OBITUARIES

OBITUARIES

White County Arkansas Genealogy Trails

BARNETT, ROSENA HILL

BLANKENSHIP, CAROL MARIE BURT

BUTLER, RUBY GERALDINE "JERI"

DEAN, NARCISSIE

EDWARDS, EVA M.

ELLIS, DUDLEY D.

FRENCH, EMMETT B. , JR.

GORDON, WILLIAM STANLEY (REV.)

GRISSOM, RAY E.

JOHNS, GRACE LOUISE WALKER

MC DOWELL, WAYNE H.

SMITH, C. DIXON

WALKER, FRANKLIN R.

Sikeston, MO.--Rosena Barnett, 79, of Sikeston, died Thurs., April 14, 1994 due to injuries sustained in an auto accident on Highway 61 north of Sikeston. She was born April 23, 1914 in Searcy, AR, daughter of James Franklin and Francis Bone Hill. On Jan. 29, 1934 she married Claud W. Barnett in Kennett, MO., who preceded her in death on June 22, 1979. She was a housewife and member of Smith Avenue Church of God. Survivors include one son, Lee W. Barnett of Roscoe, IL; two daughters, Carolyn Dickerson of Winfield and Katie Eatherton of Elgin, IL; one brother, Jay Hill of Poplar Bluff, MO; one sister, Beatrice Poteet of Sikeston; 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters; another sister, Beulah Williams, also died in the auto accident. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston, with Rev. Larry K. Arnold, pastor of the Smith Avenue Church of God, officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Searcy, AR--Carol Marie Blankenship, 72, of Searcy died Monday, Feb. 4, 2008. She was born Nov. 14, 1935 in St. Louis, MO, daughter of Grady and Estelle Burt. Carol is survived by her husband, Richard Blankenship of the home; a daughter, Amy Blankenship Sewell and husband Scott of New York City; two sons, Richard Blankenship and wife Vickie of Norcross, GA, Eric Blankenship of St. Louis; and two grandchildren, Cathey and Emily Blankenship. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at Powell Funeral Home in Searcy. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery.

CARBONDALE, IL - Ruby Geraldine "Jeri" Butler, 82, died at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2009, in Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
Jeri was born Sept. 26, 1926, in Mc Rae, Ark., to Leo Clyde and Ruby Irene (Thornton) Cook. She married Boyd Butler on Feb. 28, 1948. He preceded her in death Nov. 29, 1989.
Jeri was a member of First United Methodist Church. She was president of the Jackson County Chapter of AARP and served on the board. She loved the game of bridge and was a member of many bridge clubs. She also was a member of the Earlybirds Chapter of Jackson County Home Extension.
She is survived by one daughter, Cynthia (Peter) Briedis of Champaign, (IL); one son, Wayne Butler of Cuba, Mo.;
two granddaughters, Nicole Butler-Proch and Riva E. Briedis, both of Champaign; one grandson, Erik P. Briedis of Champaign; Dalton Tyrrell of Wichita, Kan., and Jean Lit and Jim Smith, both of Carbondale, all of whom she considered part of her family; other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2009, in First United Methodist Church in Carbondale, with the Rev. John Annable officiating. Interment will be in Pleasant Grove Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home on Old Illinois 13, between Carbondale and Murphysboro, and from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
--Published in The Southern Illinoisan from 3/2/2009 - 3/3/2009.

TAMPA, FL--NARCISSIE DEAN, 87, of Tampa died Sunday in Tampa. A native of White County, Ark., she had lived in the Tampa Bay area 60 years, coming from Archer.
She was a retired supervisor for Tampa Drug Co. and a member of Nebraska Avenue Church of Christ.
She is survived by one brother, Dan J. Nicholson Sr. of Lakeland; and one sister, Elveda Squier of Virginia Beach, Va.
F.T. Blount Co., Nebraska Avenue Chapel.
--Tampa Tribune, The (FL) - November 5, 1991

FORT WAYNE, IN--EVA M. EDWARDS, 74, of Fort Wayne died Sunday in St. Joseph Medical Center.
The White County, Ark., native worked at Orchard Ridge Country Club for 15 years.
Surviving are daughters, Betty Smith of Searcy, Ark., Imogene Denton of Little Rock, Ark., Patsy Jacobs and Frances Ruch, both of Fort Wayne, Nelda Neal of Underwood and Linda Gregory of Tupelo, Miss.; sons, Troy of Marilton, Ark., Hillery Ray of Okolona, Miss. and Mark W. of Fort Wayne; sisters, Irene Hanie of Batesville, Ark., Dorothy Johnson of Pasadena, Texas, Velma Pate of Seracy, Ozell Beck of Danville, Mary Whitworth of Little Rock and Naomi Detweiler of Fort Wayne; 28 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.
Services are 10 a.m. tomorrow in Elzey & Haggard Home for Funerals, 6810 Old Trail Road, where calling is 7 to 9 p.m. today. Burial will be in Prairie Grove Cemetery.
Preferred memorials are gifts to the Allen County Heart Association.
--News-Sentinel, The (Fort Wayne, IN) - July 23, 1991

Oklahoma City, OK--Dudley D. ELLIS, age 85, died Thursday. Funeral services will be at 11 A.M. Saturday in the First United Methodist Church, with burial in Gracelawn Cemetery. Born at Beebe, Arkansas, and moved to the Shawnee area with his parents in a covered wagon in 1910. He had lived in the Waterloo, Arcadia, Edmond area since 1911, a member of the First United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 111 and the Edmond Senior Citizens. He was a retired Tinker Field Employee, and a retired farmer. He was a U.S Navy Veteran of World War I. He had served on the battleships USS Oregon & the USS Intrepid. He is survived by his wife Theresa of the home, daughter Martha Anna Hughes of Seminole, sons Woodrow M. of Edmond and Dewitt C. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a brother Hubert Ellis of Foyil, OK, and a sister Alma Boyd of OKC, 6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Baggerley Funeral Home.
--Daily Oklahoman, The (Oklahoma City, OK) - November 5, 1982

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Searcy, AR.--FRENCH, Emmett B. Jr. - Age 67, of Searcy, Arkansas died Thursday, December 18, 1997 in Searcy. He was born September 8, 1930 in Hardy, AR, the son of Emmett B. French and Sarah McCord. Mr. French was a member of Westside Church of Christ in Searcy and had been an Elder at Bristol Road Church of Christ in Flint, MI. Mr. French was an accountant at General Motors.
Surviving are: wife, Marlene Sue French of Searcy; daughter, Carol Adams of Searcy; 2 sons, John French of Waterford, MI, Paul French of Durand, MI; 3 sisters, Vera Cooper of Kennett, MO.; Willene Hubbard of Kennett, Mo; Eva Hanks of East Peoria, IL.; and 7 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emmett and Sarah French.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, December 20, 1997 at 2 p.m. at Roller-Daniel Chapel with burial in White County Memorial Gardens in Searcy, AR. Source: Flint Journal, The (MI) - December 19, 1997.

Rolla, MO - ELDER WILLIAM STANLEY GORDON, of Rolla MO, formerly of Pine Bluff and Beebee Ark., passed away on April 12, 1999 at the age of 91. He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, John B. and Sondra Gordon of Rolla MO; one son-in-law, Don Miller of Pine Bluff; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Fred and Gladys Gordon of Carlisle, Lindell and Jean Gordon of Lonoke; one sister, Myrl Carpenter of Lonoke; three granddaughters - Pamela Miller and Janice Oaks of Pine Bluff and Tisha Clawson of Bolivar MO; two great-granddaughters; and two great-grandsons; and numerous nieces and nephews. W.S. Gordon's adult life was dedicated to preaching the Gospel, pastoring churches in Missouri, Arkansas and California and working as editor of the Missouri Baptist Newspaper. During his 72 years in the ministry, he held many offices of leadership, both on district and state levels for the people he served. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. today at Westbrook Chapel with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens by Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe.
--Arkansas Democrat Gazette, April 1999; contributed by Sharon Smith.

CITRUS SPRINGS, FL--RAY E. GRISSOM, 76, of Citrus Springs died Tuesday. A native of White County, Ark., he moved to this area five years ago from North Miami.
He was owner/operator of a lawn-care and landscape business, and Protestant.
He is survived by his wife, Ellenor Stevens; a son, Jerry of Union City, Calif.; three sisters, Marcia Lotridge of North Miami, Evalee Bennett of Little Rock, Ark., and Etoilee Collins of Dewitt, Ark., a grandchild and a great-grandchild.
Hooper Funeral Homes, Beverly Hills.
--Tampa Tribune, The (FL) - November 4, 1992

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Jonesboro, IL.--Grace Louise Walker Johns, 79, passed away at 2:10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006 in Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, MO with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren by her side. She was born Feb. 21, 1927 in Bald Knob, AR, the daughter of Charles Alfred and Milford (Lucile) Sharp Walker. She married Jesse Marion Johns on Oct. 17, 1941 in Jackson, MO. He preceded her in death on March 10, 1989.
Mrs. Johns was a member of the Ware Pentecostal Church. She was a retired technician at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna, IL.
Survivors include her children and their spouses, Jesse Lee and Kim Johns of Clinton, IL; Raymond Eugene Johns of Anna; Marion Louise Parmly of Mount Vernon, IL, Ralph Augusta Johns of Anna, Linda Faye and Gary Faire of Jonesboro; Lonnie Wayne and Linda Johns of Wolf Lake; Stella Mae and Rodney Plott of Anna, Pamla Gay Johns of Cape Girardeau; Patsy Darlene and Jack Evans of Jonesboro; Sheila Kay and Ed Plott of Anna; Mark Alan Johns of Jonesboro; Lily Maxine Brownfield and Don Brimm of Anna; 32 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Paul and Barbara Walker of Murphysboro, IL and Ronnie and Brenda Walker of Sylacauga, AL; sister and brother-in-law, Helen Marie and Hugh Miller of Elkton, KY; nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a great-grandson, Jared Fisher; sisters, Mary Riley, Wanda Brownfield and Bonnie Middleton; and a brother, David Walker.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006 in Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna, with the Rev. Danny Jones officiating. Interment will be in Alto Pass (IL) Cemetery. --Courtesy The Southern Illinoisan, 12/24/06.

KANSAS CITY, MO–WAYNE H. MCDOWELL, 70, died June 14, 1992, in a nursing home in Lathrop, Mo., where he lived.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Bailey Chapel, Polo, Mo.; burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Kearney. Friends may call from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel.
Mr. McDowell was born in Romance, Ark., and lived in Cape Girardeau, Mo., before moving to Tulsa, Okla., in 1976. He moved to Lathrop in 1991. He worked for trucking companies before he retired. He was a member and deacon of the Sheridan Road Baptist Church, Tulsa. He was a volunteer at the House of Hope, Tulsa. He was a past member of the Cape Girardeau auxiliary police force.
Survivors include his wife, Lillian G. McDowell of the home; a daughter, Marcia Stollings, Polo; his mother, Eula McDowell, and two sisters, Aleta Crawford and Oneita McClary, all of Cape Girardeau; and a granddaughter.
--Kansas City Star, The (MO) - June 16, 1992

C. Dixon Smith, Retired Engineer At Hopkins Lab

C. Dixon Smith, 69, a retired engineer and craftsman with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Howard County, died of a stroke Thursday in the Marion County Hospital near Yellville, Ark.
He had joined the laboratory in 1942 and retired in 1975. A specialist in plastics, adhesive chemicals, plating, and potting compounds, he had supervised the arts and crafts projects at APL for many years.
Mr. Smith's special knowledge of enxcapsulation of electronic assemblies contributed to the development of guided missile and space technology.
In 1946, he was a photographic specialists with an early laboratory scientific team that flew the first supersonic ramjet engine at Island Beach, N.J.
He was born in Judsonia, Ark., and received his early education in Little Rock. He attended the University of Arkansas and studied at art schools in Houston, and Chicago. He was a surveyor at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and a draftsman in Little Rock before coming to Washington in 1942. He worked briefly for the Carnegie Institution before joining the APL.
A resident of Silver Spring for many years, Mr. Smith moved to Yellville a year ago.
He is survived by his wife, Sigrid, of the home; two daughters, Margo Earley, of Hiram, Ohio, and Lynda McKee, of Frederick, Md.; a brother, Nicholas M., of Silver Spring, and five grandchildren.
Source: Washington Post, The (DC) - October 27, 1979.

Cairo, IL.--Franklin R. Walker, 87, of Cairo died Sunday, April 29, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. He was born Feb 20, 1920 in Bradford, Ark., son of Alfred and Sarah Estelle Foster Walker. He and Alma Cook were married March 4, 1940, in Jackson, Mo. She died Sept. 7, 2002. Walker was employed at Valley Steel Co. in Cairo many years. Survivors include a son, Raymond Walker of Carterville, IL; five daughters, Elizabeth Seals and Stella Farmer of Johnston City, IL, Mary Daniels of Cairo, Victoria Walker of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Roberta Dellinger of Crainville, IL; 36 grandchildren; 76 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two children, three sisters, five brothers, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden, IL. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Larry Stevens officiating. Burial will be in Cobden Cemetery.

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