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John Whaley
MENA — John A. Whaley, 92, of Mena died Monday, May 31, 2004, in Mena. He was born June 19, 1911, in Dyersburg, Tenn. He retired after 25 years from Champion International in Lebanon, Ore., and was a member of the Nazarene Church of Mena.
Graveside service will be 11 a.m. today at Smithville cemetery under the direction of Hall Funeral Service of Mena.
He is survived by his wife, Beatrice; a brother, Ray Whaley of New Braunfels, Texas; and one grandchild.
James Carter
James Lee Carter, 73, of Fort Smith died Monday, May 31, 2004, in Fort Smith. He was a retired electronics technician, an Air Force veteran of the 
Korean War and a life member of the American Legion Post No. 31.
Funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Forest Park cemetery in Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Mary.
Memorial contributions may be made to Peachtree Hospice, 4300 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72903.
Margaret Bruce
BRISTOW, Okla. — Margaret Beatrice Warnock Bruce, 91, of Bristow died Monday, May 31, 2004. She was born April 15, 1913, in Creek County, Okla. She was a homemaker and the widow of Claude Bruce.
Funeral will be 3 p.m. Thursday at Hutchins-Maples Funeral Home Chapel in Bristow with burial at Sunrise cemetery east of Bristow.
She is survived by three sons, James Bruce of Conway, Tony Bruce of Tulsa, and Steve Bruce of Fort Smith; a sister, Della Riley of Hemet, Calif.; three brothers, Louis Warnock of Sapulpa, Okla., Thomas and Johnny Warnock, both of Bristow; 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bristow Animal Shelter, 110 W. Seventh, Bristow, OK 74010.
John Bogner
John Norman Dutch Bogner, 71, of Fort Smith died Sunday, May 30, 2004, in Fort Smith. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fort Smith, a postal clerk for the U.S. Postal Service and worked at Harding Glass for many years.
Funeral mass will be 10 a.m. today at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with burial at Holy Cross cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Fentress Mortuary.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; two daughters, Anne Bell of Las Vegas and Laura Bogner of Fort Smith; a son, John Bogner of Fort Smith; and a brother, Harold Bogner of Fort Smith.
Pallbearers will be Ralph Bogner Jr., Mike, Bruce, David and Chris Bogner, Jason Hetherington and Jeff and Ronnie Testa.
Richard Medford
SCRANTON — Richard Theron Medford, 80, of Scranton, formerly of Mena, died Friday, May 28, 2004. He was born May 14, 1924, in Board Camp. He served in the National Guard during World War II and the Korean Wars. He was of the United Pentecostal faith.
Graveside service will be 2 p.m. today at U.S. National cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena.
He is survived by his wife, Dottie; two daughters, Sharon Shipman of Fort Smith and Thearonda Haneline of Scranton; four sons, Dickie Medford of Greenwood, Ricky and Samuel Medford, both of Fort Smith, and Richard Medford of Little Rock; 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Maude Vaughan
MIDWEST CITY, Okla. — Maude F. Vaughan, 92, of Midwest City, formerly of Roland, died Monday, May 31, 2004, in Midwest City. She was born March 21, 1912, in Liberty. She was a homemaker, of the Holiness faith and the widow of Nathan Vaughan.
Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Liberty cemetery north of Roland under the direction of Agent Funeral Home of Roland.
She is survived by a daughter, Plina Houston of Midwest City; two sons, John Vaughn of Osage City, Kan., and Joe Vaughan of Saginaw, Texas; four sisters, Myrtle Prewett, Anna Redden, and Etta Stephens, all of Roland, and Loma Satterfield of Liberty; three brothers, John Bond of Sallisaw and George and Cassie Bond, both of Roland; 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchidren and five great-great-grandchildren.
The body may be viewed 1 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Norman Zahn Jr.
Norman Zahn Jr., 90, of Fort Smith died Tuesday, June 1, 2004, in a Fort Smith hospital. He was a Mason, a member of Oklahoma Cattle Association, and the Wesley United Methodist Church.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church with burial at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Fort Smith under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Gladys; a daughter, Carol Bateman of Fort Smith; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Richard and Brooks Sanford, Ricky Hill, Justin Combs, Pedro and Drew Sadler.
The family will visit with friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Thelma E. Bagley
Mrs. Thelma E. Bagley, 96, of Sallisaw died Friday, May 28, 2004, in Sallisaw. She was a homemaker and a charter member of Oakridge Assembly of God. Mrs. Bagley was a former leader of the ladies Bible study and prayer group in her home for many years and a ladies Sunday school teacher at the First Assembly of God in Sallisaw. She attended Watts school in Sequoyah County and was a former bookkeeper with Sequoyah Gas Co. in Sallisaw and a former sales clerk at Gertrudes department store in Sallisaw. Mrs. Bagley was a lady of hospitality and enjoyed entertaining friends and strangers alike.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Oakridge Assembly of God in Sallisaw with burial at Sallisaw City cemetery under the direction of Agent Funeral Home of Sallisaw.
She is survived by six daughters and sons-in-law, Vera Park and Bob and Lou Wilson and Bill, all of Sallisaw, Mae Cunningham, Patsy Brassfield and Seth and Janie Kennon and John, all of Tahlequah, Okla., and Kathleen Brownie Tarp and Jorgen of Tulsa; a sister, Nelese Rogers of Wichita, Kan.; 16 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by one daughter, Dona Randolph.
Pallbearers will be Jamie Stocks, Dan and Andy Cunningham, Tim and Joe Randolph, Jeff Slaten, Joe Holmes, Floyd Matthew Brassfield, Bill Wilson, James Sugg and Bobby Park.
The body may be viewed from 1 to 9 p.m. today at Agent Funeral Home in Sallisaw.
The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions can be made to Oakridge Assembly of God Building Fund, P.O. Box 826, Sallisaw, OK 74955.
James A. Branch
James A. Branch, 64, of Fort Smith died Saturday, May 29, 2004, in his home. He was born Aug. 10, 1939, in Fort Smith. He was a retired postal worker, an Army veteran and a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Calvary Baptist Church with burial at the U.S. National cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Lewis Funeral Chapel of Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Sue of the home; five daughters, Terri Mullins and Jamie Lawley, both of Van Buren, and Kelly Melton, Judy Branch and Miranda Johnson, all of Fort Smith; his mother, Reba Branch of Fort Smith; a sister, Reba McMahand of Fort Smith; seven grandchildren, Amber and Kristen Mullins, Courtney and Emily Melton, Jennifer Tackett, Trevor Branch, Johnson Lawley and Caleb James Lawley; and two great-grandchildren, Brock and Bryce Tackett.
Pallbearers will be Ray Stovall, Mike Shelly, Louis Greenwood, Chris Cross, Buzz Karsten and Danny Abshere.
Honorary pallbearers will be Will Williams and Terry and Kurt Law.
The body may be viewed from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. today at the funeral home and Tuesday morning at the church before the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church or Mercy Hospice.
Robert Pearson
Robert Pearson, 44, of Alma died Saturday, May 29, 2004, in a local hospital. He was a sales agent for Farm Bureau Insurance in Crawford County and a member of the Alma United Methodist Church, a 1977 graduate of McGehee High School and a graduate of the University of Arkansas Monticello and Delta State University, where he obtained his master’s degree.
He was the head varsity football coach at McGehee from 1987 to 1995 and led the McGehee Owls to win the state championship in 1988 and 1989.
Graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at McGehee cemetery under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home of McGehee. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Ocker Funeral Home Chapel in Alma. There will be visitation at Griffin Funeral Home from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the funeral.
He is survived by his wife, Kristie of the home; one daughter, Reanna of Alma, and one son, Kenneth Pearson, along with their mother, Linda Shoptaw, all of Alma; two stepdaughters, Jamie and Haley Ellis, both of Alma; his mother, Linda Pearson Roper of El Dorado; and one brother, Kenneth Pearson of North Little Rock.
He was preceded in death by his father, Olen Pearson.
Bruce W. Bishop
Bruce W. Bishop, 52, of Panama died Friday, May 28, 2004. He was a carpenter, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Fort Smith, a Navy veteran of the Vietname War and a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Memorial graveside service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at the U.S. National cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Fentress Mortuary of Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Sherry Pierce Bishop; his mother, Bobbie Bishop England of Arkoma; two brothers, Harold M. Bishop of Raceland, La., and Brian L. Bishop of Arkoma; a stepsister and stepbrother, Anita and Dwayne Ahrens, both of Russellville; five nephews and three nieces.
Mabel Dougherty
Mabel Dougherty, 84, of Fort Smith died Thursday, May 27, 2004 in Fort Smith. She was a member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Fort Smith.
Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Woodlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Fentress Mortuary of Fort Smith.
She is survived by one daughter, Ann Taylor of San Antonio, Texas.
Mary Elizabeth Davidson Foster
Mary Elizabeth Davidson Foster was born Sept. 5, 1906, in Ozark and died Wednesday, May 26, 2004, in Fort Smith. Her parents were William Ed Davidson and Julia Ann (Wagner) Davidson. She graduated from Ozark High School in 1923 and graduated from Fort Smith Business College in 1924.
Elizabeth was first employed as railroad station agent in Altus. In 1937, she began her civil service career with the federal government in the bituminous coal division in Fort Smith. In 1940, she transferred to Kansas City. In 1941, she went to work in Washington, D.C. for the railroad retirement board. After Pearl Harbor, the agency moved to Chicago. It was here that she met and married
her husband, Allen Foster in July 1947. In 1952, Elizabeth and Allen moved to Richmond, Va., where she worked for the Internal Revenue Service. They moved to Alexandria, Va., in 1954, where she continued her civil service career with the United States Air Force, with offices in the Pentagon. Following the death of her husband in October 1957, she remained in her position with the Air Force until her retirement in 1969. During her years at the Pentagon, she received several awards for superior performance.
Elizabeth loved to travel both in the United States and abroad. Those who had the privilege of knowing her loved the many wonderful stories of her travels, working in Washington, D.C. and growing up in Ozark. After retirement, Elizabeth live in Springdale until 1971, when she moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She remained in Florida until 1983 and returned to Fort Smith to be near family friends. Elizabeth is survived by a cousin, John Burns of Ozark. Private burial will be in Ozark.
Nancy Harding Vaughn Griftner
Nancy Harding Vaughn Griftner, 84, of Sarasota, Fla., died March 7, 2004. A Fort Smith native, she was the younger daughter of Christine and William Vaughn. (Mr. Vaughn was city commissioner No. 2 during the late 1920s and was active in getting the Lake Fort Smith water facility built at Mountainburg).
Nancy is survived by three children, Christine Griftner of Irvine, Calif., James Howard Griftner and William Vaughn Griftner, both of Dallas; and three grandchildren.
Mrs. Griftner graduated from Fort Smith High School in 1937, and Fort Smith Junior College in 1939. In 1945, she moved to Pennsylvania to work with the University of Pittsburgh exploratory program for preschool children. While there she married
Howard Griftner and moved to the Chicago area, living for many years in Deerfield, Ill., where the children were raised. The couple moved to Shreveport, La., in 1975 and lived there for 12 years.
At retirement, the couple moved to Sarasota, Fla., where they lived active lives, and celebrated nearly 53 years of marriage. Howard Griftner passed away in March 2000. Nancy continued her activities in local civic-betterment and cultural groups. She also continued her lifelong commitment to the Christian Science Church, serving as Sunday school superintendent for the 3rd Church of Christ Scientist in Sarasota. She was also active with the American Association of University Women, and UNIFEM, an adjunct of the United Nations.
Private committal service will be held May 29 at Oak cemetery in Fort Smith. A memorial site can be viewed at www.mem.com.
Helen Vick Stevinson
Helen Vick Stevinson, 85, of Fort Smith passed away Wednesday, May 26, 2004. She was a retired sales clerk from Newton’s Jewelry after 25 years of service. She was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church and a member of P.E.O. Chapter AS. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Bettie Sue Miller.
Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 29, 2004, at St. John’s Episcopal Church with cremain entombment at St. John’s Episcopal Church Columbarium under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
She is survived by her husband, Gipson; one daughter, Shirley Ball of Houston; and five grandchildren, Matt and Mike Ball of Dallas, Emily Miller and Hilary Miller of Cleveland, and Sarah Miller of Greensboro, N.C.
There will be a reception in the church Parish Hall after the memorial service.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 215 N. Sixth St., Fort Smith, AR 72901 or Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, 3324 S. M St., Fort Smith, AR 72903.
