Clay County Times-Democrat: Obituaries from March 2005

Oscar Conley Speer (03/24/05)
Oscar Conley Speer, 85, of Rector, died Saturday, March 12, 2005, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born June 20, 1919, in the Campground Community near Paragould to the late Joseph Speer and Amanda Ramer Speer, he was a mechanic, farmer, a World War II Army veteran, of the Methodist faith and had been a member of this community for 66 years...

Rev. James William (Jim) Beal (03/09/05)
Rector native Rev. James William (Jim) Beal, a retired United Methodist pastor, long-time denomination leader and active community volunteer, died Friday, March 4, 2005, at age 76. He resided in Conway. Born Sept. 16, 1928, in Rector to the late Claude and Olive Pruett Beal, he was a 1952 graduate of Hendrix College and a 1955 graduate of Perkins School of Theology...

Ann Alstadt Bland (03/09/05)
Ann Alstadt Bland, 77, of Paragould, a native of Rector, died Tuesday, March 1, 2005, in Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tenn. She was born March 15, 1927, in Rector to the late Henry Lee and Bertha Ann (Roberts) Alstadt. She was a 1944 graduate of Rector High School, a 1948 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Social Welfare, a member of Delta Gamma Sorority and Sisterhood of PEO, and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Paragould...

Dorthy Ann Thompson (03/09/05)
Dorthy Ann Thompson, 89, of Rector, died Saturday, March 5, 2005, at Doniphan, Mo. She was born Dec. 1, 1915, in Dexter, Mo., to the late Charles and Etta Ellis. She was a homemaker and a member of the First United Pentecostal Church. She also was preceded in death by her husband, James Cecil Thompson; one son, Donnie J. Thompson, and one daugter, Glenda Thompson...

Wayne Johnson (03/09/05)
Graveside services for 70-year-old Wayne Johnson of Paragould, who died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005, were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, at Memorial Gardens in Paragould with Irby Funeral Home of Rector in charge of arrangements. Survivors include his wife, Betty, of the home; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Steve and Melissa Johnson and Ricky Johnson, both of Paragould; one brother, Bud Johnson of Paragould, and four grandchildren, Erika, Matthew, Tiffany and Brandon...

Doris Jean Brock (03/24/05)
Doris Jean Brock, 83, of Jonesboro, died Friday, March 18, 2005, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Aug. 19, 1921, in Oklahoma to the late J.L. and Eva Mae (Lemmons) Johnson and was married in 1940 to Edward Brock, who preceded her in death in 1975...

Freeman C. Shaw (03/24/05)
Freeman C. Shaw, 68, of Rector died Thursday, March 17, 2005, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born July 28, 1936, in Dellwood, Wisc., to the late Norman and Zeda (Nelson) Shaw, he was a Korean Army veteran and a journey machinist...

Marge Strozeski (03/24/05)
Funeral services for 76-year-old Marge Strozeski of Rector, who died Wednesday, March 16, at her home, were held Monday, March 21, in Livonia, Mich. There will be no services held locally. Mrs. Strozeski was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one brother and two sisters...

Edward Galend Rouse (03/24/05)
Edward Galend Rouse, 83, of Rector died Thursday, March 17, 2005, at John J. Pershing V.A. Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Born June 7, 1921, in Holcomb, Mo., to the late Jess and Reva Barners Rouse, he was a machine repairman for General Motors, a World War II Army veteran and a member of the Rector Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)...

Gladys Hubble (03/02/05)
Gladys Hubble, 79, of Rector, died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005, in Kennett, Mo. Born Sept. 25, 1925, to the late Frank and Dessie (Hampton) Allyn, she was an avid homemaker and a member of the Union Home Baptist Church. She was married Aug. 19, 1941, in Corning to L.C. Hubble, who also preceded her in death...

Johnny Giles Whittle (03/02/05)
Johnny Giles Whittle, 70, of Piggott, died Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005, at Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. He was born Sept. 30, 1934, in Holland, Mo., the son of the late Sam D. Whittle and Ethel Lena Barnes Whittle. He was united in marriage to Patsy Davis on Sept. 22, 1985, in Steele...

Clay Wells (03/02/05)
Clay Wells, 85, of Collinsville, Okla., died on Feb. 13, 2005, in Collinsville. He was born Nov. 15, 1919, in Rector, the son of the late Bynum and Teula (Perrin) Wells. Mr. Wells had been a resident of Collinsville since 1949, after moving there from Fort Worth, Texas. He was retired from American Airlines and was a member of the Transport Workers Union of America. He loved farming, gardening and fishing. Mr. Wells was a Veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps, having served in World War II...

Michael Alan Mobley (03/02/05)
Michael Alan Mobley, 51, of Rector died Monday, Feb. 28, 2005, in Jonesboro. Born March 6, 1953, in Paragould to Bill Mobley and the late Alice Maxine Mobley, he was a cattle buyer and a member of the Fifth and Pine Church of Christ. He is survived by his father, Bill Mobley of Rector; his wife, Julie Mobley of Rector; one son, William Garrett Mobley of Rector; two daughters, Jenna Mobley of Rector and Shelia Adams of Jonesboro; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Marilyn and Tim Carter of Rector and Margaret and Larry Baldwin of Mayfield, Ky., and several nieces and nephews.. ...

Hazel Lorene Williams (03/02/05)
Hazel Lorene Williams, 90, of Piggott, died Monday, Feb. 21, 2005. She was born Aug. 16, 1914, in Piggott, the daughter of the late Elvin and Edna Seal. Mrs. Williams was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Woodard B. Williams; two brothers, Howard Seal and Harold Seal; two sisters, Clara Mae Underwood and Ama Lea Branum; and a son-in-law, Antonio Quintas Jr...

Nelle Jane Wood (03/02/05)
Nelle Jane Wood, 92, of Rector died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005, at Craighead Nursing Home in Jonesboro. She was a retired bookkeeper for the Bank of Rector. Mrs. Wood was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Rector. She was preceded in death by her husband, Byron C. Wood; her parents, Claude Birl Cain and Sibyl Hayworth; and one sister, Helen Scherstuhl...

Edna Underwood (03/23/05)
Edna Underwood, 93, of Piggott, died Tuesday, March 15, 2005, in the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. She was born on August 10, 1911, in Springerton, Ill., the daughter of the late Edmond and Clara Pifer Johnson. She was united in marriage to Arthur Underwood on Jan. 18, 1928. They had five daughters...

Curtis Bruce Moore (03/23/05)
Curtis Bruce Moore, 46, of New Braunfels, Texas, died March 16, 2005, at his home in New Braunfels. He was born January 14, 1959, in Kennett. He graduated from Piggott High School in 1977, and later earned an associate degree in Photography at Southern Arkansas Technical College in Camden, Ark...

Clifton Carl Shride (03/23/05)
Clifton Carl Shride, 90, recently of Piggott, died Monday, March 14, 2005, in Anaheim, Calif. He was born April 8, 1914, in Clay County, the son of the late David Henry and Zulla Belle White Shride. He was a member of the Church of God in St. Louis, Portland, Oreg., Bell Gardens, Calif., Madison, Wisc., and Piggott. ...

Anna Mae French (03/23/05)
Anna Mae French, 80, of Piggott, died Saturday, March 19, 2005, in St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born November 7, 1924, the daughter of the late George Franklin and Minnie Frances Carlson Fisher. She was united in marriage to James Leroy French on January 26, 1946. They had three children...

Pamela Elaine "Pam" (Burdin) Layton (03/23/05)
Pamela Elaine "Pam" (Burdin) Layton, 51, of Harrisburg, died on Saturday, March 5, 2005, at her home. Mrs. Layton was born Jan. 27, 1954, in Texas, the daughter of David Baggs and Mary Eaton Baggs. She was an L.P.N. and had previously worked st several area nursing homes. She was a graduate of Black River Vo-Tech in Pocahontas and a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church near Harrisburg...

Almarita Mann Underwood (03/09/05)
Almarita Mann Underwood, of Oro Valley, Ariz., formerly of Arkansas, died on Dec. 7, 2004, at her residence surrounded by loved ones. She was born Dec. 7, 1922, the daughter of the late Bristo and Azzie Mann. Mrs. Underwood taught second and third grades and Title I Reading at Estes Elementary School in the Marana School District for 25 years. The Underwoods moved to Arizona from Arkansas in 1952...

Shirley Garrison (03/18/05)
Shirley Garrison, 67, of Piggott died Monday, March 14, 2005, at her home in Piggott. She was born July 16, 1937, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Norman Randle and Mae Violet Grote Cox. She was united in marriage to Paul Garrison on March 8, 1957. They had one son...

Eugia "Rex" Parrish (03/18/05)
Eugia "Rex" Parrish, 72, of Piggott, died Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at his home in Piggott. He was born March 20, 1932, in Lafe, the son of the late Robert Alvah and Millie Mamie Watson Parrish. Mr. Parrish was baptized in the Church of Christ in McDougal and he was a retired farmer...

M. Joyce Glass (03/18/05)
M. Joyce Glass (nee Collier), 71, of Cedar Hill, Mo., died Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at Des Peres Hospital in Des Peres, Mo. She was born June 13, 1933, in Rector, the daughter of William L. and Virgie (nee Stacy) Collier. She was united in marriage to Olan Glass on April 14, 1949, in Paragould...

Violet Beatrice Beck (03/18/05)
Violet Beatrice Beck, 85, of Rector, died Tuesday, March 8, 2005. She was born March 5, 1920, in Cardwell, Mo., the daughter of the late Neail and Ada Bell Horner Morries. She was united in marriage to Carl Franklin Beck Sr. on March 5, 1936. They had eight daughters and three sons...

Dr. C. Fitzhugh Spragins (03/18/05)
Dr. C. Fitzhugh Spragins, 69, a longtime leader in education, church and civic affairs in Batesville, died Thursday, March 10, 2005, at White River Medical Center in Batesville after a brief illness. He was born Sept. 4, 1935, in Pine Bluff, the son of John D. Spragins and Mary Fitzhugh Spragins...

Josie Lee Bare Taylor (03/09/05)
Josie Lee Bare Taylor, 94, of Jacksonville, Ark., died Tuesday, March 1, 2005, at the Arkansas Hospice Center in North Little Rock. She was born Sept. 3, 1910, the daughter of the late Jacob and Floria Mae Bare in Piggott. Mrs. Taylor, a long time resident of Malden, was a member of the First Christian Church for many years. An important part of her life was music and many Malden natives will remember her piano music at the church and other functions in the area...

Mildred Marie Gossett (03/09/05)
Mildred Marie Gossett, 91, of Piggott, died Monday, Feb. 28, 2005, in the National Health Care in Kennett. She was born June 4, 1913, the daughter of the late Arthur Glen and Hattie Jane Fields Campbell. She was united in marriage to Millage Baxter Gossett on Aug. 10, 1932. They had eight children...

Martha Landrem Wilkes (03/09/05)
Martha Landrem Wilkes, 92, of Cabot, formerly of Jacksonville, Ark., died Saturday, Jan. 22, 2005. She was born Feb. 20, 1913, in Greenway. Mrs. Wilkes was a member of Marshall Road Baptist Church in Jacksonville, where she belonged to the Golden Ladies Sunday School Class...

Elbert Ray Gossett (03/09/05)
Elbert Ray Gossett, 66, of O'Fallon, Mo., died Thursday, March 3, 2005, at his home in O'Fallon. He was born Jan. 21, 1939, in Piggott, the son of the late Jernigan Milage Gossett and Winnie Augustine Gossett. Mr. Gossett was a property manager for the U.S. Government for 30 years...

Michael Alan Mobley (03/02/05)
Michael Alan Mobley, 51, of Rector died Monday, Feb. 28, 2005, in Jonesboro. Born March 6, 1953, in Paragould to Bill Mobley and the late Alice Maxine Mobley, he was a cattle buyer and a member of the Fifth and Pine Church of Christ. He is survived by his father, Bill Mobley of Rector; his wife, Julie Mobley of Rector; one son, William Garrett Mobley of Rector; two daughters, Jenna Mobley of Rector and Shelia Adams of Jonesboro; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Marilyn and Tim Carter of Rector and Margaret and Larry Baldwin of Mayfield, Ky., and several nieces and nephews.. ...

Georgia Lee Bolen (03/02/05)
Georgia Lee Bolen, 77, of McDougal, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She was born Feb. 22, 1928, in Crockett, the daughter of the late Millard S. and Minnie Lee Dunston Curry. She was united in marriage to James Russell Bolen on March 20, 1947. He preceded her in death on Feb. 23, 1980...

Johnny Giles Whittle (03/02/05)
Johnny Giles Whittle, 70, of Piggott, died Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005, at Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. He was born Sept. 30, 1934, in Holland, Mo., the son of the late Sam D. Whittle and Ethel Lena Barnes Whittle. He was united in marriage to Patsy Davis on Sept. 22, 1985, in Steele...

Gladys Hubble (03/02/05)
Gladys Hubble, 79, of Rector, died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005, in Kennett, Mo. Born Sept. 25, 1925, to the late Frank and Dessie (Hampton) Allyn, she was an avid homemaker and a member of the Union Home Baptist Church. She was married Aug. 19, 1941, in Corning to L.C. Hubble, who also preceded her in death...

Mildred Gossett (03/02/05)
Mildred Gossett, 91, of Piggott, died Monday, Feb. 28, 2005, in the National Health Care in Kennett. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 3, 2005, in the Hoggard and Sons Chapel. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday (today), March 2...

Gary Williams (03/02/05)
Gary Williams, 57, of St. Peters, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005, in St. Louis. He was born Dec. 22, 1947, in Kennett, the son of Henry (Ben) and Inez Slayden Williams. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry (Ben) Williams in 2003; and two brothers, Carroll Henry Williams and Gailen (Gail) Williams...

Jim Bradshaw (03/02/05)
Jim Bradshaw, 92, of Corning, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at South Sunflower County Hospital in Indianola, Miss. He was born on Feb. 4, 1913, in Alabama, the son of the late Charlie Asa Bradshaw and Myrtle (Walton) Hedge. He was united in marriage to Mona M. Bradshaw on Jan. 16, 1932. She preceded him in death on Jan. 5, 1977. He then married Ruby (Huggins) Hicks Bradshaw on Nov. 26, 1991...

Clay Wells (03/02/05)
Clay Wells, 85, of Collinsville, Okla., died on Feb. 13, 2005, in Collinsville. He was born Nov. 15, 1919, in Rector, the son of the late Bynum and Teula (Perrin) Wells. Mr. Wells had been a resident of Collinsville since 1949, after moving there from Fort Worth, Texas. He was retired from American Airlines and was a member of the Transport Workers Union of America. He loved farming, gardening and fishing. Mr. Wells was a Veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps, having served in World War II...

Hazel Lorene Williams (03/02/05)
Hazel Lorene Williams, 90, of Piggott died Monday, Feb. 21, 2005. She was born Aug. 16, 1914, in Piggott, the daughter of the late Elvin and Edna Seal. Mrs. Williams was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Woodard B. Williams; two brothers, Howard Seal and Harold Seal; two sisters, Clara Mae Underwood and Ama Lea Branum; and a son-in-law, Antonio Quintas Jr...

Ray Knight (03/02/05)
Ray Knight, 78, formerly of Piggott, of Trumann, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005, in Jonesboro. He was born July 2, 1926, in Judsonia, Ark., the eldest son of Henry Theodore and Sylvia Pearl (Leggett) Knight. He graduated from Piggott High School, attended Arkansas State University, and lived in Trumann for 50 years. ...

Hope Nelson (03/02/05)
Hope Nelson, 45, of Holcomb, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at her home in Holcomb. She was born Dec. 3, 1959, in Piggott, the daughter of Lester W. and Mildred L. Bell Beaver. She was preceded in death by her father, Lester Beaver; and one brother, Jimmy Dale Beaver...

Nelle Jane Wood (03/02/05)
Nelle Jane Wood, 92, of Rector, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005, at Craighead Nursing Home in Jonesboro. She was a retired bookkeeper for the Bank of Rector. Mrs. Wood was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Rector. She was preceded in death by her husband, Byron C. Wood; her parents, Claude Birl Cain and Sibyl Hayworth; and one sister, Helen Scherstuhl...