Stories from Tuesday, December 30, 2014

DEKALB, TEX. - Johnny Louis Ward of DeKalb, Tex. passed away Dec. 26, 2014 at a Little Rock hospital at the age of 77. Mr. Ward was born in Marked Tree Arkansas and was a farmer and rancher. He was a member of Austin Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. ...

MARKED TREE - Dr. Darrell Broadway, 90, of Marked Tree, passed away Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born June 29, 1924, in Pocahontas and was the son of the late Ransom and Olive Alphin Broadway. He was a graduate of Pocahontas High School and then served in the Amphibious Third Fleet of the United States Navy during WWII. ...

James William Trenthem Jr., 67 of Osceola, AR passed away Friday, December 26, 2014 in Jonesboro, AR. James was raised in Trumann, AR where he graduated in 1965. In 1966, he married Virginia Kay Lafarlett and later moved to Osceola in 1971 where they raised their two children. ...

LEPANTO -- Bill Smallwood of Lepanto passed away Dec. 26, 2014 at the age of 81. He was a retired construction worker. He was born in Selmer, Tenn. Mr. Smallwood is survived by daughters Margie (Bruce) Meurer of Lepanto, Tammie (Nick) Woods of Jonesboro, and Mary (Carl) Raines of Lepanto; one sister Mary F. ...

Alene Ryals Walker, 86, of Marked Tree passed away on Dec. 27, 2014. She was born on Nov. 11, 1928 to Everett and Augusta "Dane" Jones Ryals in Elaine, Ark. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Marked Tree. She is survived by one son, Toby Walker of Marked Tree; daughters, Miki (George) Willoughby of Marked Tree and Dana (Bob) Bertrand of Drasco, Ark.; a step-son, Mike (Caroline) Cameron of Jonesboro; 12 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren...

Three longtime county officials are retiring at the end of the year. A retirement reception was held at the Poinsett County Courthouse Annex on Friday, Dec. 19, for County Judge Charles Nix, County Clerk Fonda Condra, and Circuit Clerk Claudia Matthews...