Obituaries

William Clyde “JR” Ross, Jr., 68, of Pollard, Ark., passed away April 18, 2018, at the St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. He was born on July 31, 1949, in Blytheville, Ark., and was the son of the late William Clyde and Emma Alice (Stephen) Ross...

Marvin Lee Hoffman, 79, passed away January 3, 2018, in Umatilla, Fla., where he lived for the past six months. He was born at home on February 19, 1928, to the late Williamette (Shetts) and Edward Hoffman. He is survived by his current wife, Virginia Hoffman...

Vivian Chilcutt Phipps, 98, of Rector, Ark., passed from this life on Wednesday April 11, 2018, at Rector Nursing and Rehab, in Rector. She was born on April 8, 1920, in Greene County, Ark., to the late Earnest and Pearl (Hodge) Powers. She was a housewife and a member of the Rector First General Baptist Church...

Michael Berlyss Holifield, 62, of Jonesboro, Ark., passed from this life Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at St. Bernard’s Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born to the late Berlyss and Imogene Holifield on January 8, 1956, in Jonesboro. Michael has resided in Jonesboro since 2007 after spending a vast majority of his life in Searcy and a brief time in Piggott. While living in Jonesboro, Michael was a faithful member of the Awaken Church and was a huge supporter of Upper Crust Pizza Company...

Mary Kathleen Curtis, 99, of Paragould, Ark., passed from the cares of this life to be with Jesus on Tuesday April 10, 2018, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, Ark. She was born on June 3, 1918, in Rector, Ark., to the late R.W. and Mary Etta (Adams) Bookout. Mary was united in marriage on Oct. 10, 1936, to the late Auta “Ike” Curtis and to this union three children were born...

Susan L. Parks, 69, of Salisbury, Md., died peacefully on Sunday, April 8, 2018, at her home surrounded by her family. Born on March 8, 1949, in Rector, Ark., she was the daughter of the late Herbert Layer and Von Dell Cox Dawson. Mrs. Parks was a devoted member of the Women of the Moose, Salisbury Chapter #1208, since joining the organization in 1983. ...

Sharon Grubb died April 6, 2018, at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Southaven, Miss., at the age of 73. Sharon was born November 2, 1944, in Paragould, Ark., to Everett and Audie (Walker) Highfill. She was preceded in death by her parents, along with her two sisters, Mary

Judy Carol Wells, 65, of Greenway, Ark., passed away April 5, 2018, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, Ark. She was born on December 19, 1951, and was the daughter of the late Charles Thomas and Verba Maxine (Hutchinson) Runyon. She was united in marriage to Donnie Wells on June 10, 1971, and to this union two children were born...

Teddy H. McDowell, 85, of Battle Creek, Mich., passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2018, at Borgess Hospital, Kalamazoo, Mich. He was born January 21, 1933, in Clay County Arkansas to Ameral and Etta (Reagan) McDowell. Teddy married Lowella Gerlach on Feb.24, 1951, and she preceded him in death...

Graveside services for Jimmy Neeley, 70, of Burleson, Tex., are scheduled for Friday, April 6, 2018, at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, with Pastor Ed Newton officiating. Neeley died in Burleson, on March 31, 2018, after a brief but fierce struggle with brain cancer...

James Lee Ward, 77, of Piggott, Ark., passed away March 31, 2018, at the NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro, Ark. He was born on August 19, 1940, in McDougal, Ark., and was the son of the late Benjamin Aubrey Ward and Mamie Marie (Warbritton) Ward. He was united in marriage to Margie Lea Green on Aug. 9, 1958, and to this union five children were born...

Ethel Landrus Stafford, of Paragould, passed away March 10, 2018 in Jonesboro. A graveside service will be held on May 18 at 1:30 p.m. at Woodland Heights Cemetery in Rector. Officiating will be Chris Petty from the Seventh and Mueller Church of Christ, in Paragould, where Ethel was a member...

Debra Jean Gramling Schleiff, 63, of Point Blank, Tex., left this earth for her heavenly home on February 8, 2018. Debra was born January 23, 1955, in Piggott, Ark., to Billie Faye Leonard Cullins and Carlos Gramling. Debra was a special lady who touched the lives of many with her good heart and fighting spirit...

Jeannie Weaver, 54 of Piggott, Ark., passed away on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. Jeannie, daughter of Ambress Thrasher, Jr. and Etta Mae Osborn Stockman, was born on Sunday, March 8, 1964, in Tarrant County, Tex...

Pamela Jean Eason, 60, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Friday, March 23, 2018, in Piggott. She was born on February 3, 1958, in Piggott, and was the daughter of Delmar and Faye Deleta (Gibson) Causey. She was united in marriage to Mickal A. Eason on Dec. 31, 1976, and to this union two sons were born...

Anne Lee Tucker, 82, of Rector, Ark., passed away on March 21, 2018 at the St. Bernard’s Medical Center, Jonesboro, Ark. She was born September 4, 1935, to the late Marion and Martha (Mulcahy) Fray in Poplar Bluff, Mo. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her daughter, Laura Elizabeth Tucker; a brother, Reverend Arthur Fray and her sisters, Mary Belle Meredith and Joan Stitt...

Rickey Gerane Woods, Sr., was born on December 18, 1956, in Waukegan, Ill., to Doyne Woods and Doris (Roark) Cook and passed away on March 17, 2018, at his son Mitchell and wife Ashley's home in Mammoth Spring, Ark. He was preceded in death by his father, Doyne Woods, and grandfather, Willy "Bub" Woods...

Debby Pence, 60, of Corning, Ark., passed away March 16, 2018, at St. Bernard’s Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. Born October 15, 1957, in Jonesboro, Debby was a retired florist. She enjoyed fishing, dancing, watching HGTV, bossing people around, spending time with grandkids and attending grandkids sporting events. She was of the Christian Faith...

Robert Earl Knipple, 90, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at Piggott Community Hospital. Earl was born in Blytheville, Ark., to C.W. and Norene (Evans) Knipple. He was retired from Ferrell Gas Company and was a retired firefighter with the Blytheville Fire Department. ...

Doris Erwin, 81 of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Piggott, Ark., passed from this life on March 13, 2018, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born February 11, 1937, in Rector Ark., to the late Lloyd and Zelma Pearl (Cullum) Dees. Doris was an avid reader of her Bible, mysteries and suspense...

Mary Moody, 73, of Piggott, Ark., passed away March 7, 2018, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She was born July 13, 1944, in Kennett, Mo., the daughter of the late Earnest and Edna Bryant Landrum. She was preceded in death by three infant children and a brother, Robert Landrum...

Mary Virginia Cox Howell Menser, 93, of Piggott, Ark., passed away March 9, 2018, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Piggott. She was born June 16, 1925, to Ella Elizabeth Moore Cox and James Everett Cox. Virginia was a very special lady who touched the lives of many with her abilities to craft, crochet, knit and garden. Virginia was a housekeeper at the Piggott Hospital from 1962 to 1973, and a member of the First General Baptist Church of Piggott...

Betty Jean Moody, 88, of Piggott, Ark., passed away March 4, 2018, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell, Mo. She was born on February 28, 1930, on a farm outside of Piggott, and was the daughter of the late Ezra Floyd and Edna Elizabeth (Stewart) Blake. She had four siblings, Billy Dean Blake, Bonnie Louise Blake Bell, and twin brothers, Clayton Floyd and Elton Lloyd Blake...

Phyllis Ann Slaton, 70, of Piggott, Ark., passed away March 1, 2018, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Piggott. She was born on August 20, 1947, in Nimmons, Ark., and was the daughter of the late George R. and Mary Lou (Stanley) Slaton. She loved Elvis Presley and enjoyed getting dressed-up to have her picture taken...

Johnny Merrion Cason, of Marmaduke, Ark., the son of the late George W. Cason and Beulah (Morris) Frazier, was born August 25, 1927 in Flint, Mich. He departed this life on February 28, 2018, in Marmaduke, at the age of 90 years. Johnny married Frances Scarbrough on Jan. 23, 1989, in Blytheville, Ark...

Donna Lea Parks, 66, of Piggott, Ark., passed away February 28, 2017, surrounded by her family at her home. She was born January 8, 1952, in Joliet, Ill., and was the daughter of the late Thomas Orien and Thelma (Flowers) Coyle. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Thomas, James, Paul, Wayne and Robert Coyle; and her sister, Anna Jane King...

Jeffrey Baker, 40, of Rector, Ark., passed away on February 22, 2018. He was born April 14, 1977, to Thomas and Belinda (Palmer) Baker. He is survived by his three daughters, Cecily Baker, Sarah Baker and McKenzie Baker; his parents, Thomas Baker and Belinda Baker; his brothers, Kelly and Ann Baker, Thomas Pullin and David Pullin; his nieces and nephews, Keelie Baker, Kasey Baker, Katie Anderson, Thomas Anderson, Erin Baker and Madeline Grace Baker; a great-niece, Sagan Rhys English, along with many other loved family members and friends.. ...

Eva Louise (Horton) Pettus was born March 20, 1947, to J. B. Horton and Melba Farris Horton in Detroit, Mich., and passed away February 17, 2018, at CrossRidge Hospital in Wynne, Ark. She grew up in New Madrid, Mo., and attended the First Presbyterian Church. While in the Presbyterian Church she represented her local church at the World Missions Conference in Montreat, N.C., her senior year in high school...

Lovie Joyce McCord, born December 18, 1944, was called home to her eternal rest to be in the presence of the Lord on February 21, 2018. She was a resident at General Baptist Nursing Home, in Piggott, Ark., and was originally from Rector, Ark. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Robert Madison McCord; her mother, Clara Lee Wheeler; her father, Edward Wheeler; her sisters, Bonnie Pitman, Lilly Pittman and Barbara Wheeler; and her brothers, Robert Wheeler, (Red Bud) Gordes Wheeler and Eddie Wheeler. ...