Obituaries

Mildred Janis Keene, 78, of Clarkton, Mo., and formerly of Piggott, Ark., passed away on June 1, 2020, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She spent many hours bringing joy to the General Baptist Nursing Home residents as a volunteer, helping in whatever was needed. She also loved visiting the shut-ins...

Irma Dean Girtman, 82, of Piggott, Ark., passed away May 31, 2020, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, Ark. She was born on April 12, 1938, in Carryville, Ark., and was the daughter of Troy and Edith (Wright) Graddy. Irma was united in marriage to Billy John Girtman on July 23, 1955...

Esther Marie McDougall, 77, of Piggott, Ark., fell asleep in death on Thursday, May 28, 2020, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital, Jonesboro, Ark. She was born in Portland, Maine, in December of 1942, the daughter of the late Linwood and Anita (Labrasseur) Knowles...

Yvonne Lye, 74, of Piggott, Ark., formerly of Nuevo and Long Beach, Calif., passed away May 27, 2020, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. She was born on August 28, 1945, in Long Beach, Calif., and was the daughter of the late Arthur and Nila (Seal) Lye...

Michael David Kemper, 70, of Boydsville, Ark., passed away on Monday, May 18, 2020, at Regional One Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn. He was born March 30, 1950, in Jonesboro, Ark., to Woodrow and Lucille (Collins) Kemper. Michael, affectionately known as Papa, was a loving husband, father and grandfather. ...

Martha Jo Johnson, 95, of Evergreen, Colo., passed away peacefully on Tuesday May 12, 2020, at Elk Run Assisted Living in Evergreen. Jo was known for her love towards her family and friends, as well as her compassion for life. She was born in Piggott, Ark., on July 10, 1924, to Jesse and Rachel Edwards and a member of the Fitzgerald family. ...

On Monday, May 18, 2020, Vonnell Dickerson, loving mother of three children, passed away at the age of 92. Vonnell was born on July 27, 1927, to Vernal Douglas and Nora Lee (Williams) Featherston in Marmaduke, Ark. On Sept. 28, 1946, she married John Wesley Dickerson. Together, they raised one daughter, Patsy, and two sons, Jerry and John...

Albert Lee Hess, Jr., 63, of Elkhart, Ind., passed away May 12, 2020. He was born on June 30, 1956, in Watervliet, Mich., and was the son of Albert and Augusta (Eveland) Hess, and Norma Jean (Jones) Persful. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Harlene Barnett...

David Vaughn Ozier, of Jonesboro, Ark., passed away on May 16, 2020, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Glenda; his grandchildren, Olivia and Ben Ozier, and daughter-in-law, Lisa Ozier Meredith, all of Springdale Ark. David is also survived by his sister in law, June Ozier, of Oxford, Miss.; as well as several brothers-in-lawl sisters-in-law; nieces; nephews and cousins...

Mr. Bob Bell, age 87, of Piggott, Ark. , joined his wife in heaven Monday May 12, 2020, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, Mo., surrounded by his family. Mr. Bell was a Korean War veteran, a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Piggott and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends...

Virginia Maxine Morgan, 90, of Marmaduke, Ark., passed away May 10, 2020. She was born on April 30, 1930, in Greenway, Ark. and was the daughter of the late Mack and Virgie (Nettles) Evans. Maxine was united in marriage to James Ivan Morgan on May 2, 1946, and to this union seven daughters were born...

Nettie Ellis, 69, of Pollard, Ark., passed away May 10, 2020, at her home at Pollard. She was born on February 10, 1951, in McDougal, Ark., and was the daughter of the late Jessie and Itha (Hays) Huneycutt. She was preceded in death by her father, Jessie Huneycutt; mother, Itha Huneycutt; brother, Francis Huneycutt; and sisters, Gene Bradshaw and Ann Melton...

Rosie Mae White, 89, of Rector, Ark., passed from the cares of this life to be with Jesus on Friday, May 8, 2020, at Rector Nursing and Rehab, in Rector. She was born on May 30, 1930 in Black Oak, Ark., to the late William Ira and Gladys Marie (Clayton) Harris...

Ava Jean Crittendon, 95, of Piggott, Ark., passed away May 2, 2020, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Piggott. She was born on April 7, 1925, in Searcy County, Ark., and was the daughter of Bluford and Roxie (McElroy) Harrell. Ava was united in marriage to John Virgil Crittendon on June 30, 1941...

Claudena Marilyn Bellers, 92, of Piggott, Ark., passed away April 28, 2020, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Piggott. She was born on February 16, 1928, in Piggott, and was the daughter of the late Claude and Vera (Braden) Montgomery. Claudena was united in marriage to Floyd Junior Bellers on June 1, 1947, and to this union four children were born. Floyd preceded her in death on November 6, 1982...

Wilma Janet Ray, 76, of Piggott, Ark., passed away April 19, 2020, at General Baptist Nursing Home in Piggott. She was born on February 5, 1944, in Piggott, Ark., and was the daughter of Jessie and Leona (Crittendon) Vaughn. Wilma was united in marriage to Shelby Bond Ray on Sept. 4, 1964...

Donna Jean Masterson, 64, of Rector, Ark., passed away on April 20, 2020, at her home in Rector. She was a graduate of Kennett High School and retired from Monroe. Donna loved spoiling her grandchildren and working outside in the yard. She was preceded in death by her mother, Della Mae McCallister...

Roma Jean Morrison, 81, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Sunday, April 19, 2020, at NEA Memorial Baptist Hospital, Jonesboro, Ark. She was born July 23, 1938, in Pollard, Ark., to the late Frank and Fay Latta. Roma was a member of Piggott First General Baptist Church. She enjoyed cooking and ballroom dancing...

Larry Joe Evers, Sr., 72, of Rector, Ark., passed from this life to be with Jesus on Friday, April 17, 2020, at Baptist East in Memphis Tenn. He was born on February 29, 1948, in Rector, to the late James Leo and Blanch (Blasdel) Evers. He was a member of Purcell Church, of Rector, and enjoyed reading his Bible and riding horses. Larry was a car dealer and loved spending time with his family and friends...

Dorothy Luella Morris, 95, of Jonesboro, Ark., and formerly of McDougal, Ark., passed away April 15, 2020, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. She was born on March 20, 1925, in Monroe, Mich., and was the daughter of the late William and Edith (Ford) Bergren...

Deanna Sue (Mullen) Smith was born on October 27, 1948, in Batesville Ark. She lost her battle with Alzheimer's on April 9, 2020, while living at Avenir Memory Care in Little Rock, Ark. Sue grew up in Smithville, Ark., and graduated from Sloan-Hendrix High School in 1966. ...

Mary Sula Gardner, 92, of Rector, Ark., passed from this world on April 10, 2020. She was born in Marmaduke, Ark., to the late RW and Leona (French) Poppe. She was a faithful member of the Evangelical Methodist Church, where she raised her family. Sula was one of the first employees to work in the Emerson Electric Plant in Paragould...

Stella Mae Whaley, 95, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Thursday, April 9, 2020, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Piggott. She was born on April 2, 1925, in Carryville, Ark., and was the daughter of the late Walter and Madeline (Trout) Riddle. Stella was united in marriage to James Willard Whaley on Feb. 15, 1946...

Lorene Marrie Nettles passed away April 7, 2020, at the age of 97. Lorene was born to Noah and Ora (Ellis) Fulks in Piggott, Ark. Lorene was preceded in death by her parents, Noah and Ora Fulks; her husband, Louis Ray Nettles; five sisters, Elva Stone, Venna Gatewood, Geneva Nettles, Pearl Ward and Augusta Dees; and one brother, Prentis Nettles...

Louise Shelton, 89, of Rector, Ark., passed away at her residence on March 12, 2020. She was born November 15, 1930 in Kensett, Ark., to the late, Walter Cordell and Emma (Cable) Cordell Talley. On July 21, 1947, at White Oak, Ark., she was married to Norman Shelton. He preceded her in death on January 4, 2018...

Cletta B. Redfairn, 101, of Princeton, Ind, passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at The Waters in Princeton. She was born April 29, 1918, in Rector, Ark., to Carl and Iva (Lee) Gunn. She had been a resident of Hazelton, Ind. since 1943. She was a homemaker and loved to cook, quilt and sew. She attended the former Shiloh Methodist Church...

Goldia M. Goodman, 91, died April 4, 2020, in Piggott, Ark. Goldia was born in Knobel, Ark., to the late Lee and Flossie Mae (Nevalls) Young on January 29, 1929. Goldia married Dallas Goodman July 27, 1946, in Piggott. They were married for 36 years until Dallas' death in 1983...