Obituaries - The Nevada County (AR) Picayune - May 1996 USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. All copyrights reserved. File provided by Betsy Mills _______________________________________ Minnie Cottingham Minnie Gertrude Cottingham, 83, of Prescott died Wednesday, May 1, 1996, in Prescott. Born February 11, 1913, in Rosston, she was a Baptist and the widow of Howard Cottingham. Survivors include a son, Jerry Cottingham of Prescott; a daugther, Martha Halbrook of Prescott; a brother, J.P. Hart of Rosston; 11 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren. Services were held Friday, May 3, at Central Baptist Chruch in Prescott with Tom Mitchell, D.D. Fairchild and Arlis East officiating. Burial was in DeAnn Cemetery in Prescott under the direction of Shackelford Funeral Home of Prescott.} __________ Stephanie Gayle Arnold Stephanie Gayle Arnold, 17, of DeAnn died Thursday, May 2, 1996, at Medical Park Hospital. Born September 19, 1978, she was a member of First Baptist Church and a senior at Hope High School. Survivors include her parents, Dennis and Lynn Arnold of DeAnn; one brother, Shawn Arnold of DeAnn; one sister, Jennifer Arnold of DeAnn; and grandparents, Lile and Grace Arnold of DeAnn, Lloyd and Carold Braden of Perrytown. Services were held Friday, May 3, at the First Baptist Church with Stan Parris officiating. Burial was in White Oak Grove Cemetery in DeAnn under the direction of Herndon Funeral Home of Hope. Memorials may be made to the building fund at First Baptist Church.} __________ Ellis Lee Ellis Lee, 104, of Prescott, formerly of the Mars Hill Community south of Stamps, died Wednesday, May 1, 1996. Born January 14, 1892, at Mars Hill, he was a veteran of World War I and was a retired gin operator. Survivrs include a daughter, Doris Henry of Linden, Texas; a son, Dexter Harris of Austin, Texas; and several grandchildren. Graveside services were held Friday, May 3, at Mars Hill Cemetery south of Stamps with Bro. Tom Stevens officiating and under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Stamps.} __________ Pauline Garrett Pauline Kennedy Garrett, 85, of Prescott, formerly of Hope, died Thursday, May 2, 1996, at Hillcrest Care Center in Prescott. Born August 4, 1910, in Hempstead County, she was a homemaker, a member of Providence Memorial Baptist Church in Perrytown and the widow of M.D. Garrett. Survivors include two sons, Kenneth Garrett of Pine Bluff and Jimmy Garrett of McCaskill; two daughters, Frances Fairchild and Janice Faulkner both of Perrytown; a sister, Audrey Knighton of Clovis, N.M.; six grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren. Services were held Saturday, May 4, at Brazzel-Oakcrest Chapel Funeral Home Chapel in Hope with Rev. Wayne Langston and Rev. Roger Arnold officiating. Burial was in New Hope Cemetery in Patmos under the direction of Brazzel-Oakcrest Chapel Funeral.} __________ Howard Don Cofield Howard Don Cofield, 59, of Batesville, formerly of Nevada County, died Wednesday, May 1, 1996, in Batesville. Born April 2, 1937, in Hope, he was the son of the late Howard and Cora Cofield of Nevada County. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, a former teacher at Village, Bodcaw and Texarkana, Arkansas schools. He was retired from Haliburton Oil Company. Survivors include his wife, Mary Lee of Batesville; a son, Eric of Batesville; a daughter, Laura Biggers of Batesville; two sisters, Paula Pendergraft of Houston, Texas, and Sue Jane Silvey of Texarkana; and one granddaughter.} __________ Robert F. Cason Jr. Robert Franklin Cason Jr., 34, of Prescott died Friday, May 3, 1996, in Hope. Born September 14, 1961, in Prescott, he was the son of Joyce Walker of Prescott and he was a Nazarene. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Franklin Cason. Survivors include a son, Robert Franklin Cason III of Prescott; his mother and stepfather, Joyce and Leslie Walker of Prescott; one brother, Lee Walker of Prescott; one sister, Bobbie Deckard of Tahlequah, Okla.; a nephew and a niece, James and Heather Weaver; his grandmother, Hazel Cason Hendrix of Prescott; and a special friend, Linda Weatherby. Services were held Sunday, May 5, at the Shackelford Funeral Home chapel in Prescott with Rev. James Adams officiating. Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Prescott under the direction of Shackelford Funeral Home.} __________ Ruth V. Cunningham Ruth V. Cunningham, 79, of Prescott died Thursday, May 2, 1996, in Texarkana, Texas. She was born November 11, 1916, in Hope. Survivors included a stepson, Jack Emery of Texas; a nephew, Raymond Milam of Levittown, Penn.; and a cousin, Bea Dougan of Prescott. Services were held Saturday, May 4, in the Shackelford Funeral Home chapel with Gene Cloer officiating. Burial was in Bloomfield, Indiana.} __________ Elmer Walters Elmer Augusta Walters, 81, of Pine Bluff, formerly of Prescott, died Tuesday, May 9, 1996, in Pine Bluff. He was a navy veteran and was the manager of Kroger in Dumas and Camden and was retired from Singer Machine Company after more than 20 years. He was a member of Central Baptist Church of Pine Bluff, the Kiwanis, the Masonic Lodge and the Lions Club. Survivors include his wife, Ruth Walters of Pine Bluff; two sons, Elmer Walters Jr. and David Walters; three sisters, Elsie McKissack of Nashville and Mary Jane Miller and Pauline Pearson of Prescott; two grandsons; and one great grandson. Services were held Thursday, May 11, at Robinson and Sons Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery in Pine Bluff under the direction of Robinson and Sons Funeral Home of Pine Bluff. __________ Vester O. Mason Vester O. Mason, 68, of Bodcaw, died Sunday, May 12, 1996, at his residence after a lengthy illness. He was a member of the Corinth Baptist Church, a retired truck driver and a veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife, Perna Taylor Mason of Bodcaw; three sons, Arval R. Mason and Tim Mason, both of Bodcaw and Wayne Mason of Little Rock; a daughter, Susan Teague of Camden; and eight grandchildren. Services were held Tuesday, May 14, at Corinth Baptist Church with the Rev. Billy Mac Russell and Rev. Ray Bowman officiating. Burial was in Union Cemetery under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Stamps. __________ T'Ahnna Purifoy T'Ahnna Purifoy, four-week old infant, died Wednesday, May 8, 1996, in the Children's Hospital in Little Rock. Born April 11, 1996, in Arkadelephia, she was the infant daughter of LaWanda Purifoy of Prescott and Jeffery Blake of Gurdon, who survive her. Other survivors are a brother, T'Atrique Purifoy of Prescott; and her grandparents, Mrs. and Mrs. Carl Purifoy of Prescott, Ellis Blake of Chidester and Suzanne Todd of Arkadelphia. Graveside services and burial were held Saturday, May 11, at DeAnn Cemetery in Prescott under the direction of Brazzel-Cornish Funeral Home of Prescott. __________ David Moore David Moore, 52, of Hope, died Monday, May 6, 1996, at Medical Park Hospital in Hope. Born May 20, 1943, in Magnolia, he was the son of the late Norman and Mary Cook Moore, a farmer and member of Calvary Baptist Church and First United Methodist Church. He was past president of Century Bible class and a charter member of Worthey Hunting Club. Survivors include his wife, Sharon Moore of Hope; four sons, David G. Moore of Emmet, Heath C. Moore of Hope, Jason D. Moore of Mountain Home, Sterling Burkhart of Madisonville, Ky.; one daughter, Christy Burkhart of Hope; and two grandchidlren. A memorial service will be held at Calvary Baptist Church Wednesday with Rev. Scott Neathery officiating under the direction of Herndon Funeral Home of Hope. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association and American Cancer Association, Gideons, Calvary Baptist Church or First United Methodist Church. __________ Clarence Nistendirk Clarence William Edward Nistendirk, 77, of Hampton, died Sunday, May 12, 1996, in the Veterans Hospital in Little Rock. Born May 25, 1918,in Warren County, Mo., he was the son of Hugo Nistendirk and Lorine Busekrus Nistendirk, he was a retired pulpwood contractorr, a World War II Army veteran and a member of the American Legion and Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Ola Jones Nistendirk of Hampton; a son, Gene Nistendirk of Prescott; a daughter, Mary Lou Smith of Hampton; a brother, Kenneth Nistendirk of Hampton; two sisters, Erna Nistendirk of Hampton and Darlene Osbourne of Martinsburg, West Virgina; six grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren.. Services are being held today, Wednesday, May 15, at 10:30 a.m. at Benton Funeral Home chapel in Fordyce with Rev. Leroy Jones and Rev. Aubrey McChesney officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Hampton under the direction of Benton Funeral Home. __________ Benjamin Hamilton Benjamin Grant Hamilton, 56, of Prescott died Thursday, May 9, 1996, at St. Michael Health Care in Texarkana, Texas. Born February 5, 1940, in the Boughton community, he was the son of Hosea and Alberta Hamilton. He received his education from the Boughton Public School and graduated from McRae High School in Prescott. He was married to Anna Schmelzer of Pomona, Calif., where he lived for several years. To this union four children were born. Several years ago he returned to his home town of Prescott, where he was married to Margaret Sue Hopson. Survivors include his wife, Margaret Hamilton; three daughers, LaDonna Stueart of Prescott, Lashelle Hamilton of Pace, Fla., and Latoya Hamilton of Presoctt; a son, Benjamin David Hamilton of Hope; his mother, Alberta Hamilton; a sister, Freddie Mae Hamilton of Prescott; three stepsons, Ricky Hopson, stationed in Germany, Reginald VanHook of Flint, Mich., and Durrell Hopson of the home; and ten grandchildren. Services were held Monday, May 13, at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Boughton with Rev. Herbert Adams officiating. Burial was in Washington Hill Cemetery in the Boughton community under the direction of Hicks Funeral Home of Hope. __________ Charles Ray Cross Charles Ray Cross, 51, of Prescott died Friday, May 17, 1996, in Little Rock. Born October 25, 1944, in Hope, he was a self-employed farmer and was director of the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services. He was a member of Mt. Moriah United Methodist Church, was a Mason and a member of the Albany Masonic Lodge 495 in Laneburg, a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. He was voted Citizen of the Year in 1980 and farm family of the year in 1986. He was chief of the Laneburg Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the volunteeer fire and rescue unit of Nevada County, a member of the Arkansas Fire Advisory board and a member of the Prescott Lions Club. Survivors include his wife, Nancy Cross of Prescott; a daughter, Lesa Brzeski of Prescott; his parents Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Cross of Prescott; a brother, Danny Cross of Prescott; a sister, Joan Noesser of Blevins; and three grandchildren. Services were held Sunday, May 19, at Central Baptist Church in Prescott with Lynn Vanderveer and Rev. Jerry Westmoreland officiating. Burial was in Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Nevada County under the direction of Brazzel-Cornish Funeral Home of Prescott. __________ Margaret Messer Margaret Louise Piercy Messer, 70, of Hope died Sunday, May 19, 1996, in Medical Park Hopsital. Born August 24, 1916, in Nevada County, she was a homemaker and a member of Garrett Memorial Baptist Church in Hope. She was the widow of Alfred Messer. Survivors include a son, Carroll R. Messer of Perrytown; a brother, Bernard Piercy of Emmet; three grandchildren; and one great grandchild. Services were held Monday, May 20, at Brazzel-Oakcrest Chapel Funeral Home of Hope with Rev. Mike Harmon and Rev. I.V. Hight officiating. Burial was in Snell Cemetery in Emmet under the direction of Brazzel-Oakcrest Chapel Funeral Home. __________ Mary Jean Avery Mary Jean Avery, 69, of Prescott died Sunday, May 19, 1996, in Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock. Born January 31, 1927, in Nevada County, she was a retired sales clerk at Fore's Department Store in Prescott and a member of Central Baptist Church in Prescott. Survivors include her husband, Elvin Avery of Prescott; a son, Randy Avery of Rogers; a daughter, Vicki Brantley of Mountain Home; a brother, James Stokes of Prescott; three sisters, Louise Willis and Margaret McBrayer and Joy Cox of Prescott. Services were held Tuesday, May 21, at Central Baptist Church in Prescott with Rev. Arlis East and Rev. Tom Mitchell officiating. Burial was in DeAnn Cemetery in Prescott under the direction of Brazzel-Cornish Funeral Home of Prescott. __________ John H. Gober John H. Gober, 71, of Beirne died Sunday, May 20, 1996. He was a retired machinest for International Paper Company, a member of Beirne Baptist Church, U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II and member of the VFW. Survivors includes his wife, Nell Gober of Beirne; three sons, Jim Gober of Prescott and Gary Gober and Hoye Gober of Gurdon; a sister, Mary Powell of Drexel, N.C.; and six grandchildren. Graveside services and burial were held Tuesday, May 21, in Brown Cemetery near Beirne under the direction of Horne Funeral Home of Gurdon. __________ Forrest D. Jessup Forrest D. Jessup, 91, of Emmet died Friday, May 10, 1996, in Hope. Born September 30, 1904, in Pompeii, Mich., he was the widower of Celia Johnston Jessup and a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include a son, Forrest Jessup Jr., of Emmet; a daugher, Marion Burke of Dallas, Ga.; and a host of grandchidlren and great grandchildren. Graveside services and burial were held Sunday, May 12, in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Hope with Gene Cloer and Lynn Vanderveer officiating. Burial was under the direction of Shackelford Funeral Home of Prescott. __________ Elmer Meador Elmer Lee Meador, 83, of Bluff City died Monday, May 27, 1996, in the Baptist Hospital at Arkadelphia. He was an auditor for the state of Arkansas, a veteran of World War II and a member of Bluff City Church of Christ. Survivors include Goldie Barksdale Meador of Bluff City; a son, Billy Joe Meador of Clifton, Texas; three daughters, Loritta Johnson of Hermitage, Bonita Stinnett of Camden and Linda Carman of Bluff City; a brother, Stell Meador of Tulsa, Okla.; seven grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, May 29, at Bluff City Church of Christ. Burial will be in Bluff City Cemetery under the direction of Proctor Funeral Home of Camden. __________ Odis Harris Odis Harris, 85, of Emmet died Thursday, May 23, 1996, in Medical Park Hospital. Born October 10, 1910, in Blevins, he was the son of the late Clem and Ellen Harris. He was a former member of Macedonia Baptist Church of Prescott, where he served as pianist for over 35 years. He later united with Greater St. Paul Baptist Church in Emmet. Survivors include eight children, Dorothy Dixon, Helen Faye Bryant of Milpitas, Calif., Clementine Wade of Richmond, Calif., Leothon Harris of Sacremento, Calif., Vira Lee Morgan of Easley, S.C., Helen Joyce Whiteside of Los Angeles, Calif., and Inez Moreland and Rosie Harris of Prescott; two stepsons, L.G. Holleman and Larry Holliman of Starks, La.; one God son, Haril Gulley of Prescott; four sisters, Verdie Mae Vanhook, Bernice Scott and Mae Thelma Black of Prescott and Varrie Young of Dallas, Texas; one brother, Vernice Harris of Prescott; 16 grandchildren; and 20 great grandchildren. Services were held Saturday, June 1, at Greater St. Paul Baptist Church in Emmet with Rev. Roderick Trotter officiating. Burial was in Shorter Cemetery in Blevins under the direction of Hicks Funeral Home of Hope. __________ Ronald Leon Tosch Ronald Leon Tosch, 59, of Prescott died Wednesday, June [May] 29, 1996, in Hope. Born November 25, 1936, in Chicago, Ill., he was a Presbyterian. Survivors include his wife, Elaine Tosch of Prescott; a son, Ronald Leon Tosch Jr., of Hope; two daughters, Lynn Malone and Kathleen Hipp of Prescott; a brother, Robert L. Tosch of Malvern; and three grandchildren. Services were held Saturday, June 1, in the Shackelford Funeral Home chapel in Prescott with Rev. Jerry Westmoreland officiating. Burial was in DeAnn Cemetery in Prescott under the direction of Shackelford Funeral Home. __________ Bob F. Wells Bob F. Wells, 72, of Gurdon died Monday, May 27, 1996. He was a retired electrician for Fafnir Bearing. He was a member of Southfork Baptist Church and an army veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife, Betty Joe Wells; two sons, Ricky Wells and Ralph Thomas of Gurdon; a daughter, Connie Clinton of La Grange, Ky.; three brothers, James T. Wells of Okolona, Carl `Buddy' Wells of Gum Springs and John J. Wells, of Gurdon; three sisters, Louise Presson of Prescott, Betty Ledbetter of Gurdon and Nancy Rutherford of Arkadelphia; eight grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. Funeral services were Thursday, May 30, at Southfork Baptist Church with interment in the Southfork Cemetery by Horne Funeral Home of Gurdon. __________ Opal Burns Nash Opal Burns Nash, 83, of Chidester died Sunday, May 26, 1996, in Tomball, Texas. She was a member of Bluff City Church of Christ and she was a homemaker. She is survived by a daughter, Nancy Franklin of Magnolia, Texas; a brother, Armond A. Burns Jr. of Camden; two sisters, Mae Shepherd of Camden and Drucilla Fay of Fort Smith; and two grandchildren. Funeral services were Wednesday, May 29, at Proctor Chapel in Camden with burial in Rose Hedge Cemetery in Gurdon. __________ Frederick Tidwell Frederick Keith Tidwell, 32, of Rosston died Sunday, May 19, 1996. Born April 22, 1964, in Magnolia, he was the son of Olandus Tidwell and Edna Elliott. He was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Cold Springs Masonic Lodge 285 and United Rubber Workers Union Local 920. He graduated from Willisville High School in 1982. Survivors include his mother, Edna Elliott; his father, Olandus Tidwell; seven sisters, Carolyn Wilson of Lewisville, Texas, Joyce Elliott of Little Rock, Barbara Turner of Virginia Beach, Va., Bettie Baldwin of Rowlett, Texas, Gloria Elliott of Willisville, and Lashekia Tidwell and Yolanda Tidwell of Rosston; and a brother, Charles Tidwell of Camden. Services were held Saturday, May 25, at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Rosston with Rev. Bobby Young officiating. Burial was in Watts Cemetery in Waldo under the direction of Marks Funeral Home of Magnolia. __________ Susie Needham Susie Needham, 77, of Hope died Tuesday, May 21, 1996, in Hope. Born February 8, 1919, in Vandervoort, she was a homemaker and a Methodist. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert Needham, and a son, Carl Ray Needham. Survivors include one son, John Robert Needham of Midland, Texas; two daughters, Freda Ingersoll of Hope and Betty Daniel of Bagdad, Ariz.; eight grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren. Graveside services were held Thursday, May 23, in Piney Grove Cemetery with Rev. Jerry Westmoreland officiating. Burial was under the direction of Piney Grove Cemetery under the direction of Brazzel-Oakcrest Chapel Funeral Home of Hope. __________