Obituaries from the Pine Bluff Commercial, Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co., AR for 16 Jun 1998-18 May 1998 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Linda P. Smith ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ Copyright 1998 Pine Bluff Commercial. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission of the Pine Bluff Commercial. ************************************************************************ PINE BLUFF COMMERCIAL TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1998 Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co., Arkansas KATHERINE COPELAND Katherine Copeland, 79, of Chicago, died June 6, 1998, at Chicago. She was born on November 19, 1918, at Monticello, Arkansas, a daughter of the late Lee Thompson and Zannie Collins Thompson. She received her education in Drew County schools and was a member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Johnston Jordan; her second husband, Jack Copeland; and a son, Foster Eugene Jordan. Survivors include three grandchildren. The funeral was Monday at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home at Monticello. Burial was in Campground Cemetery in Drew County. ____________________________ BONNIE CROSSETT (Photo included) Bonnie Jean Crossett, 38, of Pine Bluff, died June 11, 1998, at her home. She was born on December 13, 1959, at Pine Bluff, a daughter of Ralph and Wilma May Holland of Pine Bluff. She was a secretary for Maynard Insurance Company and attended Shannon Road Baptist Church. Other survivors include a son, Christopher Vaughn of Pine Bluff; a daughter, Shelley Manes of Pine Bluff; two brothers, Larry Wells and Ralph Holland Jr., both of Pine Bluff; and four sisters, Evelyn Lockstead of Little Rock, Lorie Evans and Linda O'Fallon, both of Pine Bluff, and Virginia Black of Kentucky. The funeral will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Shannon Road Baptist Church with Bobby Hartsfield officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Hale-South Funeral Home. ___________________________ JAMES McCAIN James Woodward McCain, 72, of Monticello, died June 14, 1998, at his home. He was born June 17, 1925, at Rison, a son of the late Erskin McCain and Eunice Holder McCain. He served in the Army during the Korean War and retired from Lockheed Aircraft. He was a member of Cominto Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Norris Thompson McCain; three sons, James A. McCain of Redfield, Charles E. McCain of Monticello and Robert A. McCain of New York; two daughters, Brenda Dow of Fallbrook, California, and Peggy Forrest of Monticello; a sister, Doris Knoblock of Reno, Nevada; two stepsons, Carl Douglas Brown of Virginia and Kelvan Lane Brown of Fountain Hill; two stepdaughters, Paula Marie Engelkes and Norma Dell Bevins, both of Monticello; two grandchildren; and 11 stepgrandchildren. The funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Cominto Baptist Church with the Revs. Tom Christmas and Zan Pierce Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery at Monticello. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home at Monticello. _______________________________ DONALD THOMASON (Photo included) Donald Wade Thomason, 36, of North Little Rock, died June 13, 1998, at Baptist Memorial Medical Center at North Little Rock from injuries received in an automobile accident. He was born on September 9, l96l, at Shreveport, a son of Arthur Thomason oi Axnard, California, and Ruth Thomason of Monticello. He served in the Army from 1982 to 1985, specializing in communications. He was a member of the Arkansas National Guard, Company C, 212 Signal Battalion. He was a manager of Precision Tune at Pine Bluff. He received an electronics degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and was a three-year, pre-med student. Other survivors include his wife, Piera Hubbard Thomason; two sons, Benjamin "Bo" Thomason and Morgan Victor Thomason, both of North Little Rock; two daughters, Rebecca Marie Thomason and Jaimee Elaine Thomason, both of North Little Rock; a brother, John Arthur Thomason of Monticello; and a sister, Anndrea Elizabeth Thomason of Monticello. The funeral will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Cranford Funeral Home of White Hall with Patrick Lawrence officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery at Pine Bluff. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Drew County, Main Street, Monticello. ____________________________ BILLIE LEMONDS Billie Jean Lemonds, 69, of McGehee, died June l3, l998, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She was born July 15, 1928, at Collins, a daughter of the late William Henry Britt and Ruby Morris Britt. She was a homemaker and a member of Pentecostal Church of God at McGehee. Survivors include her husband, Buddy Lemonds; four brothers, Larry Britt of Gould, Randy Britt of Fifty-six, Richard Britt of Hamburg and Robert Britt Blanchard, Oklahoma; three sisters, Sandra Clark of Monroe, Betty Wilson of Pine Bluff a nd Earlene Woods of Hamburg; and a stepmother, Margaret Knight of Monroe. a graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Jennie Cemetery with the Rev. Raymond Barnette officiating. Arrangements by Griffin Funeral Service of McGehee. _____________________________ MORRIS DAWKINS Morris Howard Dawkins, 92, of Warren, died June 11, 1998, at his home. He was born on February 9, 1906, in Bradley County, a son of the late Huey and Lucy Baker Dawkins. He was retired from Potlatch Corporation and was a Baptist. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mittie Lee Parker Dawkins, whom he married on February 20, 1926, and who died on September 2, 1993. Survivors include a daughter, Sybil Morgan; a sister, Lottie Mae Phillips of Warren; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Frazer's Funeral Home at Warren. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery at Warren. _____________________________ PINE BLUFF COMMERCIAL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1998 Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co., Arkansas ROBERT MILLEN Robert E. "Bob" Millen, 85, of Monticello, died June 15, 1998, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. He was born on February 4, 1913, in Drew County, a son of the late Samuel A. Millen and Nellie Jane Carter Millen. He was a retired Air Force veteran of 22 years, serving in World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of Rose Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his wife, Mary Frances Lewis Millen. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. today in Pleasant Springs Cemetery in Drew County with the Revs. Jim Matthews and Mike Qualls officiating. Arrangements are handled by Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home at Monticello. ___________________________ JOYCE McDANIEL Joyce Helen McDaniel, 74, of Pine Bluff, died June 15, 1998, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She was born on March 13, 1924, at Clarksville, a daughter of the late W.H. Dodson and Thressa Grace Martin Dodson. She was a homemaker and attended Liberty Chapel Baptist Church. She enjoyed reading and cooking. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Roselyn McDaniel and Barbara Ray Singleton. Survivors include her husband, Ernest McDaniel, whom she married on November 24, 1941; two sons, Jackie Dale McDaniel of White Hall and Billy Joe McDaniel of Omaha; five daughters, Carolyn Bowles of Dumas, Judy Astello of Pine Bluff, Joy Bryan of Calion, Marilyn McDaniel of White Hall and Janet Alverson of Baytown Texas; two brothers, Kenneth Evans of Mayflower and Willian Dodson of Texarkana; a sister Cornelius Johnson of Chicago; 16 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The funeral will be at 10 a.m Thursday at Hale-South Funeral Home with Charles Cuthbertson officiating. Burial will be in Gum Grove Cemetery at Kingsland. ___________________________ REBA GEORGE Reba Nina George, 75, of Nevada, Missouri, died June 15, 1998, at Nevada Manor. She was born on December 18, 1922, at Ola, a daughter of the late Luther Lee George and Faye Burdan George. She was raised and educated in Yell County. During World War II, she joined the Army in the Ladies Auxiliary. She moved to the Pine Bluff area after her service and worked at the Pine Bluff Arsenal. She moved to Topeka, Kansas in 1945 and lived there until 1997, when she moved to Nevada. She was a member of the Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by a brother, Jessie George; and three sisters, Kathleen McKusker, Carolyn Spurbeck and Jean Bates, who died on August 15, 1997. Survivors include a sister, Margie Stone of North Little Rock. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Graceland Cemetery with Tommy Gaither officiating. Arrangements are handled by Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors. The family will be at Bennie Bates' home at White Hall. __________________________ GLENDA RUIZ Glenda Mae Ruiz, 60, of Auburn, California, died June 14, 1998, at Auburn from injuries received in an automobile accident. She was born on October 30, 1937, at Bismarck, Arkansas, a daughter of the late Alta Howell. She was a waitress for 40 years and lived in the Placer County, California area for 38 years. She was preceded in death by a sister, Sharon Holt. Survivors include her husband of 24 years, David Ruiz; two sons, Robert Lee Thompson and Clint David Ruiz, both of Auburn; three daughters, Valerie Lanee Alls of Applegate, California, Tina Marie Hemstreet of Washington and Rhonda Lynn Copeland of Auburn; a brother, Marty Holt of Bismark; four sisters, Bonnie Huey of Daisy, Arkansas, Jane Jones of Pine Bluff, Nancy Dorsey of Las Vegas, California and Joyce McGriff Star City, Arkansas; a stepfather, James Howell of Bismarck; and seven grandchildren. A graveside service will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in New Auburn Cemetery with the Rev. Don Cheyne officiating. Arrangements are handled by Chapel of the Hills funeral home at Auburn. _________________________ MARGUERITE GAVIN Marguerite Gavin, 79, of Pansy, died June 15, 1998, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She was born on December 8, 1918, in the Randall community, a daughter of the late Benjamin Coats and Pearl Norton Coats. She was a homemaker and a member of Prosperity United Methodist Church for 61 years and the Order of Eastern Star. She was preceded in death by a son, Bobby Gavin; two brothers, Chester Coats and Clifton Coats; and three sisters, Eunice Reese, Nell Hoover and Imogene Lymon. Survivors include her husband, R.C. Gavin, whom she married on August 21, 1937; a son, Don Gavin of Woodlawn; a daughter, Betty Ragsdale of Prescott; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at Prosperity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rusty Jones officiating. Burial will be in Pansy Cemetery by Frazer's Funeral Home at Warren. ___________________________ SADIE McDOWELL Sadie B. McDowell, 93, of Pine Bluff, died June 13, 1998, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She was born on February 28, 1905, at Pine Bluff, a daughter of the late William Robinson and Julia Sanders Robinson. She was a homemaker and a member of New St. James Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry McDowell. Survivors include a daughter, Lillie Crater of Pine Bluff; and a grandchild. The funeral will be 1l a.m. Thursday at Brown Funeral Home at Pine Bluff with the Rev. Willie Morgan officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Garden. ___________________________ KERMIT TURNER Kermit E. Turner, 80, of Pine Bluff, died June 16, 1998, at his home. He was born on December 26, 1917, at Adona, a son of the late George W. Turner and Cora Oaf Turner. He was a Methodist and worked for the Pine Bluff Arsenal. He was an Army veteran of World War II and received the Purple Heart during the war. He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine Turner, whom he married on March 31, 1950, and who died in 1997; two brothers, Edgbert Turner and Elan Turner; and three sisters, Florene Smith, Cleo Bostick and Mary Grace Smith. Survivors include two sons, Gary Turner and Keith Edward Turner, both of Pine Bluff; a daughter, Shiela Jones of Pine Bluff; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Liberty Cemetery at Adona with Paul Draper officiating. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Hale-South Funeral Home. ______________________________ PINE BLUFF COMMERCIAL THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1998 Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co., Arkansas DAVID ROBINSON David Lee Robinson, 60, of White Hall, died June 17, 1998, at Veterans Administration Hospital at Little Rock. He was born on August 16, 1937, at Pine Bluff, a son of Macil Browning Robinson of White Hall and the late W.E. "Jack" Robinson. He received his education in the Sherrill School District. He served in the Navy and was the owner and operator of Robinson Plumbing Company. He was a member of Oak Heights Missionary Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, Raymond Robinson. Other survivors include his wife, Joyce Smith Robinson, whom he married on October 26, 1965; two sons, Albert Robinson of Pine Bluff and David E. Robinson of Jacksonville, Florida; a daughter, Tammie Robinson Works of Fordyce; two brothers, Leonard Robinson and Larry Robinson, both of Pine Bluff; and three grandchildren. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Cranford Funeral Home of White Hall with Roger Kelley officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital, 800 Marshall, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202. ____________________________