Stories from Tuesday, December 8, 2020

A Blytheville woman perished Monday evening in a two-car crash on Air Base Highway. Luvenia Trainer, 62, lost her life in the accident, which occurred around 5:30 p.m., Monday, according to the Arkansas State Police. The other driver, Kevin Sanders, 37 of Blytheville, was also injured...

PITTSBURGH -- United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) (“U. S. Steel”) announced today it has exercised its call option to acquire the remaining equity of Big River Steel (“Big River Steel”) for approximately $774 million from cash on hand. The company ended November with approximately $2.9 billion of liquidity, including over $1.7 billion of cash. ...

John William Randolph, Jr., 68, of Osceola, formerly of Keiser, died Dec. 2, 2020, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. He was a retired bus driver for South Mississippi County School District and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Randolph was born Dec. 11, 1951, in Montgomery, Ala., to John William and Julia Terry Randolph, Sr. ...

Gary Lynn Wright, 66, passed away Nov. 26, 2020. Gary was born Oct. 3, 1954 in Lepanto to Louis and Doris (Parnell) Wright. He attended Lepanto schools and was an avid football player. After school, Gary joined the Air Force and served 20 years mostly as a recruiter. ...

Barbara Teague of Trumann departed this life Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro at the age of 75 years, 1 month and 16 days. She was born Tuesday, Oct. 9, 1945, in Sedalia, Mo., to the late Clay and Marjorie Williams. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard W. “Sonny” Teague and her parents...

Noel Eggers, 86, of Monette passed away Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at St. Bernards Medical Center. He was born April 17, 1934, in Monette to the late Jonathan and Lovie White Eggers. Noel started farming very early in his life and enjoyed sharing his love of farming with his grandsons. He enjoyed duck hunting also with his grandsons. He had lived most of his life on Poplar Ridge. He had also worked at Massey Ferguson for many years...

Eva Geraldine Wells of Harrisburg passed away Dec. 5, 2020, in Jonesboro at the age of 68 years and 6 months. She was born June 5, 1952, in Harrisburg to the late Marvin and Myrtle Pickering Wells. She graduated from Newport High School in 1970. After raising two sons, Eva recently retired from administrative type work. She was preceded in death by brothers, Earles Wells and Jimmy Wells, and sisters, Carolyn Whaley and Wilma Donley...

Georgia Howard Bailey of Trumann passed away Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro at the age of 80 years, 8 months, and 22 days. She was born Thursday, March 14, 1940, and was a lifetime resident of Trumann. Georgia worked at First National Bank in Trumann for 40 years and was instrumental in starting Delta Bank in Trumann. Georgia was a member of Central Missionary Baptist Church in Trumann. She was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Irene Barker Howard...

Annie Lee Hayes was born Nov. 9, 1950, in Osceola to the late Ben Clark and Nellie Clark. Annie departed this life on Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro at the age of 70. She was preceded in death by her parents. She leaves to cherish her memories, four daughters, Lizzie Hayes of Luxora, Tamala Thomas of Nashville, Tenn., Samantha Wells and Ana Alicia King, both of Blytheville;three sons, Steve Hayes of Kennett, Mo., Sammie Hayes of Blytheville and Larry Hayes of Luxora; three sisters, Beatrice Clark, Sarah Thomas and Bessie Clark, all of Luxora; two brothers, Ben Clark of Luxora and McKinnley Clark of Blytheville; eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and host other family members and friends.. ...

James L. Sawyer of Highland departed this life Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, at the family residence at the age of 74 years, 7 months and 20 days. He was born Friday, April 12, 1946, in Kennett, Mo., and lived in Highland for the last 25 years and was formerly of Trumann. ...

Jimmy Ray Smith, 70, of Bono died Nov. 30, 2020, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was a roofer. Mr. Smith was born Oct. 6, 1950, in Lauderdale, Ala., to Homer and Nellie Scott Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Charles Smith and J.L. Smith; two sisters, Nancy Smith and Ivie Dean Russell...

Joe Sanders, 80, of Horseshoe Bend, formerly of Blytheville, passed away Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. Joe was born in Pensacola, Fla., to Joseph and Genevieve Nobles Sanders. He served his country with honor in the United States Air Force before retiring. Joe was a member of First Baptist Church in Horseshoe Bend, was a master Mason and a Shriner. Joe enjoyed the outdoors and loved to go camping and fishing...

Shirley Ann Britnell of Trumann departed this life Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro at the age of 82 years, 3 months, and 7 days. She was born in Ensign, Kan., and lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. She was a factory worker and a member of Calvary Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her father, Pete Atkins, and one sister, Sue Fike...

Danny Dewayne Southern, 62, of Manila, died Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Manila, he was the son of the late Clarence "Jack" and Dorothy Nimmo Southern and had been a lifelong area resident. He had attended Manila Public Schools and was a self employed carpenter. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Donna Russell Southern...

Frances Juanita Patton, 99, of Leachville, widow of Vester H. Patton, passed from this life Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, at the Monette Manor Nursing Center. Born and raised in Leachville, Frances was the daughter of the late William Arthur “Ott” and Cordelia Wilson Myracle and had been a lifelong area resident. ...

Janice Ruth Hall, 77 of Lake City, widow of Charles Marshall “Skip” Hall, passed from this life Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Born at St. Louis, Mo., and raised at Leachville, she was the daughter of the late Opie Milton and Opal Wilson Russell and had been a resident of Lake City the past 22 years. ...

Helen Miller, 101, of Blytheville, passed away Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. Helen, better known as Honey, was born in Dell to Carrie Johnson and Charles Francis Armstrong. She attended Dell and Blytheville public schools and the University of Arkansas. She graduated from St. Louis School of Medical Technology and worked throughout WWII...

Rachel Willie Campbell Skelton passed away Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, surrounded in love by her children. Rachel was born in Centralia, Ill., and she married “her soldier” Wayne Braden Skelton on July 4, 1942. Their love story began when Wayne was stationed at Scott Field. ...