Obituaries

Betty Gerlene Henson, 89, of Blytheville passed away March 21, 2019 in Jonesboro. A lifelong resident of Blytheville, Betty was born in Yarbro to George and Mary (Yarbro) Whittle. She was a member of the Bethany Baptist Church and active participant and van driver at the Senior City Center where she delivered meals. ...

Shirley L. Taylor, 69, passed away March 19, 2019, with her family by her side in Springdale. Shirley was born in Osceola, to Fred and Bertha Kagebein Harris. She graduated from Blytheville High School in 1967. She was a very successful businesswoman, and had rewarding careers in banking and real estate both in Arkansas and in Texas...

Willie Dee “Wild Bill” King, 76, of Blytheville passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at his home. He was born Jan. 10, 1943 in Friendship, Tenn., to Dewitt and Ruby Harrison King. He had been a constable and police officer in Crockett County, Tenn., a police officer in Blytheville, owned a gas station/grocery store in Crockett County and Wild Bill’s Trading Post in Blytheville. He enjoyed marble hunting and fishing...

Linda Louise Holaway, 70, of Paragould, passed from this life, Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at her home. Born in Chicago, Ill., to the late Raymond and Ruby Alexander Tucker, she had been a resident of northeast Arkansas for the past 40 years. She was the widow of James Holaway, had lived in Paragould for over 20 years, and was an honor graduate of Mississippi County Community College in Blytheville. ...

Robert Walter Caruthers Williams was born on Feb. 26, 1989, in Blytheville to Brenda Williams and Robert Walter Caruthers Jr. Robert entered into eternal rest on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. Robert accepted Christ at an early age. He attended Pilgrim Rest in Blytheville. ...

Betty Jo Zieba, 60, of Marie passed away March 17, 2019, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. She was a homemaker and a member of Nodena Baptist Church in Nodena. Betty was born Dec. 26, 1958 in Wilson to Marvin and Betty Chamberlin Thomas. She was preceded in death by her father, her son Josh Martin, two brothers, Donald and Larry Thomas...

Ronald Baxter Romine, 64, of Osceola, passed away March 14, 2019, at his home. He was retired from the process plant and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Romine was born Feb. 17, 1955 in Athens, Ala., to Charles N. Romine and Mary Wood Davis Romine. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Mike Romine and Danny Romine...

Terry Lee Pritchett of Blytheville was born Aug. 3, 1956, in Blytheville to the late Henry Pritchett, Sr. and the late Irene Gosney. He was a retired brick layer and graduated Blytheville High School in 1973. Mr. Pritchett passed away on March 14, 2019, at his home in Blytheville at the age of 62. He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry Pritchett, Sr. and Irene Gosney...

Wesley Mathias, 76, of Blytheville, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at NEA Baptist Memorial in Jonesboro. Wesley was born in Littleton, Colo., son to Eldon and Marian Sauder Mathias. He served his country with honor in the United States Navy as a radarman on the USS Matthews from 1960 to 1963 and participated in the Naval Blockade of Cuba in 1962. ...

James D. Butler, 101, of Hot Springs, formerly of Leachville and Star City, passed from this life Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at the CHI St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs. Born in Palmyra, he was the son of the late John and Thelma Vivian Tucker Butler and was raised in the Palmyra and Star City areas. ...

Lyla Jean Wood, 87, of Paragould, former Leachville resident and widow of Billy Jerald Wood, Sr., passed from this life Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at the Green House Cottages of Belle Meade in Paragould. Born in Dumas she was the daughter of the late Mark and Annie Morgan Jones and had been a longtime Dumas resident and Leachville resident before making her home in Paragould three years ago. Lyla was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church in Leachville...

Clarence Smith, 80, of Sedgewick, passed away March 11, 2019, at Lexington Place in Jonesboro. He was a farmer and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Smith was born Nov. 30, 1938 in Muscle Shoals, Ala., to Frank and Maudie Strickland Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Melinda Smith; four brothers, Homer Smith, Sam Smith, Rex Smith and Earl Smith; and three sisters, Merl Hood, Shirley Ward and Minnie Brown...

Dulin Fulks, 85, of Gosnell, passed away Sunday, March 10, 2019, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Dulin was born to Thomas Aaron and Minnie Maybell Trantham Fulks in Stone County, Arkansas. He was the founder of Fulks Auto Salvage and a lifelong resident of Gosnell. ...

Shenekia Dabreil Williams Carter, 30, of Osceola passed away March 5, 2019, at SMC Medical Center in Osceola. She was a full time student. Mrs. Carter was born June 7, 1988, in Blytheville to Alvin Charles Williams and Felecia Logan Williams. She was preceded in death by her father and one sister, Shatrina Danielle Vornes...

Priscilla Rene Aldridge of Blytheville was born June 13, 1981, in Clermont, Fla., to Beatrice Aldridge Reed. She was a housekeeper and a member of Pleasant Ridge M.B. Church. Ms. Aldridge passed away on March 6, 2019, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville at the age of 37...

Pamela Diane Higgins Armstrong of Gosnell was born Dec. 9, 1958 in Blytheville to the late Billy Higgins and the late Mary Kathryn Ball Higgins. She was a homemaker and a member of Clear Lake Baptist Church. Mrs. Armstrong passed away on March 8, 2019 at the Great River Medical Center in Blytheville at the age of 60...

Benjamin Gordon, Sr. of Jonesboro was born Nov. 8, 1947 in Blytheville to the late Eddie Long, Sr. and the late Velma Sue Love Gordon. He was a United States Marine Corps veteran, was retired from Maverick Factory, was a retired custodian for the Blytheville School district and was a quarterback for the Harrison High football team. Mr. Gordon passed away on March 7, 2019 at his home in Jonesboro at the age of 71...

On Saturday, March 9, 2019, Mylas C. Jeffers Jr. died at his home in Blytheville. Mylas was born June 1, 1942, in Forrest City to M.C. and F.M. Jeffers. He graduated from Lincoln High School, earned a Bachelor Degree from the AM&N College (UAPB), earned the MSE in Counselor Education, and did further study at the University of Memphis. ...

Mary Frances Bowers Murphy, 83, of Blytheville went to be with her Lord on Saturday morning with her loving family surrounding her. She was born in Keiser to Edgar and Rennie Sprayberry Bowers on April 18, 1935. She was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church until it recently closed...

Wayne Lee Burnett Sr. passed away March 9, 2019, at his home in Marion at the age of 68. He was retired from Sara Lee Company and a 1969 graduate of Osceola High School. Mr. Burnett was born Jan. 18, 1951, in Dyess to Walter Lee Burnett and Jean Buie. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Randy Burnett and one sister Shirley Davis...

James “Sonny” Homer Power, 81, of Keiser passed from this life on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. Born to Homer M. and Finnie L. Wilson Power in Choctaw County, Miss., he was an area resident for most of his life. James was a retired longtime heavy equipment operator for MAFES in Starkville, Miss., and Stracener Construction Company of Blytheville, and a member of the Wood Springs Baptist Church. ...

Sarah Donetta White, 72, of Leachville, passed from this life on March 3, 2019, at St. Bernards Medical Center with her family surrounding her. She was born April 9, 1946 in Osceola to Annie Mae Hollis and Curtis Barnhill. She lived most of her life in Colona/Green Rock, Ill., before moving back to Lepanto in 1977...

Marsha (Renee) Bell, 69, of Batesville passed away Monday, March 4, 2019. She was born Jan. 4, 1950 in Blytheville to Guy and Mary Jane Bourland. Renee loved the Lord Jesus Christ and that love was mirrored in her love for her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Charles Dillard Bell...

Leonard Tyler was born Aug. 5, 1952, in Birdsong to the late Earnest Tyler Sr. and Ollie Newsom Tyler. Mr. Tyler departed this life on Friday, March 1, 2019, at Flo & Phil Jones Hospice in Jonesboro at the age of 66. He was preceded in death by his parents...

Jessie Mae Williams was born Oct. 10, 1925 in Dell to the late Willie Williams and the late Ora Coleman Williams. She was a homemaker and a member of First Missionary Baptist Church in Blytheville. Mrs. Williams passed away on March 3, 2019, at Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro at the age of 93...

Jamal Jarrod Peck, 16, of Blytheville passed away Sunday, March 3, 2019, in Blytheville. He was born in Overland Park, Kan., May 12, 2002, and was the son of William E. Peck, Jr. and Dorothy Stone. Jamal was a junior at Blytheville High School. He leaves to cherish his memories his mother and stepfather, Dorothy and Mark Mathis of Lancaster, Texas; his father, William E. ...

Roy Lee Ashabranner, Jr., O.D., 67, of Little Rock, former Manila resident, passed from this life Saturday, March 2, 2019, at Baptist Health Center in Little Rock. Born in Jonesboro, he was the son of the late Roy Lee and Norma White Ashabranner and was raised in Manila and Gosnell. ...

Lee (Elie’) Izmerian, 70, of Jonesboro and formerly of Blytheville, passed away Saturday, March 2, 2019, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Lee was born in Nazareth, Israel, to Anania and Nabiha Izmerian. He came to the United States in 1974 and was a resident of Blytheville until August 2018. ...

Lisa Leigh Thomas Roberts, 57, departed this life on March 4, 2019, at St. Bernard Hospice. Lisa was born Aug. 27, 1961, in Memphis to Gary and Sue Thomas. She grew up in Blytheville and lived most of her adult life in Jonesboro, where she was owner and manager of Dixie Uniform Shop...

Deborah Lynn Meherg Lambert, 61, of Hernando, Miss., passed away March 2, 2019, at Methodist Hospital in Olive Branch, Miss. She was a retired paramedic and of the Pentecostal faith. Mrs. Lambert was born July 8, 1957 to Huey Meherg. She was preceded in death by her father Huey Meherg, her mother Rosie Meherg, one brother Jess Meherg and one sister Bobbye Rush...

Dashanay Symone Wilson, 19, of Blytheville passed away Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, at Regional One Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn. She was born June 25, 1999 in Chicago, Ill., to Jessie Wilson and LaTina James. Dahanay leaves to cherish her memories her mother, LaTina James of Blytheville; her father, Jessie Wilson of Chicago, Ill.; one sister, Akleeah Ford of Blytheville; two brothers, Eneal Walker and Devonte Walker, both of Blytheville; her grandmother, Beatrice Wilson of Chicago, Ill., and a host of other relatives and friends.. ...

Virginia Christeen Emery, 96, of Summersville, S.C., and formerly of Blytheville, passed away Feb. 23, 2019 at her home. Born to Jessie and Georgie (Powell) Cohea, Christeen was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Christeen was preceded in death by her husband, Lester Emery; her parents; son, Allen Emery; daughter, Kathy Schmidt; two brothers, Granville and Theo Cohea; three sisters, Evelyn Koehler, Estelle Phillips and Bernice Broadway...

Louise Carter, 85, of Michie, Tenn., passed away Feb. 27, 2019, at her home. She was retired from American Greetings and a member of Blackwater Church of God at Blackwater. Louise was born March 12, 1933, in Ripley, Miss., to James Franklin and Lillie Tollison Bates...

Elsie Ennis, 79, of Mt. Carroll, Ill., passed away Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, at the Good Samaritan Society, Mt. Carroll. A private family service will be held in Savanna with a burial in Blytheville. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com...

Mr. Kennedy Michael Simmons of Cave Springs departed this life on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at the age of 70. He was born Sept. 13, 1948 in Newport, the son of Lucian Simmons, Sr. and Lois M. (Hankins) Simmons. Mr. Simmons was a 1966 graduate of Oil Trough High School. Following high school, he earned a Bachelor of Education degree from Arkansas State Teacher’s College. He continued his education at Arkansas State University, earning both Master’s and Specialist Degrees...

Ira Neely Koonce, Sr., 86, of Blytheville, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 at his home. Ira was born in Blytheville to William and Freddie Burks Koonce. He was a retired farmer and a member of New Liberty Baptist Church. He was a graduate of Blytheville High School and the University of Arkansas. ...

Howard Lathrom Sr., 78, of Marked Tree, passed away Feb. 24, 2019, at NEA Hospital in Jonesboro. He was retired from Malone Oil, retired Vietnam Army veteran and a member of First Baptist Church in Marked Tree. Mr. Lathrom was born Jan. 6, 1941, to Otto Lynn and Audrey Crisp Lathrom in Manes, Mo. He was preceded in death by his parents...

Danny Lee Reed of Blytheville was born May 15, 1960, in Blytheville to the late Freddie Lee Reed and the late Leola Johnson Reed. He was a factory worker and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Reed passed away on Feb. 22, 2019, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro at the age of 58...

Brittney Nicole Sims of Blytheville was born Dec. 1, 1992, in Blytheville to Rennie Sims, Sr. and the late Brenda Sims. She was a factory worker and was a member of the Church of Christ. Ms. Sims passed away on Feb. 19, 2019, in Blytheville at the age of 26...

Robert Preston Lomax, 67, of Lake City passed away Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at St. Bernards Medical Center. He was born Oct. 31, 1951, in Manila to Melvin Eugene “Gene” and Avis Billings Lomax. He was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, enjoyed music, hunting, fishing, and loved his children and grandchildren...

Keodrae Jones was born Dec. 18,1996 in Blytheville to Daniyell Daniels and Ulonda Jones. Keodrae departed this life on Feb. 20, 2019 in Blytheville. Keodrae was a very fun and loving person. Keodrae attended Blytheville High School and loved the game of basketball...

Mary Johnson was born Jan. 16, 1959 in Birdsong to the late Louis Wright and Mary Lewis. Ms. Johnson departed this life on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at Great Rivers Hospital in Blytheville at the age of 60. She was preceded in death by her parents. Mary’s life will forever be cherished in the lives of two her daughters, Okneco Stitts of Marion and Jamie Johnson of Blytheville; six sons, Christopher Wright of Detroit, Mich., Alan Stitts of Orlando, Fla., Dheaslee Wright, Talaan Lagrande, Detaji Johnson, Tyrone Johnson and Mordecia Johnson all of Blytheville. ...

Patricia Ann Carr passed away Feb. 26, 2019, in Osceola at the age of 67. She was a retired factory worker and of the Pentecostal faith. Mrs. Carr was born Jan. 7, 1952 in Joiner to Jim David May and Vivian Artene Welch Lindsey. She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Vickie...

Patty Kay Barrett, 56, of Leachville, passed from this life Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. Born in Leachville, she was the daughter of the late Bill and Martha Hubbard Adams and was a lifelong area resident. A 1980 graduate of Leachville High School, she was a self-employed caregiver and a longtime member of the Leachville Second Baptist Church...

Mary Magdalene Rogers Smith, 89, of Blytheville passes away Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Born July 18, 1929 in Blytheville she was the daughter of Sam and Matilda Danley Rogers. She was a faithful member of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church where she served as a member of the Adult Choir and was a Mother of the church...

Jerris Lee Burrell, 56, of Cardwell, Mo., passed from this life Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at the Greene Acres Nursing Center in Paragould. Born in Kennett, she was a 1980 graduate of Southland High School and later attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Jerris returned to Cardwell in 2008...

Katharina McGrew, 94, of Manila, passed from this life, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro from injuries received in an auto accident. Born and raised in Heidelberg, Germany, she was the daughter of the late Fritz and Lena Reinwald Brecht. ...

Katherine Wheeler Wildy, 88, died at her home in Etowah, on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. She was born Sept. 7, 1930, in Imboden, to Carl Clifton and Ray Pace Wheeler. She was raised in Caraway, where she learned to be a merchant extraordinaire, working in her father’s general store. She graduated as valedictorian from Caraway High School. She graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1952 where she served as president of Delta Delta Delta sorority and tapped for Mortar Board. Katherine married Charles Luther Wildy in 1953 and became a farm wife, mother, English teacher, tutor and a volunteer. She is a past member of Osceola Junior Auxiliary, Mississippi County Cotton Wives, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and the Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. . ...

Floyd M. Reeves, 91, of Leachville, passed from this life Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at Monette Manor Nursing Center. Born in Leachville, he was the son of the late Robert and Flossie Lowry Reeves and had been a lifelong area resident. Floyd was a 1945 graduate of Leachville High School and was a U.S. ...

Palmer Jean (Lee) Winchester was born to Chester and Elizabeth Lee on July 23, 1950, in Wardell, Mo. Palmer was an educator and it showed through everyone that she came in contact with. She was quiet, but when she had something to say, she said it with no filter. If you ever met her, you would surely remember her. Her kind heart most of all...