Tenn., and had lived in Caraway most of her lifetime. She was a homemaker and member of the First Baptist Church in Caraway. She was preceded in death by one son, Kristopher Coggin...

Mr. Loyd Eugene Whitford,75, died Sunday, March 2, 2008 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born on Sunday, Oct. 2, 1932, son of the late Isaac and Nora Evelyn Waters Whitford. He was born in Vanndale and had lived most of his lifetime in Wynne. He was disabled. Mr. Whitford was preceded in death by two sisters; one brother and his parents...

Wayne Cates, 82, of Trumann died Thursday, March 6, 2008 at Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. He was an Army Veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers and one sister...

Alberta Lucille Woodard, 77, died Monday, March 10, 2008 at the family residence in Trumann. She was born on Sunday, Feb. 22, 1931, daughter of the late Herman and Emma Thomas Wilson. She was born in Missouri, and had lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. She was a former employee of the Arkansas Area Agency on Aging and of the Pentecostal faith...

Mrs. Alberta Lucille Woodard, 77, of Trumann died Monday, March 10, 2008 at the family residence. She was born in Missouri, and had lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. She was a former employee of the Arkansas Area Agency on Aging and of the Pentecostal faith...

Ronald Eugene Baine, 46, of Trumann died Monday, March 17, 2008 at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born in Holland, Mich. and had lived in Trumann most of his lifetime and was formerly of Huntsville. Ala. He was a technician and of the Baptist faith...

Kenneth Eugene Oglesby, 61, of Osceola died Monday, March 17 in Osceola. The cause of death was a house fire. Born in St. Louis, Oglesby was a former teacher and member of the Holy Church of Christ. Oglesby was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Leomi Oglesby...

Jim "Moose" Ivy, 29, of Forrest City died Friday, March 14 at Blytheville. He attended Oak Hill Church of God and was employed at Tenaris. He attended Turrell High School. He is survived by his father, James Ivy, Sr.; wife, Patsy, of Forrest City; mother Korena Ivy of Martendale, Iowa; fiancé Rache Merritt of Etowah; daughter Charli Michele of Tyronza; brother Tery Hardin of West Memphis; his twin sister Jana Ivy Sawtelle of Searcy; and sister Lee Anna Six of Albia, Iowa...

Myrtle Inez Harris, 80, of Lepanto died Thursday, March 13, 2008, at her residence. She was a homemaker and a member of Calvery Baptist Church of Harrisburg. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Annie Maddox; her husband, Bill Harris, five brothers and four sisters...

Larry Wayne Chapman, 58, of Etowah died Monday, March 10, 2008, at SW Mississippi County Medical Center in Osceola. Survivors include his Fiancé, Janice Stroud of Harrisburg; daughter, Tiffany Summers and husband Ryan of Bonney Lake, Wash.; two sisters, Sharron Vaughn of Bonney Lake, Wash., Beverly Joy Chapman of Lompoc, Calif.; nieces, Mandy Walker, Amber Vaughn; nephews, Robert and Lewis Currier, Colby Vaughn and three grandchildren, Zach, Brenda and Angel Summers...

Clara Wenona Barnes passed away March 12, 2008. She joins her late husband, Robert Barnes. She was born Aug. 5, 1927 in Marked Tree to Charles and Van Dora Bradley. Barnes grew up in Marked Tree with her two brothers, Junior and Wayne, and her sister O'neal...

Mae Willean Swain, 75, of Trumann, died Saturday, April 22, 2008 at the family residence. She was born in Trumann and had lived in California before moving back to Trumann 16 years ago. She was a retired water tester for Parker Hannifin Corp. and a member of the Providence Baptist Church in Trumann...

Sylvester "Buck" Cato, 67, of Tulot died Wednesday, March 19 at his home. He was born Jan. 30, 1941 in Dyess, the son of Noah Cato and Delphi Brown Cato. He was a retired backhoe operator and mechanic and of the Pentecostal Faith. He married Delcie Randleas on Dec. 23, 1979 and they enjoyed 28 years together...

Stephen Glenn Cook Wages, 56, of Trumann died Monday, March 17, 2008 at the family residence. He was born in Forrest City and had lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. He was a renowned musician and southern legend, member of the Steve Wages and the Bad Habit Band and attended the Revival Center Church in Lepanto...

Iris Jean Cox, 65, of Marianna, died Saturday, March 22, 2008. She was born June 29, 2942, to Stanley Patton Gibbs and Dorothy Mae Crouch Gibbs of Memphis, Tenn. She worked as the manager of Ronnie's Dollar Store. She is survived by daughters Tammie Martin of Trumann and Diane Bowman of Marianna; sons Danny Thompson of Trumann and William Harrell Thompson of Greers Ferry; brothers Lawrence Gibbs of Tyronza and Archie Gibbs of Lepanto; sisters Marvene Ann Yarbrough of Jonesboro and Marie Marshall of Marked Tree; nine grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.. ...

Frances M. Gallagher of Searcy, formerly of Harrisburg and Lepanto, departed this life on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at White County Medical Center at Searcy at the age of 62. She was born June 15, 1945, in Elizabeth City, N.C., the daughter of Francis Marion "F.M." May and Billy May Cady May, former teachers at Lepanto High School...

Velma Baker Snell, a resident of Harrisburg, died March 20, 2008, at St. Vincent Medical Center in Little Rock at the age of 68. She was born April 7, 1939 at Calico Rock, the daughter of Kirby Henry Ball and Ella Mae Brown Hogan. She married Thomas Snell on June 27, 1980...

Stephen Glenn Cook Wages, 56, of Trumann died Monday, March 17, 2008 at the family residence. He was born in Forrest City and had lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. He was a renowned musician and southern legend, member of the Steve Wages and the Bad Habit Band and attended the Revival Center Church in Lepanto...

Sylvester "Buck" Cato, 67, of Tulot died Wednesday, March 19 at his home. He was born Jan. 30, 1941 in Dyess, the son of Noah Cato and Delphi Brown Cato. He was a retired backhoe operator and mechanic and of the Pentecostal Faith. He married Delcie Randleas on Dec. 23, 1979 and they enjoyed 28 years together...

Babbie Irene Vermillion, 47, of Mayflower died Friday, March 14, 2008, at Conway Regional Medical Center. She was born May 25, 1960 in West Memphis the daughter of the late Edward Lee Moore, Sr. and Shirley Mae Sanders Stubbs. She was a member of Bible Baptist Church in Conway and was a former employee of Amtran and Kimberly-Clark in Conway...