Obituaries from September 2008

The Lord reached down his hand and brought Jessie C. "Short" Blansett to his heavenly home on Aug. 26, 2008,. Their he joined his wife, Verna Blansett, mother and father, Joe and Cora Blansett, two brothers and four sisters...

Patsy Jane Chaffin Patsy Jane Chaffin, 71, was born on Sunday, April 11, 1937, daughter of the late William Cloise and Ruby Daniels Huston. Chaffin died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008 at the family residence in Trumann at the age of 71 years, 4 months and 16 days. ...

Mary Evelyn Johnson Mary Evelyn Johnson, 72, of Trumann, died Aug. 29 at St. Bernards Regional Hospital in Jonesboro. Johnson, a homemaker, is survived by husband, William S. Johnson; daughter Doris Ellen Miller of Trumann; sons Stanley Ray Loudermilk of Fairview , Okla. ...

Sam Spencer Gossage Sam Spencer Gossage, 80, of Lepanto, died Aug. 29, 2008 at SMC Regional Medical Center in Osceola. Gossage was born March, 7, 1928 in Cash. He farmed in the Lepanto area most of his life. He was Pa Sam to everyone who knew and loved him. You could see him walking all over town and stopping to visit occasionally with friends. He will truly be missed...

Timothy Green Creekmore, 36, of Marked Tree died Sunday, Aug. 31 at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. He is survived by his father, Billy Andrew Creekmore of West Memphis; his mother, Erma Katherine Creekmore of Marked Tree; and two brothers, Bryan Keith Creekmore of Lake City and Billy Michael Creekmore of Marked Tree...

Kathryn Louise Walton, 78 of Trumann, died Saturday at the family residence in Trumann. She was born in Bassett, Ark., and had lived in Trumann for the past 40 years and was formerly of Dyess. ...

Doris Ann Arnold Doris Ann Arnold was born on Friday, Jan. 23, 1948, the daughter of Roy and Ruby Parker Willbanks. She died Thursday, Sept. 3, 2008 at St. Bernard's Medical Center of Jonesboro at 60. ...

TRUMANN -- Herman L. O'Brien, 56, of Trumann died Friday, Sept. 5, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was born at Trumann and lived most of his life there. He loved hunting anything from deer to squirrel. He loved to fish and especially enjoyed working on vehicles...

Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Slack, 53, of Lepanto, formerly of Bondsville, died Sept. 6, 2008. Slack was born April 5, 1955 in Memphis. She was a homemaker, of the Christian Faith, an organizer of the Red Hat Club in Lepanto and a volunteer with the Regional Aids Interfaith Network...

Dallas Ray Foster, 77, of Wilson died Tuesday, Sept. 2, at his home. He was born January 19, 1931 in Corning to the late Pete David and Ona Ann Foster. He was a member of the Baptist Faith and a factory worker...

William Lawrence Russell, 57, of Proctor died Sept. 6 at his residence. He was a drywall foreman and a member of the Avondale Missionary Baptist Church in West Memphis. He is survived by his wife, Stella Russell; his mother, Lorene Russell of Marked Tree; four sisters, Zettie Croney of Maynard, Kathy Lucas of Conway, Kay Brashear of Marked Tree, Bonnie Frank of Marked Tree; two brothers, Mervyn Russell of Warrensville and Raymond Lee Russell of Marked Tree.. ...

Edith Annabel Bunting Cluck, 73, of Trumann died September 13 at her residence. Born on Nov. 23, 1934, at Kennett, Mo., Cluck was a homemaker and a member of the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Trumann. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Joe William Bunting and Joe Clifton Bunting; and three great-grandchildren, Dalton Lewis, Hunter Lewis and Jacob Maddox...

Emma Lois Barton, 70, died on Sept. 13, at her home in West Memphis. She was a sales clerk at Sears and was a member of the Avondale Missionary Baptist Church in West Memphis. She is survived by her husband, Franklin Barton of West Memphis; one daughter, Sharon Barton Avers of West Memphis; one son, Steven Barton of West Memphis; one sister, Louise Cobb of Rossville, Tenn.; one brother, Albert Qualls of Jonesboro; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.. ...

Kathryn Virginia Byford, 78, of Luxora died Tuesday, Sept. 16 at Great River Medical Center. She was born in Gunterville, Ala. to the late James and Myrtle Atchley on Sunday, Nov. 10, 1929. She worked as a cook for River Industry Barge Line and was of the Baptist Faith...

Edith Annabel Bunting Cluck, 73, of Trumann died September 13 at her residence. Born on Nov. 23, 1934, at Kennett, Mo., Cluck was a homemaker and a member of the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Trumann. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Joe William Bunting and Joe Clifton Bunting; and three great-grandchildren, Dalton Lewis, Hunter Lewis and Jacob Maddox...

Jacie Lee James, the infant daughter of Thomas James and Jonie James of Joiner, died Sept. 13 at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Survivors include one sister, Arianah Kaye James of Joiner; grandparents, Les and Debbie James of Mishawka, Ind., and Johnnie and Rose Clifton of Lepanto; great-grandparents, Leroy and Dorothy James and Barbara Graves, all of Mishawka, Ind., and Jimmy Man and Marsha Ashley of Bassett.. ...

James Louis Wright, 77, of Lepanto died Sept. 13, at the St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born on February 2, 1931 in Helena. Wright was a retired mechanic, an Army Veteran in the Korean War and of the Baptist Faith. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Wright; two brothers, Jesse Wright and Benjamin Wright...

Shelby Young, 89, of Memphis died Sept. 13, 2008 at his residence. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mae Jeanette Barnett Young. Survivors include one son, Mike Layman of Jonesboro; one daughter, Nanette Stanchak of Horn Lake, Miss.; two brothers, Bruce Young of Georgetown, Mo. ...

Lepanto lost a great volunteer, philanthropist and friend last Thursday when Michael Portis died at the age of 57 at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. Known as Mik'l to his friends and family, Portis was an honorary fireman of the Lepanto Fire Department and was instrumental in the construction of the new department in 2004. ...

Helen Louise Ainsworth Helen Louise Ainsworth, daughter of the late A..G. and Gladys Smith Murphy. died Wednesday Sept. 17, 2008, at the family residence in Trumann at the age of 77 years 1 month and 30 days. ...

Brenda Faye (Adams) Wilson died July 14th, 2008 in St. Louis, Mo. at the age of 60. She was born in Jonesboro, Ark on Oct. 16, 1947 and moved to St. Louis at the age of 3. She lived in Denver, Colo. for 28 years and worked as a Regional Trainer at A.D.P. the entire time. She returned to St. Louis 5 years ago...

Nolan Coleman Raper Nolan Coleman Raper, 84, of Trumann died Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008 at Trumann Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was of the Baptist faith and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda Raper; son Danny White; two brothers and two sisters...

Curtis Hamilton Clements Curtis Hamilton Clements, 43, of Hardy, died Sept. 16 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. Clements was born in Caraway and had lived most of his lifetime in Trumann before moving to Hardy six years ago. He was a graduate of Trumann High School and of the Pentecostal faith. Clements was preceded in death by one brother, Tony Gene Clements in 1992...

Susie Fleming Duboise Susie Fleming Duboise, 68, of Trumann, died Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008 at the family residence. She was born in Marietta, Miss., and had lived in Trumann since 1948. She was a housewife and member of the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. ...

Gene Adams, 51, of Lepanto died September 20 at his residence. He was a computer engineer for Acxiom and of the Church of Christ Faith. He was preceded in death by one brother, Paul Adams. He was survived by his wife, Marsha Adams and his parents, Billy and Johnnie Adams; one son, Willie Adams all of Collierville, Tenn.; one daughter, Jamie Kohan (Brian) of Lepanto; one brother, Scott Adams of Collierville, Tenn.; and one granddaughter, Annabelle Kohan.. ...

Merline Iva Hall, 81, of Dyess died September 21 at the SMC Regional Medical Center in Osceola. She was born September 23, 1926 of Eaglette. Hall was a homemaker and a retired from American Greetings. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, served on the Dyess Reunion Committee, Dyess Cemetery Committee and was a U.S. Postal worker...

Phyllis June Warner, 57, of Tyronza died September 20, at her residence. She was born on June 1, 1951 at Waterloo, Ala. She was a factory worker and of Pentecostal Faith. She is survived by one daughter, Sharon Ashley of Tyronza; one son, Dennis Wayne Warner, Jr. ...