Stories from Monday, September 16, 2019

Blytheville firemen battled two suspicious vacant house fires less than 24 hours apart early Sunday morning and early Monday morning. At 8 a.m., Monday, firemen were still on the scene of 100 East McHaney putting out the blaze that began around 6:25 a.m...

Charles Edward “Butch” Ashley, Jr., 65, of Blytheville, died Sept. 12, 2019, at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. He was retired from farming and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Ashley was born May 2, 1954, in Little Rock to Charles and Dorothy Mowery Ashley, Sr. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Robert Donald Ashley and Billy Ray Ashley, one sister Nellie Melvin...

Juanita House, 91, of Marion, passed away Sept. 12, 2019, at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Juanita was born in Blytheville to Will and Necie Johnson Williams. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved to garden and read. She was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church...

Ollie Pearl McKee, 75, of Manila, widow of Alvin McKee, passed from this life Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, at Monette Manor Nursing Center. Born in Tyronza, she was the daughter of the late Alger and Willie Marie Lowery Quinn and had been a longtime Michigan resident before making her home in Manila in 2012. She had been an employee of Jessup Door Company in Dowagiac, Mich., and was of the Assembly of God faith. ...

Martin Lee Abner, 57, of Wilson, passed away Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. He was born Aug. 4, 1962 in Turrell to Jesse L. Abner and Linda Brewer. He worked in construction for a number of years and served in the United States Army for four years. He was an avid Notre Dame football fan and loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was also a member of the Joiner Baptist Church...

David Leon Brothers, 77, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away Sept. 11, 2019 at Christus Health Center in San Antonio. He joined the Army Sept. 21, 1967 until Sept. 18, 1970. After three years in the reserves he went back into the Army May 23, 1975 until June 1, 1992. ...

Shirley Marie Drury, 72, of Marmaduke, died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born in Smithville, she was the daughter of the late Jack and Grace Tanner Thacker and had been a Marmaduke resident for the past 30 years. She was a retired factory worker and was a member of Big Creek Baptist Church in Hooker, Ark...