Stories from Thursday, July 21, 2011

Morgan Meadows of Piggott has spent most of her life actively involved in music as a singer, musician and band member. She is about to take her musical abilities to Arkansas State University, where she has received a full band scholarship, the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship and the Arkansas Promise Scholarship...

Another chapter was written in the longstanding tradition of the St. Francis Picnic Saturday. Dozens of volunteers shrugged off the oppressive July heat to come out to the picnic grounds to offer their time in support of not only the annual celebration, but also the continued upkeep and maintenance of the Hall and Gravel Hill Cemeteries...

While the recent heat wave may have made the spring floods throughout the area, the downpours and soggy conditions remain a contributing factor for local farmers, having had an impact on all Clay County crops. Probably the most affected crop has been corn...

Wilma Dean Ross, 71, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Sunday, July 17, 2011 in the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born on July 7, 1940 in Piggott, Ark. and was the daughter of the late Henry and Izalia Rogers Haywood. She was united in marriage to Gerald Ross on July 9, 1960, and to this union three children were born...

William J. Templeton, 83, died on May 3, 2011, at his residence in Dover, Pa. He was the husband of the late Mary K. (Austin) Templeton. Mr. Templeton was born on Sept. 28, 1927, in Piggott, Ark., the son of the late Everett and Madaline Templeton. He is survived by three children, Rexanne Arnold of Pennsylvania, William A. ...

Pansy Melton, 65, of Maynard, Ark., passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at her residence. She was born on June 3, 1946, in Patterson, Ark. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Melton; two sons, Doug and Tommy McTyre; a granddaughter, Bailey McTyre; sister, Virginia Waltney; parents: Golfery and Vivian Hays...

James H. Loveless, 63, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Saturday, July 16, 2011, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. He was born on May 9, 1948, in Walla Walla, Wash., and was the son of the late George and Laverne Thaxton Loveless. He was united in marriage to Mary Lee Milde on April 3, 1968, and to this union two children were born...

Rachel Geraldine Goodman, 86, formerly of Rector, died Saturday, July 9, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. Mrs. Goodman was born June 21, 1925, in Rector and was a retired registered nurse. Survivors include one daughter, Carol Peterson of Yorba Linda, Calif.; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; four nieces, and one nephew...

Mary Delilah Cooper, 97, of Rector passed away Sunday, July 17, 2011, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Aug. 26, 1913, to the late Oscar and Delilah (Trantham) Hill of Rector. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Onnie L. Cooper; one daughter, Bettie Dudley, a brother and eight sisters...

Augusta Alice Cole, 69, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at Magnolia Manor in Piggott, Ark. She was born on July 27, 1941, in Memphis, Tenn., and was the daughter of the late Wylie and Augusta Alice O'Sheridan Turner. She is survived by three sons, Philip J. ...

I've got to start getting myself in shape. Before Sept. 10. That's when my high school class reunion will be held. To reduce down to the weight I was as a high school senior, I'll have to lose 12 pounds. I'll have to work fast to accomplish that. On second thought, I'll try to lose two or three; just enough to comfortably wear my jeans. That's more attainable...

One should have anticipated an interruption of one's normal habits and obligations when illness slowed down this patient octogenarian. But when the unexpected laid him low, one went with the flow and obeyed his family and physicians, with excellent outcome...