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Roy Ferguson
MENA — Roy Ferguson, 81, of Mena died Tuesday, April 3, 2001, in Little Rock. He was born Dec. 15, 1919, in Opal. He was an Army veteran of World War II and served in Central Europe, the Ardennes, Rhineland and Normandy Campaigns and was awarded five Bronze Stars for these campaigns. He was a member of the American Legion and the Mena Seniors’ Center and the Salem Baptist Church. He was a retired timber contractor.
Funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday in Salem Baptist Church with burial at Nunley cemetery under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena.
He is survived by his wife, Pauline; four daughters, Sharon Liles, Debbie Pate, Rhonda Dennis and Tammy Hughes, all of Mena; three sons, Travis, Robert and Dennis Ferguson, all of Mena; 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Bill Land, John Mungo, Gerald Brewer, Delbert Lawry, Andy Brown, James Ansley, Jake Hooper and Lambert Foster.
Honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons.
Memorial contributions may be made to Salem Baptist Church Building Fund.
Jackie Shumate
FERNDALE, Ark. — Jackie “Jack” Rogers Shumate, 63, of Ferndale died Monday, April 2, 2001. He was born Feb. 18, 1938, in Charleston. He was a 1961 graduate of the University of Arkansas and was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity and a member of the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders Association and past president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. He was an independent agent for Hoffman-Henry Insurance and was former owner of Allen, Shumate and Horner. He was a Air Force veteran during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was a member of the Greater Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas.
Memorial service will be 4 p.m. today in Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock under the direction of Roller-Chenal Funeral Home of Little Rock.
He is survived by his wife, Linda; a daughter, Kelly Shumate Rush of Little Rock; a sister, Frances Carson of Charleston; three brothers, Paul Shumate of Lawton, Okla., Richard Shumate of Fort Smith and Doug Shumate of Warner Robbins, Ga.; several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pulaski County Humane Society, 14600 Colonel Glenn, Little Rock, AR 72210.
Mable Jackson
Mable Pearl Jackson, 89, of Van Buren died Wednesday, March 28, 2001, in her home. She was a member of Love’s Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church where she was a deaconess. She was the widow of Chanucey Jackson.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday in Love’s Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church with burial at Crown Hill cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Rowell-Parish Mortuary of Fort Smith.
She is survived by three cousins, Cora Ella Malone of Sand Springs, Okla., Callie Williams and Bernice Lewis, both of Tulsa.
Pallbearers will be Irvin Morris, James Hardin, Lonnie Brown, Brontez Steele, Darryl Page and Paul Jackson.
The family will receive visitors at 27 S. 22nd St., Van Buren.
Wilma Willingham
Wilma M. “Nanny” Willingham, 80, of Fort Smith died Tuesday, April 3, 2001, in a Fort Smith hospital. She was retired from food service at Sparks Regional Medical Center.
Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Macedonia cemetery in Pocola under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home of Poteau.
She is survived by a daughter, Margaret Quick of Fort Smith; two granddaughters, Betty Sandifer and Brenda Darneal; two great-granddaughters and one great-great-grandson.
The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Pocola funeral home.
Charlotte Looper
CLARKSVILLE — Charlotte Looper, 84, of Clarksville died Tuesday, April 3, 2001, in Clarksville. She was born Sept. 23, 1916, in Omaha, Neb. She was a member of First Baptist Church and was the widow of Virgil L. Looper Sr.
Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Friday at Oakland cemetery in Clarksville under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home of Clarksville.
She is survived by a son, Virgil L. Looper Jr. of Korea; two grandchildren, Cayle Looper of London, England and Courtney Looper of Hawaii.
Oscar Clinkingbeard
Oscar O. Clinkingbeard, 63, of Fort Smith died Tuesday, March 27, 2001, in Fort Smith. He was self-employed at Lawn Service.
Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Woodlawn cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
There will be no viewing.
Frances Parker
Frances L. Parker, 79, of Fort Smith died Wednesday, April 4, 2001, in Fort Smith. She was a homemaker and a retired employee of GNB Battery Company. She was a Baptist.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday in Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Smith with burial at U.S. National cemetery in Fort Smith.
She is survived by three daughters, Betty Coleman and Linda Blankenship, both of Fort Smith, and Ellen DeVore of Greenwood; a son, David Parker of Anchorage, Alaska; nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Jason, Jarrod, Joshua and Shawn Crow, Eddie and Johnny Hankins.
Wallace Brannon
SPRINGDALE — Wallace Edward Brannon, 77, of Springdale died Monday, April 2, 2001, in Springdale. He was born Sept. 26, 1923, in Muskogee, Okla. He was the widower of Jimmie Lou Brannon.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. today in Brannon Mountain Church with burial at Brannon Mountain cemetery under the direction of Nelson’s Funeral Home and Crematory of Fayetteville.
He is survived by four daughters, Winnie Montier and Marsha Hammons, both of Fayetteville, Cindy Walter of Ruleville, Miss., and Trudy Dahler of Blytheville; three sisters, Bertha Bernard and Jean Myers, both of Fort Smith and Mary Belle Grande of California; a brother, Floyd Brannon of Fort Smith; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Clara Miller
GREENWOOD — Clara O. Miller, 90, of Greenwood died Tuesday, April 3, 2001, in a Greenwood nursing home. She was a homemaker and a member of Greenwood First Assembly of God.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday in McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood with burial at Gentry cemetery in Greenwood.
She is survived by a daughter, Opal Strickland of Boston, Ga.; two sons, Fred Miller of Fort Smith and Kenneth Miller of Arcadia, Okla.; two sisters, Ruth Thomas of Greenwood and Ruby Been of Milton-Freewater, Ore.; 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be John, Kevin, Kenneth and Dewayne Miller, Bruce and Larry Murkerson.
The body may be viewed 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Gayle Annette Brown
Gayle Annette Brown, 50, of Fort Smith died Tuesday, April 3, 2001, in a local hospital. She was a retired assembly line worker for 23 years at Gen Corp.
Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Old Jenny Lind cemetery in Jenny Lind under the direction of Putman Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
She is survived by her husband, John of the home; a daughter, Michelle Jennings of Fort Smith; a son, Charles David Brown of Fort Smith; her mother, Margaret Snell of Greenwood; a brother, Keith Snell of Greenwood; four grandchildren, Emily Brown of Roland, Jacob Jennings, Dakota McDoulett and Sydney Wilkinson, all of Fort Smith.
Pallbearers will be Bob Gail, Woody Nutter, Mike Wilhelm, Mike Jones, James Campbell and Joe Rowan.
The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, 3324 South M St., Fort Smith, AR 72901.
Harold “Red” McKinney
Harold “Red” McKinney, 69, of Sugarloaf entered into rest Wednesday, April 4, 2001, in St. Edward Mercy Medical Center. He was born Feb. 29, 1932, in Jenny Lind, the son of the late William Otto and Irene Wilhite McKinney. Harold was a retired repairman for Baldor Electric, and from the Covey Company, a member of Tyro Community Church and an Army veteran of the Korean War. He was preceded in death by one brother, Roy Gene McKinney. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Louise Dugan McKinney of the home; one daughter, Lisa Roberts; one son, Harold Gene McKinney; son and daughter-in-law, Barry and Judy McKinney, all of Sugarloaf Lake; seven grandchildren, Kari, Kori and Kyle McKinney, Heather Taylor, Amy McKinney, Stephen and Ryan Roberts; one sister, Darla Vandermillion; five brothers, Allen ‘June’ of Lavaca, Sammie “Bud” and Jimmy, both of Booneville, George “Dob” and Bobby, both of Greenwood. Funeral will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Lewis Funeral Chapel in Fort Smith with burial at Slaytonville cemetery officiated by the Rev. Bobby Clark and the Rev. Wayne Bartlett. Pallbearers will be Mark and Jared Oliver, Bruce Clark, Darrell McKinney, Scott Dugan and Lary Walker. Honorary pallbearers will be John Plunkett, Bob Perkins, Dewey Turnipseed, Steve Gray, Tom Ogden and Andy O’Neal. Music by David and Shirley Oliver. Family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Lewis Funeral Chapel of Fort Smith.
Elsie Marie Riggs Newman
Elsie Marie Riggs Newman, died Tuesday, April 3, 2001, in Beverly Healthcare in Rogers. She was born May 10, 1905, in Fort Smith, to Joshua and Dovie Riggs. She was preceded in death by her husband, Moniel O. Newman of Central City. Survivors include her son, Mark O. Newman and his wife, Nita of Rogers; three grandchildren, Vicki Kilcoyne and husband Jack of Stilwell, Kan., Mark E. Newman and wife, Becki of Lowell and David E. Newman of Olathe, Kan.; six great-grandchildren, Bryan Sanders of Austin, Texas, Michelle Gold and husband, Kirk of Lake Lotawna, Mo., Tiffany Sanders of Austin, Texas, Sydney Newman of Lowell and Anna and Marcus Newman of Olathe, Kan.; two stepgreat-grandchildren, Christy and Eric Kilcoyne of Olathe, Kan.
Elsie and her husband ran a dairy at Central City for many years. They were both school teachers in the community and she taught piano to many of the area children. They were both very active in the Central City Methodist Church.
In 1978 Elsie was elected the second mayor of the Central City and the first lady mayor. She was 73 years old.
Service will be held 2 p.m. Friday in Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Roselawn cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Mark E. and David Newman, George and Steve Riggs, Paul Ray Johnson and Everett Butler.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bland Chapel United Methodist Church, 8530 Twin Cove Road, Rogers, AR 72756.
Mason Lee Childers Sr.
Mason Lee Childers Sr., 51, of Van Buren died Tuesday, April 3, 2001, in a local hospital. He was the Chief of Police for the city of Van Buren, an Army veteran, a member of the Arkansas Municipal Police Association, Arkansas Chiefs of Police Association, the 911 Board, the Van Buren Rotary Club and the Living Word Baptist Church. He was a longtime resident of Van Buren.
Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Friday in Living Word Baptist Church, 1445 Clyde Cate Road with burial at U.S. National cemetery in Fort Smith with the Honor Guard provided by the North Little Rock Police Department under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Childers of the home; a daughter, Melinda Johnston of Van Buren; a son, Mason Childers Jr. of Van Buren; his mother, Alberta Loyd of Fort Smith and father, Jack Childers Sr. of Booneville; a sister, Sue Lowe of Fort Smith; four brothers, Larry Childers of Van Buren, Jack Childers Jr. of Kansas City, Mo., Robert Jones of Dora and Bill Jones Jr. of Fort Smith; four grandchildren, Amber and Tyler Johnston, Katie and Whitney Childers.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Blount, Don Mullins, Alan Swaim, Stan Oldham, Todd Jewell, Teasie Harris and Paul Dunn.
Honorary pallbearers will be member of the Van Buren Police Department.
The family will visit with friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Living Word Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o Citizens Bank & Trust Company, P.O. Box 469, Van Buren, AR 72956.
Keziah “Kay” Elizabeth Grant Watts
Keziah “Kay” Elizabeth Grant Watts, died at her home in Fort Smith, on March 31, 2001.
The only daughter of George Owen and Lillian May Grant, Kay was born in Stilwell on Sept. 28, 1914. As the children of well-educated parents she and her two brothers, Owen C. and Victor M. Grant, flourished in an environment of learning and ambition. Their father, as an attorney in Tulsa and as an Adair County, Okla. prosecuting attorney and county judge, instilled in them the value of an education. Their mother encouraged them to think for themselves and to become productive adults. Kay endeavored to accelerate her education and graduated from high school at the age of 16. She continued to pursue an academic course and graduated with a B.S. degree from Oklahoma State University at Stillwater. She was employed by the Oklahoma State Department of Welfare as a social worker as well as the Oklahoma Department of Education as a teacher. She lived and worked in various parts of Oklahoma.
She married
Denver J. Watts, an athlete, teacher and coach in 1938, after which they live in Okmulgee, Okla. She was widowed in 1954, and returned to teaching 5th grade at Wilson Elementary in Okmulgee. In 1966 she moved to Tulsa teaching corrected reading at Houston Elementary until her retirement in 1977. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary educational society. She moved the Fort Smith to be near her daughter and to be able to enjoy her granddaughter after retiring.
Kay was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Okmulgee and Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, always secure in her faith and providing a strong religious foundation for her daughter. She was a loving patient mother and always held an optimistic and positive outlook towards life and its problems. Kay was a devoted grandmother and contributed to the rearing of her granddaughter with kindness, giving her the benefit of her experience and knowledge in the pursuit of learning and a sense of self-worth. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. Kay is preceded in death by her parents, and three brothers. She is survived by her daughter, Donna Jane Roberds of Fort Smith; her granddaughter, Helaina Kay Smith Jennings and her husband Tim Jennings of Fort Smith; her great-grandson, Kavan Kilgore of Fort Smith; her devoted nieces, Suzanne Griffith and her husband, the Rev. Clyde Griffith of Broomall, Pa., and the Rev. Martha Nell Thomson and her husband, Milton Thomson of Montreal, Quebec, Canada as well as several grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. She is also survived by her caregivers, Travis and Virginia Haller of Fort Smith and many, many friends.
A funeral service celebrating her life will be held at Central Presbyterian in Fort Smith today at 11 a.m. with the Revs. Tom and Cathy Ulrich and the Rev. Clyde Griffith officiating. A graveside service and burial will be in Okmulgee at 3:30 p.m. with the Rev. Clyde Griffith officiating. The family will visit with friends in Okmulgee following the burial at the home of a close family friend, Lynn Edneborough. The funeral and burial will be under the direction of Fentress Mortuary. In keeping with Kay’s love of reading, memorial contributions may be made to the wonderful new Fort Smith Public Library, 3210 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72903.
