Huge Marriages Search Engine!
John Roberts
PINE BLUFF — John E. “Bill” Roberts, 89, of Pine Bluff died Wednesday, May 26, 2004. He was born Sept. 18, 1914, in Rowell. He was retired from Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel, was a deacon at Second Baptist Church, a 50-year member of Mill Creek Masonic Lodge No. 178 and the widower of Mildred Roberts.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son in Pine Bluff with burial at Rowell cemetery.
He is survived by a daughter, Johnita Waddle of Pine Bluff; a son, William Roberts of Fort Smith; three sisters, Bernice Jones, Elvie Goodwin, both of Pine Bluff, and Ruby Took of Mount Ida; a brother, Donald Roberts of Pine Bluff; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The family will at the home of Johnita Waddle, 6810 Sorrells Road in Pine Bluff.
Memorial contributions may be made to Second Baptist Church, 1401 E. Sixth Ave., Pine Bluff, AR 71601.
Edwin Denny
NICUT, Okla. — Edwin “Sonny” Denny, 69, of Nicut, Okla., died Thursday, May 27, 2004, in Fort Smith. He was on the Belfonte School Board for 12 years, a charter member of the Fellowship Baptist Church and a member of the Nicut Nutrition Board.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Belfonte School Gymnasium with burial at Seabolt cemetery in Muldrow under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home of Sallisaw.
He is survived by his wife, Lillian; a daughter, Debbie Nichols of Liberty; four sons, Danny Bush and Paul Denny, both of Nicut, Wayne Denny of Roland and John Denny of Pocola; a sister, Imogene Baker of Stilwell, Okla.; a brother, Eddie Denny of Stilwell, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Tommy Reed, Johnny and Jerry Walters, Melvin Nelson, Kenneth Rainey and Wallace London.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Nicut Volunteer Firefighters.
The body may be viewed at funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today.
Abygail Rhodes
Abygail Olivia Scott Rhodes, infant daughter of Jessica Scott and Jeremy Rhodes of Fort Smith, died Wednesday, May 26, 2004, in her home.
Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Gracelawn cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by a sister, Kearagan Rhodes of Fort Smith; maternal grandparents, Marianne Steinbock of Fort Smith, Randy Scott of Tucson, Ariz.; paternal grandparents, Glenda Nunn and Charles Nunn, both of Fort Smith; maternal great-grandparents, Bea and Donald Scott of Bakersfield, Calif.; paternal great-grandparents, Deana Scott of Pocola and Rex Scott of Muldrow.
Alma Basden
EUFAULA, Okla. — Alma Basden, 72, of Eufaula, Okla., formerly of Quinton, Okla., died Wednesday, May 26, 2004, in Eufaula.
Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at West Liberty Baptist Church with burial at West Liberty cemetery in Quinton, Okla., under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home of Stigler.
She is survived by four sisters, Patsy Butler of Whitefield, Mildred Borden and Pauline Boone, both of Oklahoma City, and Nita Basden of Eufaula, Okla.; two brothers, Marvin of Eufaula and Jerry Basden of Muskogee, Okla.
Pallbearers will be Arlanda, Jerry and Burl Eakle, Kenneth King, Paul Roberts and Billy McKee.
The body may be viewed 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home in Quinton, Okla.
Marie Lance
SAN ANGELO, Texas — Marie Lance, 94, of San Angelo, Texas, formerly of Mena, died Wednesday, May 26, 2004. She was born May 27, 1909, in Mount Ida. She was the widow of Samuel Lance.
Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Pleasant Grove cemetery in Cove under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena.
She is survived by a daughter, Anita Rainey of San Angelo, Texas; two sons, Elzie Lance of Gainesville, Texas, and Reese Lance of Lubbock, Texas; a brother, Glen Golden of Mena; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Jake Shorts
WALDRON — Jake Shorts, 18, of Waldron died Tuesday, May 25, 2004, in a Fort Smith hospital. He was a student at Waldron High School.
Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Oliver cemetery near Waldron under the direction of Martin Funeral Home of Waldron.
He is survived by his parents, Roy and Rebecca Shorts of Waldron; two sisters, Amy and Sarah Shorts, both of Waldron; a brother, Travis Shorts of Waldron; his grandmother, Lois Bennett of Baker City, Ore.
Pallbearers will be Travis Shorts, Jeremy Metcalf, Jesse Eves, Ronnie Scantling, Johnny Essman and Matt Cagle.
The body may be viewed 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Earl Cognavich
POTEAU — Earl “Bud” Cognavich, 67, of Poteau, formerly of Buras, La., died Wednesday, May 26, 2004, in Poteau. He was of the Baptist faith and worked as a offshore pumper for Chevron Oil Co.
Graveside service will be 4 p.m. today at Mount View cemetery in Glendale, Okla., under the direction of Dowden Funeral Home of Heavener.
He is survived by his wife, Louella; three sisters, Brenda Beall, Betty Buras and Adana Davis, all of Buras, La.; three brothers, Terry, Aubry and Wayne Cognavich, all of Buras, La.
Wanda Covey
WISTER — Wanda Covey, 66, of Wister died Thursday, May 27, 2004, in Fort Smith. She was born July 4, 1937, in Wister. She was a homemaker and a member of Wister Assembly of God.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Monday at Ellis Chapel Church in Wister with burial at Ellis Chapel cemetery in Wister under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home of Poteau.
She is survived by a sister, Martha Byous of Poteau.
Mary Bishop
POTEAU — Mary Jane Bishop, 99, of Poteau died Thursday, May 27, 2004, in Poteau. She was born in Smith County, Tenn., in 1904. She was the widow of Henry Vaughn and Elliott Bishop.
At her request, there will be no funeral or memorial service. The body was cremated under the direction of Dowden Funeral Home of Heavener.
She is survived by a sister, Anna Smallwood of Talihina; six grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
Devola Shotes
SPIRO — Devola Shotes, 90, of Spiro died Monday, May 24, 2004, in a local hospital. She was a retired cook and a member of Spiro New Testament Holiness Church.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Mount Triumph Baptist Church with burial at Fort Coffee cemetery in Spiro under the direction of Rowell-Parish Mortuary of Fort Smith.
She is survived by a daughter, Norma Springs of Fort Coffee, Okla.; a son, Billy Springs of Fort Smith; a sister, Ruth Pointer of Fort Coffee, Okla.; two brothers, Lawrence Layton of Fort Coffee, Okla., and Alfred Clayton of Kansas City, Kan.; eight grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Ocie Clayton, Wayne Lee, Jackie and Billy Releford, DeArtie Tucker and Henry Bell.
Roy Ludgood Sr.
PARIS — Roy Willie Ludgood Sr., 59, of Paris died Monday, May 24, 2004, in a local hospital. He was a firefighter for the forestry service.
Funeral will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Roller Funeral Home Chapel in Paris with burial at Gray Rock cemetery in Paris under the direction of Rowel-Parish Morturay of Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Daisy; two daughters, Mary Clements and Loletha Brown, both of Paris; two sons, Galvin and Roy Ludgood Jr., both of Clarksville; seven sisters, Clarene Phelon of Mobile, Ala., Mae Donald, Sandra Chaney, Norine Ludgood, Betsy Jackson and Shirley Fountain, all of Jackson, Ala., and Dina Savage of Atlanta; four brothers, Ernest Ludgood of St. Louis, Tracy Ludgood of Madison, Wis., Lester and David Ludgood, both of Jackson, Ala.; and six grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Robert Bates, Drew Robinson, Travis Johnson, MacDaniel Milum, Eddie Diaz and David Cobb.
The family will visit with friends at 185 Finney Drive in Paris.
Mabel Dougherty
Mabel Dougherty, 84, of Fort Smith died Thursday, May 27, 2004, in Fort Smith.
Funeral arrangements are pending under the direction of Fentress Mortuary.
She is survived by one daughter, Ann Taylor of San Antonio.
Norman Zahn Jr.
Norman Zahn Jr., 90, of Fort Smith passed away Tuesday, June 1, 2004, in a Fort Smith hospital. He was born in Stillwater, Okla., and a retired civil engineer with the Highway Department and a cattle farmer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Norman and Vivian Eva Zahn, two sisters, Esther Irene Mullins and Mildred L. Zahn, and a son-in-law, Ronald G. Bateman.
Funeral services will be held today at 10 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church with burial at Woodlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Gladys; a daughter, Carol Bateman of Fort Smith; four granddaughters, Jean Ann Sadler and her husband, Pedro, Rhonda Sanford and her husband, Richard, Karen Hill and her husband, Ricky and Karrie Combs and her husband, Justin; and five great-grandchildren, Drew Sadler, Kayla Sanford, Brooks Sanford, Madison Hill and Linden Combs.
Pallbearers will be Richard Sanford, Ricky Hill, Justin Combs, Pedro Sadler, Drew Sadler and Brooks Sanford. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Sides, Harley Strang, Paul Kinder, George Jensen, Bob Reather, Bob Harris and Bedell Hightower.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 2200 S. Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901.
Father Felix Fredeman, O.S.B.
Father Felix Fredeman, O.S.B., monk of Subiaco Abbey in Subiaco strengthened with the sacraments and the prayers of his brother monks, died peacefully Tuesday, June 1, 2004, at the age of 72, in the 48th year of his monastic profession. He had resided in the monastic Health Center the last 10 months.
Thomas Henry Fredeman was born in Little Rock on Aug. 30, 1932. The first six years of his elementary education was in Little Rock; grades one through five at Oakhurst Public School and sixth grade at Good Counsel parochial school. He then came to Subiaco Academy and enrolled in the “Prep” department as a seventh grader. In 1944, he began his secondary education at the academy where he was especially active in music and dramatics, graduating with the Class of 1950.
He entered Subiaco Abbey where he professed his vows as a monk of the monastery on Sept. 14, 1952, receiving the name Felix. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Albert L. Fletcher at St. Andrew Cathedral in Little Rock on May 30, 1957.
With the beginning of the 1957-58 school year, Father Felix taught religion at Subiaco Academy. The following school year he attended the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. He then resumed teaching religion, typing, art and English in the academy.
During the summer months, he attended classes at Benedictine Heights, Tulsa; Conception Abbey in Missouri and the University of Notre Dame, where in 1962 he received a master’s degree in art.
For the school year 1964-65, Father Felix was art instructor at St. Bernard College, Cullman Ala.
Upon his return to Arkansas, he began pastoral work in the Subiaco deanery. He was appointed assistant pastor of St. Joseph Church in Paris, and weekend pastor of St. Anthony mission in Ratcliff. Occasionally, he assisted at Sacred Heart Church in Charleston, as well.
Father Felix commuted from Paris to Subiaco on weekdays to teach in the art department. In 1970 he was appointed resident pastor of St. Anthony Church, commuting 15 miles from Ratcliff to teach in the academy.
Two years later he was recalled to the abbey to serve as prior of the monastery, a position he held until 1991. During his tenure as prior, he continued to teach art classes in the academy.
Father Felix celebrated his 25th anniversary of priesthood in 1982. Along with his priestly ministry, he gave unstintingly of his time and talent to teaching, administration, graphic design, water coloring, silversmith, art related skills, and directing technical theater where he put to good use his electrical, mechanical, and carpentry abilities as well.
For many years Father Felix used his artistic talent in designing the annual abbey calendar and seasonal Christmas card.
He was the system administrator of the abbey’s first computer network. He maintained and supported the first in house e-mail, word processing, and computerized accounting programs on the abbey’s network. For many years, he served as committee chairman for the abbey computer network. During this time, he also did the computer layouts for the abbey’s Divine Office books.
In 1999, after decades of teaching, Father Felix retired from the classroom because of his failing health. In September 2000, he underwent a laminectomy, and after a lengthy convalescence, devoted his talent to publication design for the abbey and academy, assuming the role of computer editor of the Abbey Message, Alumni News and calendar.
With the dawn of the 21st century, monks of Subiaco Abbey were envisioning the renovation of their living quarters in the Jewett Annex. Father Felix, chairman of the renovation committee, was instrumental in making this dream a reality. As blue prints were drawn by the architect, the renovation committee pooled suggestions from community members concerning any changes in design, which the committee, in turn, presented for the architect’s consideration.
In 2003, Father Felix began chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. His spirit was always “upbeat’ dwelling on the blessings of life rather than its pains. He kept the community posted of any changes that the doctor found in his condition. In early March 2004, Father Felix said “I will appreciate your continued prayers and thank you for your support. It makes me proud to be a part of this community.”
Until two days ago, he remained as active member of the community, traveling in his motorized wheelchair to his various assignments in the abbey.
Father Felix’s decades of love and service are engraved in the hearts and minds of many and in the very soul of the abbey/academy complex.
A Christian Wake service will be held 7 p.m. today, the liturgy of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., June 4, 2004, at Saint Benedict Church in Subiaco. Interment will at the Abbey cemetery under the direction of Roller Funeral Home of Paris.
