Clay County Times-Democrat: Obituaries from March 2007

Maxine Arrant Holifield (03/28/07)
Maxine Arrant Holifield, 86, of Rector died Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born Nov. 1, 1920, in Savannah, Tenn., to the late Harper Cagle and Mary Shelby Cagle, she was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith...

Darlene Sue Brannan (03/28/07)
Darlene Sue Brannan, 50, of Rector, died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at Piggott Community Hospital. Born March 2, 1957, in Leonard to Naomi Ruth (Clayton) Brannan and the late R.C. Brannan, she was of the Methodist faith. Also preceding her in death was one brother, Andy Brannan...

Thomas Riley Faucett (03/21/07)
Thomas Riley Faucett, 85, of Rector, died Monday March 19, 2007 at his residence. Born June 4, 1921 in Adkins to the late Wiley Faucett and Florence (Oats) Faucett. He was a Navy veteran, a farmer and of the Church of Christ faith. Also preceding him in death was his wife, Verna Chilcutt Faucett on Oct. 6, 2005; three brothers, Ben, Bob and Bud Faucett; and one sister, Lucille Abbott. Survived by longtime caregivers Melvin and Brenda Mills...

Gloria Jean Samford (03/21/07)
Gloria Jean Samford, 49, of Leachville died Monday, March 12, 2007, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born on June 22, 1957, in Victoria, to the late David Stone and Velma Foster Stone, Mrs. Samford was a lifelong area resident of Mississippi County and a homemaker...

Martha T. Pruett Frederick (03/21/07)
Martha T. Pruett Frederick, 87, of Paragould, formerly of Kennett, died Monday, March 12, 2007 at Green Acres Nursing Home in Paragould. She was born Nov. 10, 1919 in Remal, Ark., to the late Edward Amick and Josephine "Mertz" Amick. Also preceding her in death was one sister, Ruth Flechell, and her husband, James Pruett...

Glenn Dewitt Harper (03/14/07)
Glenn Dewitt Harper, 97, of Sheridan, formerly of Clay County, died Thursday, March 8, 2007, at his home. Born June 16, 1909, in Peach Orchard to the late Thomas P. Harper and Bessie May Brown Harper, he was a bus driver for public schools and of the Baptist faith...

Joseph T. Cheshire (03/14/07)
Joseph T. Cheshire, 75, of Rector died Friday, March 9, 2007, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born July 30, 1931, in Gideon, Mo., to the late Joseph T. Cheshire Sr. and Sarah (Turner) Cheshire and was married Aug. 25, 1950, in Piggott to the former Frankie Pearson. He was a farmer and of the Baptist faith...

Iva Mae Boester (03/14/07)
Iva Mae Boester, 63, of Rector died Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at her home. Born May 17, 1943, in St. Louis to the late Coy Claude Tracer and Maudie L. (Heath) Tracer, she was a cashier at Mr. T's and a member of the Fifth and Pine Church of Christ...

Loyd Dale Smith (03/14/07)
Loyd Dale Smith, 78, of Rector died Saturday, March 10, 2007, in Okeechobee, Fla. Born Oct. 28, 1928, in Parma, Mo., to the late William and Nancy Smith, he was a veteran of the Navy, a retired farmer and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Rector...

Robert Walter "Bud" Johnson (03/14/07)
Robert Walter "Bud" Johnson, 89, of Paragould died Friday, March 9, 2007, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Mr. Johnson was born Sept. 26, 1917, in Ebenezer, Ark., and was a cattle farmer and of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Fred, Alfred and Wayne Johnson, and one sister, Evelyn Smith...

Woodrow Wilson Payton (03/14/07)
Woodrow Wilson Payton, 88, of Blytheville, formerly of Marmaduke, died Friday, March 9, 2007, at Baptist East in Memphis. Born June 21, 1918, in Gravette, Ark., to the late Harvey Leroy Payton and Emma Alice (Vermillion), he worked for Ark-Mo Power. He was a World War II Navy veteran of the Korean conflict and was a member of Trinity Baptist Church...

Iva Reba Smith (03/14/07)
Iva Reba Smith, 92, of Rector died Friday, March 2, 2007, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Mrs. Smith was born April 5, 1914, in Clay County to the late Russell and Louella (Hoil) Williams. She was married to Carl Smith, who preceded her in death May 7, 1996. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Joyce Maxine Smith; four brothers, Roy, Ben, Granville and Henry Williams, and three sisters, Wilma Shelton, Ruth Stevens and Dora Watson...

Iva Reba Smith (03/07/07)
Iva Reba Smith, 92, of Rector died Friday, March 2, 2007, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Mrs. Smith was born April 5, 1914, in Clay County to the late Russell and Louella (Hoil) Williams. She was married to Carl Smith, who preceded her in death May 7, 1996. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Joyce Maxine Smith; four brothers, Roy, Ben, Granville and Henry Smith, and three sisters, Wilma Shelton, Ruth Stevens and Dora Watson...

Justin Edward Moody (03/07/07)
Justin Edward Moody, 30, a lifetime resident of Piggott, passed away Thursday, March 1, 2007. He was born October 13, 1976, the youngest son of Gary Moody and Carol Moody Stow. Justin was of the Baptist faith, a police officer, and had been in law enforcement for the duration of his career...

Janice Ellen Box Psora (03/07/07)
Janice Ellen Box Psora, 62, of Greenway, died March 4, 2007, in the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She was born Feb. 6, 1945, in Decatur, Ala., and was the daughter of the late T.J. "Jake" and Ruby Williams Box. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Barbara Box...

Martha T. Pruett Frederick (03/21/07)
Martha T. Pruett Frederick, 87, of Paragould, formerly of Kennett, died Monday, March 12, 2007 at Green Acres Nursing Home in Paragould. She was born Nov. 10, 1919 in Remal, AR., to the late Edward Amick and Josephine "Mertz" Amick. Also preceding her in death was one sister, Ruth Flechell, and her husband, James Pruett...

Leonard Steward (03/21/07)
Leonard Steward, 47, of Piggott, died Friday, March 16, 2007, at his home. He was born Dec. 23, 1959, in Aurora, Ill., and was the son of Winard and Gearldean Tankersley Steward. He was married to Mary Collins on Jan. 5, 1999. He was preceded in death by his father, Winard and one brother, Rickie...

Lewis A. Toombs (03/21/07)
Lewis A. Toombs, 98, of Piggott, died Monday, March 19, 2007, in the Piggott Community Hospital. He was born May 24, 1908, in Pollard, and was the son of the late W.O. and Diana Melton Toombs. Lewis was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church since 1929...

William Arthanel Brandon (03/21/07)
William Arthanel Brandon, 87, of Piggott, died Saturday, March 10, 2007, at his home in Piggott. He was born March 30, 1919, in Leachville, Ark., the son of the late Sylvester and Eva Davis Brandon. He was united in marriage to Lola Thomas on April 4, 1992...

Helen Juanita Litzelfelner (03/28/07)
Helen Juanita Litzelfelner, age 87, of Bald Knob, died unexpectedly on March 16, 2007, at her home. Mrs. Litzelfelner was born in Bald Knob, Ark., on Jan. 6, 1920, the daughter of Thomas Watt and Helen Francis Leggett. A graduate of Piggott High School, she attended both Ouachita Baptist College in Arkadelphia, and the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she received her bachelor's degree in music...

Edna B. McKenney Potter (03/28/07)
Edna B. McKenney Potter, 87, of Piggott died on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 in the home of her daughter. She was born April 3, 1919 at Dexter, Mo., and was the daughter of the late Samuel and Susie Mitchell Roach. Edna married Elbert McKenny on September 2, 1939. He preceded her in death in 1963. One daughter was born of this union...

Helen Mae Zidich (03/28/07)
Helen Mae Zidich, 84, formally of Nimmons, died March 20, 2007, in Festus, Mo. She was born July 22, 1922, in Blytheville. She is the daughter of the late John and Donna McClure. She is survived by her daughter, Joan Jeffus of Festus, and her son, John Perdue of Baytown, Texas; five grandchildren, Cheryl Almquist, Karen Bedwell, Daniel Perdue, Brian Perdue, and Allison Perdue; three great-grandchildren, Steven Gray, Candace Bedwell, and David Lee Bedwell; one great-great-grandson, Antonio Garcia; and many other relatives and friends.. ...

Sharon Kaye Davis Neel (03/28/07)
Sharon Kaye Davis Neel, 58, of Piggott, died March 18, 2007, in the St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born June 21, 1948, in Arbyrd, Mo., and was the daughter of the late Johnnie and Helen Wilkins Neel. She was preceded in death by one brother, Ronald Neel...

Nancy Lois Wade Vancil (03/28/07)
Nancy Lois Wade Vancil, 99, of Germantown, Tenn., died Tuesday morning, March 20, in Germantown. She lived most of her life in Muncie, Ind. She was born Feb. 27, 1908 in Piggott and was the daughter of the late Henry Hampton (Hamp) and Hettie Ellen Shelton Wade...

Philip Benjamin Bridgeman (03/21/07)
Philip Benjamin Bridgeman, 76, of Piggott, died Sunday, March 18, 2007, at the Piggott Community Hospital. He was a Southern Baptist, a twenty-two year Air Force Veteran, a member of the VFW and the American Legion. Bridgeman bought a pecan orchard before entering into the military in 1951 with plans to operate the business when he ended his time in service. ...

Iva Reba Smith (03/14/07)
Iva Reba Smith, 92, of Rector died Friday, March 2, 2007, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Mrs. Smith was born April 5, 1914, in Clay County to the late Russell and Louella (Hoil) Williams. She was married to Carl Smith, who preceded her in death May 7, 1996. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Joyce Maxine Smith; four brothers, Roy, Ben, Granville and Henry Williams, and three sisters, Wilma Shelton, Ruth Stevens and Dora Watson...

Robert "Scotty J" James (03/14/07)
Robert "Scotty J" James, 33, died suddenly March 8, 2007. He was born Sep. 24, 1973 in Hinsdale, Ill. He also lived in Bolingbrook, Ill., Piggott, Hazlehurst, Ga., and Augusta, Ga. He graduated from Hephzibah High School in the Augusta area. He was a hardworking young man, a golfer, softball player, and an avid Razorback fan. He was a wonderful husband, son, brother, and uncle as well as a good friend to all...

Eric D. Janes (03/14/07)
Eric D. Janes, 48, of Belleville, Ill., was born April 5, 1958, in Piggot, Ark. He died Sunday, March 4, 2007, at his residence surrounded by his loving family. Janes played bass guitar in numerous bands and worked in many facets of the music industry including B&G and Dale's Music Stores. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church...

Willie Jessie Randol (03/14/07)
Willie Jessie Randol, 91, of Piggott, died Thursday, March 8, 2007, in the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born Oct. 10, 1915, in Reyno, Ark., and was the daughter of the late Jimmie James and Delcie Boshyers Johnson. She was united in marriage to Charles Randol in 1938 and to this union four children were born...

Dorman Lloyd Steelman (03/14/07)
Dorman Lloyd Steelman, 81, died March 1, 2007, at the Salem Memorial District Hospital in Salem, Mo. He was born Feb. 17, 1926, in Cedar Grove, Mo. The oldest of ten children of Reamy and Erma Steelman. His first eight years of education were in a one-room schoolhouse on the banks of the Current River and graduated from Eminence High School in 1944...

Larry Ferman Sutfin (03/14/07)
Larry Ferman Sutfin, 61, of Brookland, formerly of Piggott, died Thursday, March 8, 2007, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Feb. 19, 1946, in McDougal, and was the son of the late Eulas and Geraldine Hooper Sutfin. He was united in marriage to Barbara Dees on Nov. 4, 1967, and to this union four children were born...

Joseph T. Cheshire (03/14/07)
Joseph T. Cheshire, 75, of Rector died Friday, March 9, 2007, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born July 30, 1931, in Gideon, Mo., to the late Joseph T. Cheshire Sr. and Sarah (Turner) Cheshire and was married Aug. 25, 1950, in Piggott to the former Frankie Pearson. He was a farmer and of the Baptist faith...

Iva Mae Boester (03/14/07)
Iva Mae Boester, 63, of Rector died Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at her home. Born May 17, 1943, in St. Louis to the late Coy Claude Tracer and Maudie L. (Heath) Tracer, she was a cashier at Mr. T's and a member of the Fifth and Pine Church of Christ...

Deana Kilbreath (03/07/07)
Deana Kilbreath, 40, of McDougal, died Saturday, March 3, 2007, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She is survived by: her parents, Warner and Mae Millikan Kilbreath of McDougal; One sister, Ginger Kilbreath of McDougal; aunt, Sylvia Sheppard; uncle, Byron Kilbreath and other relatives and friends...

Justin Edward Moody (03/07/07)
Justin Edward Moody, 30, a lifetime resident of Piggott, died Thursday, March 1, 2007. He was born Oct. 13, 1976, the youngest son of Gary Moody and Carol Moody Stow. Justin was of the Baptist faith, a police officer, and had been in law enforcement for the duration of his career...

Janice Ellen Box Psora (03/07/07)
Janice Ellen Box Psora, 62, of Greenway, died March 4, 2007, in the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She was born Feb. 6, 1945, in Decatur, Ala., and was the daughter of the late T.J. "Jake" and Ruby Williams Box. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Barbara Box...

Mary Hazel Moore Evans (03/07/07)
Mary Hazel Moore Evans, 92, died on March 3, 2007, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. Hazel was born on May 31, 1914, in Clarkton, to George Washington and Mary Sue O'Hara Moore. She was one of six children who all preceded her in death. She married John Leonard Evans on March 23, 1932, in the Langley Community. Together, they had three children: Betty Sue Owen, James Leonard Evans, and Mary Frances Harmon...

Finis Joel Templeton (03/07/07)
Finis Joel Templeton died Feb. 27, 2007 at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas. He was born April 28, 1920 at Piggott, the son of W. D. & Mabel Holcomb Templeton. Finis served in the U.S. Marines nearly five years, and was stationed in Samoa during part of his tour of duty...