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Submitted by: Darcy Stonesifer - from Benton Courier Obit 
Date: September 2006 - 

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brightir

Ivan Ralph Bright, 92, of Hope died Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006 in Medical Park Hospital in Hope.

He was born April 21, 1914, in Tokio, Ark., to Thomas Oliver and Clara Goodwin Bright.

Mr. Bright was a farmer and known for his giant watermelons, currently holding the record for the world's largest watermelon weighing in a 268.8 pounds. He worked in the grocery business and was associated with the Farm Store in Hope. He moved to Hope in 1923 and graduated from Hope High School in 1931. He was a member and deacon of Rocky Mound Baptist Church of Rocky Mound Community in Hope since 1937. He was Hope-Hempstead County Citizen of the Year in 1997, a long time member of Hempstead County Farm Bureau Association, Rotary Club, Paul Harris Fellow, Golden K Kiwanis Club, Cattlemans Association, AARP and a former Freedom Sixty member.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Faye Marie Samuels Bright who died in January 1986; two brothers, Erman and William "Pete" Bright; and one sister, Lydia Bowden.

Survivors include one son, Lloyd Bright and wife Susan of Arkadelphia; two daughters, Barbara Jones and husband Charles of Bossier City, La., and Patricia Rhoads of Hope; one sister, Alta Arrington of Benton; one sister-in-law, Pauline Butler of Hope; seven grandchildren, Nolia Jones Guidry of Baton Rouge, La., Nancy Jones Bogaard of Hillsboro, Ore., Ann Jones Woodall of Metairie, La., Melissa Curtis Somoza of Tucson, Ariz., Rocky Rhoads of Little Rock, Jason Bright of Little Rock and Richard Bright of Arkadelphia; four great-grandchildren, Ashley and Halie Guidry of Baton Rouge, La., Wendy Bogaard of Hillsboro, Ore., and Alex Placios of Tucson, Ariz.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Brazzel-Oakcrest Funeral Home in Hope with the Revs. William C. "Dub" Byers, Coy Zumwait and Mark Keith officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Hope.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.