Obituaries from December 2005

Marie Ellen White (12/28/05)
Marie Ellen White, 47, of Marmaduke died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. A homemaker, she was born Oct. 6, 1958, in Pontiac, Mich., to Levonia (Farmer) Damon and the late Johnnie Edward Damon Sr. She was married to Robert "Slick" White, who preceded her in death Nov. 5, 2003. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Marmaduke...

Margaret Sain Tatum (12/28/05)
Margaret Sain Tatum, 84, of Bartlett, Tenn., died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005. She was an active member of Bartlett Baptist Church and the Esther Sunday School Class. She loved her church, her family, her flower garden and was a friend to everyone she met. Margaret was the heart and soul of her family...

Louise Williams (12/14/05)
Louise Williams, 80, of Craighead Nursing Center, formerly of Rector, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005, in Jonesboro. Born Feb. 26, 1925, in Guy, Ark., to the late Arnold (Ben) Little and Effie Hartwick, she was a cafeteria worker for the Rector School District, a member of the Eastern Star and a member of the First Baptist Church in Rector...

Mary Joann (Graham) Campbell (12/14/05)
Mary Joann (Graham) Campbell, 59, of Marmaduke died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at her home. Born Feb. 19, 1946, in Rector, she was the daughter of Vera Inman Graham Stidham and the late Melvin Graham, who died in 1982. She was a custodian at Rector Schools and was of the Baptist faith...

Matilda (Tillie) Rooker (12/14/05)
Matilda (Tillie) Rooker, 75, of Rector, died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Sept. 15, 1930, in Mt. Morris, Mich., to the late Clayton Johnson and Leora (Riley) Johnson and was married Sept. 1, 1956, in Mt. Morris to Rupert Rooker...

Shirley Gregory (12/14/05)
Shirley Gregory of Kennett, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005, at her home. Born in Kennett, she was the daughter of the late Herbert and Marie Bass Sherrill. Survivors include her husband, James "Jim" Gregory; one son, Jim Brotherton of Kennett; one granddaughter, Misty Johnson of Kennett; one grandson, Christian Johnson of Kennett; a special cousin, Emma Alsup of Kennett; sisters-in-law, Nila Holman, Neda Sain and Pam Foster of Rector; brothers-in-law, Roger Gregory of Rector and Byron Gregery of Collinsville, Ill., and a host of cousins and friends.. ...

Doyle W. Cox (12/21/05)
Doyle W. Cox, 94, of Rector died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at Rector Healthcare. Born Nov. 23, 1911, in Clay County to the late Loyd Cox and Oma Grogan, he was a truck driver/fleet carrier and a deacon at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. He was married to Mary Lee (Read) Cox, who died April 11, 2002...

Nellie Geneveive Wright Vineyard (12/21/05)
Nellie Geneveive Wright Vineyard, 82, of Rector died Tuesday Dec. 13, 2005, in Rector. Born April 1, 1923, in Rector to the late James Theron Wright and Lina Delilah Patterson, she managed a Credit Union, was politically active and a member of First Christian Church in Piggott. She was married to Raymond Clayton Vineyard on May 30, 1940. He preceded her in death Dec. 7, 2000...

Gary Lee Bookout (12/21/05)
Gary Lee Bookout, 67, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2005, at his home in Carmichael, Calif., from chronic lung disease. He is survived by his wife, Joanne, and daughter, Jennifer Raney, of Carmichael. A son, John, died earlier this year. Gary was born July 3, 1938, in Indiana. He was the oldest of three sons of Marvin and Naomi Bookout. His brothers were Simon and Steve Bookout...

Edith Alma Chilcutt (12/28/05)
Edith Alma Chilcutt, 93, of Greene Acres Nursing Home, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005. Born Oct. 21, 1912, in Boydsville to the late Napoleon Grissom and Senia Grissom, she was a seamstress and sales lady for Debonair Shop and Ima's and was a member of the Second and Walnut Church of Christ. She was married to Leonard Chilcutt on Aug. 17, 1933. He preceded her in death in 1995...

Beverly Ruth Simpson (12/14/05)
Beverly Ruth Simpson, 60, of Rector died Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, at her home. She was born Feb. 7, 1945, in Wappapello, Mo., to the late Everett Elvin Wills and Thelma Irene Jackson and was married to Beryl Simpson, who died July 3, 1997. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Melissa Simpson, on Oct. 31, 1980, and a sister, Barbara Sue Goodnight...

Justin Pentecost (12/07/05)
Justin Pentecost, 19, of Neelyville, Mo., died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005. He was born Sept. 8, 1986, in Paragould, the son of Greg Baldwin and Theresa Pentecost. He was preceded in death by his mother, Theresa Creameans; grandparents, Johnny and Earlene Pentecost; and great-grandparents, Lee and Lizzie Williams...

Sylvia Virginia Hughes Wright (12/28/05)
Sylvia Virginia Hughes Wright, 90, of Piggott died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, in the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born Sept. 18, 1915, in St. Francis, the daughter of the late Ed and Anna Ward Hughes. She was united in marriage to Raymond Andrew Wright on Jan. ...

Minnie Belle Benson (12/28/05)
Minnie Belle Benson was born Dec. 12, 1905, at Clinton, Mo., the daughter of the late William and Dellia Belle Shelton Green. She died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, at the Piggott Community Hospital at the age of 100 years and nine days. She celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday, Dec. 12, at Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott...

Chrystian Allen Seigrist (12/28/05)
Chrystian Allen Seigrist was born at 9:10 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2005, at Twin Rivers Hospital in Kennett, the son of Doug and Melissa Fears Seigrist. He died at the same time. The Lord called him to be his number one angel. He was preceded in death by his maternal great-grandparents, Charles and Leota Glass High, and Bill and Rosie Fears; maternal great-great-grandparents, Jess and Pearl Glass, and Lee and Clara High; paternal grandparents, George Woodrow and Thelma Inez Seigrist; and one stepbrother, Bryce Leon Seigrist.. ...

Beauford Gerald "Rocky" Hefner (12/28/05)
Beauford Gerald "Rocky" Hefner, 85, of Piggott died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2004, in the Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. He was born Oct. 28, 1920, in Knobel, the son of the late James Orto and Virginia Adaline Raiger Hefner. He was united in marriage to Nellie Walker. They had one son...

Zelma Pearl Dees (12/28/05)
Zelma Pearl Dees, 91, of Piggott died Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, in Kennett. She is survived by four daughters, Doris Erwin, Mickie Besserman, JoAnn Oliver and Barbara Sutfin; 21 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; 18 great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Gladys Redman...

Perry Dusty Rhodes (12/21/05)
Perry Dusty Rhodes, 85, a well-known entertainer and fiddle player, died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, at his home in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Rhodes, the son of the late James K. and Amanda Elizabeth (Montgomery) Rhodes, was born June 5, 1920, in Manila. Winning the National Fiddle Championship at age 13, he went on to establish his own entertainment show, the Rhodes Show. Mr. Rhodes was a member of the Highland Church of Christ...

Billie Wayne Pike (12/21/05)
Billie Wayne Pike, 80, of Columbia, La., died on Monday, Nov. 28, 2005, at his residence in Columbia. Born on Thursday, July 16, 1925, he was the son of the late Edgar and Jessie Graddy Pike. Mr. Pike was employed as a heavy construction worker. He served in the Army during World War II...

Sherman D. (Lin) Cullum Jr. (12/21/05)
Sherman D. (Lin) Cullum Jr., 43, of Harrisburg, a graphic designer, died Dec. 18, 2005, in Little Rock. He was born July 18, 1962, in Osceola. Mr. Cullum was an accomplished pianist, loved flowers and his cats, especially Mondrian. He was a talented artist and did beautiful silk designing. He was a graduate of Memphis College of Art with a B.S.A. degree in textile design. He was a member of the Church of Christ...

Beauford Gerald "Rocky" Hefner (12/21/05)
Beauford Gerald "Rocky" Hefner, 85, of Piggott died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2004, in the Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. He was born Oct. 28, 1920, in Knobel, the son of the late James Orto and Virginia Adaline Raiger Hefner. He was united in marriage to Nellie Walker. They had one son...

Hullon Graddy (12/21/05)
Hullon Graddy, 88, of Piggott died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, in the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. He was born Dec. 4, 1917, in Bee Branch, the son of the late Earl and Pearl Parrish Graddy. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Canfield. They had three children...

Ronald Everette Pipkens (12/14/05)
Ronald Everette Pipkens, 63, Tampa, Fla., died Nov. 21, 2005, in Florida. He was born Feb. 4, 1942, in Clay County, the son of Everette and Dwila "Dot" Ward Pipkens. He served 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and retired as a Captain. During his service he was awarded eight distinguished medals. He was a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict. Pipkens was an avid golfer...

Lola Mae Gibson (12/14/05)
Lola Mae Gibson, 99, of Piggott died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She was born Oct. 17, 1906, in Pollard, the daughter of the late George Louis and Dollie Lee Higdon Conley. She was united in marriage to Chester Gibson on July 28, 1945, and he preceded her in death on Oct. 20, 1969...

Ralph Sholan Johnson (12/14/05)
Ralph Sholan Johnson, 88, died on Nov. 23, 2005, in Nevada, Texas. He was born on Nov. 8, 1917, in Piggott, the son of the late Dell and Anna Johnson. He served in CCC Camps in the 30's and joined the U.S. Army during World War II. He retired from the Federal Housing Administration and attended North Highland Bible Church...

Judy Theresa Martin (12/14/05)
Judy Theresa Martin, 57, of Piggott died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at the NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was of the Southern Baptist faith and was an employee of Piggott Community Hospital. She was born on Feb. 1, 1948, in Hornersville, Mo., the daughter of Lucille Edmonston York of Campbell and the late Bill York...

Joann Jenn Householder (12/14/05)
Joann Jenn Householder, 65, of Piggott died Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005, in the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center at Paragould. She was born Oct. 14, 1940, in Booneville, the daughter of the late Marshall and Beatrice Wilson Jackson. She was preceded in death by one son, Biff Householder...

Lyndon Turner (12/07/05)
Lyndon Turner, 80, of Piggott died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005, in the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born March 13, 1925, in Ferris, Texas, the son of the late Iris Claude and Della Mae Cloud Turner. He was united in marriage to Icey Bowling on Dec. 21, 1984...

John "Jake" Wesley Beecher (12/07/05)
John "Jake" Wesley Beecher, 73, of McDougal died on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005, at his residence. He was born April 16, 1932, in Fisher, the son of Henry Ward Beecher and Cecil Hogan Beecher Malding. He was united in marriage to Arveda Melton on Oct. 29, 1955. They had four children...

Terry L. Vaughn (12/07/05)
Terry L. Vaughn, 53, of Piggott died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005, in the Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born March 9, 1952, the son of the late James Elvis and Frances Alice Kirk Vaughn. He was united in marriage to Karen Braman Smart on Oct. 20, 1984...

Elvia L. Permenter (12/07/05)
Elvia L. Permenter, 79, of Piggott died Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, in the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She was born July 23, 1926, in Boydsville, the daughter of the late Luther and Ada Neeley Nettles. She was united in marriage to William "Bill" Permenter on May 5, 1944. They had two children...

Ronald Edward Hasty (12/07/05)
Ronald Edward Hasty, 66, of Piggott died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005, in the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. He was born Sept. 25, 1939, in Middle Brooke, Mo., the son of the late Jake Hasty and Gertrude Hasty. He was united in marriage to Margie Kinney on Oct. 28, 1972, in St. Louis...

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