Montgomery County, Arkansas
Obituaries

Montgomery County ArkansasGenWeb Project

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The Montgomery County News is published every Thursday.

The Waldron News April 15, 1998
Louis Franklin (Bud) MAXEY
Louis Franklin (Bud) Maxey, 74, of Waldron died Thursday, April 9,1998 in his home. He was retired from Arkansas State Highway Department, a veteran of W.W.II serving three years in India, a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church #3, a member of American Legion and a former member of Montgomery County Farm Bureau. Funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 11 in Martin Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Pencil Bluff Cemetery in Pencil Bluff. Survivors include his wife, Mary Jo; one daughter, Susan Brashier, of Waldron; one grandson and wife: Sgt. Daniel and LaVonda White, of Midway Park, N.C.; one great grand- daughter, Kristian White, of Midway Park, N.C.; six sisters: Virginia Yandell and Patsy Owens, both of Harvey, Maxine Brown, of Y-City, Ann Wise, of Grannis, Linda Yandell and Norma Pierce, both of Gravelly; two brothers: Don Maxey, of Mt. Pine and Joe Maxey, of Harvey. Pallbearers were M.C. Himes, Wayne Hopper, Kevin Brown, Billy Williams, John Simms and Horace Lawrence. Honorary pallbearers were Comrades of 252nd Port Co., members of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church #3, John Heinin, Bro. Mike Shaddon, Sister Frances, St. Edwards Hospice Team and Aids and Scott County Home Health Nurses and Aids. Martin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Lona McCASKILL
EL DORADO, ARKANSAS: Marian Lona McCaskill, 96, died August 16, 1993 in Louisiana. She was born July 28, 1897 in Mount Ida to Marion and Savannah McKinney Baker. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Norphlet. Survivors include two daughters, Kay Hardy and Murieldene Langley; a son, A.E. "Sam" McCaskill; 12 grandchildren; her great-grandchildren; and her great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dan K. McCaskill. Interment was at Rehobeth Cemetery by Rumph-Owens Funeral Home.

Montgomery County News  March 12, 1998
Lou May McKAY
Lou Ella McKay, age 63, resident of Hot Springs, died Thursday, March 5, 1998 at St Joseph's Regional Health Center in Hot Springs.  She was born June 30, 1934 in Oden, to William Fred Counts, and the late Lillie Manley Counts.  She was untied in marriage to Earl Thomas McKay, September 4, 1960.  Survivors include her husband, Earl McKay of Hot Springs; one sister, May Lou Inman of Havanna; her father, William Fred Counts of Oden one nephew of Scott Mofatt of Oden; one niece, Sherry Bowling of Mena.  She is preceded in death by two sons, Michael Cassady and Reginald Thomas McKay.  Services were held Monday, March 9. 1998 at the Brushy Baptist Church in Oden.  Burial followed in the Brushy Cemetery, under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette September 8, 2010
DON MAHURIN, 83, of Little Rock, died Sept. 6, 2010. He was born in Oden, Ark., to Edward J. and Catherine (Pruitt) Mahurin on June 6, 1927.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Clarence, of Dumas. Survivors are his wife of 62 years, Pat (Henley) Mahurin; daughter, Stacey Mahurin-Hipps (Jack); son, Tony Mahurin; grandchildren, Rachel and Dylan Mahurin, Jessica Hipps; four great-grandchildren; and brother, John (Mary Lou) of Star City. Don served in the United States Navy during World War II and again during the Korean war. His career spanned 42 years at Crow Burlingame Company, where he served in various positions, retiring as Vice-President and General Manager. After retiring, Don stayed busy playing golf, fishing, traveling, and maintaining the nicest yard in the neighborhood. Friends often commented that no one enjoyed retirement more than Don. He told friends that every day is Saturday when you�re retired. Don was of the Baptist faith and an ordained deacon. He was a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club and a 32 Degree Scottish Rite Mason. The family will receive friends at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, (501) 224-8300, Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Funeral service will be held Friday, Sept. 10, 2010 at Little Rock First Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Interment will be at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills following the service.

Montgomery County News  April 29, 1998
Raymon M. MAYBERRY
Raymon M.Mayberry,74, of Royal, died Saturday, April 18, 1998, in a Hot Springs hospital.   He was born March 31, 1924, in Silver.  He was a WW2 veteran of the US Army and a member of the New Home Missionary Baptist Church.  He is predeceased by one son, Donnie Mayberry, two grandchildren, Tracy Mayberry and Timothy Kemp.  Survivors include: his wife, Mary Mayberry, of Royal; three sons..., four daughters...., a brother, Arless Mayberry of Boonesville; a sister, Merline Tedford of Royal; 21 grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and one gggrandchild.  Services were Tuesday, April 21, at 2:00 p.m. at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home Chapel with Elders Leroy Hill and Donald Kemp officiating. Pallbearers were Jacob Moss, J.B. Moss. Stephen Whatley, Terry Sunderland, Bunkey Kemp and Rusty Mayberry.

Montgomery County News 9 Sept., 1999
Odar MAYS     
Odar Mays, 84, of Pencil Bluff, died August 24, 1999 in Eugene, Oregon while visiting family there. He was born October 3, 1914 in Cherry Hill to the late Frank Mays and the late Inda M. Miller Mays. He was united in marriage to Rosebell Wilhite in Pencil Bluff on March 14, 1936. He worked for Weyerhaeuser Company as a dry kiln stacker for ten years before becoming a poultry farmer in Arkansas. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Alvin Mays. Survivors include his wife, Rosebell Mays of Pencil Bluff; son and daughter-in-law, ...; daughter and son-in-law, .... of Pencil Bluff; a sister, Elsie Mae Willhite of Mena; five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Graveside services were Wednesday, September 1 at the Cherry Hill Cemetery with Bro. Dean Egger officiating. Interment was under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena. [formerly of Springfield]

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette 5 August 2005
Mount Ida - Jerry Don Minor, 62, of Mt. Ida, Arkansas, passed away Tuesday, August 2, 2005 in a Ft. Lauderdale Hospital. He was a member of Waldron #132 Free and Accepted Masons and a machinist. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. August 6, 2005 at Little Fir Pavilion. He is survived by his wife, Roseann of the home; five daughters, Briggette Johnson, Rebekah Cook, Rachel Harmon, Shelby Luttrell and Tammy Shillcutt; four sisters, Alice Carter, Brenda Hopkins, Cathy Betts and Bobbie Sue Strickland; one brother, Chester Minor; and 10 grandchildren.

Montgomery County News  25 Feb, 1988   
Oma Lee MINTON
Mrs. Oma Minton, 75, of Mount Ida died Thursday, February 18, at her home.   She was born February 18, 1913 in Mena, to the late Frank Edmonds and Minnie Stanford Edmonds.  She was a housewife, a member of the Church of God and had been a resident of this area most of her life.  Survivors include her husband , O.D. Minton of Mt. Ida; four grandchildren; nine great- grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.  Services were conducted Saturday, February 20, in the Mount Ida Church of God with the Rev. Bill Singleton officiating.  Pallbearers were: Keith; Edmonds, Arvin Edmonds, Mike Baxtor, Clyde Minton, Ezra Minton, and Robert (Hook) Minton.   Burial was in the Barber Cemetery the direction of the Thornton Funeral Service of Mount Ida.

Montgomery County News  29 Mar. 1990
Mary Catherine MONTGOMERY
Mary Catherine Montgomery, 89, of Mount Ida died March 22, 1990 in a Hot Springs hospital.  She was born August 24, 1900 in Milan, Missouri, the daughter of John Sterling and Emma Cochran.  She had been a resident of Mount Ida for the past five years.  She was a retired school teacher and a Protestant.  Survivors include one son, John Montgomery of Lyons, Kansas; two daughters, Betty Jones of Mount Ida and Maurine Johnson of Overland Park, Kansas;.... Services were held in Milan, Missouri.

December 17, 1997 MRS. LESSIE CLEO MORGAN
Mrs. LessieCleo Morgan, 80 years old, of Mt. Ida, passed away on December 14, 1997 at St. Josephs Hospital in Hot Springs. She was born on November 11, 1917 in Sims to the late Henry Enoch Jackson and the late Isabel Vandever. Mrs. Morgan had lived in Waldron, and had lived in Mt. Ida for the past two years. She was preceded in death by two sons, Orbia Carmack and Jerry Morgan. Survivors include two sons: Henry Carmack, of Mt. Ida and Gary Carmack, of Waldron; five grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Services will be at Oden Methodist Church in Oden, Arkansas at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 1997 with burial at Oden Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Wade Abernathy, Alton Abernathy, Bobby Fryar, Leroy Fryar, Joe Galin Carmack and Carey Pat Carmack.

Montgomery County News  Dec 4, 1997
Queenie Elizabeth MULLENIX
Queenie Elizabeth Mullenix, 91, 0f Mount Ida, passed away November 29, 1997 at the Montgomery County Nursing Home.  She was born March 6, 1906 in Norman to the late John Warren and the late Martha 'Mattie' E. Black Warren.  Mrs Mullenix was a retired Assembly of God Minister and started the Assembly of God Church in Mount Ida.  She is survived by one daughter, Elise Wallace of California; one son, Randy Phillips of Mount Ida; a special nephew, Kenneth Warren of Hot Springs; and several nieces and nephews.  Graveside services will be held at Black Springs, at the Gaston Cemetery with the Rev. Roy Brooks officiating, Thursday, December 4, 1997 at 2:00pm. Arrangements are under the direction of the Thornton Funeral Home.

Montgomery County News  23 Oct. 1997
Dorsey Ernest "Nick" NICHOLS
Dorsey Ernest "Nick" Nichols, 87, of Oden, died Wednesday, October 15, 1997, at the Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith.  He was born February 27, 1910, in Boone County, Mo., the son of the late Lincoln Nichols and the late Effie Crump Nichols.  He was untied in marriage to Gladie McKay Nichols on June 2, 1934 in Waldron, who preceded him in death in 1988.  He was a janitor for Oden Schools.  Survivors include one son, Jerald Nichols of Hemphill, TX; one brother, Ross Nichols of Columbia, Mo.; two sisters, Hazel Faye Holton and Merle Plaster, both of Hartsburg, Mo.; Three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.  Graveside services were held Friday, October 17, 1997 at the Oden Cemetery with Brother Don Moore officiating. Burial was in the Oden Cemetery under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena

Seq. Co Times  Sunday, November 16, 2003
Bertha E. CRANFILL NELSON, 91, of Arkoma, formerly of Mena, Ark., was born Aug. 9, 1912, in Oden, Ark. to James A. McKAY and Nellie Florence JUSTON McKAY. She died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003, in Arkoma. WHITE, McPIKE, BUSKIRK, RANDALL, EUBANKS.

Austin American-Statesman  8 November 1998
CLAUDIA VAUGHT O'CONNOR
Born January 3, 1909, in Caddo Gap, Arkansas, to J.H. and Bonnie Vaught, she graduated from high school there, then attended Arkansas State Teacher's College at Conway, Arkansas. She taught in one room schools for four years. She married Winburn H. Tackett, a classmate, and they shared 48 rewarding years. She belonged to Crestview Baptist Church and taught Sunday School classes most of her adult life. She was past Matron of Woodlawn Chapter #74, OES, Memphis, Tennessee, and was a past Grand Marshall of Grand Chapter, OES, Tennessee. She is survived by her husband of 12 years, F. Joe O'Connor, two step-children, three nieces and three nephews. There is no way to thank the doctors, nurses and Family Hospice enough for their kind services. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to Crestview Baptist Church Tape Ministry for Shut-Ins, or a charity of your choice. There will be family visitation from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, 1998, at Cook-Walden, Lamar location. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 11, 1998, in the chapel of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood, Arkansas. Burial will follow in Glenwood, Arkansas.

Montgomery County News  16 March 2000
OTRUSINA, Andrew
Former Mount Ida resident Andrew Otrusina, 90, of Hot Springs, AR, died Tuesday, August 24, 1999, in a nursing home there.  He was born November 27, 1908, in Czechoslovakia, and was a Seventh Day Adventist.  He was predeceased by his parents, Vince and Anna Otrusina. Survivors include: his wife, Ann Otrusina of......, one son ...., one daughter ...., one brother ....., and nine grandchildren. Services were Friday, August 27, 2999, at Blish Cemetery in Mount Ida, with Rev. Allan Humphreys officiating. Burial arrangements were by Caruth-Hale Funeral Home of Hot Springs.

Montgomery County News  16 March 2000   
Thomas P. ORR   
Thomas P. Orr, 88, of Mount Ida, passed away in Ardmore, Oklahoma on March 5, 2000. He was born on April 9, 1911 to the late Thomas Orr and Sarah Alexander Orr. He was preceded in death by his wife Louise Orr. He was a conductor for the Santa Fe Railroad for 37 years. Survivors include one son..., two daughters.... Services were held Monday, March 13 at Blish Cemetery with Bro. Roland C. Clancy officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home in Mount Ida.

CAR TUMBLES INTO RIVER, KILLING BOY
The Commercial Appeal Memphis, TN 23 July 1998
A Mt. Ida boy was killed when the car in which he was riding flipped over and went into the Ouachita River in Montgomery County, Arkansas State Police said Wednesday. Christopher L. Pearson, 14, was riding in a car driven by Brookie Slater Burrow, 22, of Story, when the car left U.S. 270, hit a guard rail on a bridge over the river, flipped over and went into the water backward, a police report said. Christopher Cody Harrod, 16, and John H. Fryar, 17, both of Mt. Ida, also were injured in the accident at 11:12 p.m. Tuesday, the report said.

Montgomery County News  Mar. 29, 1990
Carroll PIERCE
Carroll Pierce, 78, of Mount Ida died Friday, March 23, 1990 in a Hot Springs hospital.  He was born July 10, 1911 in Kiowa, Oklahoma, the son of Ed Pierce and Betty Abney Pierce.  He had been a resident of Montgomery County for most of his life ,was a retired mail carrier and a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church.  He was a member of the Mount Ida Masonic lodge # 140 and the Royal Arch Mason # 126. Survivors include his wife Bernice Hickey pierce of Mount Ida; four daughters...Services were held Monday, March 26, at 2pm in the Mount Ida First Baptist Church with Rev. Don Jones and Rev. Glen E. Hickey officiating. Pallbearers were Kraig Sparks, Richard Pierce, Dick Reynolds, Tom Brown, Alan Wheeler, Kevin Crites, Gary Jiles, Jessie Slaughter, Rodger Roeman, Don Jones and Phil Hardy.  (Photo)

Montgomery County News  July 2 1998
Troy C. PORTER
Troy C. Porter, age 61, of Hopper, died Wednesday, June 24, 1998 in a Hot Springs hospital.  He was born on May 6, 1937 at Fancy Hill, the son of Harvey Porter and Alice Miller Porter.  On December 31, 1957, he was married to Beatrice Hensley.   He was a poultry and cattle farmer. He is survived by his wife, two sons.., three daughters..., eight brothers..., and two sisters..., nine grandchildren and one great great daughter.  He was preceded in death by his son Ricky Alan Porter; two brothers, Winfred Porter and William  Porter; and one sister, Rosie Porter. Services were held at at 2:00 PM, Saturday, June 27, 1998 in the Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel, with the Revs. Marvin Black and James Black officiating.  Interment was in the Fancy Hill Cemetery under the direction of the Davis-Smith Funeral Home of Glenwood.   Pallbearers were James Doyle Price, Robert Taylor, Jr., Orville Miller, Tom Morris, L.D. Deaton and Kyle Cowart.  Honorary pallbearers were Eugene Parton, Donnie Cowart, Doyle Diggs, Clifton Cogburn and Bruce Price.

The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs Sunday January 2, 2000
Cora F. PORTER
Glenwood. Cora F. Porter, 96, of Glenwood died Sat., Jan. 1, 2000. Born Sept. 1, 1903, at Norman, to William Emerson & Sarah Ann Welch Sloan, she was a member of Glenwood First Church of the Nazarene. She was predeceased by her husband, John Henry Porter. Survivors include her sister, Ruby Tolleson of Glenwood. Services will be 2 p.m. Mon. at Davis-Smith Funeral Home chapel with the Revs. J.B. Evans, Terrell Holland & Billy Grant officiating. Pallbearers will be Bobby Grand, Hardie Reynolds, Greg Evans, Jeff Evans, Wayne Buck, Teddy Brooks & John Tolleson. Burial will be in Black Springs Cemetery.

Montgomery County News  May 6 1999
Earl Vernon POWELL
Earl Vernon Powell, 78, of Iowa Park, Texas, died at his home on April 30, 1999.  He was born February 5, 1921, in Cedar Glades, AR, to the late Washington L. Powell and the late Mammie Housley.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence, in 1995, and one brother, Bill Powell.  Survivors include one daughter, ...., three sisters.... and one brother..... of Pencil Bluff; two grandchildren and one great grand child. Graveside services were May 3, 1999, at 2:00pm in Peak Cemetery in Crystal Springs, AR, with Bro. David Birdsong officiating.  Arrangements in Iowa Park, TX were by Dutton Funeral Home.  Arrangements in Arkansas were by Thornton Funeral Home in Mount Ida.

Montgomery County Mews May 6 1975
Ruben Qualls, 57, died May 1 at his home in Mount Ida. He was a retired logger, a veteran of World War II and a Baptist. He was a native and life resident of Mount Ida. Survivors include one son G.W. Qualls of Mount Ida; three daughters: Mrs Jackie Willis of Hot Springs; Velda Qualls and Mary Lou Qualls of Mount Ida; one sister; Mrs Mabel Mullenix of Plainview; and nine grandchildren. services were May 5 in the Reed Church at Story with the Rev. Tommy Cupples, pastor of the First Baptist Church if Mount Ida officiating. Burial was in Reed cemetery by Thornton Funeral Services. Pallbearers were Rudolph Humphreys, Leo Humphreys, Jimmy Willis, Jerry Stovall, Jimmy Seals and Bobby Yett.

Mullinax, Mary Mable Hulsey
Mary Mable Hulsey Mullinax [sic], age 79, of Plainview, AR. passed away on March 20, 2001 in the Yell County Nursing Home in Ola, AR. She was born on April 4, 1921 to the late John Washington Qualls and the late Ellen Lenderman Qualls at the Fir Community in Montgomery County, AR. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, who loved the Lord immensely. She will be missed by many. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ed Hulsey and one daughter, Betty Lou Hulsey Gaston. Survivors include, her husband, W. E. Mullinax of Plainview, AR; two sons, William (Sonny) Hulsey of Norman, AR and Jimmy Hulsey of Ola, AR; six daughters, Delia Mae Beggs of Mt. Ida, AR, Wanda Smalling of Cedar Creek, Norma Layne of Dardanelle, AR, Linda Stinson of Mt. Ida, AR, Janice Miller of Norman and Becky Dixon of Ola, AR; two step-sons, Bruce Mullinax of Wye Mountain and Alvin Mullinax of Muskogee, OK; 28 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Graveside service with Bro. David Rumsey was March 23, 2001 at the Joplin Cemetery under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home in Mt. Ida, AR. Honorary pallbearers were, Phillip Dixon, Matthew Hulsey, Kevin Smalling, Steven Smalling, Michael Beggs, Darion Hackney, Terry Hackney, Johnny Hackney, Dennis Stinson (special friend) and Dusty Stinson, they are the grandsons and one special friend. (WWW.YellCountyObits.org, Yell County Record, Danville, Arkansas: Obituary was published on Wednesday, March 28, 2001)

Mullinax, William Ervin
William Ervin Mullinax, age 87, from Plainview died November 10, 2001. He was born June 14, 1914 in Hochatown, OK to the late Jess Dee and Callie Mae Duncan Mullinax. He was preceded in death by his first wife Evelyn Brown Mullinax and his second wife Mabel Hulsey Mullinax; one brother, Jake Mullinax of Las Vegas, Nevada; two sisters, Marie Mullinax Walker and Margie Mullinax Hoel of Kingman, AZ.  Survivors are two sons Bruce W. and wife Juanita of Bigelow, AR, Alvin L and wife Cathy of Muskogee, OK; Numerous grandchildren and great grand children and great-great grand children. Step children, Delia Mae and husband Lonnie Ray Beggs of Mt. Ida, Sonny and wile Barbara Hulsey of Norman, AR, Linda Stinson of Mt. Ida, AR and Wanda and Darrell Smalling of Cedar Creek, AR. Norma Layne of Dardanelle, AR and Becky and husband Greg Dixon of Ola, AR, Janis and husband Tim Miller of Norman, AR and Jimmy and wife Donna of Ola, AR. Numerous grandchildren and great grand children. He was former owner of Midland Supply Company at Ola, AR. (WWW.YellCountyObits.org, Yell County Record, Danville, Arkansas: Obituary was published on Wednesday, November 14, 2001)

Montgomery County News  28 Jan. 1999   
Leon QUALLS
Leon Qualls, 66, of Sims, passed away Jan. 23. 1999.  He was born on July 25, 1932 to the late Zelmer Qualls and Anna Tucker Qualls in Sims.  Services were Monday 25Jan, 1999 at Rocky Cemetery in Sims with Bro. Bill Singleton.  Services were under the direction of the Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida.

Carl L. RAE, 63, of Mount Ida died Oct. 6, 1999

Obituary Newspaper clipping were found inside the Family Bible of William M. & Matilda F. (Collier) Reece
"J. O. Reece, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Reece, died Monday morning after a short illness. He was a young man, and is survived by a wife and baby. His body was buried Tuesday at Liberty church east of Womble, under the auspices of the Odd Fellows."

In Memoriam

Womble, Ark., Jan. 2, 1918. Today, we, the members of Homestead Lodge No. 555, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, assembled at the grave of our beloved brother, J. O. Reece who departed this life January 1, 1918. This brother was a model citizen, a devoted husband and father, and a member of our beloved order, worthy of the honors and trusts conferred upon him as such.

This day will be one of memory and of tears. No language can express the debt we owe, the love we bear to this dear departed brother. Words are but barren sounds; we can but stand by his grave and in the hush of silence feel what speech has never told.

While in love with life and raptured with this world, this beloved brother has passed to the silent and pathetic dust. This brave, tender brother, in every storm of life was Oak and Rock, but in sunshine was Vine and Flowers. He was the friend of all heroic souls. He climbed to the heights of Friendship, Love and Truth, and left all superstitions far below, while on his face fell the golden dawn of a greater day.

He has passed to the unknown realms of an eternal LIFE to join that blessed LODGE above where the Noble Grand will be the blessed and eternal God of Heaven. As we spread upon our minutes of this Lodge the memories of our dear brother, Let us drop a flower in the pathway of our surviving brothers and smooth the wrinkled brows of our widows and orphans. Realizing at heart that we may -- yea will soon be in like manner too -- laid to rest as he. Oh how small we shall seem when the magnifying glass of self shall be broken by the Angel of death and we are made to realize ourselves as we really are.

With bowed heads let us contemplate the scene and prepare to meet in an unbroken LODGE in the eternal HALL of HEAVEN.

Resolved that this tribute of sacred memory shall be spread upon the minutes of this lodge and a copy of same be sent to the wife of the deceased brother.

J. M. Wattenbarger, N. G.
J. H. D

Scott County Times 13 February 2002
Carlton ROBERDS
Carlton Roberds, 89, of Waldron died Wednesday, February 6, 2002 in a Fort Smith hospital. He was retired from the U.S. Forest Service, former Mayor and city councilman of Waldron and attended the Mt. Moriah Church. Funeral services were held at 2 pm Saturday, February 9, 2002 at Martin Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron with burial following at Grenade Cemetery in Pencil Bluff, Arkansas. He is survived by his wife Audrey of the home; one daughter and son-in-law, Doris and Jerry Williams of Waldron; one sister, Grace Lightfooot of Longview, Washington; one brother Deward Roberds of Tillamook, Oregon; 2 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren.

Montgomery County News  April 2 1998
Imogene ROBERTS
Imogene Roberts, 66, of Pencil Bluff, died Thursday, March 26, 1998 at St Joseph's Regional Health Center in Hot Springs. She was born on November 17, 1931 at Pencil Bluff, the daughter of Zeffrey and Dessie Singleton.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Byran Roberts.  Survivors include her son, ...; her daughter, ...; her step-daughter, ....; two step-sons, ... and ...; 13 grandchildren and one great grandchild.  Services were held Saturday, March 28, at Brushy Baptist Church at Oden. Burial was in Brushy Cemetery. Pallbearers were Stacy Vines, Greg Vines, Eric Gaither, Lonnie Vincent, Elmer Shannon and S. Marcus Hamm. Service were under the direction of the Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida.

Obituary of A. G. Robison Newspaper clipping were found inside the Family Bible of William M. & Matilda F. (Collier) Reece
Died Sept. 28, 1892, A. G. Robison, the son of Wm. and Margaret Robison, aged 16 years, after an illness of about nineteen days. God, in His all-wise providence, called him home for a purpose best known to Him only. Gad, as he was commonly called, was a bright and obedient son to his parents and was liked by all his associates; he will be greatly missed by all. But "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord forever." 

Our heartfelt sympathy is with the bereaved father and mother and his only sister. He has left many relatives to mourn his loss; but we should not grieve; he has paid the debt that we all owe and gone to heaven to eternal happiness. Yes, when we think of the dying words so boldly uttered by him it fills our heart with joy and consolation. "I want you all to meet me in heaven and I want to hear Mr. Reece pray one more time." Mr. Reece came and the assemblage joined him in singing "Am I a Soldier of the Cross, a Follower of the Lamb." 

The little fellow then asked them all to pray, "every one of you." After which there was a unanimous prayer offered, led by Bro. Reece. After prayer was over, "We Are Passing Away" was sung, he helping to sing and though his voice was weak, could be heard. "Oh, how good I feel; what a cool place this is; give me one more good drink of water. I will soon be gone, ma; take care of my quill" - that is the quill he drank water through. "Take my knife and my cravat, cuffs and collar and put them in the trunk; divide all my things between you and pa and Lu. Pa, put me in the ground right." These were his last words.

Bro. Lewis dismissed his school, and he and all the school children joined in a nice double-file march, from the least to the biggest, just behind the corpse, from the residence to the graveyard, singing some beautiful songs. The old Professor, on reaching the graveyard, gave his students a grand, good talk. The funeral services followed, Rev. John H. Glaze conducting, in a most solemn and appropriate manner.

Alfred M. Collier
M. C. Collier

Ophir, October 10, 1892

Tributes of Respect  Newspaper clipping were found inside the Family Bible of William M. & Matilda F. (Collier) Reece
A. G. Robinson has departed this life after a long illness and long suffering. He was taken ill on the 11th of September, 1892, and lay under the skillful treatment of Drs. Wormack and W. D. Roberts assisted by Dr. Ellis of Hot Springs together with Dr. Bram Palmer of Rock Creek, and the family had all the kindness of the neighborhood. But alas! to no avail. 

On the eighteenth day of his illness the summons from the eternal world came and this noble hearted young man being sensible of the near approach of the grim monster, called to his father and mother and said: "Papa and mamma, I'm bound to die and I want to hear Mr. Reece pray." He being present, at once proceeded to the bedside and was joined by a host of friends in singing: "Am I a Soldier of the Cross." 

After singing, Bro. Reece began to pray and our beloved boy praying with Bro. Reece. The first words he was heard to utter was: "Oh! God, stand by a dying boy in death and save me in heaven." This was his prayer, and he was able to shout eulogies to God in the highest. The people again joined in the song: "And Must I Be to Judgment Brought," and this Christian hearted boy joined us in the music.

When the song was over he called his father, mother and sister and told them what to do with his things; he then said: "Papa, mamma, and sister, now I must go meet my little sister in heaven and I want you all to meet us in that godly land. So, farewell, to all on earth until we meet in heaven." So, to day he is in that heavenly land.

On the day following he was escorted to his last resting place by his schoolmates and teacher, Prof. A. V. Lewis, marching with the flag of mourning borne by Jess Reece; the funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. H. Glaze.

This was a promising son of William L. and Margaret Robinson and a grandson of Uncle Jeff Collier. Blessed is the Scripture that says: "The Love giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be His holy name." Let us all prepare ourselves to meet this darling boy in heaven. Weep not, father and mother, for your son is in heaven; weep not sister, but meet your brother in heaven. 

Contributed by A. J. Newcomb, L. L. Reece
Ophir, October 10, 1892."

(Note: Immediately following the above was this poem.)

Again the solemn call has come,
A precious one to Heaven is gone.
The voice we loved is still,
And leaves us here on earth to weep.

It is very hard to part with a friend
That we love so good and true
But our heavenly Father has called him
To a happier home above.

Oh! do not weep his absence now,
For we know that he is in our Father's care;
A father's pride, a mother's love
But now he dwelleth with God above.

But now in silence cold
Our dearest friend is resting in his grave;
And while we weep his spirit has flown
To its home in Heaven.

But, oh! father, mother and sister dear
Do not lament and cry
But prepare to meet the dear departed one
When life shall close in our Father's mansion fair.

A. J. Newcomb, L. L. Reece
Ophir, October 10, 1892

Arkansas State Gazette & Democrat, Little Rock, Friday Morning, December 17, 1852
Dr. John Blassingame ROBINSON
Died At his residence, in Mount Ida, Montgomery county, on the 14th September last, Dr. John Blasingame Robinson, in the 28th year of his age."

After nine years search for proof that his parents were Dr. John Robinson and Eliza Blassingame, I found the following: The Whig, Little Rock [Arkansas], Dec. 16, 1852
DIED
Leaves have their time to fall, and flowers
To wither, at the North wind's breath;
But all, thou hast all seasons
For thine own, Oh Death!

"Died, at his residence, in Mount Ida, Montgomery county, on the 14th September last, Dr. John Blasingame Robinson, in the 28th year of his age.

"Dr. R. was the eldest son of Dr. John Robinson, of Pendleton district, S.C., long and favorably known as one of the most able and skilful physicians of his age. He acquired his profession in the State of S.C., and some few years ago removed to Arkansas, where he married the daughter of Dr. A.B. Clingman; and at the time of his death, was engaged in an active and lucrative business.

"He was an open-hearted, generous, high minded young man, and bid fair to become an ornament to his profession, and a most useful citizen. A wise Providence has, however, removed him from the scene of his labor and usefulness, and thus left many friends in the State of his adoption to mourn his loss. E.L.H.

"Mount Ida, Dec. 6, '52.
"Gaz. & Democrat, True Democrat, and Arkadelphia Standard, please copy" [The True Democrat did copy the obit word for word; the Gazette & Democrat copied only the paragraph quoted first, above; no copies of the Arkadelphia Standard exist.]

Submitted by LNiemannG@navix.net  While Dr. Robinson had only one child, Mary Jane, he has a large number of descendants in Clark and Pike counties and the surrounding territory. Mary Jane married Jesse M. Garner and reared a large family in Clark County. Several of her children, including two daughters who lived in Pike County (Delight), had large families.

The Montgomery County Herald Friday Sept. 25 1891    
ROGERS
"Grandma" Rogers, aged 96 years died this week and was buried Wednesday evening. The deceased was the grandmother of C.J. and J.A. Watkins, G. Witt and J.S. Elder. A large concourse of sorrowing friends and relatives of the deceased escorted the remains to the grave.  Goodspeed.

Grandma Rogers first name was Elizabeth (Stewart) married to William I. Rogers.  

They had several children including Martha and her sister Amanda Rogers.

Martha 1st married William I. Watkins               Amanda married Joseph Caseville Elder

and had three sons                                                                              Their children were

1.    Charles Jeremiah Watkins                                                        1.   Joseph Elder

2.    John Allen Watkins                                                                     2.   Mary Elder

3.   Elijah Ross Watkins                                                                    3.   John Silas Elder who    married Cordelia Zyiphia Whittington

Martha 2^nd Husband was J.C. Witt

Their son was

1.    Gibson Witt

Information courtesy of John Watkins. Post 11 Feb. 2002

 
Montgomery County News April 2 1998
Donald Thomas Rutkowski, 74, of Pencil Bluff, died Friday, March 27, 1998, at his home. He was born on October 2, 1923 at Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Michael Rutkowski and Helen Barski. He was a painter by trade and attend John Carrol University. He was a Catholic in faith. Survivors include his wife Jacqueline Waltjen Rutkowski; one daughter Lora Robbins, one sister Elaine Mazur, a granddaughter Shelia Blankenship and a grandson, Walter Robbins. The body was sent for cremation.

22 January 2008 The Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Pencil Bluff - Lillie Ryan, 94, Pencil Bluff, died Jan. 18, 2008. Survivors daughters, Lois Fitch, Ida McGinnis; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Service Jan. 22, 2 p.m., Pencil Bluff Baptist Church with Bros. Moody and Eddie McCord officiating. Burial, Peak Cemetery Crystal Springs. Arrangements by Thornton Funeral Home, Mt. Ida, Arkansas.

Montgomery County News   Sept 2, 1993   
Minnekus SCHAKEL Zella Shipman
Minnekus Schakel, 75, of Mount Ida died August 26 at his home.  he was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Montgomery County Council of Performing Arts.  Survivors include his wife, Delores Schakel of Mount Ida; two sons..., a daughter ..; a brother Cornelius Schakel of Farmington, Iowa; a sister Wilma Brown of New Sharon, Iowa; six grandchildren and many friends.  Funeral services were August 30 at the First Untied Methodist Church in Mount Ida. Rev Bill Leslie was the minister. He was cremated.

Montgomery County News   Dec 17 1998 
Ruby P. SEALE 
Ruby P. Seale, 73, of Story, AR, died December 8, 1998, at Hot Springs hospital. She was born september 25, 2925, to the late Elige Spruling and the late Mandy Willhite Spurling in Gaston, Ar.  Survivors include: one daughter, ...., one son, ....., two sisters Eva Gean Black and Namcy Lou Tibbs; one brother Ray Spurling; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren,  Services were Thursday, December 10, 1998, at the Refuge Baptist Church in Story with Rev. Ronnie Noles and Bro. Tommy Jones officiating.  Burial was in Breashears Cemetery in Story. 

28 June 2005 The ADG
SHERIDAN - Ruth Horton Williams of Sheridan, was born September 1, 1919 at Oden, Arkansas, the daughter of the late James Chester and Rellie Maude Strain Horton. She died, Saturday, June 25, 2005 at Hot Springs County Hospital in Malvern, Arkansas at the age of 85 years. She was retired from the Pine Bluff Arsenal where she was a payroll clerk; a member of North Main Baptist Church at Sheridan; a member of the Martha Sunday School Class; was active in Senior Citizens and loved to fish. She was preceded in death by a brother, Verlon Horton. Survivors husband, James C. Williams of the home; son, Travis Cason of Oregon; brothers, Wallace Horton and Carl Horton, both of Sheridan, and Harold Horton of Guam; sisters, Nancy Mabel Walker of Dallas, Texas; Mary Cotton of Sheridan, Arkansas. Graveside Funeral Service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at Lost Creek Cemetery in Sheridan, Arkansas, with Rev. Jon Cox officiating. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 27, 2005 at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home in Sheridan. Sign online: www. memorialgardenssheridan.com.

Montgomery County News   Sep 16, 1999 
Zella SHIPMAN  
Zella Shipman, 80, of Exeter, California died September 10, 1999. She was the daughter of John and Minnie Gaston. She was born on June 4, 1919 in Silver. She attended schools in Murphy. She married William Shipman in Crystal Springs on December 16, 1933. in 1952, the couple moved to Farmersville, California.  Mr. Shipman passed away in 1986. Zella moved to Exeter in 1989 where she was employed by Bob Hickman as a fruit packer for 25 years prior to her retirement.  Survivors include her son, her daughter, one brother, one sister,  four grandchildren and six great children. Services will be held Thursday, September 16, 1999 in Evans-Miller Exeter Chapel. California.

AR Democrat-Gazette April  10 2001
Ina Ruth SHORT, 79, of Mount Ida died April 7, 2001, in Hot Springs. Graveside services were held at 4 p.m. Monday, April 9, in the Whittington Cemetery with Bro. Bruce Short officiating. Under the direction of the Thornton Funeral Home.

AR Democrat-Gazette
Mount Ida - Robert C. Simmons, 91, of Mount Ida, Ark., passed away Monday, April 14, 2008 at Montgomery County Nursing Home in Mount Ida. He was born Jan. 7, 1917 in Benton, Ark., to the late Julian T. Simmons, Sr. and Mary Neva Simmons. He was a member of Agape Church in Little Rock and attended Faith Tabernacle Church in Mt. Ida. He is survived by his wife of 58 and 1/2 years, Leona S. Simmons of Mount Ida; sister, Mary Jane Simmons of Benton, Ark.; nephews, Dr. Terry Simmons of Bryant, Ark., Greg Simmons of Benton, Steve Cavender of Harrison, Ark., and Doug Simmons of Katy, Texas, and nieces, Suzanne Lewis of Spring Texas and Becky Hurley of Deer Park, Texas. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 17, 2008 in the chapel of Roller-Ballard Funeral Home (315-4047) in Benton officiated by Rev. Jerry Graham. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander, Ark. Pallbearers are Richard Mills, Lance Woglemith, Arvin Saveall, Norman Farnel, and Neal Simmons. Memorials may be made to Faith Tabernacle Church in Mount Ida, Ark. 71957. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/ballard.

Fred SIMPSON Sept. 11 1999

Montgomery County News May 2001
ARLDEAN "PETE" SINGLETON
Arldean "Pete" Singleton, 67, of Mena, died Friday, May 25, 2001 in the Mena Medical Center. He was born July 10, 1933 in Pencil Bluff, to the late Z.F. Singleton and the late Dessie Singleton, He was untied in marriage on September 28, 1962 in Mena to Wilma Brewer. Mr Singleton served in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Korean War, he was manager of several gas stations in the Little Rock area for American oil Company, a warehouse supervisor for Ed's supply Company in Little Rock for sixteen years and a member of the Lynchview Baptist Church in North Little Rock. Survivors are: his wife of 38 years Wilma Singleton of Mena; one brother Gerald Singleton of Mena; two sisters, Berlene Singleton of Sierra Vista, Arizona; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother and a sister Imogene Roberts. Funeral services were Tuesday, May 29, in the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. James Ray Raines and Bro. Allen Brown officiating. Interment was in the Brushy Cemetery, Oden under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena. Pallbearers were Steve Singleton, Greg Singleton, Gary Singleton, Ted Gaither, David Walters, and James Walters.

 Beasley Wood Funeral Home
Audrey Geneva Singleton June 30, 1936 - September 15, 2016
Audrey Geneva Liles Singleton of Pine Ridge, Arkansas went to be with the Lord Thursday, September 15th, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. She was born June 30th, 1936 to Clarence Boyd Liles and Myrtle Ryan Liles. Audrey was known to be a tenacious woman who was, above all things, a devoted mother. She led a life based on hard work and perseverance, and she will be greatly missed.
She was preceded in death by her mother Myrtle and father Clarence, her stepfather William Foster, brothers Charles and Delbert Foster, sister Joyce Foster Stone, and daughter Debra Dillard Varner.
Audrey's funeral service will be held on Monday, September 19th at 10:00 a.m. at Beasley Wood Funeral home in Mena with Brother Andy Kennedy officiating. Interment will follow in the Lower Big Fork Cemetery under the direction of Beasley Wood Funeral Home of Mena.

Mrs. Belle SINGLETON 1968    
Funeral service for Mrs. Belle Singleton, 91-year-old lifetime resident of Pine Ridge who died June 24, was held Thursday afternoon, June 27, 2 o'clock, in Oden Methodist Church, with the Rev. Arthur Breshears officiating.  Interment was in the Gortemiller cemetery under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Casketbearers were Ronald Singleton, Joffrey Singleton, Naman Fryar, Katie Ferguson, Donald Singleton, Eugene Singleton, Othel Standridge and Charley Singleton.  Mrs. Singleton was born March 12, 1877, at Pine Ridge.  On Aug. 26, 1893, she was married there to James Wright Singleton, who preceded her in death on Dec. 31,1933.  She was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

She is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Ales Fryar, Mtn. Pine Ark., Mrs. Pearl Huddleston and Mrs. Mellora Padgett, Live Oak, Calif., and Mrs. Leatha Standridge, Mena; four sons, Bud, Calvin and Math Singleton, Oden and Warren Singleton, Prescott, Ark.; four brothers, Walter, Jeff and Alfred Wilhite, Mena, and Joe Wilhite, Clear Lake, Calif.; one sister, Mrs. Sisie Murry, Clear Lake, Calif.; 28 grandchildren, 74 great-grandchildren, and 26 great-great grandchildren.   Submitted by Bettie Dowler

Beasley Wood Funeral Home of Mena
Berlene Singleton age 74, of Mena passed away Monday, November 2,2015 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. She was born in Pencil Bluff, Arkansas on September 20, 1941 to the late Z.F. Singleton and the late Dessie Singleton. Berlene worked at Mena Hospital in the Business office for 44 years. She was loved by her co-workers and family. She was a loving and kind aunt, and friend to all who knew her. She will be dearly missed by all. She was preceded in death by her parents Z.F. and Dessie Singleton, brothers, Arldean 'Pete' Singleton, and Gearld Singleton, sisters, Imogene Roberts and Maxine McGathy and a great-nephew, Greg Singleton. Funeral service will be Friday, November 6, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. at Freewill Baptist Church with Brother Donnie Jewell officiating. Interment will follow in the Brushy Cemetery in Oden, Arkansas under the direction of the Beasley Wood Funeral Home of Mena. Pallbearers will be Ted Gaither, Steve Singleton, David Walters, Bruce Cureton, Gary Singleton, and Trevan Cureton.

Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.
Gene Singleton April 18, 1925 - May 31, 2009
Obituary for Gene Singleton
Gene Singleton, 84, of Oden, Arkansas passed away Sunday, May 31, 2009 in his home.
He was born in Oden on April 18, 1925 to the late Martin Arlie 'Bud' and Hannah (Fryar) Singleton and has been a life-long resident of Montgomery County. He married Jean Gaston on February 26, 1948 and they raised three children. Gene is a World War II Veteran of the 1st Infantry Division US Army and a Purple Heart recipient. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brothers Arlie Ray Singleton and Charles Singleton. Funeral services are June 3, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Mount Olive Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Oden with Pastor Kyle Cowart and Pastor David Roark officiating. Interment will follow at Pencil Bluff Cemetery under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena. Pallbearers will be Bradley Singleton, Jake Singleton, Larry Singleton, Tom Ellison, Mitchell Lawrence and Cotton Ellison. Honorary Pallbearers and special friends: Carl Elder, Mount Olive Church, Friday morning coffee drinkers at Route 88 Caf', Friday fish day at Corner Express and Senior Citizen Center of Mount Ida.

Beasley Wood Funeral Home of Mena
Gerald Singleton May 24, 1937 - February 28, 2012
Gerald Singleton, age 74, of Mena, Arkansas, passed away Tuesday, February 28, 2012 in Little Rock. He was born May 24, 1937 in Oden, Arkansas to the late Z.F. Singleton and the late Dessie Singleton. He was a cattle farmer and was a member of the Polk County Cattleman's Association. He was a devoted Christian, and was a member of the Bible Believers' Baptist Church. Mr. Singleton was also a veteran, serving his country in the United States Air Force. He was a loving father, step-father, grandfather, brother, and friend and will be missed by his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Z.F. and Dessie Singleton, a wife, Denia Singleton, a brother, Pete Singleton, and 2 sisters, Imogene Roberts and Maxine McGathy. Funeral services will be Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in the Beasley-Wood Chapel with Brother Jerry Musgrove officiating. Interment follows in Pleasant Grove Cemetery at Big Fork under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Home. Pallbearers are Gary Singleton, Trevan Cureton, Jason Singleton, Rob Shields, Ken Hastey, and James Walters. Honorary pallbearers are Greg Singleton, Teddy Gaither, Dwight Shields, and David Walters.

Montgomery County News 23 March 2000
Earnestine P. Ansley SINGLETON  
Earnestine P. (Ansley) Singleton, 91, of Little Rock, passed away on March 16, 2000 in a Little Rock Nursing Home. She was born on July 20, 1908 in Easterly, Texas to the late Richard and Elizabeth Singleton. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law Tim and Marilyn Singleton and Danny and Pat Singleton, two brothers and sisters-in-law Earshell and Mildred Singleton and Kirbie and Clovie Singleton; three grandchildren ... and three great grandchildren. Services were Monday March 20, at Brushy Baptist Church in Oden with Bro. Joseph S. Damazio officiating. Burial was held at the Brushy Cemetery under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida.  Pallbearers were Robin Singleton, Floyd D. Singleton, Wayne Singleton, Delton Hughes and Freddie Fair.

The above obituary contains a few errors. Earnestine Singleton's father was an Ansley.  Earnestine was married to Floyd Singleton. Her sister Bessie was married to Andy Singleton. Sol and Martha Singleton had nine kids including Kirby, Andy, and Floyd, all were brothers. We believe they meant that she was survived by two brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law instead of two brothers and sister in law. See row 11 at Brushy.

Frances Elander "Ellen" Fryar Singleton 24 March 1859 - 23 March 1893, aged 33, one day shy of 34. F. "Ellen" Fryar d/o William Guilford Fryar & Elizabeth Darcus Singleton. "Ellen" at age 20 married Joseph J. SINGLETON, age 17, on 22 March 1879 in Montgomery County, AR. Both buried at Oden.

When Elbert Singleton was born on 28 December 1883, in Arkansas, his father, Joseph J Singleton, was 21 and his mother, Frances Ellender "Ellen" Fryar, was 24. Elbert married Emma "Emmer" Pruitt on 26 December 1903, in Montgomery Co., Arkansas. They were the parents of at least nine sons. He lived in Rural, Waupaca, Wisconsin, United States in 1935 and Red Fork Township, Desha, Arkansas, in 1940. He died on 7 November 1977, in Oden, Montgomery Co., Arkansas at the age of 93, and was buried in Oden Cemetery, Oden.

Elbert Singleton 1883 1977
Emma "Emmer" Pruitt 1884 1961, Marriage: 26 December 1903
Children:
1. Melvin Singleton 1905 1979 buried Brushy Creek Cemetery. Wife Nora Bates Singleton. Her parents were Thomas Jefferson Bates and Melissie C. Bates, both buried at Oden. Mellissie C. Mullenix Bates d/o James T. Mullenix & Nancy Ann Fryar.

2. Cairl Singleton 1908�1999 PVT US Army World War II. Buried Walnut Lake Cemetery, Dumas, Desha Co., AR. FAG Memorial ID 70665394

3. Authur Ray Singleton 1911 1982. Walnut Lake Cemetery, Dumas, Desha Co. AR FAG Memorial ID 78775169

4. Olen Clyde Singleton 1913  000 buried Brushy Creek Cemetery.

Montgomery County News 27 July 2000
Olen Clyde SINGLETON  
Olen Clyde Singleton, 87, passed away on July 24, 2000, in a Hot Springs Nursing Home. he was born on March 25, 1913, in Oden to the late Elbert Singleton and the late Pruitt Singleton. He was preceded in death by parents and five brothers Arthur Singleton, Cail Singleton, Fay Singleton, Melvin Singleton and Virgil Singleton. Survivors include three brothers Owen Singleton of Mena, Rev. E.D. Singleton, of Glen Rose, and Rev. Bill Singleton of Mt Ida, and several nieces and nephews. Services will be Wednesday July 26, at 1.30 pm at a Grave Side Service at Brushy Cemetery with Bro. Bill Singleton officiating under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home in Mt Ida. Military Service.

5. Fay Orville Singleton 1915�1997 buried Brushy Creek Cemetery. Fay Singleton married Agness Estelle Daley; his father was Elbert Singleton married Emma Pruitt; his father was Joseph Joa Singleton married Ellen Fryar.

6. Owen Elbert Singleton 1918�2002 buried Brushy Creek Cemetery
Owen Elbert Singleton, age 84, of Mena, AR, passed away Thursday, June 6, 2002 in Mena. He was born April 23, 1918 in Oden, AR, to the late Elbert Singleton and the late Emma Pruitt Singleton. He was united in marriage to Florene Singleton. He was a retired custodial supervisor for the Wichita, KS school district. He was a member of the Hillcrest Baptist Church. Survivors include wife, Florene Singleton of Mena, AR; one son,  two daughters, two brothers, Bill Singleton of Mt. Ida, AR, Eslie Singleton of Malvern, AR; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services were held Saturday, June 8, 2002 at 10 a.m. at Brushy Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Bill Singleton and Rev. Eslie Singleton officiating. Interment followed in the Brushy Creek Cemetery in Oden under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Pallbearers were his grandsons.

7. Rev. Eslie Daniel "E. D." Singleton 1920�2012, buried Brushy Creek Cemetery, aged 91. FAG Memorial ID 85645364

8. Virgle Lee Singleton 1923�2000. Cremated. Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Nevada. SIC US Navy, World War II. FAG Memorial ID 84975284
Las Vegas Sun (NV), 29 Feb 2000:
Virgle L. Singleton, 76, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. He was born Dec. 23, 1923, in Arkansas. A resident for seven years, he worked in the oil and gas industry and was a member of the Moose. He was preceded in death by four brothers. He is survived by one daughter; four brothers, Olen Singleton, Owen Singleton, Essley Singleton and Billy Singleton, all of Arkansas; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

9. William Edward "Billy" Singleton 1927�2016 buried Spring City Cemetery, AR. US Army World War II. FAG Memorial ID 169603718. Wife Lois C Aldridge Singleton b. in Story in 1927 to the late Vernis and Rena Holmes Aldridge. She was preceded in death by her sisters Estelle Yarbrough, Essie Stahl and Virgie Aldridge and brother Paul Aldridge.

Beasley-Wood Funeral Home
Florene Singleton February 1, 1921 - December 21, 2010
Florene Singleton, age 89 of Dodge City, Kansas, formerly of Mena, Arkansas, passed away Tuesday, December 21, 2010 in Dodge City. She was born February 1, 1921 in Oden, Arkansas. She was the first daughter born to John Calvin and Ova Singleton. She was married to the late Owen E. Singleton. Owen and Florene resided in Arkansas till moving to Wichita, Kansas in 1956. There she worked as a nurse's aide doing hospital work and private duty nursing. After retiring, they moved back to Arkansas, where she lived until 2005 when she moved to Dodge City, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ova Singleton, and two sisters, Lois Singleton and Mary Fryar.
Funeral services will be Monday, December 27, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at Cherry Hill Methodist Church with Brother John Newlin and Brother Jeremy Newlin officiating. Interment follows in Brushy Cemetery under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Lane Titsworth, Ethan Davis, Tim Singleton, Seth Singleton, Adam Newlin and Clayton Newlin.

Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.
J. Singleton November 17, 1929 - March 28, 2010
Mr. J. E. Singleton, age 80, of Oden, Arkansas passed away Sunday, March 28, 2010 in Ft. Smith. He was born November 17, 1929 in Pine Ridge, Arkansas to the late Issac A. Singleton and the late Eda Pruitt Singleton. He was an electrician by trade, but was also proficient as a carpenter and pilot. Mr. Singleton had a passion for fishing and hunting. The Ouachita River, Janssen Park and Lake Wilhelmina were among some of his favorite places to spend his time. His fondest memories were helping to rebuild the gazebo at Janssen Park, and spending time with his family and friends. Mr. Singleton was of the Baptist faith and loved the world God created. He will be missed by his friends and family who knew and loved him. He is survived by his 3 sons, a sister, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Issac and Eda Singleton, 2 sisters, Helen Strahin and Mabel Stovall, 2 half brothers, Lester and Raymond Gortemiller. Graveside services will be Friday, April 2, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Oden Cemetery with Brother Billy Singleton officiating.

Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.
Nina Singleton Perew December 16, 1959 - February 5, 2011
Mrs. Nina Gail Perew, age 51, of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, passed away Saturday, February 5, 2011 at her home. She was born December 16, 1959 in Hot Springs, Arkansas to the late Louis Singleton and the late Celeste Wilhite Singleton. She was united in marriage to Claude Perew and was in property management. Nina was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, and will be lovingly missed. Funeral services will be Friday, February 11, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the Brushy Chapel in the Brushy Cemetery with Brother Randy Cothran and Brother Donnie Jewell officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be L.J. Dugan, Randy Dugan, Kendall Dugan, J.D. Fair, and Michael Long.

Solomon SINGLETON 1963   "86 years"    
Rev. Solomon Singleton of Oden, born November 7, 1883, passed away at his home June 26, about 6:30 P.M.   include:  Mrs. Nancy Hughes of Oden; Andy of Dumas; Floyd of Pencil Bluff; Kirby of Dumas; Louis of Mt. Pine; Elisha of Winchester and Hershal of Pencil Bluff.  He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were at Brushey Church June 28, at 2:00 P.M. by  Rev Arthur Breshears.  Burial was in Brushey Cemetery by Kelley Funeral Service. Pall bearers: Harold Hughes, Darrell Hughes, Floyd Dale Singleton, Lee Ray Singleton, R.L. Singleton and Wayne Singleton, grandsons of the deceased.  Submitted by Bettie Dowler

30 July 2008 The ADG
FORT SMITH - Viola Singleton Roberson, 97, of Fort Smith, formerly of Dumas and Oden, entered into rest, Monday, July 28, 2008 in Fort Smith. She was born June 17, 1911 in Oden, Arkansas the daughter of the late Sherman and Rosie Singleton. She was a former LPN, attended Grand Avenue Baptist Church. Viola was the widow of the late Noral Roberson and preceded in death by one daughter, Delois Minor. Survivors include two granddaughters, Glenda Oden and husband Gary of Camden, Arkansas and Judy Akins and husband Nick of Fort Smith; brother, Retired Colonel William T. Singleton and wife Frances of Jacksonville, Arkansas; sister-inlaw, Wilma Mainer of Virginia, six great-grandchildren and three greatgreat-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Graveside service will be held 4 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2008 at Brushy Cemetery in Oden, Arkansas officiated by Reverend Mike Stark. To place online tribute go to www.lewisfuneralchapel.net.

Montgomery County News  29 Mar. 1990
William Dossie SINGLETON
William Dossie Singleton, 86, of Pencil Bluff, died Friday, March 23, 1990 in at St Joseph's Regional Health Center in Hot Springs. He was born February 29, 1904 at Oden, the son of William Singleton and Sally Tackett Singleton.  He was a lifetime resident of Montgomery County, retired  from the Untied Forest and a member of the Brushy Baptist Church.  Survivors include one daughter  Pat Scott and her husband Waymon Scott, of Mount Ida; one brother, Z.F. Singleton of Mena; two grandchildren, Tamara Parnell and Latresa Scott, both of Mount Ida and one great-grandchild. Brittany Parnell of Mount Ida.  Funeral services were conducted Monday, March 286 at 2; p.m. in the Brushy Baptist Church with DeWayne Turpin officiating.   Active pallbearers were Byron Roberts, Junior Singleton, Gerald Singleton, Bill Scurlock, Freddy Fair and Delton Hughes.  Burial was in Pencil Bluff Cemetery under the direction of the Thornton Funeral Home.

William T. "Bill" Singleton
Jacksonville, AR, 1927 - 2022
Born in Oden, Arkansas, on February 22, 1927, to sharecroppers, "Shorty", as he was then called, was six feet tall and just 150 pounds on his 18th birthday when he went down and enlisted in the army. Attended Dumas HS. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Sherman Singleton and Rose King Singleton; three sisters: Viola Singleton Roberson, Flossie Singleton, and Mildred Singleton; a brother-in-law, Patrick Dillon.

Beasley-Wood Funerad Home
Wilma Singleton January 13, 1938 - December 16, 2008
Wilma Jean Singleton, age 70, of Mena, passed away Tuesday, December 16, 2008 in Mena.
She was born January 13, 1938 in Polk County, Arkansas to the late Ben Brewer and the late Rosie Hughes Brewer. She was united in marriage September 28, 1962 in Mena, Arkansas to Arldean 'Pete' Singleton. Mrs. Singleton was a bookkeeper for Hometown Advertising in North Little Rock. She was a member of the Lynch View Baptist Church in North Little Rock and she was a loving wife, sister, niece, cousin, aunt and friend. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Rosie Brewer, her husband, Arldean 'Pete' Singleton, and her brother-in-law, Gerald Abernathy. Funeral services will be Friday, December 19, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the Beasley-Wood Chapel. Interment will follow in the Brushy Cemetery in Oden, Arkansas under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.

Fort Smith Southwest Times-Record Tuesday, September 26, 2000
Iva SMITH
PINE RIDGE- Iva Winnie Smith, 84, of Pine Ridge died Sunday, Sept. 24, 2000, in Mount Ida. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church of Pencil Bluff. She was the widow of Andrew Jackson Smith. Funeral will 2:30 p.m. today in the Pencil Bluff First Baptist Church with burial at Standridge Cemetery in Mount Ida under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena. She is survived by two sons, Van Smith of Hot Springs and Jerry Smith of Houston; one sister, Josephine Crisco of Arkadelphia; one brother, Robert Powell of Virginia; two grandsons, Preston and Mark Smith; and five great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Martin Stanley, Darrell Smith, Ed Degan, Ralph Ballew and Wes Falls.

AR Democrat-Gazette April  10 2001
Iva Jean SLEEPER
Iva Jean Sleeper, of Hot Springs Village, died Saturday, April 7, 2001 at a local hospital. She was born Feb. 4, 1928 in Norman, Ark., the daughter of Clarence Arthur Thompson and Nora Watson Thompson.... Jean was an active garden club member since 1964.   She moved to Hot Springs Village in 1974... From 1991-1993, Jean was State President of the Arkansas Federation of Garden Clubs. She promoted House Bill #1452 in the Arkansas legislature, which was passed by Governor Jim Guy Tucker and signed into law, proclaiming the first full week of June to be National Garden Week... A Master Flower show judge and Landscape Design Critic, she judged and exhibited in flower shows both nationally and internationally,.. She was predeceased by her husband, Floyd Lynn Sleeper. She is survived by her mother ... of Mountain Pine, Ark.; her son ..... A memorial service was held at 1 p.m. April 9th at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Hot Springs Village, Ark.

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette 23 May 2007
ODEN - Audie Smith, 94, of Oden, died Sunday, May 20, 2007. Services are Wednesday, May 23, 2007, at 1:30 p.m. at the Methodist Church in Oden, Arkansas with Reverend Fred Hunter and Reverend Charles Eudy officiating. Interment will follow in the Oden Cemetery under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette 16 February 2006
HOT SPRINGS - Jessie L. Smith, 96, of Hot Springs died February 13, 2006. She was born in Caddo Gap, Arkansas, to Jim and Marie (Barker) Deathrage. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. this evening with services at 1 p.m. Friday, February 17, both at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery. 

Montgomery County News 23 April 1998
Gladys Mable SNEGOSKY
Gladys Mable Snegosky, 77, of Glenwood, died Wednesday, April 15, 1998 in a Hot Springs hospital.  She was born on October 10, 1920 at Glenwood, the daughter of William Euclid Caldwell and Myrtle Lora Diggs Caldwell.  On October 17, she was married to Harold A. Snegosky.  She was a member of All Saints Catholic Church in Mount Ida.  She is survived by her husband, Harold A, Snegosky of Glenwood; her son.; her daughter...,  and two grandchildren.  Funeral services were held Saturday, April 18, in the Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel with Father Joseph Correnti officiating.  Burial was at the Glenwood Cemetery.  Pallbearers were David Snegosky, Dennis Snegosky, Rickey Deaton, Tracy Deaton and Hursel Parker

Montgomery County News June 1978
Vicie A. SPAKE
Vicie A. Spake, 84, of Mena, died recently at Mena. She was born February 18, 1894 in Montgomery County and spent her entire life in the Mena area. She married Jay Spake at Alder, February 18, 1912. She was a member of the Sulphur Springs Baptist Church. Survivors include one son: Dossie Spake of Mena. Services were in the Sulphur Springs Baptist Church at Big Fork with the Rev. Max. Deaton officiating. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery. Pallbearers were Warren Cole, Loyd Cole, Vester Hooper, Ray Wiseman, Fred Beck and Floyd Fountain.

The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs Sunday January 2, 2000
Muriel G. SPRADLING
Norman. Services for Muriel Graves Spradling, 93, of Norman who died Thurs., Dec. 30, 1999 will be 2 p.m. today at Gaston Cemetery with the Revs. Marvin Black & James Black officiating. Arrangements are by Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood.

Montgomery County News Jan. 1967
Lige SPURLING   
Funeral service for Lige Spurling was held at 2:00 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the Oden Methodist Church, with Rev, Arthur Breshears and Rev. Raymond Raymond Harvey officiating. Burial was in the Oden Cemetery under the direction of the Geyer Funeral Home.  Pallbearers were Ira Dunaway, E. L. Ward, Wilton Dillard, Ervin Sickafus, Olen Risenhoover and Ode Maddox. Mr. [Elijah] Spurling was born May 10, 1892, at Oden and died there Jan. 5, at the age of 74 years,  He had spent most of his life around Oden. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.  On May 14, 1912 he was untied in marriage with Miss Manda Wilhite at Oden, who survives him. Besides his wife he is survived by two sons, Clyde Spurling, Turner, Ore., and Ray Spruling, Oden; five daughters, Ruth Spurling, Oden, Ruby Seales, Story, Eva Jean Black, Oklahoma City, Irene Cossy, Mena and Nancy L. Jones. Little Rock, one brother George Spurling, Dumas; one sister, Lytha Harvey, Dumas; Also 18 grandchildren.  Submitted by Bettie Dowler

Montgomery County News   Mar. 4, 1999   
Leo William SPURLING 
Former Oden native Leo William Spurling, 73, of Yuba City, CA, died February 23, 1999, in Sunrise Marysville (CA) Care Center.  He had lived in the Yuba City area for 34 years, was a retired farm laborer, and a U.S. Navy veteran of W.W.II.   Survivors include: two daughters, Sand Faynant of Devils Lake, ND, and Linda Knox, of Reno, NV; three sons, William Spurling of Yuba City, CA, Fred Spurling of Sand Point, ID, and Joseph Spurling of Sutter, CA; two brothers, Cleo Spurling of Live Oak, CA, and John D. Spurling of Oden; four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.  He was preceded by; his wife Faye Spurling; two sisters, Bertha Ward and Alley Lee Boster; and one brother, Elmer Starr.  Graveside services were held February 28, 1999, at 3:00 p.m. at the Sutter Cemetery with Rev. Larry Cain of the Peach Tree Lane Church of Christ officiating.

Montgomery County News   Mar 25, 1999   
Ray SPURLING   
Ray Spurling, 83, of Brushy Road, Oden, the son of Lige Spurling and Mandy Willhite Spurling, died Thursday, March 18, 1999 at his home.  He was born on July 23, 1915 at Oden, the son of Lige Spurling and Mandy Willhite Spurling. He was a retired farmer and sawmill worker. He is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, ...., all of Oden and one daughter.. of Oden; seventeen grandchildren; eight grandchildren; and two sisters..., both of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Service were March 21, in the Oden United Methodist Church with the Revs. T.C. Wilhite and Charles Ballentine officiating.   Interment was in the Oden Cemetery under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home of Glenwood.  Pallbearers were Jim Stone, David Ledbetter, Bobby Strothers, David Spurling, John Spurling, Chris Spurling, Kevin Gray and Carl Hunt. Honorary pallbearers were Harold Hughes, Claude Ryan and the Visiting Nurses Agency of Mount Ida.

Montgomery County News   Jul 9 1998   
Ruth SPURLING   
Ruth Spurling, 79, of Mount Ida, died Wednesday, July 1, 1998.   She was born on August 7, 1918 at Oden, the daughter of Lige and Mandy Spurling.   She was a former employee of the Mount Ida Glove Factory and a member of the Mount Olive Baptist Church.  She is survived by three sisters, Ruby Seale of Mount Ida, Nancy Tibbs and Gean Black both of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; one brother, Ray Spurling of Oden; and several nieces and nephews.  Graveside services were held at 5:00 PM, Friday, July 3, 1998 in Oden Cemetery with the Rev. Charles Baaallentine officiating.  Arrangements were under the Davis-Smith Funeral Home of Glenwood. Pallbearers were David Ledbetter, Donald Norman, Moriece Saveall, Delton Hughes, Gary Norman, and Jeff Rogers.

Montgomery County News
Rose Belle STANDERFER
Miss Rose Belle Standerfer, aged 64, of Little Rock, died at a Little Rock hospital March 18. She was a former resident of Montgomery County and was a member of the Radio Church of God of Little Rock. Survivors include a brother, Dick Standerfer of Story; six sisters, Mrs. Grace Carter and Mrs. Ruby Blair of Story, Mrs. Annie Ratliff and Mrs. Laura Blaylock of Aly, Mrs. Lois Smith of Mt. Pleasant, Texas and Mrs Jacquelin Brakefield of Charleston, S.C. Funeral services were held Saturday at Muddy Creek Church of God near Story with burial in Reed Cemetery. Pallbearers were; Lamar Spainhour, Boyd Qualls, R. L. Lenderman, Henry Webb, Sherlon Reed and Oren Pendergrass. Honorary pallbearers were Oscar Qualls, Semor Qualls, Elmer Owens and McKinley Irons.

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette 7 June 2007
Mount Ida - Cledith Standridge, age 89, of Mount Ida, formerly of Benton, died Tuesday. Services will be 10 a.m., Friday, at Benton Pentecostal Church of God with interment in the Pinecrest Memorial Park at Alexander under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood. Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette 2 May 2008
Mount Ida - G.W. Stanley, age 80, of Mount Ida, died Wednesday. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 PM Saturday at Stanley-Standridge Cemetery in Mount Ida with Bro. Don Kemp officiating. Visitation will be held Friday evening. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood. Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.

Mena Evening Star, Monday, April 13, 1942
Mrs. J.C. STANDRIDGE
Funeral service for Mrs. Minervia Ann Standridge, widow of the late Jacob C. Standridge, who died at her home at Opal shortly before noon Saturday, was held Sunday afternoon at
3:30 o'clock at the Lower Big Fork Church with Rev. L.D. Summers officiating. Burial at Lower Big Fork Cemetery was directed by the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Pallbearers,
all great-grandsons, were, Gerald and Robert Lackey, Elgin and Sonny Standridge, Ivan and Elvis Walker.
    Mrs. Standridge was born December 22, 1848, in Gainesville, GA, and came to Polk County as a young woman. She was married to Mr. Standridge in 1866 and he preceded her in death 21
years ago. She spent 73 of her 94 years in the community in which she died. She was next to the oldest resident of the county and is survived by one daughter, Mrs. William R. Lackey, Opal. 24 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren

McGregor Mirror, McGregor, TX.
Rosemary STANDRIDGE  
Rosemary Standridge of Oglesby, died Tuesday, November 20, 2012, at the age of 75. Funeral services will 2:00 P.M. Saturday, November 24, 2012, at First Baptist Church of Oglesby with Rev. Rich Lubbers and Rev. Aaron Tyler officiating. Interment will follow in Post Oak Cemetery under the direction of Cole Funeral Home, 1113 West Fifth Street, McGregor. Visitation will be 6 to 8 P.M. Friday at Cole Funeral Home. Mrs. Standridge was born February 20, 1937, in Norman, Arkansas, the daughter of the late Solon Emerson and Paralee (Wilson) Sloan where she was a 1955 graduate of Norman High School. She later continued her education at Hill Jr. College in Hillsboro where she earned an associate's degree in 1965. On September 16, 1956, she married Olen Allen Standridge in Norman, Arkansas. After forty-three years of marriage, he preceded her in death April 1, 2000.  Rosemary enjoyed children and was the director at Oaklawn Baptist Day Care in Bellmead. She later operated Rosemary's Kids Daycare at her home in Oglesby for several years. She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Oglesby where she was music leader, Sunday School Teacher, assisted with Vacation Bible School and served as a mentor to many young pastors. She was also a member of Bible Study Fellowship in Waco where she served as a greeter. She also enjoyed scrapbooking and being the perfect hostess when she entertained. Also preceding her in death were two sisters, Inez [Sloan] Mitchell of Glenwood, Arkansas and Annalee [Sloan] Vann of Memphis, TN. Survivors include five children,... a sister, Opal [Sloan] Samuel of Fredericksburg, Virginia. ... . Eight grandchildren.... Submitted by Kaye Adams, Jan. 2013.

Montgomery County News   Jul 1, 1999
Edna Marie STEWART
Edna Marie Stewart, 93, of Story, died June 24, 1999, in a Hot Springs Nursing Home. She was born March 6, 1906 in Story. She was preceded in death by one son, Lloyd Stewart, one daughter, Cathy Garrison. Survivors include three sons,.. two daughters. Services were Saturday, June 26, 1999, at 2:00 PM at the Faith Tabernacle Church in Mount Ida with Bros. Paul Burke and Ed Jones officiating. Burial was in Breashers Cemetery under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida. Pallbearers were: Fred Garrison, Bert Johnson, Terry Kinsey, Howard Rowland, Paul Phillips and William Farries.

SW Times Fort Smith Thursday, January 18, 2001
Dorothy STEPHENS  
PINE RIDGE - Dorothy McClure Stephens, 90, of Pine Ridge died Tuesday, Jan.
16, 2001, in Mena. She was a homemaker and owner of the Lum and Abner Museum in Pine Ridge. She attended the Bible Believers Baptist Church. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Beasley-Wood Funeral Home Chapel in Mena with burial at Pine Ridge Cemetery. She is survived by one daughter ......, one son, ... of Pine Ridge; one sister, ..., Ill.; one brother, ... of Lincoln, Kan.; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. Pallbearers will be Richard Martin, Audry Cost, Larry Mayer, Lon Cowen, Bill Price and Don Thompson. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

AR Democrat-Gazette
Mount Ida - Dale L. Swindle Sr., 83, Mt. Ida, died April 13, 2008. Visitation Tuesday, 6 to 8 p.m. Services Wednesday, 2 p.m., First Baptist Church, Mt. Ida, Ark., under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home.

Montgomery County News   Aug 12, 1999
Thomas Lee TABOR   
Thomas Lee Tabor, 84, of Hot Springs, AR, died Friday, August 6, 1999, in a hospital here. Born February 9, 1915, in Sims, he was a member of the Assembly of God Church and retired co-owner of Hot Springs Excavating.  He was predeceased by one brother, Dick Tabor, and one grandson Johnny Tabor. Survivors include: his wife, ..., four sons and daughters-in-law. two daughters.., 12 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; four sisters, Services were held 10;00 AM Monday, August 9, 1999, at Gross Funeral Home chapel with Brothers Billy Frank Glidewell and R.S. Hawkins officiating. Burial in Macedonia Cemetery near Pencil Bluff.

Montgomery County News  March 31, 1988   
Kenneth Clyde TACKETT Sr.
Kenneth Tackett Sr., 57, of Oden died Wednesday February 24 in a Little Rock hospital.   He was born July 25, 1930 in Fountain Hill to the late Governor Louis Tackett Sr. and Virgie Lee Cundiff.  He had been a resident of the Oden area for the past eleven years.  He was a veteran of the Korean war and a prostestant. He is survived by his wife, Thelma Tackett of Oden; six sons, Kenneth Tackett Jr., Cecil Tackett of Sterlington,LA, Curtis Labell Tackett of San Jose, CA, Tom Spurling of Houston, TX, and Tony Tackett of Story; one daughter Cheyenne Tackett of the home; four brothers, Claudell Tackett, Richard Tackett, Lonnie Ray Tackett and Governor Lewis Tackett Jr. all of Falls City, NB; four sisters, Donald Jean Windlendt and Lissa Beckner both of Falls City, NB; Charlene Porter of Oak Grove, LA, and Mary Clark of Dallas, TX; and eight grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feburary 27 in the Mount Olive Church with the Reverend Duane Turpin officiating.  Pallbearers were: Elton Ellison, Tom Ellison, Herman Elder, Gary Don Stovall, Bob Pearson, and Bobby Joe Irons.  Burial was in the Mount Olive Cemetery under the direction of the Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida.

Montgomery County News Oct. 28 2010
TACKETT, Grandma : Emory City Cemetery; Sept. 22, 1911 Rains County Leader; died "last Sunday"; aged 77. Published every Friday. Martha A. Driggers Tackett, 1834 -1911, was the second wife of John Green S. Tackett 1832 South Carolina - 1898 Texas. She was the daughter of Drury and Nancy Smith Driggers of Georgia, sister of Mary Ann Driggers first wife of John Green S. Tackett. Mary Ann died in an Alabama house fire in 1857 after having given birth to George Anderson and Asbury Green Tackett. Martha Driggers Tackett was the sister of Reverend Daniel Tackett and John Driggers of Arkansas, Joel and Alfred Driggers of Georgia, and Jane Driggers of Georgia. She was predeceased by sister Mary Ann Driggers Tackett, 1836 Georgia 1910 Texas. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Josephine (John L.) Caldwell; Josephine and John L. Caldwell donated two acres in Montgomery County Arkansas to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Caney Cemetery is located on this acreage. Two sons, Doctor Jefferson Johnson and Wiley Rush Tackett of Arkansas.

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette 1 September 2006
NEAL TAYLOR, 80, of North Little Rock died on Tuesday, August 29, 2006. He was born on December 4, 1925, in Oden, Arkansas, the son of William and Nettie Harrell Taylor. Neal was a World War II veteran, member of the American Legion and Elks Club. He retired from a career with the Internal Revenue Service.

Montgomery County News  Dec. 18 1997
Hattie F. TAYLOR
Hattie F. Taylor, 92, of Mount Ida, died December 10, 1997 at the Montgomery County Nursing Home.  She was born July 19, 1905 in Oden, the daughter of the late James A. Pullen and the late Elizabeth Goodner Pullen.  She was preceded in death by her husband, C.C. Taylor in 1981.  Survivors include two daughters...,   and eleven grandchildren.   Service were held at Oden Methodist Church on Saturday, December 13, 1997 with Rev. Ted Squires officiating.  Burial was in the Oden Cemetery.  Pallbearers are Claude Berry, Buck Ellison, Anthony Lewis, Truman Risenhover, Carl Smith, Ray Lawrence.  Honorary pallbearer was Bryan Wann.

1 September 2006 The ADG
NEAL TAYLOR, 80, of North Little Rock died on Tuesday, August 29, 2006. He was born on December 4, 1925, in Oden, Arkansas, the son of William and Nettie Harrell Taylor. Neal was a World War II veteran, member of the American Legion and Elks Club. He retired from a career with the Internal Revenue Service. Survivors include nieces, Nettie S. Hawley, Anna L. Allison and Nettie June Anderson; nephew, Floyd L. Taylor; great-nephew, Carl W. Taylor; great-nieces, April Hawley and Jolois Love; great-great-nephew, Bryce W. Taylor; and special friends, John T. and Becky Parker, Mike Baugher, Elizabeth Dianne Littell and Richard M. Kolb. A graveside service with military honors was held on Thursday, August 31, 2006, at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court (NW corner of I-630 and Barrow Road), Little Rock, (501) 224-2200. Visit the online guestbook at www. littlerockfuneralhome.com.

Montgomery County News March 10 2010
Rhea TIDWELL
Former Montgomery County Sheriff Rhea Tidwell of Mount Ida died February 26 2010. She was appointed to the position by Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus in November of 1956 to serve out the term previously held by her husband, Wilbur Tidwell. Rhea had served as tax collector and a deputy for nearly six years when Wilbur resigned to take another position. Back in 1956, law enforcement in a largely rural county was very different. there were no federal forms to fill out on prisoners and how they were treated. There were very few state forms to complete, and the only agency who could provide assistance was the state police out of Hot Springs. The county police car was usually the sheriff's personal vehicle. There was no radio in the vehicle until Wilbur Tidwell put one in his, messages to other counties or other county officials were still done by phone. The main functions Rhea performed as a deputy was serving papers on people or notifying them of jury duty. During World war II, Rhea joined the US Coast guard entering service March of 1943 and served three years. Rhea Tidwell was 88 years old when she died February 26. She was born January 23, 1922 in Mount Ida, the daughter of Pete and Josie Wascaster Shuffield. She is preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur Tidwell; one son J.D. Demby; one daughter, Aline Campbell; her parents, one brother Kenneth Shuffield; two sisters Bonez Short and Lois Linbarger.

Ouachita Mountain Neighbor, Mena, Ark., Tuesday, August 24, 1993
John TURNER  
John Porter Turner, 81, of Mena, died Friday Aug. 13, 1993, in Rich Mountain Manor Nursing Home. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 16, in the Beasly-Wood Chapel, the Revs. Dillard Miller and Bill Bowen officiating. Interment was in the Mt. Gilead Cemetery, Rocky, under the direction of Beasley-wood Funeral Home.

11 January 2006 The ADG
GLENWOOD - Jerrylene "Jerry" Vaughn, age 80, and a long-time resident of Glenwood, Arkansas, passed away on January 9, 2006, in the presence of her family. She was born on July 14, 1925, at Oden, Arkansas, the daughter of Ed Miles and Effie Hendon Miles. On May 24, 1940, she was married to Omer Vaughn, who preceded her in death on June 1, 1956. She was also preceded in death by her parents; and her granddaughter, Emily A. Vaughn. Jerry worked with Glenwood Public Schools as a cafeteria supervisor for eight years. Afterwards she owned and operated the City Cafe of Glenwood for 14 years. After she retired from the restaurant, she went back to school to become a Certified Nurse's Assistant and worked at the Glenwood Nursing Home until age 77, enjoying her time helping others. Jerry loved her friends in Glenwood and was always quick to give them a hug. She thoroughly enjoyed her visits at the Glenwood Senior Citizens Center. Through the years, she touched many lives with her acts of kindness and many enjoyed meals prepared by her hands. Survivors include her daughter, Patricia Pinkerton and her husband, Sherald, of Nashville, Arkansas; her son, Ken Vaughn and his wife, Annette, of Bryant, Arkansas; three grandchildren whom she adored, Brent Pinkerton of Nashville, Arkansas, Clarissa Vaughn and Meryl Vaughn of Bryant, Arkansas; and her brother, Bob Miles of Glenwood, Arkansas. Services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, January 12, 2006, in the Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Glenwood with Bro. Kenny Martin officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Interment will be in the Mount Tabor Cemetery under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood. Guest registry is at www.davissmithfuneralhome.com 

Montgomery County News   Feb. 26 1998
Thelma Maria VINCENT
Thelma Marie Vincent, 84, of Mount Pine, died Monday, December 15, 1997, in a Hot Springs hospital. Born October 13, 1913, in Gerty, Oklahoma, to Ellis and Annie Fryar, she was predeceased by her husband, Clarence Daniel Vincent.  Survivors include, a brother Charlie Fryar of Waldron; two sisters, Ethel Riggs of Chelan, Washington, and Chloe Tilley of Mountain Pine; and several nieces and nephews. Services were held Wednesday, December 17, 1997, at Brushy Baptist Church Oden with Rev. Curtis Stillwell officiating. Pallbearers were Evertt Vincent, Larry Vincent, Shelby, Vincent, Paul Smith, Jimmy Hancock, Kelly Smith, Lonnie Vincent and Chuck Sales.

Montgomery County News   Dec 16, 1999 
Doris M. WALKER  
Former Mount Ida native Doris M. Walker, 84, of Houston, TX, died December 10, 1999, in Houston. She was born January 7, 1913, in Mount Ida, AR, the daughter of the late Leroy Hovell and Katherine Jackson Hovell. Survivors include her husband.., nine children, one brother, 18 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren.... She was preceded in death by : a son, Glen Walker; a daughter Pat Kibbons and a grandson, Floyd Lee Worden. The family will receive friends at the home of Maurine west in Story. A memorial service will be held at the Mount Ida Presbyterian Church on Saturday, December 18, 1999, at 2.00 p.m.

Montgomery County News   Feb 11, 1988   
Voyza Austin WALLACE
Voyza Austin Wallace, 81, of Story, died Tuesday, February 2, 1988 in the Yell County Hospital.  She was born January 13, 1907 in Montgomery County, the daughter of James J. Smith and Caroline Lee Smith.  She was a lifetime resident of the Aly and Story communities and was a member of the Crystal Hill Pentecostal Church.   Survivors include two sons..; one daughter..., two sisters...; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.   Services were held Thursday February 4, in the Aly Community Church with Darrell Goss and Paul Burke officiating.  Burial was in the Aly Cemetery under the direction of the Davis-Smith Funeral Home of Glenwood.  Pallbearers were: Donald Austin, Rusty Standerfer, Larry Standerfer, Eddy Jones, Fred Swaim and Jim Swaim.

Montgomery County News  Jan. 6, 2000
Ina Verne WARNEKE  
Ina Verne Warneke, 69, of Mount Ida, died December 27, 1999, at a Hot Springs hospital. She was born March 17, 1930 in Mount Ida, the daughter of the late John and Minerva Warneke. Warneke retied from Keith Smith Feed Company in Hot Springs as a purchasing agent after 36 years. She played for a professional basketball team, Hazel Walker's Travelers, in the late 1940s and early 1950s. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Minverva Warneke; and two brothers, J.W. Warneke and Ottis Ray Warneke. She was a beloved sister, a devoted aunt and a caring friend who brought love, compassion and happiness to all whose hearts she touched. Survivors include: two brothers and sisters-in law...., many nieces, nephews and cousins and a host of friends. Services were at 2:00PM on Thursday, December 30, 1999, at the Mount Ida Church of God with Reverends Willis Summitt and T.C. Wilhite officiating. Pallbearers were: Darrell Duke, Johnny Moore, Lloyds Tubbs, Waldo Wilson, Charlie Thompson, and Calvin Roach. Burial was at Owley Cemetery under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida. (photo)

Montgomery County News   Nov 4, 1999 
Marie WARREN    
Marie Warren, 73, of Norman, died Friday, October 29, 1999 at her home. She was born on November 30, 1925 at Norman, the daughter of Lee Johnston and Orva Smith Johnston.  She was active with the Mount Ida Civic Center. She is is survived by one daughter and son-in-law. Three sons and one daughter-in-law., nine grandchildren and twelve great grand children. Services were held Tuesday, November 2, in the Davis Smith Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Marvin Black officiating. Interment was in the Black Springs Cemetery under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home of Glenwood. Pallbearers were Leon Vines, Mike Vines, Richard Vines, Kenny Warren, Robert Darden and Kaylon Burrow.

The Oklahoman 22 July 1959 page 5
Guthrie - Services were held here Tuesday for Theodore J. Westfall, 57, formerly of Guthrie, who died in Lubbock, TX, Friday. Westfall, a native of Arkansas, was a member of the Baptist church. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs Betty Hurley, Guthrie; one son Ronald, Midwest City; two brothers, Russell, Glenwood, Ark., and Alvin, Hot Springs, two sisters Mrs Mable Kibler, Kansas City, Mo., and Miss Alice Westfall, Caddo Gap, Ark.; and four grandchildren.

Carlton A. WEEKS
Carlton Allen Weeks, 74, of Pencil Bluff died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998. Born Nov. 2, 1924, in Columbus, Ohio, to Arthur Blackeman Weeks and Prue Ann Potter, he was predeceased by two sons, Tommy Adams and Steven Weeks.
Survivors include his wife, Cretia Weeks; a daughter, Stacie Lea Weeks; and two sons, Bobby Weeks and Jed Weeks. Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Pencil Bluff Baptist Church with the Rev. David Birdsong officiating. Pallbearers will be Bobby Weeks, Jed Weeks, Dewayne Steers, Owen Alford, Bill McKimm and John Mitchell. Burial will be in Macedonia Cemetery with a military service. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. Arrangements are by Thornton Funeral Home, Mount Ida.

Jackson Independent, weekly newspaper for Jackson Parish, LA, published in Jonesboro, LA Thursday, November 17, 1960
FUNERAL RITES FOR MRS. B. WHEATLY 
   Mrs. Barbara Wheatly, age 78, died late Wednesday [November 9, 1960] at the home of her daughter in Hodge, following a short illness.  Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, November 11, at the Jonesboro United Pentecostal Church with Rev. J.W. Olds and Rev. Sam Ridge conducting. Interment was in the Hodge Cemetery under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston.  Survivors include five sons, Frank S. Wheatly of Hodge, Rev. Cleland Wheatly of Brunswick, Georgia, Marion Wheatly and A.H. Wheatly of Jonesboro, and C.E. Wheatly of Ruston, four daughters, Mrs. Horace Jordan of Hodge, Mrs. W.T. Walsworth of Quitman, Mrs. Eugene Brown of Shreveport, and Mrs. Mack Caraway of Ruston, two sisters, Mrs. Tennie Cranford of Little Rock, Arkansas, Mrs. Lee Newcomb of Benton, Arkansas, a brother, Oscar Church of Benton, Arkansas, 35 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.

[This lady, Barbara Allen Church Wheatly, was born in Caddo Gap, AR, in 1883, to John Marion Church and Emily Jane Parsons Church. She grew up in that general vicinity of AR. Her father, John Church, was said to have operated a ferry boat across perhaps the Caddo River or the Ouachita River. She had 2 brothers: David Franklin and Oscar Rolet Lee Church. She had 2 sisters: Tennie and Mary. She grew up and married Clealand Carl Wheatly (b. 1882 near Poison Spring, AR), and they moved first to the Indian Territory (Bocoma, OK) and then later to LA (north central part of state), where he worked in sawmills. They had 14children, 11 of whom grew to adulthood. Barbara Allen Church Wheatly was my beloved "Mamaw" - my mother's mother.] Submitted by Carole Jordan Hays

Reinhold James WENZIG
August 30, 1914 ~ February 27, 2003
Reinhold J. Wenzig, 88, of Coeur d'Alene, died Feb. 27, 2003, at Heritage Place in Coeur d'Alene. He was born in Mount Ida, Ark., Aug. 30, 1914, to Reinhold and Lillian (Whitehouse) Wenzig. Reinhold, a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps, married Oyia May Chitwood in LaJunta, Colo., Aug. 27, 1944. He moved to the area in 1970, from Pueblo, Colo., where he had lived for 18 years. Reinhold worked as an auto body mechanic at Appleway Chevrolet in Spokane, retiring in 1980.
Reinhold was a member of the Lincoln Way Church of God and D.A.V. He is survived by his sons, James Wenzig of 269 Stilley Rd, Pineville, LA., 71360 ) and Tim Wenzig of Salem, Ore.; daughter Linda May Ownlette of Ypsalanti, Mich.; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Reinhold was preceded in death by his wife Oyia in 1971. Memorial services will be held Thursday, Mar. 6, 2003, at 2:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Way Church of God. English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 is in charge of the arrangements. Oyia May Chitwood was born 17 Jan. 1926 in Kissimmee, Osceola Co. FL, and died 3 Dec. 1971 in Newman Lake, Spokane Co. WA.

Reinhold Wenzig 1884 - 1970
Reinhold was born on January 26, 1884 and passed away in November 1970. Reinhold was last known to be living in Gibbonsville, Idaho.

Grace Wenzig Interview, 1980 Sept. 23.‎
by Idaho State Historical Society, Gibbonsville Improvement Association, Gibbonsville Improvement Association Oral History Project.
Interviewed by Julia Randolph as part of the Gibbonsville Improvement Association oral history project for the GIA and the Idaho State Historical Society on 23...

The Oklahoman 10, 2000 Page 90
Whitehouse, Arnold H., 84, of Oklahoma City, went to be with the Lord on January 8, 2000. Arnold died from complications following his battle with cancer. He was born August 30, 1915 in Oden, Arkansas to James and Ella Whitehouse. He served honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II. Arnold married Opal Coate on September 8, 1946. Before moving to SW Oklahoma City, Arnold lived in Midwest City and were members of the Sooner Baptist Church for forty plus years where he served as a Deacon Emeritus by the congregation. While living in Midwest City, he retired as a postal carrier from the Midwest City Post Office. Arnold was preceded in death by his wife, Opal; his parents; and a grandson, Jimmy Sparks. He is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Joyce & M.O. Eckel, Jr. of Millington, TN, daughter and son-in-law, Gayle & Ken Sparks of Okla City... Other survivors include his sister Audie Boydston of Del City. Services at Bill Eisenhower Southwest Funeral Home in Del City with interment to follow at Arlington Cemetery.

Odessa American
Paul Elias WHITEHOUSE
ODEN, Ark. - Paul Elias Whitehouse, 72, of Oden, Ark., a retired farmer, died Friday, Sept. 22, 2000, at his residence. Services were at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 25, 2000, at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Eddie McCord officiating. Burial was at Brushy Cemetery. Arrangements by Thornton Funeral Home. He was born in Mena, Ark., and had been a resident of Odessa. He was an Army veteran. He was Baptist. SURVIVORS: Wife, sons, daughter.; brothers, Vernie Leflore Whitehouse of Odessa and Allyn Bruce Whitehouse of Albuquerque, N.M.; sisters, Florence Rae Dennis of Stigler, Okla., Coy Vae Lawrence of Albuquerque, Lela Mae Gonzales of Anadarko, Okla., and Eula Faye Gonzales of Alamogordo, N.M.; and five grandchildren.

Montgomery County News  Thursday January 10, 1991  
Emma Susan WHISENHUNT  Emma Susan Whisenhunt, 92 of Mount Ida, died Saturday, Jan. 5, 1991 in the Montgomery County Nursing Home. She was born March 1, 1898 in Sims, the daughter of John B. and Lou R. (Hatton) Elder. She had been a resident of Montgomery County for most of her life. She was a homemaker and non-denominational in faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Whisenhunt, and one daughter, Lorene Whisenhunt Vines. Survivors include three sons, Witt Whisenhunt and Woodrow Whisenhunt, both of Sims, and Doyle Whisenhunt of Mount Ida; three daughters, Allie Vines of Mount Ida and Clara May Baker and Eula Fay Blackburn, of Sims; three brothers, Johnny Elder and Paul Elder, both of Ozark and Jimmie Elder of California; four sisters, Wilda Elder of California, Pearl Owens of Mountain Pine, and Vera Elder and Alice Hicks, both of Ozark; 17 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8 in Lone Valley Church of God with Rev. Jodi Anderson officiating. Pallbearers were Joe Whisenhunt, Bill Whisenhunt, Gip Whisenhunt, Russell Whisenhunt, Douglas Vines and Lannie Vines. Burial was in Rocky Cemetery under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida. Submitted by Doug Anderson. Nov. 2001

Montgomery County News   July 20, 2000 
Richard (Dick) Rudell Whittington, 81, of Mount Ida, AR, died July 14, 2000, in a Hot Springs hospital. He was born January 16, 1919, in Mount Ida to the late G.W. and Maudie Ambers Whittington. Survivors include his wife and one sister; and two nephews... Services were July 16, 2000, at the First Methodist Church in Mount Ida, at 2:00pm with Bros. Osborne White and Paul Burke officiating.  Burial was at Whittington Cemetery under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida. In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to the Montgomery County Library Fund or the Heritage  House Museum.

An Arkansas pharmacist and Tojo; Dick Whittington of Mount Ida gave plasma to the injured Japanese war leader in a medical corps tent
Arkansas Democrat Magazine p. 10 Dec 13, 1964

A loss for all of us in the genealogy community and for the county.  His oral history collection must be fantastic and Dick's tapes have all gone to the museum there in Mt. Ida. Once he sent me a tape on the Wenzig family. The newspapers of the county were never saved so about seven years ago all of the papers that Dick Whittington had were microfilmed.  They were in the 30s and 40s and 50s. The drug store in Mt Ida was formerly belonged to "Dick Whittington." Mr Whittington was a medic in Japan after surrendered. General Tojo, the mastermind of the Pearl Harbor attack tried to commit suicide. Dick administered the plasma that saved Tojo's life. Tojo was later executed for was crimes.

SWEET TEA Medic held Tojo's life in his hands by Jay Grelen
The Arkansas Democrat Gazette 20 April 2006
The first part of this column was published on Tuesday.
On Sept. 11, 1945, Dick Whittington, a native of Mount Ida, Ark., was a medic with the First Cavalry when soldiers arrived with Hideki Tojo, the former Japanese premier who had ordered the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In two different interviews, Mr. Whittingon told of his role in saving Tojo's life. The most comprehensive interview appeared in the Feb. 1, 1965, issue of National Association of Retail Druggists Journal. On April 13, 1991, his great-niece Gina Ray interviewed him for an oral-history project. This is the first time it has been published. Richard and Loretha Ray provided copies of the articles, which are stored in the Heritage House Museum of Montgomery County in Mount Ida. Mr. Whittington and his fellow soldiers were watching the Barbara Stanwyck film My Reputation when soldiers arrived with the critically wounded general, who had shot himself rather than surrender to Americans. Mr. Whittington administered plasma. From Gina Ray's interview: "I stuck that one-and-one-half-inch needle all the way in his arm and turned it to the right and then to the left. The lights went out, our generators were down, so I couldn't see. ... We used a flashlight." From N.A.R.D. Journal: "Enmity held me. I twisted the needle right and left. He did not flinch ... I looked at Tojo and wondered. Had this man never held the hand of a dying soldier and felt it grow cold? Had he never heard parched lips cry for water?" Gina Ray interview: "By the time I got that done, it was running in pretty good.
I didn't even mean to get it in the vein ... I [knew I] did get it in there because when I mashed on the tube, I saw the blood rush back when I took pressure off." From N.A.R.D. Journal: "I checked again [to see] if we were still in the vein. I saw the contents of the bottle ... slowly drain into Tojo's body. Plasma that some patriotic American had given to save the life of a son, brother, husband. What would they think: I wondered if I had the right to give it. I couldn't do it. "I made a gesture toward the needle. I would inject an overdose of a drug into the tubing. I'd watch the life drain out of him as I'd seen it drain from those on the battlefield. Where was the drug. ... Then I remembered. ... It was my duty to preserve life. If Tojo died, he would die honorably in the eyes of many. If he lived, he could be punished. We could use him as an example to all nations. I'd help to let him live. ... "As the last of the plasma trickled down the bottle, strains of Auld Lang Syne' filled the tent from the sound track of the movie outside. "At 8:15, I dropped the needle to the ground. We carried our prize prisoner to the waiting ambulance. ... We held him briefly at the rear of the ambulance, facing photographers whose flashbulbs lit the night like an electrical storm as they yelled, `One more, one more.' "On December 23, 1948, he was hanged. I had fired a shot heard even back in my home of Mount Ida, Arkansas. A shot that saved him for the hangman."

Montgomery County News Feb. 1981
Curt WILLHITE
Curt Willhite 82, of Mena died Feb 8, in Wilhelmina Medical Center. He was born Feb. 22^nd 1898, at Oden, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Willhite and was married to Mary Hill, May 1, 1916 at Oden. She preceded him in death. He moved to Mena from Moro in 1969 and was a retired farmer and a member of the Pentecostal Church of Moro. Survivors include four sons: J.V. Willhite, Lem Willhite, Vernon Willhite, Bobbie Willhite. Two daughters: Mrs. Iva Mae Duke and Mrs. Joyce Laster. Three brothers: Tom Willhite, Deck Willhite and Everett Willhite. Four sisters: Mrs. Martha Carrier, Mrs. Dave Shannon, Mrs. Lessie Blanchard, and Mrs. Evelyn Finley. Services at Oden Feb. 10^th.   Source: Copied from newspaper clipping in the procession of Nora Ledbetter of Oden. Moro is in Lee County, Arkansas. The town is about 75 miles east of Little Rock.

Bobby G. Willhite
Bobby G. Willhite, age 82, of Mena, Arkansas passed away Monday, June 29, 2020 in Mena. He was born March 1, 1938 in Moro, Arkansas to the late Curt Willhite and the late Mary Hill Willhite. Mr. Willhite was a self-employed business owner. He served in the United States Army. Bobby was also a lover of all animals. He will be dearly missed by everyone that knew him. He is survived by son: Rodney Willhite and wife Linda, one grandchild and two great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, and mother of his child, Hazel Clay. Funeral service will be Wednesday, July 1st, at 2:00 p.m. in the Beasley-Wood Chapel with Brother Larry Willhite officiating. Interment will follow in the Oden Cemetery under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Visitation will be general. Beasley Wood and the staff still strongly suggest that social distancing is in place, and other recommendations set forth by the governor of Arkansas still be observed.

Mrs. Mary Joyce Willhite Belcher Laster
Mrs. Mary Joyce Willhite Belcher Laster, age 83, of Mena, Arkansas, passed away Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at her home. She was born on September 6, 1935 to the late Curt Willhite and the late Mary Hill Willhite in Oden, Arkansas. She was married to Harry Belcher, the father of her children. Mary was a nurse by profession and had a giving heart by nature, lavishing her grandchildren with gifts. She loved hunting, fishing, crocheting and watching her TV, but her greatest love was her family, particularly her grandchildren. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and a friend to all who knew her. She is survived by son: Gary Steve Belcher and wife Ellen of Oden, Arkansas. Daughter: Patricia Goodner-Flanigan and husband Jeff of Mena, Arkansas. Brother: Bob Willhite of Mena, Arkansas. Her special cat, Baby and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Curt and Mary Willhite, her husband, Harry Belcher, a son, Harry Gene Belcher, a son-in-law, Dennis Goodner, 3 brothers, 2 sisters and a special friend, Raymond Lenard. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 7, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the Beasley Wood Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Larry Willhite officiating. Interment will follow in Oden Cemetery under the direction of the Beasley Wood Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Jacob Goodner, Chris Jordan, Chris Marlar, Chris Ledbetter, Scott Bohlman and Braylan Bohlman. Honorary pallbearer is Josh Belcher.

Montgomery County News June 2001 
John A. WILLHITE 
Mr. John A. Willhite, 70, of Mena, formerly of Marysville, California, passed away Friday, June 1, 2001 in the Mena Medical Center. He was born April 27, 1931 in Pine Ridge, the son of the late Walter Willhite and the late Mary Alice Mullenix Willhite. He lived in Mena for one month, moving from Marysville, California, was an Army veteran of WWII, a retired laborer, and of the Baptist faith. Survivors are: one stepson, Dennis Jennings of Sand Springs, Ok: two daughters, Nettie Jaris of Marysville, CA and Robin Bullard of Hamilton, TX; three stepdaughters, Irene and husband Jack Howard, Ruth Ann Mize and Sarah all of California; one brother, Deary Willhite of Mena, Mary Lou Garmon of Pencil Bluff; nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Christine Hill. Graveside services were held Monday, June 4, 2001, in the Brushy Cemetery in Oden. Arrangements were under the direction of Hall Funeral Service. Pallbearers were Darrell Willhite, Floyd Fairless, Russell Fairless, Jarred Fairless, Freddy Fair, and Freddy Fair Jr.

Margaret WILHITE   d. Monday 9 Oct  1965 submitted by Bettie Dowler
LUM'N ABNER "SISTER SIMPSON" BURIED AT ODEN
ODEN (SPECIAL) --Funeral services for Mrs. Margaret Wilhite, 94, the famed "SISTER SIMPSON" of the LUM'n ABNER radio program, were held Wednesday at the Oden Baptist Church. Mrs. Wilhite died Sunday night at a Mena Hospital, leaving 251 direct descendants.  She was a lifetime resident of Montgomery county and was the mother of 14 children, four of whom preceded her in death.  Mrs. Wilhite was born April 15, 1872 in Oden and was a Baptist.  Burial was at Oden cemetery at 2 p.m. Wednesday.  Geyer Funeral Home of Mena in charge of arrangements.  She was married in 1887 to A.C.Wilhite, who played another famous character for the Lum'n Abner program that of GRANDPAPPY SPEARS.  He died in 1938.  Survivors include four sons Curt Wilhite of Moro, Ark, Tom Wilhite of Mena, Everett Wilhite of Savada, Calif, and Dexter Wilhite of Lonoke; six daughters, Mrs. Dicie Reed of Houston, Ark, Mrs. Manda Spurling of Oden, Mrs. Martha Carrier of Marianna, Mrs. Lessie Blanchard of Eloy, Ariz; Mrs. Dovie Shannon of Helena, and Mrs. Evelyn Fendley of Hot Springs and 68 grandchildren and 173 great grandchildren.

MRS. MARGARET WILHITE
Funeral services for Mrs. Margaret Wilhite was held Wednesday, Oct 12, at 2:00 o'clock, in the Methodist Church with Rev. Sam Sherman and Rev. Bert Bashaw officiating.  Burial was in the Oden cemetery directed by the Geyer Funeral Home. Casketbearers were Bill Brewer, Dale Reed, Walter Seals, Gerald Brewer, Frank Wilhite, Amos Cossey, Truman Black and Marvin Mullinax   She is survived ....;  one brother, Sherman Singleton of Oden; also 68 grandchildren and 60 great grandchildren.

Montgomery County News 02 March 2000 24 July 1997 Relda LaNeil WILHITE
Relda LaNeil Wilhite, 49, of Story, AR, went to be with the Lord July 11, 1997. She was born in DeQueen, AR, to the late Matt Finley and the late Edna Perry Finley, on may 14th, 1948.
Reld was a member of the Midway Pentecostal Church of Mount Ida, and the co-owner of the Circle R. Restaurant in mount Ida. She was untied in marriage to Bob Wilhite in Archata, CA, on June 22, 1968.
    Survivors include her husband, Bob Wilhite of Story, one son Matthew Wilhite of Story, one sister Zelda "Sudie" Gray of Sacramento, CA; father-in-law T.C. Wilhite of Black Springs; mother-in-law Wanda Wilhite of Black Springs.
    Brothers-in-law and sisters -in-law Bill Wilhite and Linda Wilhite of Layton, CA; Jack Wilhite of McKinleyville, CA; Coy and Janice Dunkan of Story; Cozy and Sam Starr of Oden; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
Honorary pallbearers were Jim and Toni Gaches, Wendall and Jeanette Magar, Congregation of the First Pentecostal Church of God, T.G. and Donna Hightower, and friends and family of the Midway Pentecostal Church.
    Graveside services were at 10:30am, Monday July 14, 1997, in the Black Springs Cemetery with the rev. Ronald Grundy officiating under the direction of the Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida.

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette 2008
BLACK SPRINGS - Rev. T.C. Wilhite, age 84, of Black Springs, died Saturday. Services will be 1 p.m., Saturday, in Faith Tabernacle Church, Mount Ida with interment in Black Springs Cemetery by Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood. Faith Tabernacle Church. Memorials may be made to the Wilhite-Starr Foundation, First National Bank, Mount Ida, Arkansas. Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com

Willis WILLHITE Montgomery County News
Willis Willhite, 87, of Oden died Thursday September 29, 1983, in a Hot Springs nursing home.  He was born January 1, 1896 at Waters.  He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo Willhite and was united in marriage to Miss Etna Fryar January 16, 1918 at Oden who preceded him in death November 9, 1965. He lived in Keota, Okla. from 1919 to 1937 when he moved to California.  He moved back to Oden in 1963.   He was a Baptist, a veteran of World War One and a retired farmer. Survivors include three sons, Olan H. Willhite, Arnold, and one sister. Funeral services were held October 3 in the Oden First United Methodist Church with Rev. Doyle Whisenhunt officiating. Interment was in Keota Cemetery, Haskell Co.Okla. under the direction of Geyer-Quillin Funeral Home. Pallbearers were: Clyde Ledbetter, Arlie Singleton, Burt Brewer, Kirby Singleton, Gene Singleton and Kenneth Tackett.

Montgomery County News 02 March 2000
Fern M. WILLIAMS 
Fern Mae Williams, 93, of Mount Ida, AR, died February 22, 2000, at the Montgomery County Nursing Home. Born, January 17, 1907, Williams was a retired county health nurse and a member of the Mount Ida United Methodist church.  She was predeceased by her husband, H.D. "Hobie" Williams. Survivors include: one sister, Ruby Sisk of Oklahoma City; and one niece, Vera Brown of Greenville, TX. Services were February 23, at 10:00 AM, at Pencil Bluff cemetery, Pencil Bluff, with Brother James Copeland officiating. Arrangements were by Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida. Obituary transcribed by her great-nephew, C.A. Hocker. Posted 24 Jul 2000

Montgomery County News  Thursday, August 22, 1974
H. D. (Hobe) WILLIAMS  
H. D. (Hobe) Williams, 70, died Tuesday August 13. He was a native of Everton and had lived in Montgomery County since 1946.  He was the owner of Williams Real Estate and Insurance and a member of the First United Methodist Church.
He was past master master of Mount Ida Masonic Lodge 140, past high priest of Solomon Chapter 126, a member of Hot Springs Council 23, Hot Springs Commandry 5, past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star at Mount Ida Chapter 20 and was advisor of Caddo Chapter of DeMolay.  He was also past president of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.

Survivors include his wife: Mrs. Fern Estes Williams; three brothers: Ray Williams of Fort Worth, Texas, Kenzel Williams of Garland, Texas and Cheter Williams of Oklahoma City, Okla.; three sisters: Mrs. Leota Good. Mrs. Ovalle Callaway and Mrs. Faye Fox, all of Oklahoma City.

Services were at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Mount Ida with the Rev. Harold Bailey officiating.
Burial was in the Pencil Bluff Cemetery by Thornton Funeral Service. Pallbearers were Mearl Robins, Monroe Sprulin, Jimmy Jackson, John Moundy, Paul Roberts, and Donnie Noles. Honorary pallbearers: John Beavers, Otis Dyer, Ned Meek, Gust Ring, Joe Cloud, Jim Baggett, Jim Copeland, Russell Curtis, Harold Barnett, Breco Edwards, Lester Clement, Fletcher Houchin, Jimmy Mahen, Gentry Elmore, Bob Campbell, Dick Whittington, Herb Malone, Lee Austin, and Ray Arnold. Masonic graveside services were conducted by Mount Ida Lodge No. 140. Submitted by C.H. Hooker. Posted Jul. 12 2000

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette 28 June 2005
Ruth Horton Williams of Sheridan, was born September 1, 1919 at Oden, Arkansas, the daughter of the late James Chester and Rellie Maude Strain Horton. She died, Saturday, June 25, 2005 at Hot Springs County Hospital in Malvern, Arkansas at the age of 85 years. She was retired from the Pine Bluff Arsenal where she was a payroll clerk; a member of North Main Baptist Church at Sheridan; a member of the Martha Sunday School Class; was active in Senior Citizens and loved to fish. She was preceded in death by a brother, Verlon Horton.

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Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting - "@##% what a ride!!!!