Clay County Times-Democrat: Obituaries from July 2009

Walter Price Massey (07/29/09)
Walter Price Massey, 58, of Piggott, passed away Saturday, July 25, 2009, at his home in Piggott. He was born January 18, 1951, in Patterson, Ark., and was the son of the late Walter P. and Vernie Lucille (Fry) Massey. He was united in marriage to Rebecca Diann McKenzie on June 21, 1970. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Garland Dewayne Massey, Bobby Joe Massey and Jerry Allen Massey, and one sister, Jeri Sue Massey...

Ronald Earl Rigdon (07/22/09)
Ronald Earl Rigdon, 52, of Corning, passed away Friday, July 17, 2009. He was born November 30, 1956, in Piggott, and was the son of the late J.V. and Janice (Robinson) Rigdon. He was also preceded in death by his grandparents, Jesse and Alice Rigdon and Jewell and Edith Robinson...

Rex Blair Smart (07/22/09)
Rex Blair Smart, 74, of McDougal, died July 18, 2009, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born February 4, 1935, near Crockett to the late Dan and Thronie (Blair) Smart. He was retired from the Delta Asphalt Company and currently serving as a member of the Clay County Quorum Court. He also enjoyed quail hunting and listening to bluegrass gospel music...

Rava Nell White (07/22/09)
Rava Nell White, 77, of Paragould, died Monday, July 13, at her residence. She was born in Hollywood, Mo., on Aug. 4, 1931, and was retired from Emerson Electric Co. in Paragould. She was a member of New Liberty Baptist Church and a member of the Pink Ladies Auxiliary at Arkansas Methodist Hospital...

W.O. Layer (07/22/09)
W.O. Layer, 82, of Rector passed from this life on July 17, 2009. He was born July 13, 1927, in Rector to the late Floy and Maude (Thomas) Layer. W.O. was a farmer and a lifetime member of the Hopewell Missionary...

Rex Blair Smart (07/22/09)
Rex Blair Smart, 74, of McDougal, died July 18, 2009, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born February 4, 1935, near Crockett to the late Dan and Thronie (Blair) Smart. He was retired from the Delta Asphalt Company and currently serving as a member of the Clay County Quorum Court. He also enjoyed quail hunting and listening to bluegrass gospel music...

Ronald Earl Rigdon (07/22/09)
Ronald Earl Rigdon, 52, of Corning, passed away Friday, July 17, 2009. He was born November 30, 1956, in Piggott, and was the son of the late J.V. and Janice (Robinson) Rigdon. He was also preceded in death by his grandparents, Jesse and Alice Rigdon and Jewell and Edith Robinson...

Charles William Clatfelter (07/15/09)
Charles William Clatfelter, 83, of Marmaduke passed away July 11, 2009, at Evergreen Health Care in Rector. He was born April 11, 1926, in Marshall, Ill., to Paul and Nona Clatfleter. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was a World War II veteran...

Phillip Allan Gordon (07/15/09)
Phillip Allan Gordon, 61, of Rector died Sunday, July 12, 2009, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born April 29, 1948, to the late Allan and Ava (Cullen) Gordon. Survivors include his wife, Denise Gordon of the home; two step-daughters and sons-in-law, Krystal and Michael Polk of Jonesboro and Jodi and Shane Wood of Paragould, and five grandchildren, Lauren, Katy and Jackson Polk and Fisher and Ally Wood.. ...

Ralph Fredrick Waller (07/15/09)
Ralph Fredrick Waller, son of the late Joseph Andrew Waller and Clara (Rothley) Waller, was born June 5, 1921, in Holcomb, Mo., and departed this life July 11, 2009, at the age of 88 years, one month and six days at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett...

Nolan Braden (07/15/09)
Nolan Braden, 88, of Pollard, died Saturday, July 11, 2009, at the V.A. Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born March 1, 1921, in Senath, and was the son of the late James Oscar and Jennie (Nuckolls) Braden...

Marian Sue Tate (07/15/09)
Marian Sue Tate, 59, died July 9, 2009, at the General Baptist Nursing Home at Campbell, Mo. Formerly of Piggott, she was born in Detroit, Mich., October 11, 1949, to the late Julos and Flora (Reagan) Owen. She was of the Baptist faith and worked for the Area Agency on Aging...

Ila Marie Crow (07/15/09)
Ila Marie Crow, 91, died July 8, 2009, at her home in Sterling Heights, Mich. She lived in Sterling Heights for 21 years and in Warren for 30 years. She was born in Piggott on August 16, 1917, to the late Harvey Gower and Grace Truman (Warren) Gower. She was a member of Parkview Church of Christ and retired from Martain Place Hospital in Madison Heights as a Housekeeping Executive...

Joann Weber (07/08/09)
Funeral services for 61-year-old Joann Weber of Rector, who passed away on Friday, July 3, at her residence after a long illness with cancer, were Monday, July 6, at 2 p.m. in the Rector General Baptist Church with Brother Marston Carpenter officiating. Interment was in Woodland Heights Cemetery with Irby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements...

Robert Earl "Bob" Simmons (07/08/09)
Funeral services for 60-year-old Robert Earl "Bob" Simmons of Rector, who passed away on July 3 at his residence, were Monday, July 6, at 10 a.m. in the Irby Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Marston Carpenter officiating...

Gerald Wayne McDonald (07/08/09)
Cmdr. Gerald W. McDonald, PhD., retired, 76, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 13, 2009. Gerry fought a brave, hard battle against Alzheimer's dementia, which was especially frustrating for him as he was an exceptionally brilliant man...

Lyndell Brown (07/08/09)
Lyndell "Linda" Fay (Lack) Brown, 72, of Canon, Ga., died Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at her home. She was born March 25, 1937, in Clay County and was the second of six children born to the late Cecil Lack and Almareda (Haywood) Lack...

Harold Midkiff (07/01/09)
Harold Midkiff, 61, of Rector passed away June 25, 2009, at the NEA Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born October 17, 1947 to the late Roy and Johnnie (Reynolds) Midkiff in Clay County...

Inez Elizabeth Runyon (07/01/09)
Inez Runyon of Rector passed away at the age of 83 at the Evergreen Nursing Home in Rector on June 27, 2009. She was born November 26, 1926, to the late Freeman and Ruby Holt in...

Harold Midkiff (07/01/09)
Harold Midkiff, 61, of Rector passed away June 25, 2009, at the NEA Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born October 17, 1947 to the late Roy and Johnnie (Reynolds) Midkiff in Clay County...

John Carlton (07/01/09)
John Allen Carlton, 61, lost his valiant battle with cancer on June 23, 2009. He was born May 24, 1948, in Denton, Texas, and was raised on a ranch in Hartshorne, Okla. John was very proud of his Western heritage, which was so lovingly instilled in him by his parents, Bill and Mary Carlton...