Obituaries from July 2005

George Elbridge Cothran, 82, died on Tuesday, June 28. He lived in Corpus Christi, Texas. Cothran was born in Brownsville, Tenn. on November 2, 1922. He was the second of two children born to Elbridge Woods Cothran and Neva Estelle Johnson. George's father nicknamed him "Bud." He, his mother, father and sister moved to Lepanto, Arkansas in 1926 where Cothran completed high school just in time for World War II. ...

Arie Reedie Ruple, 68, of Dyess died Wednesday, June 29, at South Mississippi County Regional Medical Center at Osceola. Born in Mississippi, she was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Survivors include her husband James Ruple of Dyess; five sons: Billy Ruple of Fulton, Miss., Jimmy Ruple, Donald Ruple and Terry Ruple Jr., all of Dyess, and Wayne Ruple of Zion, Ill.; two daughters: Brenda Hopper of Osceola and Terra Tanner of Joiner; five brothers, Taylor Slaughter of Tishomingo, Miss., L.C. ...

Hilda F. Broadaway, 81, died on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center of Jonesboro of natural causes. She was born in Philadelphia, Miss., was a homemaker and had lived in Trumann for the past 40 years, moving from Marked Tree. She attended the First Pentecostal Church in Trumann...

Mary Alice Hunt, 70, of Osceola died Monday, June 27 at her residence. Born in Mississippi, Hunt was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church in Lepanto. She is survived by two daughters: Erma Lee Thompson of Milwaukee, Wisc. And Sarah Laverne Wiley of West Memphis; two sons: Luther Brown of Birmingham, Ala. And Jerry Louis Brown of Osceola; two sisters: Arthella McRay and Lillie Lambert, both of Milwaukee, Wisc.; and sixteen grandchildren...

Pearline Martin Morris, 69, of Tyronza died Thursday, June 23, at Crittenden Memorial Hospital of West Memphis. Born at Joiner, she was a cook at Three Rivers Nursing Home of Marked Tree and was a member and usher at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church at Denwood...

Elmer Lee "Shinny" Shinabery Jr., 84, of Marked Tree, died Friday, June 24 at St. Bernard's Medical Center. A lifelong resident of Marked Tree, he was a retired pharmacist, World War II Army veteran, recipient of the Bronze Star and member of St. Norbert's Catholic Church...

Ruth Emma May Lowery, 85, of Trumann died, Friday, July 1, 2005 at the family residence in Trumann of natural causes. She was born in the Frog Pond Community in Nettleton and had lived most of her life in the Trumann and Jonesboro areas. She was a housewife and member of the Central Missionary Baptist Church in Trumann...

Hilda F. Broadaway, 81, died on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center of Jonesboro of natural causes. She was born in Philadelphia, Miss., was a homemaker and had lived in Trumann for the past 40 years, moving from Marked Tree. She attended the First Pentecostal Church in Trumann...

Gladys Ophelia Skinner Rives, 83, of Jonesboro died early Saturday, July 2, 2005, at St. Elizabeth's Place in Jonesboro, where she resided. She was born in Drew, Miss. and had lived in Whitehaven, Tenn., Trumann and Nesbit, Miss. before moving to Jonesboro two years ago. ...

Billy "Punk" Gill Jr., 47, of Brookland, died Thursday, July 7 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. Gill was employed by Roadway Express Trucking Co. and attended Cornerstone United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Jennifer Gill, and his grandparents...

Joshua Taylor McClain, 24, of Lepanto died Friday, July 8, at the Med in Memphis. He attended Miliam Chapel Pentecostal Church of God at Heafer. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Lisa Taylor and Stephen Graves of Heafer; his father, Michael McClain of Lepanto; his grandparents, Allen and Eula Taylor of Turrell and Wilma McClain of Lepanto; and a great-grandmother, Johnnie Taylor of Heafer...

Johnny Frederick Taylor, 34, of Marked Tree died Sunday, July 10, 2005, at Methodist Healthcare Central Hospital in Memphis. He was the son of Bill Taylor of Marked Tree and the late Geneva Taylor. He is survived by two sisters: Joanie Lindley of Marion, and Kelly Battles of Horn Lake, MS; two brothers: Robert J. Taylor, of Osceola, and Billy Wayne Taylor of Hoxie...

Ricky James "Speedy" Marks, 61, of Trumann, died Friday, July 15, 2005, at the St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived much of his life in Arizona before moving to Trumann in 1988. He operated Speedy's Lawn Service in Trumann and was of the Protestant faith. He was an Army veteran, and was a member of the Trumann American Legion and the Trumann Masonic Lodge...

Jerry Lee Gard, Jr., 44, of Trumann, died Sunday, July 10, 2005 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and had lived in Trumann for the past three years and was formerly of North Little Rock. He was a production worker, veteran of the U.S. Army and was a member of the Providence Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by one son, Curtis Lee Gard...

J. C. Qualls, 70, of Trumann, died on Sunday, July 10, 2005 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born in Savannah, Tenn., and had lived in Trumann for the past 13 years and was formerly of Marked Tree. He was a retired group leader for Roach Mfg., and a member of the Calvary Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by two sisters, three brothers, and his parents, Elmer and Rose Smith Qualls...

Bebe Arthena Greenwood, 73, of Trumann, died on Monday, July 11, 2005 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born in Lepanto and had lived in Trumann since 1960. She was a pharmacist's assistant for Phil's Medical Center Pharmacy in Trumann and was of the Church of God faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Greenwood, a son, Gary Dale Nichols, one brother, a great-granddaughter, and her parents, William Timothy and Florence Stewart Rosamond...

Meridith Jayne Conatser, 18, of Trumann died Saturday, July 16, 2005 from injuries received in an automobile accident in Mountain Home. She was born in Jonesboro and had lived most of her life in Trumann. She was a 2005 graduate of Flippin High School and attended the Viva Drive Church of Christ in Trumann...

Mary Estelle Harris, 85, died Sunday, July 17 at her residence in Lepanto. She was born in Big Prairie, Mo. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Preceding her in death were her husband, George Harris; three sisters: Glaydis Dunning, Myrtle Yancy and Jean Vaughn; and one step son, George L. Harris...

Jesse Lee Young, age 88, of Tyronza, died Tuesday, July 12 at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis. He was the son of the late J.D. Young and Mamie Young. Young was a farmer and a member of the Central Baptist Church of Marked Tree. He is survived by two sons: Jake Young of Osceola and Butch Young of Kennesaw, Ga; two sisters: Ethel Holt of Gilmore. ...

Former Marked Tree resident Mary Lawson Andrews died at her home in Turrell on Tuesday, July 12, 2005, at the age of 86. Andrews was a former long time employee of John & Frank Drug Store and Schonbergers in Marked Tree. She was retired from the Turrell School District...

Sara Ann Wilkey, 55, of Tyronza, died Tuesday, July 19 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was a custodian and cafeteria worker for the EPC school system. Survivors inclue her mother, Elsie (Chaffin) Ursery of Walnut, Miss.; one son, Michael Wilkey and two sisters, Freda Kirk and Willie Harris, all of Tyronza...

Vivian Lucille Branum, 90, of Trumann died Wednesday, July 20, at Rose Care Nursing Center in Trumann. Born at Poplar Bluff, Mo., she was a homemaker and of the Baptist belief. Survivors include two daughters, Georgie Dale of Payneway and Lee Hammock of Counts, Tenn.; three sons, Billy Branum of Iuka, Miss., Bob Branum of Marked Tree and Ron Branum of Black Rock; two sisters, Evelyn Tibbs of Poplar Bluff and Dorothy Lawson of Winona, Ill.; 23 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.. ...

Myerl R. Birmingham, 82, of Trumann died Thursday, July 14, at Trumann Health and Rehab Center. Born at Swifton, she lived most of her life at Trumann and Marked Tree. She was a homemaker and was formerly a seamstress and laundromat operator and was of the Baptist belief...

Eula Bell Hand, 83, of Marked Tree died Sunday, July 17 at her home. Hand was born May 16, 1922 in Alabama, the daughter of Ernest Greenhill and Callie Moore Greenhill. She lived in Marked Tree for the past 13 years, was a housewife and a Baptist. She married Leroy Hand in 1939, and he survives her along with six daughters: Francis Hall and Louise Livingston, both of Marked tree, Shirley Keeling of Forrest City, Faye Harrison and Brenda Nofzinger, both of Hunter and Connie Elmore of Las Cruces, NM; a brother, Charles Greenville of Huntsville, Ala.; one sister, Pearl Roak of Marked Tree; 38 grandchildren, 73 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.. ...

J.T. Covington, 65, of Marion died Thursday, July 21, at Crittenden County Memorial Hospital of West Memphis. A Baptist, he worked as a construction foreman. Survivors include his wife, Ann Covington of Marion; one son, Tracy Covington of Marion; two stepdaughters, Charlotte Arnold of Hardy and Chris Childress of Olive Branch, Miss.; one brother, Billy Covington of West Memphis; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild...

Mae Mannon Miller, 82, of Harrisburg died Monday, July 18, 2005, at the NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro of natural causes. She was born in Etowah and had lived most of her life in Harrisburg. She was a retired cafeteria worker at Harrisburg High School and a member of the Shiloh Baptist Church She was preceded in death by two daughters, Valinda Fagan and Virginia Miller; her parents, Jim and Ruth Gann Mannon; three sisters and three brothers...

Richard James "Speedy" Marks, 61, of Trumann, died Friday, July 15, 2005, at the St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived much of his life in Arizona before moving to Trumann in 1988. He operated Speedy's Lawn Service in Trumann and was of the Protestant faith. He was an Army veteran, and was a member of the Trumann American Legion and the Trumann Masonic Lodge...

Ruby Jewell Clark, 86, of Trumann died Saturday, July 23, 2005 at St. Elizabeth's Place in Jonesboro where she had resided for the past several months. She was a native and lifelong resident of Trumann. She was a homemaker and member of the McCormick Baptist Church...