Stories from Thursday, June 14, 2012

Rector's city mural is being returned to its original beauty under the hand of artist Malcomb Weir of Jonesboro. Weir began work last week on the restoration and hopes to finish later this week. The vibrant colors are again stunning and the eye-catching mural will again be one of Rector's finest attractions...

Literary legend Ernest Hemingway has been the subject of many works in the decades since his death, but a new book by Dr. Ruth Hawkins offers a new look at his storied career. The book, "Unbelievable Happiness and Final Sorrow" seeks to clarify the role that the Pfeiffer family of Piggott played in Hemingway's life and offers a new understanding of its importance. Thursday, June 7, the Hemingway Pfeiffer Museum hosted a special book reading/signing by Hawkins to mark its release...

Efforts are underway to gather funds for Mary's Chapel Cemetery. As area residents continue to feel the crunch of a sluggish economy, so too do those organizations and entities which rely upon financial support from local patrons. In the case of Mary's Chapel, funds for the site have fallen to the point where the cemetery association is having difficulties meeting the cost of routine upkeep. ...

Members of the Piggott High School class of 1962 held their 50th reunion Memorial Day weekend at the Sugar Creek Country Club. During the special gathering class members agreed to fund a scholarship for a graduating senior at Piggott High School in the name of former agriculture teacher Donald R. ...

Voyd Leon Frederick, 90, of Evening Shade, Ark., formerly of Piggott, died June 6, 2012 at the White Medical Center in Batesville. Leon was born June 19, 1921 in Nimmons, Ark., to the late Tom and Leona (Pruett) Frederick. Leon was widowed, his career was in construction work, he was of the Church of Christ faith and served in the Army...

Letha Jane Veach, 105, of Corning, former longtime Manila resident and widow of Mr. Roy Veach, passed from this life Monday June 4, 2012, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born in Manila, she was the daughter of the late David and Ollie Moore Rice. ...

Paige Turner Riffe, 83, of Bexley, Ohio, passed away Tuesday, June 5, 2012, at Sunrise of Bexley. Paige was born August 19, 1928 in Coble, Tenn. to Wylie E. Turner, M.D. and Cora (Moore) Turner. On Oct. 3, 1946 she married Philip Riffe in Hernando, Miss. ...

Etheridge B. Hutchison, 80, of Sun City, Ariz., passed away on May 31, 2012. He was preceded in death by his wife Virginia. They were born in Arkansas and moved to Flint, Mich. where they raised their family. He worked for G.M. 31 years, retiring in 1986. ...

Nina Fay Edwards, 93, of Belle Meade in Paragould, formerly of Piggott, died June 8, 2012. She was born October 18, 1918, to the former Jessie and Emma Mae (Spicer) Laws. She was of the Church of Christ faith. She worked for Buck Auto and a babysitter...

Maudie Mae Coomer, 91, of Greenway, Arkansas, passed away Monday, June 11, 2012, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Piggott, Arkansas. She was born on June 11, 1921, in Bee Branch, Arkansas, and was the daughter of the late Omer Guy and Bessie Mae (Allison) Graddy...