Obituaries from August 2003

Mrs. Alice Dee "Dee Dee" Watkins passed away August 3, 2003, at the family residence in Trumann of natural causes. She was 86 years old. Mrs. Watkins was born in Harrisburg, Ark., and was a lifetime resident of the Trumann area. She was a retired bookkeeper for Stuckey's Gin and a member of First General Baptist Church in Trumann. Mrs. Watkins was preceded in death by two sisters; four brothers and was the daughter of the late Silas Davis and Julia Allen Threkield Terry...

Mr. Wilford F. "Bill" Steffens of Trumann, passed away July 29, 2003, from a drowning accident at Norfolk River in Mountain Home, Ark. He was 72 years old. Mr. Steffens was born in Dixon, Ill., and had lived in Trumann since 1989 and was formerly of Memphis, Tenn. ...

Mr. Lee Thomas "L.T." Smith died July 29, 2003, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro from natural causes. He was 79 years old. Mr. Smith was born in Weona, Ark., and had lived in the Trumann area before moving to Memphis, Tenn., in 1967 and moved back to Trumann in 1996. ...

Mr. Stephan Lynn "Stevie" Adams passed away August 2, 2003, at the family residence in Trumann from natural causes. He was 48 years old. Mr. Adams was born in Jonesboro, Ark., on September 24, 1954, and was a lifetime resident of Trumann. He was a construction worker for A State Paving Company and member of the Viva Drive Church of Christ...

James Lee Howard Sr., 51, of Marked Tree died Friday, August 1, 2003 at Regional Medical Center of NEA. Born at Turrell, he was a member of the Industrial Street Church of Christ, where he served as a trustee. He was employed by Mid South Manufacturing...

Myrtle Kirk, 81, died on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 at Three Rivers Nursing Center in Marked Tree. She had been a resident for about four years. Born in Mississippi, she had previously lived in the Pocahontas, Tenn. area before moving to Lepanto, where she lived until entering the nursing home...

Juanita "Nita" Leonino, 78, died on July 27, 2003. Born the youngest of nine children, Nita was raised in Lepanto, married Dominic Leonino in 1946, and then moved to Ohio, where she raised seven children. Always well read and informed, Nita was a strong believer in education so much that she started college at the University of Houston, Texas, and received her B.A. ...

Funeral services for Carl Lee Moorman, 78, of Lepanto, who died Sunday, July 27, 2003 at St. Bernard's Medical Center, were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 30 at Murphy Funeral Home chapel in Lepanto. Jim Duffel officiated, and burial followed in Potter Memorial Cemetery...

Lee Thomas "L.T." Smith, 79, of Trumann died Tuesday, July 29, 2003 at St. Bernard's Medical Center. Born in Weona, he was an Army veteran and had lived in Trumann before moving to Memphis in 1967. He was an Army veteran and was retired from Fred's Dollar Store. He returned to Trumann in 1996 and was a member of Melton Avenue Church of Christ...

Jerry N. Hindman, 68, of Indianapolis died Saturday, August 2, 2003 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Born in Tyronza, he worked for ARA Services Vending Repair Services for 20 years. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War. Hindman had the handle of "Early Bird" on the Citizens Band Radio...

Jessie James Hatchett, Jr., 78, of Blytheville, died on Sunday, August 3, 2003 at his residence. Born on September 7, 1925 in Earle, Ark., Hatchett was a farmer and a member of Philadelphia Baptist in Crawfordsville. He was a Mississippi County resident for over five years...

Wanda Douglas, 83, of Marked Tree, died Sunday, August 3, 2003 at her residence. Douglas was employed with E. Ritter Implement Company for 36 years as a bookkeeper. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, where she served as treasurer for 13 years and was a member of the Friendly Sunday school class. She was a member of the United Methodist Women's group who served the Lions and Rotary Clubs...

Freddie Clay Turner, 54, of Osceola died Saturday, August 2, 2003 at his residence. He was a lifelong resident of Mississippi County, and a police officer for the Osceola Police Department. Survivors include his wife, Glenda Turner of Osceola; one daughter, Anita Faulkner of Osceola; one son, Tony Turner of Osceola; one sister, Rita Hendrix of Lepanto; one brother, Eldon Turner of Osceola; and three grandchildren...

James Albert "Jim" White of Heber Springs, a former resident of Bondsville, died July 24, 2003 at Central Arkansas Hospital in Searcy. Born November 12, 1927 in Fayette, Ala., he was 75. He was the son of the late Monroe and Velma Adeline Trimm White. He was better known as Albert to his friends...

Ruby Whitt, 86, of West Memphis, formerly of Trumann, died Saturday, August 2, 2003 at Crittenden Memorial Hospital at West Memphis. A homemaker, she was a member of Viva Street Church of Christ in Trumann and attended Missouri Street Church of Christ in West Memphis...

Ima Jewell Brown, 67, of Lepanto died Wednesday, July 30, 2003 at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist belief. Survivors include two sons, Travis Brown of Tyronza and Ricky Brown of Black Oak; six daughters, Patricia Holt of Dyess, Carolyn Hindman of West Memphis, Patsy Talley and Darlene Brown, both of Concord, Sandy Wood of Olive Branch, Miss., and Mashell Bly of Payneway; two sisters Shirley Ohler of Keiser and Wanda Haygood of Waverly, Tenn.; two brothers, Robert Curtis of Missouri and Earl Curtis of Monette; 23 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.. ...

Mr. Michael Wayne 'Mike' Vinson, 48, of Newton, N.C., died August 9, 2003, at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., from natural causes. Mr. Vinson was born in Jonesboro on November 20, 1954, and had lived most of his lifetime in Trumann before moving to North Carolina in 1938. He was a chef and restaurant owner. Mr. Vinson was also a 1973 graduate of Trumann High School and a member of the Hickory Church of Christ...

Mrs. Pauline Virginia Cook, 92, of Westland, Mich., passed away August 6, 2003, at the Garden City Hospital in Garden City, Mich. Mrs. Cook was born on September 1, 1910, in Humboldt, Tenn. She had lived in Trumann before moving to Michigan in 1950, moved back to Trumann in 1974 and then back to Michigan in 1994 after the death of her husband. Mrs. Cook was a retired hospital worker and of the Baptist faith...

Harold Walker, Jr., 23, of Blytheville, died on Sunday, August 10, 2003 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Blytheville. Born on August 6, 1980 in Blytheville, Walker was a restaurant worker and a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Survivors include his wife, Elnora Carter of Blytheville; parents, Virginia Spinks and Harold Walker Sr., both of Blytheville; grandparent, Ned Walker, of Blytheville; two daughters, Harliyah Walker and Fantasia Walker, both of Blytheville; four sisters, Jessica Walker, Jacklyn Anderson, and Aphordisia Talley, all of Blytheville, and Patricia Willcox of Indianapolis, Ind.; and six brothers, Fred Anderson, Charles Sanders and Terell Sanders, all of Indianapolis, Ind., Andre Anderson and Byron Walker, both of Blytheville and Brian Walker of Jonesboro.. ...

Vera Inez Parrish, 93, of Marion, formerly of Marked Tree, died Friday, August 8, 2003 at her Hobson Nursing Home in Marion. Born and raised in Savannah, Tenn., she moved to Marked Tree in 1930. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist belief. She was preceded in death by her husband, R.D. Parrish...

James Lee Howard Sr., 51, of Marked Tree died Friday, August 1, 2003 at Regional Medical Center of NEA. Born at Turrell, he was a member of the Industrial Street Church of Christ, where he served as a trustee. He was employed by Mid South Manufacturing...

Charles Dewayne Hill, 50, of Osceola died Sunday, August 10, 2003 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola. A lifelong resident of Mississippi County, he was a member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Osceola. Survivors include his wife, Yvonne Hill of Osceola; three sons, Jeffery Hill of Blytheville and Dewayne Hill and Hamilton Hill, both of Little Rock; one stepson, Corey Harris of Little Rock; three daughters, Monica Anderson of Kansas City, Kan., Consuela Hill of Little Rock and Nellie Cullins of Blytheville; his mother, Odessa Hill of Osceola; two sisters, Valerie Wright of Memphis and Dana Burns of Texas; three brothers, Junius Ingram of Chicago and Ronnie Hill and Vincent Hill, both of Osceola.; and 20 grandchildren.. ...

Paul Edward Driver, Jr., 78, of Turrell, died on Thursday, August 7, 2003 at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis. A farmer and member of Joiner First United Methodist Church, Driver was a US Army Veteran and a lifetime member of Post 5225 West Memphis/Marion VFW American Legion. He earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star while serving in the WWII Asiatic Pacific Theatre. He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Edwards Driver, Sr...

Edwina Argo, 92, of Lepanto, died on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at St. Bernard Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. A member of the Lepanto First United Methodist Church, DAR, Eastern Star and the Lepanto Garden Club, she and her husband owned and operated Jones Drug Store in Lepanto for many years...

Mr. Ralph Howe, 83, of Trumann, passed away Saturday, August 16, 2003, at Regional Medical Center of NEA in Jonesboro from natural causes. Mr. Howe was born in Paragould, Ark., and had lived in Steele, Mo., before moving back to Paragould in 1960 and to Trumann in 1994. ...

Mr. Roscoe Freeman Hays, 77, of Jonesboro died late Thursday evening at his home due to natural causes. Born in Port Sulphur, Louisiana, Mr. Hays lived in Warren before moving to Jonesboro 48 years ago. He was a civil engineer and building contractor. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro where he served as deacon and a Sunday School teacher...

Dolly Mae Price, 14, of Payneway, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003. She was a student at Marked Tree High School and was of the Baptist belief. Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Carrie and Wayne Merritt of Payneway; her father, Allen Price of Earle; four sisters, Sarah Purnell and Robin Price, both of Payneway, Christina Price of Millington, Tenn., and Linda Shaw of Harrisburg; her grandparents, Robert and Mary Dexter of Tyronza and Edwin and Gayle Price of Earle; and her great-grandmother, Willie Conatser of Marked Tree.. ...

Farrell Davis Pannell, 69, of Forrest City, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 at Crest Park Nursing Home in Forrest City. He was of the Church of Christ belief. Survivors include his wife, Juel Pannell of Forrest City; one daughter, Nancy Gardner of Forrest City; two sisters, Elizabeth Pannell of Osceola and Shirly Boone of Kennett, Mo.; four brothers, Aaron Pannell and William Pannell, both of Osceola, Cleveland Pannell of Forrest City and Frankie Pannell of Fayetteville; and two grandchildren...

Lillian D. Moore, 88, of Payneway, died on Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 at Plantation Homes Retirement Center in Trumann. Born at Glenwood, Ark., she had lived at Payneway for 63 years. She was a Baptist and a homemaker. Moore was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Moore, and her parents, James and Ellick (Dees) Sigman...

Pearlie Mae Jones, 51, of Conway, formerly of Osceola, died Tuesday, July 29, 2003 at her home. She lived in Osceola most of her life and worked at American Greetings for 21 years. She was of the Baptist belief. Survivors include one son, Roosevelt Peterson IV of Conway; three daughters, Alline Mattison, Shanta Steele and Larcena Peterson, all of Conway; five sisters, Catherine Patterson, Josie Hotfield and Mary Ellen Patterson, all of Osceola, Ruthie Jones of Jonesboro and Betty Patterson of Miami; three brothers, Mike Patterson of St. ...

Leonard Allen Daniels, 94, of Tyronza, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 at St. Bernard's Medical Center. He was a retired farmer. Survivors include his wife, Beulah Barrier Daniels of Tyronza; one daughter, Peggy Preston of Tyronza; four sons, Henry Daniels, Ray Daniels and Greg Daniels, all of Tyronza, and Randy Daniels of Marked Tree; one sister, Gertie Whiltt of Florida; 19 grandchildren; and 22 great-great-grandchildren...

Margaret Parker Arwood, 77, of Marked Tree, died on Aug. 19 at Regional Medical Center of NEA. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence E. Capooth; one sister, Geneva Capooth Hanna; her first husband, Jay Louis Parker, Sr. and her second husband, William Arwood...

Mr. Troy Branscum, 79, of Trumann, died Tuesday, August 19,2003, at the family residence in Trumann from natural causes. Mr. Branscum was born in Fox, Ark., and had lived in Trumann the past 13 years coming from Yuna, Ariz. Mr. Branscum was retired from the U.S. Army having served in World War II and was a POW. He was a lifetime member of the VFW and of the Pentecostal faith. Mr. Branscum was preceded in death by his parents, Cagle and Lola Gunter Branscum, one sister, and one brother...

Mrs. Ila V. Bennett Meeks, 86, of Trumann passed away Wednesday, August 20, 2003, at Regional Medical Center of NEA in Jonesboro due to natural causes. Mrs. Meeks was born in Tippah County, Miss., on November 16, 1916, and had lived in Trumann the past 63 years. Mrs. Meeks was retired from the Singer Company of Trumann and a member of First Baptist Church of Trumann. Mrs...

Mrs. Jessie I. Morrow passed away August 21, 2003 at Plantation Homes Retirement Center in Trumann of natural causes. She was 87 years old. Mrs. Morrow was born in Ravenden, Ark., and had lived in Trumann the past 12 years. She was formerly of Louisiana and Lepanto, Ark. Mrs. Morrow was a homemaker, a member of Maple Grove Baptist Church and a member of the Eastern Star in Bernice, La...

Miss Evelyn June Mundy, 79, of Trumann passed away Friday, August 22, 2003, at the family residence due to natural causes. Miss Mundy was born in Trumann June 30, 1924, and was a lifetime resident of Trumann. She was a retired employee of Singer Company in Trumann and a member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann. Miss Mundy was preceded in death by three sisters, four brothers and was the daughter of the late Anton Sharron and Tillie Belle Fritts Munday...

Mr. Riley Issac Thomas of Trumann passed away Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at the family residence due to natural causes. He was 73 years old. Mr. Thomas was born in Athens, Ala., and had lived most of his life in the Trumann area. Mr. Thomas was a retired brick mason, a U.S. Army veteran and of the Pentecostal faith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Catheryn Bennett Thomas, and one daughter, Rhonda Thomas...

Mr. Joseph "Joe" Thompson, 46, of Jonesboro passed away Saturday, August 16, 2003, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro from natural causes. Mr. Thompson was born in Trumann on May 11, 1957, and had lived in Jonesboro for the past 15 years. He was a factory worker for Roach Manufacturing in Trumann, a 1976 graduate of Trumann High School and of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his father, Emmitt Thompson St., and three sisters...

Cora Lee Mott, 97, of Marked Tree, formerly of Tyronza died last Wednesday at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis. Mott, a member of the Tyronza Church of Christ is survived by her son, Earl Mott of Tyronza; one sister, Edna Spite of Meshawake, Ind.; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren...

Louise Lizer Jones, 73, of Osceola died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola. She had lived in Mississippi County for more than 50 years and was a member of Green Acres Church of Christ in Osceola. Survivors include a son, Clifford Miller Sr. ...

Eddie Joe Coleman, 50, of Ocean Spring, Miss. died on Saturday, Aug. 16 at his residence. He was of the Baptist faith and a member of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Dart Association. Coleman was preceded in death by his parents, Ed Coleman and Virginia Townson...

Jimmie Williams Teague, 85, of Gilmore died on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. A homemaker, Teague attended the Tyronza First United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husbands Thomas C. Williams and Nolan Teague...