Stories from Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Robert Lee Chandler, 66, of Burdette, died March 14, 2016 in Blytheville. Born May 23, 1949 in Luxora, he was a retired farmer and a Baptist. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Lee Chandler, Sr. and Rosie Mae Harrell Chandler, wife Mary Lee Chandler, and sisters Cora Dorris, Linda Griffin and Ruth Gordon...

Robert Casey Conley, 81, passed away Monday, March 14, 2016. He was born February 13, 1935 in Blytheville to Calvin and Jewel Conley. Casey was a veteran, having served in the United States Army. He was a great cook and everyone loved his baked hams and coconut cakes...

Laney Saige Dowdle, 2, of Blytheville, passed away Saturday, March 12, 2016 at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Laney leaves her parents, Jeremy Dowdle and Beth Burnett of Blytheville; Brothers, Cutter Dowdle of Blytheville and Gage Dowdle of Whitehouse, Texas;...

Mrs. Willie Easley, 84, of Apopka, Flo. and formerly of Blytheville, passed from this life on Wednesday March 9, 2016 at Hospice of The Comforter in Altamonte Springs, Flo. Born to Cleatus and Leslie Banks in Bruce Mississippi. She was a retired Supervisor at American Greeting in Osceola Arkansas, and a member of Victory Baptist Church in Apopka Florida, where she was an active member of the Seniors Group...

Charlene Hoskins Harris, 85, of Blytheville, passed away Monday, March 14, 2016 at Heritage Square Nursing Home in Blytheville. Born to I.T., Sr. and Edna (Aycock) Walker, Charlene was retired from Gosnell School District where she was the cafeteria manager and drove the school bus. She loved the outdoors and going water skiing, fishing, and other outdoor activities...

Rose Elizabeth Higgins, 59, of Blytheville, passed away Monday, March 14, 2016 at her home. Rose was raised by her aunt and uncle, Tille and Sam Adams, alongside her cousins who were more like brothers and sisters, Doug, Scott, and Susan. She loved to go to church and was a member of Bethany Baptist. She also loved to play games on her computer. Rose loved her kids and grandkids...

Charles Edgar Rutland, retired Sgt., 80, of Blytheville, died Thursday, March 10, 2016 at the V.A. Hospital in Memphis of multiple myeloma. He was born May 5, 1935 in Cherokee, Ala., the fourth of the five siblings born to Lester Rutland, Sr. and Elvira Burton Rutland...

Mary Esther Hoskins Springer, 101, of Blytheville, passed away Monday, March 14, 2016 at her home. Born to Albert and Lula (Polk) Hoskins, Mary was retired from Skill Company where she was a supervisor. She loved church and was very active in church work. ...

Winfred "Buddy" Tounzen, Jr., 58, of Blytheville, passed away Friday, March 11, 2016 at his home. Buddy was born in Blytheville to Winfred, Sr. and Ruth Tounzen. He loved to watch and play football. Buddy was a family man and he loved his children, and adored his grandchildren...

Billy Christopher Warhurst, 34, of Wilson, died March 11, 2016 in Memphis. Born July 9, 1981 in Osceola, he was a computer technician, a veteran of the Air Force in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and a member of First Baptist Church in Wilson. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Mary Alice Hepler and Joe Smith, and mother Elizabeth Racine Smith...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. -- Police took a harassment report in the 100 block of West Hardin. -- Officers investigated an endangering the welfare of a minor report in the 800 block of Delmar. Police received a call that a child had been assaulted. ...

Local music lovers Mark Moseley, Mike Lester, and Bobby Walker are sponsoring the first of what they hope will become a successful local concert series on Thursday night at the historic Ebony club at 418 W. Ash. The blues night will feature area musicians as well as bands from the Memphis area, and Moseley said the group hopes that local music lovers from all ethnic and economic backgrounds will be able to come together to enjoy the location and the culture. ...

A man lost his life in an apparent arson around 10:46 Tuesday night at 618 Beal, a vacant house. Authorities have not identified the man, but a press release from Fire Chief Mike Carney notes firemen found the man face down, behind a bedroom door. "BFD started CPR on the grounds of the residence," Carney said. Pafford EMS later transported the man to Great River Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead by the coroner...