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Matthew Brumley
ALMA — Matthew Brumley, 38, of Alma died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, in a local hospital. He was a diesel mechanic for Arkola Sand & Gravel in Fort Smith.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Graphic Southern Baptist Church with burial at Newberry cemetery in Alma under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.
He is survived by his wife, Shelba; a daughter, Amber Brumley of the home; a son, Matt Brumley of the home; his parents, Elvice and Patsy Brumley of Mountainburg; three sisters, Tammy Shephard of Mountainburg, Karen Lamproe of Rudy and Melinda Hoodenpyle of Fort Smith; four brothers, Gary Brumley of Kibler, Charles and Terry Brumley, both of Mountainburg, and Malcom Brumley of Harrison; paternal grandmother, Velma Brumley of Fort Smith.
Pallbearers will be Danny and David Counts, Larry Chivington, Daniel Brumley, Wayne Waid and Richard Gifford.
The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Cecil Cooper
Cecil L. Cooper, 75, of Fort Smith died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, in a local hospital. He was retired from the Army, serving in World War II and the Korean and the Vietnam wars, retired from Rheem Manufacturing Co. and a member of Phoenix Village Baptist Church.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at Putman Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Smith with burial and 
military honors at U.S. National cemetery in Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Alice; four daughters, Judy Stone and Peggy Young, both of Fort Smith, Sharon Hess of Fairbanks, Pa., and Linda Reynolds of Greenwood; a son, Perry Cooper of Alma; a sister, Clara King of Fort Smith; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Tony Stone, Terry Young, Bobby Reynolds and Clyde, Clydie and Anthony Hess.
The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Phoenix Village Baptist Church, 4510 Towson Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901.
Betty Pierce
MULBERRY — Betty L. Pierce, 67, of Mulberry died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004, in a local hospital. She was of the Protestant faith, and a retired self-employed truck driver.
The body will be cremated under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma.
She is survived by her husband, Carl; five daughters, Zella Daubert, Vonnie Graham, Tammy Miller and Sherry Morris, all of Oklahoma, and Carla Smotherman of Kansas; two sons, Herbert Keeling of Oklahoma and Carl Pierce Jr. of Texas; 16 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Dorothy Hove
BOONEVILLE — Dorothy “Dottie” Darlene Hove, 77, of Booneville died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, in a Fort Smith hospital. She attended Coles Chapel Methodist Church near Booneville, and was a homemaker.
Funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday at Coles Chapel Methodist Church near Booneville with a memorial service Sunday at Randall, Iowa, with burial at Manreland cemetery in Randall, Iowa. Local arrangements are under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home of Booneville.
She is survived by two daughters, Merna Yeager of Booneville and Lori Whitney of Fort Collins, Colo.; two sons, Harlo Hove of Solon, Iowa, and Douglas Hove of Jewell, Iowa; a brother, Bernard Dennis of Urbandale, Iowa; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Loy Harris
MENA — Loy Harris, 92, of Mena died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, in Mena. She was born Oct. 3, 1911, in Bailey, Texas. She was a homemaker, and of the Baptist faith.
Graveside service will be 10 a.m. today at Pinecrest Memorial Park under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena.
She is survived by her husband, Claude; a daughter, Louise McMillen; two grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Lee Ellis
POTEAU — Lee Ellis, 56, of Poteau died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, in Poteau. He was born April 22, 1947, in Poteau. He was an electrician, a member of the DAV and a Navy veteran.
Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Monroe cemetery in Monroe under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home of Poteau.
He is survived by two sons, Ray and Matthew Ellis, both of Poteau; a brother, Ken Ellis of Poteau; and the mother of his children, Ruth Ellis of Poteau.
Ella Perkins
Ella Elzora Perkins, 90, of Fort Smith died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004, in a local nursing home. She was a homemaker, and a member of Mount Zion C.M.E. Church.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at Mount Zion CME Church with burial at Washington cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Rowell-Parish Mortuary of Fort Smith.
She is survived by four daughters, Odessa and Alice Perkins, Nancy Cross, all of Fort Smith, and Willie Yarborough of Oklahoma City; three sons, Roscoe of Lawton, Okla., Don of Muskogee, Okla., and Olish of Fort Smith; 41 grandchildren, 80 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be grandsons.
The family will visit with friends at 2111 North J Street in Fort Smith.
Jack G. Butler
Jack G. Butler, 60, of Fort Smith died Monday, Feb. 16, 2004, in Fort Smith. He was owner and operator of Butler Custom Tackle. He was a member of Cavanaugh Free Will Baptist Church, a Sunday school teacher and a member of the board of trustees and the Bass Club of the church. He was a retired security guard with Mac Steel.
Funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday Feb. 20, 2004 at Cavanaugh Free Will Baptist Church with burial at Spiro City cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Butler of Fort Smith; two daughters, Lissa and husband, Gary O’Conner of Fort Smith and Laurie Donnelly of Bisbee, Ariz.; two sons, Steve and wife, Dawn Butler of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Bruce and wife, Linda Butler of Huntington; his mother, Leola Butler of Spiro; a sister, Pamela and husband, Jim King of Fort Smith; a brother, Rex and wife, Monta Butler of Spiro; and four grandchildren, Brylea and Bryson Butler and Taylor and Haley McDonald.
Pallbearers will be Terrell and Michael King, Greg Brown, Scott McDonald, Carl Robertson, Mike Komp, Chad Grouse and Jimmy Joe Grubb.
The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Cavanaugh Free Will Baptist Church, 2825 Grinnell Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72908.
James D. Conatser
James D. Conatser, was born Sept. 13, 1933, in Rose City. He was the youngest of four children of Garland and Lillian Parette Conatser. He died Monday, Feb. 16, 2004, in St. Edwards Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith. He was 70.
James was a retired electrical and electronics engineer and an Air Force radar technician during the
Korean War, loving husband and father of three children, grandfather of four children and at least six “grand-cats”. His early public schooling was completed in Greenwood Community in Altus and Ozark, followed by USAF Radar and Electronics training. James obtained his bachelor of science in electrical engineering from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
His career began in the USAF followed by many years with RCA after college graduation. Over a 43-year career, he served his country developing a number of vital US defense systems including installations and modifications to the Nike Hercules Air Defense system and the first successful test launch of the Atlas ICBM. He was a permanent member of the NORAD Electronic Warfare Advisory Panel, being the only non-government civilian to ever hold this position of high trust. He was the Satellite Communications lead engineer for the NASA Tracking Station in Rosman, N.C., an adjunct unit of the Goddard Space Flight Center, using the 85-foot, 300-ton parabolic antenna to study and provide a picture of the origins and complexity of the universe. The first color pictures of the earth from space were received during his time at Rosman. James than worked for three years at Boeing in Wichita updating the electronics for US war-fighting aircraft. James retired from service at Fort Chaffee in 1994, after 17 years of designing and supervising engineering activities.
Jim was a member of the Association of Old Crows, the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society, and a charter member of the Antique Radio Collectors Club of Fort Smith. He admired columnists and news reporters for their knowledge and intelligence including, Walter Williams, Paul Harvey, Thomas Sowell, Chuck Colson and Ann Coulter. He worked to instill the love of good music, knowledge, and provided books on all subjects to family and friends. He was devoted to Big Band music and good books. He fed the birds and animals and “talked” to the neighbor’s cats and dogs in their own language. He trained as a singer in high school, and in his early and Air Force years he sang on the radio and in church. His teenage years were spent in Ozark with his parents, Garland D. and Lillian B. Conatser, his sisters, and brother, Robert and many, many good friends. Jim met his future wife on a sleigh ride in January 1953 while he was stationed in Minnesota. Wanda and Jim were married
July 9, 1955, in Wadena, Minn. Over a period of years, James and family lived in a number of locations throughout the United States, including, California, Wyoming, Colorado, North Carolina, and finally returning to Arkansas in 1970. Many summers were spent in Minnesota at their lake home, a center of fun for all extended family. In 1986, he wrote to the publishers of the World Almanac in order to correct the entry about the origins of the name of the State of Arkansas. The corrected history was included in the 1987 World Almanac after the publishers wrote and thanked James for his letter.
James is survived by his wife, Wanda M. Danielson Conatser; sons, Daniel J. and Dan’s wife, Cynthia; granddaughter, Haley; twin grandsons, Austin and Riley, and grandson, Paul, all of Boston, Christopher R. and wife, Kellie of Dallas, and son Todd W. of Hollywood, Calif.
The memorial service for James D. Conatser will be conducted at 11 a.m. at Ozark First United Methodist Church on Saturday, with Don Brewer and Harold Dickerson officiating. A family visitation and viewing will be held Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Shaffer Funeral Home in Ozark. Burial will be at U.S. National cemetery in Fort Smith.
Honorary pallbearers will be Duncan Dozier, Robert Simmons, Carrol Carter, Larry Schultis, the Ozark High Class of 1951 and the Antique Radio Club members.
Memorial contributions may be made to your local Humane Society, or the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society, 107 E. Main, P.O. Box 61, Clarinda, IA 51632. Other memorials contributions may be sent to House Ear Institute and Sloan Kettering Cancer Research Hospital.
Robert “Sgt. Bob” Stevenson
Sgt. Bob, 52, entered into eternal rest with his Lord on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004. He was born in Wynne on April 23, 1951. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Helen Stevenson, and his brother, William Stevenson. Sgt. Bob was married
to the former Cherie Faulkner for the last 31 years. He was a wonderful husband and a devoted father to his two sons, Bob and his wife, Sarah of Fort Smith, and John of Fort Smith. He also welcomed into his life and family a foster daughter, Gerrilyn Johnson and her husband, Don of San Antonio; their four precious sons, Spencer, Samuel, Seth and Shane became special grandsons in his life. He loved his family very much, including his sister, Gail of Lebanon, Mo., and his brother, Kenny of Nashville, Ga. His nieces and nephews were very special to him.
After graduating from Booneville High School in 1969, he attended Ouachita Baptist University for two years. Bob decided that law enforcement was the path for him and joined the Booneville Police Department until May of 1974, when he joined the Fort Smith Police Department. For 20 years that he served the citizens of Fort Smith, he was in the patrol division, then did a few years with the motorcycle patrol division, and finished his years with the police as the Public Relations Officer. With much thought, he retired the police in September 1994, and immediately accepted a position with the Fort Smith Public Schools as their new supervisor of Safety and Security. He loved working with all of his “kids”. He could be seen at every school and all sports events, Grand Avenue Baptist Church was a big part of Bob’s life. He began to worship there in 1989 and immediately began serving his Lord in the Sound Booth ministry. It was often said that if Bob couldn’t fix something, he would fix it so no one else could either. While at Grand Avenue, he was on the ground floor when the Boy Scout Troop 7 was formed in the church. Bob was already active with his sons in the Cub Scout program, but now they needed to move up and Bob was there to become their Scoutmaster, a position that he served in for 13 years. Under his guidance, 35 boys, including both of his sons became Eagle Scouts. Bob was also a course director for Wood Badge, earned the Silver Beaver Award, Scoutmaster of the Year award, and most recently had the parade field at Rogers Scout Reservation renamed in his honor. He loved to teach those boys to become good men and hoped that he made a difference in lives of all children.
His memorial service will be held on Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, at 5 p.m. at Grand Avenue Baptist Church, with a private family burial will be held at Oak cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Joe Davis, Cleve McDonald, Bob Costner, Earl Massey, Ricky Brooks and Jim Rowland. A police honor guard will help with the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grand Avenue Baptist Church Music Ministry, 3900 Grand Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901 or Fort Smith Public School Foundation, 3205 Jenny Lind Road, Fort Smith, AR 72901 or Boy Scouts of America, P.O. Box 3156, Fort Smith, AR 72913 or Fort Smith Police Department, 100 S. 10th St., Fort Smith, AR 72901.
Selma Jane Moore
Selma Jane Moore, age 93, of Waldron passed away Monday, Feb. 23, in a Waldron nursing home. She was the widow of Fay Moore, a homemaker and attended Temple Baptist Church. Mrs. Moore is survived by one sister, Mildred Woodcock of McGhee; two nieces, Sharon Waganer of Waldron and Shirley Sheldon of Lees Summit, Mo.; two nephews, Jimmy Davis of Olathe, Kan. and Charley Hughes of Waldron. Also surviving is a dear friend and neighbor, Annie Davis of Waldron.
Graveside service will be 2 p.m. today at Sehorn cemetery near Waldron with the Rev. Jack Smith officiating under the direction of Martin Funeral Home of Waldron. Serving as pallbearers will be Bill Cabe, Jordan Hughes, Jarrod Hughes, Charles Hunt, Charley Hughes and A.G. Morrison. Honorary pallbearers will the caregivers of Waldron Nursing Center.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sehorn cemetery, c/o Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 786, Waldron, AR 72958 or Gideons International, P.O. Box 823, Waldron, AR 72958.
Astor M. Johnson
Astor M. Johnson, 87, of Fort Smith died Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, in Fort Smith. She was born March 22, 1916, in Cummins, Ga., to Luther Jackson Phillips and Ada Tullis Phillips. She was a homemaker and was a member of Stetson Baptist Church in Deland, Fla. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Johnson, and one son, Leon Johnson.
Funeral will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004, at Smith Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Terry Scott officiating. The body will be cremated after service under the direction of Smith Mortuary of Charleston.
She is survived by a daughter, Barbara Berker of London, England; Robert A. Johnson Sr. of Fort Smith; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Billy F. Rye
Billy F. Rye of Mountainburg, age 66, passed away Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, in the VA Hospital after an extended illness.
He was a Navy veteran, a lifelong resident of Crawford County, a Baptist and a professional tree trimmer.
He is survived by two sons, Aubrey R. Rye of Dardanelle and Bill Jason “Pedro” Rye; daughter-in-law, Amanda D. Rye; two daughters, Brenda Smith of Paris and Nona Grigsby of Centerville; five grandchildren, Kaytlyn, Shelby, Ethan, Hunter and Mikey; three sisters, Velma Wright, Betty Walker and Larretta Knox, all of Alma; six brothers, R.B. of Fort Collins, Colo., Carl, Joe and Kenneth, all of Mountainburg, Douglas of Fort Smith, and Dwight of Hot Springs.
The body will be cremated under the direction of Lewis Funeral Chapel in Fort Smith.
A private memorial service will be held by family members at a later date. God Bless You.
Clarence Eugene Deffenbaugh
Clarence Eugene Deffenbaugh, 86, of Van Buren died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, in a local hospital. He was of the Baptist faith, an Army veteran of World War II and a retired mechanic and carpenter.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. today at Ocker Memorial Chapel with burial at Hall cemetery near Natural Dam under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
He is survived by his wife, Laura Deffenbaugh of the home; three daughters, Donna Hite of Wichita, Kan., Juanita Cline of Douglas, Kan., and Sabrina Sutton of Arkoma; three sons, Wally Deffenbaugh of Derby, Kan., Rod Deffenbaugh of Topeka, Kan., and William Deffenbaugh of Houston; a sister, Maude Massey of Coweta, Okla.; a brother, Cliff Deffenbaugh of Poteau; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Steve Massey, Gary, Danny and Eddie Deffenbaugh, Brett Peters and Richard Boone.
Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Jennings, Kipton Garrett, Olaniyi Osofisan, Michael Standfer, Frank Griffin and John Delk.
