Obituaries from February 2002

Mary Lisa Brown, 34, of West Memphis, died Monday, January 28 at her home. She was a licensed practical nurse and a member of Ingram Boulevard Baptist church in West Memphis. Survivors include her husband, Ronny Brown of West Memphis; two daughters, Andria Hodge of Jacksonville, N.C., and Katie Brown of West Memphis; a son, Jeremy Brown of West Memphis; her parents, Brenda Spencer of West Memphis and Billy Courtney of Lepanto; three sisters, Dawn Deering of West Memphis, Hope Long of Dyess and Heather Ainsworth of Frenchman's Bayou; three brothers, Bill Courtney of Pocahontas, Bill Spencer of West Memphis and Mitchell Courtney of Dyess; and her grand parents, Mary Dollar of West Memphis and Jewell Courtney of Lepanto.. ...

James E. Steen,77, of Trumann died Wednesday Feb. 9 at Regional Medical Center of Northeast Arkansas. Steen was born on Sept. 8, 1924 in Cornith, MS. He is survived by his wife, Beulah Steen, of the home; seven sons, Boyd Steen, Randy Steen, Houston Hamilton, all of Trumann, Junior Steen, Jonesboro, Johnny Hamilton, Dayton, TN, Rickey Hamilton, Florida, Frankie Hamilton, North Carolina; three daughters, Joyce Blagg, Mary Mae Acker, Patsy Simpson, all of Trumann; six brothers, Carlton Steen, Tyronza, Burton Steen, Illinois, Wayne Steen, Kenneth Steen, both of Marked Tree, Hayes Steen, Alabama, J.W. ...

Grady D. Smith , 87, of West Memphis died Sunday, February 10 at his home. He was a farm equipment mechanic and charter member and deacon of Victory Fellowship Church in West Memphis. He was also an Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife, Mary A. ...

Pastor Larry Richmond, 50, of Osceola died January 23 at North East Arkansas Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Osceola, Richmond was pastor of Pleasant Grove M. B. Church in Osceola for 10 years. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, lifetime resident of Osceola and a member of Blytheville area Minister Fellowship...

John Luther Lacy, 61, of Harrisburg died January 7, 2002, at his home. Born in Osceola, he was of the Baptist faith. Lacy is survived by his wife, Sara Jane Lacy of Harrisburg; three daughters, Jonna Neal and Paige Tyler, both of Lepanto and Rebecca Blansett of Marked Tree; his mother, Faye Lacy of Lepanto; one sister, Mary Ruth Adams of Caraway; one brother, Lonnie Lacy of Lepanto; and seven grandchildren...

Bonnie Lou Hutcheson, 63, of Pontiac, Mich., died February 10, 2002. Hutcheson was originally from Dyess, moved to Pontiac in 1965, and retired from Bill Knapps in Rochester Hills, Mich. Survivors include husband Curtis Hutcheson; two daughters, Deborah Hutcheson and Susan (Gene) Brown; two sons, Curtis Brian Hutcheson and Leon Hutcheson; one sister, LaVada Hall; two brothers, Charles Turner and George Turner; and four grandchildren...

Robert Roy Huffins, 56, of Fisher died Wednesday, February 6 at Ripley, Miss. He was a mechanic and an U.S. Army veteran. Huffins is survived by eight sons, Robert C. Huffins, Frank D. Huffins, John E. Huffins, Jimmy R. Huffins, Ted A. Huffins, Jason E. Huffins, Richard R. Huffins and Dennis W. Huffins, all of Fisher; two daughters, Emily M. Huffins and Shelley N. Huffins, both of Fisher; one sister, Joyce Huffins of Lepanto; and 15 grandchildren...

Mildred "Millie" Lucille Shiflett died Feb. 2, 2002 at the family residence in Trumann. She was born on Oct. 31, 1936. She was 65 years old. Survivors include one son Tommy Moore of O'Brien, FL; six daughters Bonnie Bentley, Sharon Woods, both of Trumann, Joyce Cook of Payneway, Peggy Dalton of Maynard, Glenda Collett of Success, Wanda Vanderpool and Mona Page both of Tulsa, OK; three brothers Donald Woods of Waterproof, LA, John Woods of Guadalajara, Mexico and William Wayne Woods of Tulsa, OK; one granddaughter and 2 great grandchildren.. ...

Opal Ann Earnhart, 81, of Caraway, died Tuesday, February 12 at her home. Born in Williford, Earnhart was a homemaker, public school teacher and served in the priesthood as a teacher. She was a member of the Community of Christ Church in Caraway. Earnhart is survived by her husband, Paul Earnhart; one son, Gary Paul Earnhart of Caraway; two daughters, Paula Ann Earnhart and Janie Sue Qualls, both of Lake City; one sister, Jewel Johnson of Jonesboro; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.. ...

Clarence Junior Durfee, 47, of Marion died Monday, February 11, 2002, at Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Tyronza. Durfee is survived by mother Pauline Shepherd of Trumann; two sisters, Louise McCorkle of Tyronza and Brenda Ward of Jonesboro; three brothers, Jim Harris of Gravite, Cleveland Blanchard of Marion, and Winston Blanchard of Tyronza; one daughter, Nikki Schwartz of Marion; and two grandchildren...

Mary Taylor Colby, of Mayfield, Ky., died Thursday, February 7 at her home. She was a retired school teacher of the Mayfield, Ind. School System and a member of the Mayfield First United Methodist Church. Colby is survived by two sons, Stephen Colby of Paducah, Ky. ...

Sally Lorene Williams, 81, of Osceola died February 13, 2002 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. Williams was a lifetime resident of Dyess, and a homemaker of the Pentecostal faith. Survivors include Richard Williams of Osceola; two sisters, Odessa Sipes of Dyess and Vern Brannon of Florida; and two brothers, Tom Smallwood and Baily Smallwood, both of Dyess...

Girfus Husky Richmond, 80, of Dyess died February 18, 2002 at Sr. Bernard Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born on Jan. 23, 1922 in Driftwood, Richmond was a long time resident of Dyess and a Baptist. Richmond is preceded in death by his parents, Hosey and Iva Husky Richmond; two sons, Girfus Gary Richmond and Randy Faron Richmond; and one granddaughter, Dessie Irene Richmond. ...

Gloria Lynn "Simpson" Montgomery, 52, of died Feb. 14 at St. James Hospital in Chicago. Montgomery was a certified nursing assistant, member of the First Church of Deliverance in Chicago, and also a member of Greater Jones Temple in Gilmore. Survivors include husband James Montgomery of Lepanto; three brothers, Anthony Simpson of Chicago, Terry Simpson of Chicago, and Gregory Simpson of Lisle, Ill.; three sons, James Montgomery Jr. ...

Robert Chad Criddle, 18 of Lepanto died February 13, 2002. He was born May 2, 1983 in West Memphis, was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lepanto and a student at Arkansas State University Technical College at Marked Tree. He is survived by his parents Thomas Wayne and Lois Criddle, one sister, Bridget Criddle, his grandparents Flemons and Agnes Armstrong, and Gladys Criddle Young all of Lepanto...

Larry James Herrell, 54, of Marked Tree died February 21, 2002 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born March 7, 1947 in Manila. He was also a member of the Church of God and a service manager for E. Ritter Equipment. Survivors include his wife, Carol Herrell of Marked Tree; three brothers, Carroll Gene Herrell of Marked Tree, Edward Herrell of West Memphis, and Roger Herrell of Marion; two sisters, Mary Ruth Hood of Earle and Patsy Sims of West Memphis; three sons, Bryan Herrell of Springdale, Chris Herrell of Marked Tree, and Russell Gillian of Conway; one daughter, Lori Mathis of Corning; and eight grandchildren, Shelby Herrell, Kelsey Mathis, Peyton Herrell, Jordan Herrell, Hayden Mathis, Ashley Gillian, Jacob Gillian, and Josh Kimery.. ...

Thomas "Gene" Mott, 64, of Tyronza died February 20, 2002 at NEA Hospital in Jonesboro. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Tyronza and was a chemical engineer. Survivors include his mother, Cora Mott of Tyronza; one brother, Earl Mott of Tyronza; three sons, Thomas "Jeff" Mott of Atlanta, Johnny Lard of Franklin, N. ...

Jewell Collier Robbs, 89, of Jonesboro died February 23, 2002 at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born on June 10, 1912 in Weona and was a member of the Methodist Mason Shriner. Robbs is preceded in death by his wife, Maxine Casey Robbs. Survivors include one sister, Helen Robbs Brunner of Marked Tree...

George "Rocky" Turner, Jr., 79, of Dyess died February 25, 2002 at Three Rivers Nursing Center in Marked Tree. He was born Sept. 6, 1922 in Centerville, Tenn., and was of the Baptist faith. He retired from the US Army after serving with the European African Middle Eastern Theater. ...

Norma Jean Smith, 63, of Lepanto died February 24, 2002 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Dec. 21, 1938 in Lepanto. She owned and operated Riverside Caf in Lepanto and was member of the Church of God. Survivors include her husband, Jimmy H. ...