Obituaries

Rachel Ballard, 17, of Corning, Ark., passed away Friday, August 17, 2018, in Moark, Ark. Ms. Ballard was born in Poplar Bluff, Mo., on March 9, 2001. She was a senior at Corning High School. She was a member of the Corning Chapter of FFA, currently serving as Reporter, also a member of the Clay County Junior Fair Board and the High School Yearbook Staff. ...

Ms. Bethany Renee Stormes, 17, of Knobel, Ark., passed away Friday, August, 17, 2018, at Moark, Ark. Ms. Stormes was born December 12, 2000, in Paragould, Ark. She was senior at Corning High School, where she was a member of the Lady Bobcat basketball and softball teams. She loved hunting, fishing, Stock Car racing, taking care of her pets, spending time with family and friends and all things outdoors. She was a member of Delaplaine Baptist Church...

Lucille "Aunt Cele" Price, 93, of Paragould, Ark., passed away Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at her residence. She was a born in Lilbourn, Mo., a retired homemaker and a member of the Bethel Assembly of God Church. She loved her family and to go fishing...

Jimmie Welty, 75 years old, of Qulin, Mo., passed away August 16, 2018, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Piggott, Ark. He was born January 9, 1943, in Fagus, Mo., to the late Owen and Claudia (Fowler) Welty. In April 17, 1965, he married the love of his life, Sue Hamilton...

Bob Crowson, 83, of Jonesboro, Ark., passed away August 14, 2018, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born on December 9, 1934, in Hargrave's Corner, Ark., and was the son of James and Irene (Glasgow) Crowson. He was preceded in death by his mother, Irene Crowson; father, James V. Crowson; and a sister, Melba Jean Crowson...

Lola Mae Brandon, 85, of Piggott, Ark., passed away August 9, 2018, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. She was born on February 17, 1933, in St. Francis, Ark., and was the daughter of John and Ethel (Wheetley) Vaughn. She was preceded in death by her mother, Ethel Vaughn; her father, John William Vaughn; a daughter, Delilah Ethel Thomas; two brothers and five sisters...

Nancy E. (Vincent) Pruett, of St. Charles, Mo., passed away Thursday, August 9, 2018, at the age of 75. She was the loving wife of the late Herlen D. Pruett; beloved daughter of the late Clinton C. and Estelle Vincent; devoted mother of Phillip (Tori Lubecki) Pruett and Todd Pruett; cherished grandmother of Dryden Pruett and Rhett Pruett; dearest sister of Sonnie Vincent...

Rosetta Garner, 74, of Pollard, Ark., passed away August 5, 2018, in Pollard, Ark. She was born on June 29, 1944, in Greenway, Ark., and was the daughter of Harry and Nora (Fry) Massey. Rosetta was united in marriage to Doyle Garner on March 6, 1963...

Bobby Joe Cook, 85, of Okeechobee, Fla., passed away August 2, 2018, at the Raulerson Hospital in Okeechobee. He was born on September 22, 1932, in Kennett, Mo., and was the son of Warren and Ester (Forbuss) Cook. Bobby was united in marriage to Goldie Raney on May 12, 1951...

Donnie Wade Cooper, 43, of Pollard, Ark., passed away July 31, 2018, at his home. He was born on September 21, 1974, in Kennett, Mo., and was the son of Donnie and Nell Cooper of Pollard, Ark. and Lena Mavis Ribbings of Campbell, Mo. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Elmer and Goldie Cooper of McDougal, Ark., George and Marion Riddle of Louisiana and Olin and Mavis Nix of Clarkton, Mo.; a sister, Tina Leonard of Louisiana, and a nephew, Jacob Leonard of Louisiana...

Cynthia Jo Boyd, 87, affectionately known as “Granny,” passed from this life on August 1, 2018, at the Heritage Nursing Home in Kennett, Mo. She was born on June 20, 1931, in the house outside of Rector, Ark., where she later raised her family. Jo loved having her family around and helping raise all her beloved grandchildren, who continue to tell all the fun stories and things that Granny allowed them to do...

Frances Louise Nickens, age 94, of Jefferson City, Mo. and formerly of Fort Myers, Fla., passed away on Sunday, July 8, 2018, at St. Joseph's Bluff in Jefferson City, Mo. She was born on August 10, 1923, in Piggott, Ark., the daughter of Clifford Gales and Agnes (Hunt) Gales. She was married on Jan. 5, 1943, in St. Louis, Mo., to John R. Nickens who preceded her in death on December 24, 1990...

Edward Leon Moffitt, 75, of Edwardsville, Ill., passed away July 26, 2018, at the Alahambra Care Center, in Alahambra, Ill. He was born on July 30, 1942, in Fagus, Mo., and was the son of Doyle and Edith (King) Moffitt. He was preceded in death by his mother, Edith Idabelle Moffitt, and father, Doyle Moffitt...

Hermon “Pete” Liles, Jr., 85, of Corning, Ark., passed away July 26, 2018, at St. Bernard’s Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. Mr. Liles was born September 12, 1932, in Kennett, Mo. He proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957. He was of the Baptist Faith...

Donald Clyde Wicker, of Marthasville, Mo., passed away at his home on July 21, 2018, at the age of 78. He was born February 26, 1940, in Portageville, Mo. He was the beloved husband of Judith Wicker, of Marthasville. He is survived by his son, Shaun C. ...

Joseph Lynn Bolton, 74, of Piggott, Ark., passed away July 21, 2018, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. He was born on January 19, 1944, in Rector, Ark., and was the son of the late Clyde and Beatrice Bolton. He was united in marriage to Viola Petty Cowgill on Jan. 21, 2008...

Devert Ray Settlemoir, 83, of North Little Rock, Ark., passed from this life on July 17, 2018. He was born on November 13, 1934, in Pollard, Ark., to the late Virgle and Goldie Settlemoir. Ray was a veteran of the United State Air Force and was a retired corporate pilot for Dillard’s Department Stores...

Carl James Cate, 85 of Walnut Ridge, Ark., went to be with his Lord on July 12, 2018. He was born in Hickoria, Ark., on February 18, 1933, and moved to Piggott, Ark., at the age of 12. Following his graduation from Piggott High School, Carl enlisted in the National Guard at age 18, where he served for nearly two years. He attended University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University where he pursued a degree in education...

Shirley Wayne Lewis, 82, of Saint Francis, Ark., passed away July 13, 2018, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, Ark. She was born on September 21, 1935, in Greenway, Ark., and was the daughter of the late David and Creacy (Loveless) Lewis...

Ellen Yvonne (Green) Rowton, the daughter of Robert Clinton Green and Alma (Durden) Green, was born November 19, 1930, and passed away July 10, 2018. Ellen married Henry Earl “Bob” Rowton on October 25, 1952. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; a brother, Robert “Bobby Jr.” Clinton Green Jr.; a brother-in-law, Don Denney; and a nephew, Aubrey Dewayne (Wayne) Rowton...

Linda Fry, 63, of Kennett, Mo., passed away July 10, 2018, at Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott, Ark. She was born on February 25, 1955, in Friendship, Mo., and was the daughter of Willie and Marie (Fisher) Wilburn. Linda was united in marriage to Cecil Fry on Aug. 17, 1971...

Esther Vonigene (Roofe) Gatewood, of Rector, Ark., was born on October 31, 1923, to Roy “Kid” Roofe and Minnie Foster Roofe. She passed from this life on July 7, 2018, at the age of 94 years, eight months of age at NHC in Kennett, Mo. On Nov. 15, 1941, she married Leon Gatewood who preceded her in death after 60 years of marriage...

LaRue Russell, 86, of Selmer, Tenn., formerly of Piggott, Ark., passed away July 5, 2018, at Selmer, Tenn. She was born on October 2, 1931, in Pontotoc, Miss., and was the daughter of the late William McKinley and Mary Etta (Ramsey) Blagg. She was preceded in death by her father, William McKinley Blagg; mother, Mary Etta Blagg; grandson, Chris Russell and siblings Edith Britt, Laura Moore, Joan Strnad and Kenneth Blagg...

Brenda Kay Bader, 70 of Piggott, Ark., passed away on Saturday, July 7, 2018, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Brenda, daughter of Lester George Eggemeyer and Minnie Eggemeyer, was born on Friday, April 2, 1948, in Chester, Ill. She retired from Briggs and Stratton after 22 years and was of the Catholic Faith...

Eugene D. "Gene" Martin, 95, of Paragould, Ark., formerly of Rector, Ark., passed away, July 5, 2018, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born on January 22, 1923, and was the son of the late Herbert Ray and Leolia (Stone) Martin...

Jacklynn Julieann Rice, 43, of Lake City, Ark., passed away June 29, 2018, at her residence. She was born on March 18, 1975, in Michigan and was the daughter of Jack and Carolyn (Latta) Byrd. She was united in marriage to Marcus Paul Rice on Feb. 14, 2014...

Sheila Cassandra (Elkins) Baker, of Piggott, Ark., passed away July 1, 2018, at home surrounded by her family. She was born September 15, 1958, to Shelly Odell Elkins Sr. and Linda Jean (Johnson) Elkins. She was a member of Fagus General Baptist Church. She had a love for genealogy, sewing, puzzles, games and her grandchildren...

Dorothy Jean Wells, 89, of Greenway, Ark., passed from the cares of this life to be with her Lord and Savior Tuesday June 26, 2018 at National Health Care, Kennett, Mo. She was born July 14, 1928, in Rector, Ark., to the late Roy and Hattie (Hardin) Hill. Dorothy was a member of the Church of Christ, and in her spare time enjoyed quilting, sewing, cooking for her family and spending time with her children and grandchildren...

Victor Lee Smith, 71, of Rector, Ark., passed from this life peacefully on Friday June 22, 2018, at his residence. He was born on June 27, 1946, in McDougal, Ark., to Imogene (Bradshaw) Smith and the late Claude Smith. Victor was a veteran of the United States Army and was of the Baptist faith...

Dorothy Sue Burns went to be with her Lord and Savior at 5:05 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, at the age of 79, in the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould, Ark. She was born to the late Zelmer and Lola Moore, in Rector, Ark., on September 9, 1938...

Michele Wagster, 67, of Rector, Ark., passed away June 23, 2018, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on December 4, 1950, in Piggott, Ark., and was the daughter of the late Dwight and Dorothy (McBride) Lack. She was united in marriage to Daryl Eugene Wagster on Sept. 16, 1995...