Stories from Friday, January 24, 2020

Jackie Lynn Cook, 67, of Dell, passed from this life Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at her home. Born in Memphis, Tenn., she was the daughter of the late Harold and Eula Jones Minyard and had been a longtime resident of California before making her home in Dell 11 years ago. She returned to school later in life and was a 1992 graduate of Central Union High School in Fresno, Calif. ...

Robbie Lynn Butler was born Sept. 13, 1968. She is the daughter of Robert Stiles and Cecelia Wiktorek and husband, Tom Wiktorek. She loved to watch wildlife and had a passion for animals. Robbie enjoyed being outdoors, fishing, reading and singing. She worked as a purchasing agent most of her life and was a member of Christ Church in Nashoba, Okla...

Mary Johnson Wright, 87, of Manila, widow of Lonnie Wright, passed from this life Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Born in Leachville to the late Frank and Maggie Trusty Johnson, she was raised in the Pawheen community and later graduated from Leachville High School. ...

Bobby Joe Ashabranner, 71, of West Helena, passed away Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020 in Memphis, Tenn. He was born Oct. 6, 1948, in Buckhannon, W. Vir, to the late Elsie and H.C “Cutter” Ashabranner. Mr. Ashabranner retired the first of the year, after working for D.B.G Enterprises for over 40 years. He was also a veteran...

Jeffrey Kenny Butler, 54, of Osceola, died Jan. 21, 2020 at his home. He was the shop manager for Jim Ross Tires in Osceola, an employee at Bowles Liquor in Osceola and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Butler was born May 25, 1965 in Osceola to Frank Jackson and Lyvarne Butler. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Leon Craft, Larry Marshall and Willie Jackson...

Angelica Faith Robinson, 28, of Osceola, died Jan. 21, 2020, at Baptist East in Memphis, Tenn. She was employed by Dillards department store and Teletech in Jonesboro and was a member of Green Acres Church of Christ in Osceola. Angelica was born Nov. 20, 1991, in Blytheville to Eddie L. Robinson and Gloria Dudley Robinson. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Toney Dudley, Sr., Elsie Dudley, Julia Chalk and Eddie Chalk...

GOSNELL — The host Gosnell Pirates held off the Rivercrest Colts down the stretch to secure a key conference win, 65-61, at the GHS gym. The Pirates led by as much as 15 late in the third quarter, but the Colts rallied in the fourth, cutting the lead to four on Melo Vasquez’s banked three-pointer with two seconds left — his third of the quarter...

BLYTHEVILLE— The Blytheville Chickasaws opened with a 7-0 run and never looked back as they went on to sweep the season series against 4A-3 conference foe the Highland Rebels with a 68-43 victory Friday night. The Class 4A No. 2 Chicks (19-3, 9-0) defeated the Rebels in their first matchup in Highland on Dec. 20, 60-36...