Clay County Times-Democrat: Obituaries from January 2006

James W. "Jim" Davis (01/18/06)
James W. "Jim" Davis, 82, of Swartz, La., formerly of Rector, died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006, at his home. Born Feb. 28, 1923, in Rector, he was a World War II Army veteran, served as Chief of Police in Rector and retired from the City of Monroe, La., Water Plant...

Mary Ellen Parker (01/18/06)
Mary Ellen Parker, 76, of Paragould, a native of Boydsville, died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006, in Paragould. A homemaker, she was born May 13, 1929, in Boydsville to the late Clarence and Mary Ida Grubb. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Toy L. Parker; two sons, Terry Lee and Jerry Dee Parker; five brothers, Tom, Leroy, Woodrow, Herbert and Johnny Grubb, and two grandchildren...

Martha Benefield Kirkpatrick (01/25/06)
Martha Benefield Kirkpatrick, 52, of Garland, Texas, died on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, in Baylor Medical Center in Garland, Texas. She was born Sept. 4, 1953, in Piggott, the daughter of the late Tom and Mary (Cryer) Benefield. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Odell Otte...

Roy Rudolph Huffman (01/11/06)
Roy Rudolph Huffman, 84, of Piggott died Friday, Jan. 06, 2006, at the Westwood Hills Nursing Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born Sept. 14, 1921, in Greenway, the son of Clarence Mack and Erma (Bell) Huffman. He served his country during World War II and was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant...

Owen Wesley Davis (01/11/06)
Owen Wesley Davis, 79, of Rector died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006, at NEA Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born July 12, 1926, in Holcomb, Mo., to the late Thomas Davis and Brooksie Lee Miller, he was a farmer and cattleman, a World War II veteran and a member of the Alexander Baptist Church...

Elsie Mae (Morrow) Parrish (01/11/06)
Elsie Mae (Morrow) Parrish, 96, of Corning died Monday, Jan. 2, at her home. She was a homemaker and helped on the family farm. Her hobby was raising irises in her flower garden. She was married to F.E. Parrish on April 3, 1926. He preceded her in death...

Floyd J.D. Brown (01/11/06)
Floyd J.D. Brown, known as "Peck" by family and close friends, died at the Piggott Hospital on Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, at the age of 75. He was born Aug. 16, 1930, in Kennett, the son of the late Dewey and Gladys (Kirby) Brown. Mr. Brown was a local farmer for many years. He was of the Church of Christ faith and was baptized on July 22, 2004...

Cletis Presson (01/11/06)
Cletis Presson, 92, of Rector, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006, in Rector. She was born Oct. 31, 1913, in Rector to the late Dewitt and Auda Huckabay. A homemaker, she had worked as a cook at Lafe High School and was a member of Antioch Baptist Church in Rector...

Mary Evelyn "Jackie" Colvin (01/11/06)
Mary Evelyn "Jackie" Colvin, 78, of Rector, formerly of Florida, died Monday, Jan. 9, 2006, in Paragould. Born Sept. 9, 1927, in Flora, Ala., to the late Cleveland and Jewell Scott Cobb, she was a homemaker and of the Assembly of God faith. She was married to John Tillman Colvin, who preceded her in death in 1973...

Mary Lou Goodman (01/11/06)
Mary Lou Goodman, 78, of Rector died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born April 24, 1927, in Traverse City, Mich., she was a member of the Fifth and Pine Church of Christ, a homemaker and had lived in the community 10 years...

Mary Sue Cummings (01/11/06)
Mary Sue Cummings, 73, of the Clay Healthcare Center in Corning died Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006, at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was of the Church of Christ faith. She attended church at Greenway and Corning. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harrison and Opal (Davis) Cummings...

Alice Elizabeth Dortch (01/25/06)
Alice Elizabeth Dortch, 90, of Granite Bay, Calif., formerly of Rector, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2005, at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Roseville, Calif. Born March 6, 1915, in Thayer, Mo., to the late William D. and Sara Elizabeth Huff Wooldridge, she was married March 19, 1932, to Roy A. Dortch, who also preceded her in death. She was a long time member of Rock Springs Methodist Church and of the Eastern Star...

Christine Mason Hatley (01/25/06)
Christine Mason Hatley, 79, a native of this area and a longtime resident of San Jose, Calif., died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, in San Jose. She was born July 31, 1926 in Hickoria, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Mason. She was baptised into the Methodist Church in Knobel as a young woman. ...

Doyne Dewayne Runyon (01/11/06)
Doyne Dewayne Runyon, 67, of Piggott died Friday, Jan. 6, 2006. He was born Aug. 15, 1938, in Pollard to the late John and Katherine Runyon. He was disabled and was of the Church of God faith. Survivors include one brother and sister-in-law, Bobby and Sarah Runyon of Piggott; one uncle and aunt, Euvon and Maxine Foster of Michigan, and several cousins...

Clestie Espeby Quinn (01/18/06)
Clestie Espeby Quinn, 77, of Marmaduke died Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. A homemaker, she was born Nov. 3, 1928, in Marmaduke to the late Clyde Farmer and Marie O. Hampton Farmer. She also was preceded in death by a brother, Arlon Farmer; a half-brother, Bill Farmer, and a sister, May Eckles. She was of the Pentecostal faith...

Alan L. Strauser (01/04/06)
Alan L. Strauser, 41, of Jonesboro died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005, at his home. He had lived most of his life in Jonesboro and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He spent the first two years of his life in the Shriner's St. Louis Hosiptal for Children...

Floyd Thomas Young (01/04/06)
Floyd Thomas Young, 85, of Rector died Monday, Jan. 2, 2006, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. The son of the late Tommy and Vesta (Brewer) Young, he was born Sept. 9, 1920, in Clifton, Tenn. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Laverne (Knight) Young, on April 15, 1995; a son, Von Darrell Young, on Dec. 14, 1975, and a brother, Henry Young...

Mary Kathleen Wright Deniston (01/04/06)
Mary Kathleen Wright Deniston, 87, died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005, in California. She was born Oct. 21, 1918, in Rector. She was preceded in death by her husband, S.J. Deniston, in 1966, and a son, Philip Deniston, in 1967. Survivors include five children, Donna Jones of Auberry, Calif., Daina O'Donnell of Clovis, Calif., Charles Deniston of Merced, Calif., Tony Deniston and wife Diana and Sheila Sanders and husband Jack, all of Tollhouse, Calif., eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren...

Ruby Ann Morris (01/04/06)
Ruby Ann Morris, 91, of Rector, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005, at Rector Healthcare. Born Jan. 9, 1914, near Paragould to the late George Henry and Alice Morris, she was a homemaker and a member of the Blue Cane General Baptist Church. Also preceding her in death were her husband, Joe Morris; two sons, Lindell Russell and Leyon Morris; one daughter, Dortha Cornelison; two brothers, Chester and Roy Morris; three sisters, Ruth Thompson, Pearl Smith and Gladys Morris, and one great-grandson, Jarrod Leach.. ...

Julia Brewer Gober (01/04/06)
Julia Brewer Gober, 87, of Ada, Okla., formerly of Rector, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, at Ada. Born Jan. 15, 1918, in Black Oak to the late John Henry and Hattie Stine Brewer, she attended school and graduted from Rector High School. She was married to Charles M. Gober on Dec. 26, 1941, in Rector. He preceded her in death May 3, 2003...

Charlie Jones (01/04/06)
Longtime Piggott businessman Charlie Jones, 69, died Monday, Jan. 2, 2006, at his home in Piggott. Jones co-owned Jones Furniture with his son, Kevin, for the last 27 years. He previously farmed in Leonard and worked for 30 years for Crockett Oil Company in Rector...

Mack Garrett (01/18/06)
Mack Garrett, 76, of Piggott died Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, in Memphis. He was the son of the late Robert E. and Teadie Mae McCormick Garrett. He was united in marriage to Wanda Wood, on Aug. 1, 1952. They had two sons. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Robert E. Garrett; and one granddaughter, Niequel Lee...

James Otto Lack (01/18/06)
James Otto Lack, 61, of Hartwell, Ga., died Monday, Jan. 9, 2006, at Hart County Hospital. Born Sept. 30, 1944, in Detroit, he was the son of the late Cecil Lack and Almarita Haywood Lack. He was employed with Springs Industries in the maintenance department. He was of the Protestant faith...

John David and Susan Allen (01/25/06)
John David Allen and his wife, Susan, were killed Aug. 29, 2005, in Biloxi, Miss., when Hurricane Katrina hit Biloxi. Mr. Allen spent eight years in the United States Air Force. After his discharge from the USAF, he worked in construction in Nashville, where he met his wife, Susan. They later moved to Biloxi, where they made their home. He continued to work in the construction business and Mrs. Allen worked at one of the schools and also at one of the casinos...

Christine Mason Hatley (01/25/06)
Christine Mason Hatley, 79, a long-time resident of San Jose, Calif., died on Jan. 21, 2006, in San Jose. She was born July 31, 1926, in Hickoria, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Mason. Mrs. Hatley was baptized into the Methodist church at Knobel as a young woman...

Ora McGhee Claiborne (01/18/06)
Ora McGhee Claiborne, 105, of Piggott died on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, in the Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday (today), Jan. 18, 2006, in the First United Methodist Church in Piggott with her nephew Rev. James E. McGhee and Rev. Charles Cooper officiating. Burial will follow in the Piggott Cemetery...

Ora McGhee Claiborne (01/25/06)
Ora McGhee Claiborne, 105, of Piggott died on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, in the Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. She was born on Oct. 7, 1900, the daughter of the late Walter C. and Laura (Hall) McGhee. Mrs. Claiborne was a graduate of Piggott High School and also a graduate of the University of Arkansas. She was a dedicated teacher with over 40 years experience, several of which were spent teaching in the Piggott Schools...

Martha Benefield Kirkpatrick (01/25/06)
Martha Benefield Kirkpatrick, 52, of Garland, Texas, died on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, in Baylor Medical Center in Garland, Texas. She was born Sept. 4, 1953, in Piggott, the daughter of the late Tom and Mary (Cryer) Benefield. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Odell Otte...

Herbert Marion Lack (01/18/06)
Herbert Marion Lack, 67, of Hartwell, Ga., died Monday, Jan. 9, 2006, at Hart County Hospital. Born Dec. 20, 1938, in Piggott, he was the son of the late Cecil Lack and Almarita Haywood Lack. He was a heavy equipment worker in manufacturing. Mr. Lack was a United States Navy Veteran...

Elbert Druie Rogers (01/25/06)
Elbert Druie Rogers, 94, of Piggott died on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006, at the Jonesboro Health Care in Jonesboro. He was born April 17, 1911, the son of the late Lewis Edgar and Bulah Hill Rogers. He was united in marriage to Virgie M. Smith on Oct. 24, 1931. They had one son...

Edna Finley Burk (01/18/06)
Edna Finley Burk, 91, of McDougal died on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, in the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She was born June 24, 1914, in Monette, the daughter of the late Harry and Mattie (Koster) Adams. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Vance Finley, Homer Burton and Hurl Burk; one infant son, Gerald Finley; one son, Jairn Finley; and one sister, Essie Jackson...

Vernie Lack (01/18/06)
Vernie Lack, 83, of Piggott died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Sept. 16, 1922, in Williford, the daughter of the late James and Nora (Wilkerson) Ratliff. She was married to Doise Lack on Oct. 23, 1943. They had two children...

Reba Wood (01/18/06)
Reba Wood, 93, of Piggott died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006, at her home in Piggott. She was born on May 23, 1912, the daughter of the late Thomas Allen and Maudie Bell (Graddy) Duncan. She was united in marriage to Thurman D. Wood on Jan. 13, 1929. They had two children...

Alyeene Nanney (01/18/06)
Alyeene Nanney, 86, of Greenway died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006, in Jonesboro. She was born Sept. 19, 1919, in Greenway, the daughter of the late William and Bessie Johnson Shaffer. She was married on Dec. 9, 1939, to Obbie Nanney, who preceded her in death on Aug. 20, 1960...

Bessie Bare (01/25/06)
Bessie Bare, 92, of Piggott died Friday, Jan. 20, 2006, at the Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. She was born April 22, 1913, in Clifty, Tenn., the daughter of the late Usless and Bell Lawson. Mrs. Bare was a member of the Christian Church and was a nurse. She enjoyed fishing and gardening...

K. D. Driver (01/11/06)
K. D. Driver, 69, a resident of Dover, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006, at his home. He was born Dec. 28, 1936, at Eastland, Texas, to D. M. and Esther Mae Moore Driver. He was a building contractor and owned Driver Construction. He enjoyed gardening and feeding the birds and animals. When not working, he could be found at Dewayne's Bar-B-Q & Grill visiting with his friends...

Douglas Dewayne Benson (01/04/06)
Douglas Dewayne Benson was born on Feb. 5, 1963, in Kennett, the son of Donald and Barbara Sue Dover Benson. He died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005, at the family home near Piggott at the age of 42. He accepted Christ as his savior when he was a teenager...

Roy Rudolph Huffman (01/11/06)
Roy Rudolph Huffman, 84, of Piggott died Friday, Jan. 06, 2006, at the Westwood Hills Nursing Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born Sept. 14, 1921, in Greenway, the son of Clarence Mack and Erma (Bell) Huffman. He served his country during World War II and was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant...

Barry Read, 51, of Biggers died on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005, in Biggers. (01/04/06)
He was born July 15, 1954, the son of Charles and Letha Williams Read. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Read; and two brothers, Rudy and Nickey Read. He is survived by his mother, Letha Read of Biggers; wife, Tracy Parrish Read of Brighton, Mich.; three children, Raven Read and Cody Read of Brighton, Mich., and Rocky Hampton and wife, Carrie, of Reyno; two grandchildren, Allison and Seth Hampton, both of Reyno; three sisters, Janice Read of McDougal, Gwen Bradshaw of Biggers and Cindy Bolen of Biggers; and many other relatives and friends.. ...

Andrew Bryan Parrish Jr. (01/04/06)
Andrew Bryan Parrish Jr., 81, of McMinnville, Tenn., died on Monday, Jan. 2, 2006, at his residence. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bryan and Lola Parrish of Corning. Survivors include three sons, Gary of Florida, David of North Carolina and Dennis of McMinnville; and many relatives and friends in Piggott, Corning, Michigan and many other areas...

Zelma Pearl Dees (01/04/06)
Zelma Pearl Dees, 91, of Piggott died Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, at the Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett. She was born Sept. 7, 1914, in Bee Branch, the daughter of the late Benjamin Harrison and Dora Jane Baker Cullum. She was united in marriage to Lloyd Dees on Jan. 17, 1932. They had eight children...

Owen Wesley Davis (01/11/06)
Owen Wesley Davis, 79, of Rector died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006, at NEA Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born July 12, 1926, in Holcomb, Mo., to the late Thomas Davis and Brooksie Lee Miller, he was a farmer and cattleman, a World War II veteran and a member of the Alexander Baptist Church...

Floyd J.D. Brown (01/11/06)
Floyd J.D. Brown, known as "Peck" by family and close friends, died at the Piggott Hospital on Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, at the age of 75. He was born Aug. 16, 1930, in Kennett, the son of the late Dewey and Gladys (Kirby) Brown. Mr. Brown was a local farmer for many years. He was of the Church of Christ faith and was baptized on July 22, 2004...

James Sidney Coyle (01/11/06)
James Sidney Coyle, 73, formerly of Piggott, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, at Sutter Tracy Community Hospital in Tracy, Calif. He was born on Dec. 23, 1932, the son of the late Thomas and Thelma Coyle of Piggott. Mr. Coyle worked as a maintenance mechanic for Southern Pacific Railroad, International Harvester and Laura Scudders. He served in the U.S. Army as a surface-to-air missile crewman stationed in California...

Doyne Dewayne Runyon (01/11/06)
Doyne Dewayne Runyon, 67, of Piggott died Friday, Jan. 6, 2006. He was born Aug. 15, 1938, in Pollard to the late John and Katherine Runyon. He was disabled and was of the Church of God faith. Survivors include one brother and sister-in-law, Bobby and Sarah Runyon of Piggott; one uncle and aunt, Euvon and Maxine Foster of Michigan, and several cousins...

Timothy Scott McDougal (01/11/06)
Timothy Scott McDougal, 43, of Bismarck died on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006. He was born on April 9, 1962, in Portland, Maine, the son of Reginald and Esther McDougal. Mr. McDougal was a city carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. He was a member of the Caddo Valley Congregation of Jehovah's Witness...

Mary Sue Cummings (01/11/06)
Mary Sue Cummings, 73, of the Clay Healthcare Center in Corning died Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006, at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was of the Church of Christ faith. She attended church at Greenway and Corning. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harrison and Opal (Davis) Cummings...

Mary Lou Goodman (01/11/06)
Mary Lou Goodman, 78, of Rector died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born April 24, 1927, in Traverse City, Mich., she was a member of the Fifth and Pine Church of Christ, a homemaker and had lived in the community 10 years...

Elsie Mae (Morrow) Parrish (01/11/06)
Elsie Mae (Morrow) Parrish, 96, of Corning died Monday, Jan. 2, at her home. She was a homemaker and helped on the family farm. Her hobby was raising irises in her flower garden. She was married to F.E. Parrish on April 3, 1926. He preceded her in death...

Joanne Thompson Cox (01/04/06)
Joanne Thompson Cox, 72, of Scottsdale, Ariz., died Monday, Jan. 2, 2006, in Scottsdale. She was born on Jan. 20, 1933, in Forrest City, the daughter of the late Elliott "Bill" and Willie Mae Griffin Thompson. She was united in marriage to Jimmy Mack Cox on Aug. 12, 1951. They enjoyed 42 years together. He preceded her in death on May 19, 1994...