. .July . . . .20, . . . .2016 ......................................................................................................................
obituaries
12
Weekly Publication
JOSH ABBOTT
Josh Abbott, age 37, of Mena, died Thursday, July 14, 2016 in CHI St. Venice in Hot Springs. He was born on Sunday, October 29, 1978 to Timothy Spaulding and Arlene Gwen Liles Aboott in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Josh was a person with a servant’s heart; always there to help someone in need, never looking for anything in return. He loved taking care of his wife and being the best father that he could. Josh enjoyed fishing, camping and floating the river with his boys. Josh was an artist and enjoyed drawing, doing sculptures and wood burning. Josh was a great husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend and will be missed by all who knew him. Josh is survived by, his wife, Shannon Abbott of Mena; two sons, Zakary Abbott of Mena and Cody Abbott of Mena; one step son, Justice Self of Mena; one step daughter, Charliegh Self of Mena; his father, Tim Spaulding of Oklahoma; his mother, Arlene Abbott of Okay, Oklahoma; step father, Brian Abbott of Mena; his grandparents, Jimmy and Wynona Abbott of Mena and Billie Jean Liles of Okay, OK; two sisters, Jessica Lambert of Mena and Hannah Abbott of Conway; nephew, James Lambert; two nieces, Hailee Pullen and Tatelynn Pullen, and a host of other relatives and friends. A memorial service will be held at a later date with cremation services entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena. Online Guestbook: www.bowserffh. com
FRED MARION ALSTON Mr. Fred Marion Alston, age 77, of Mena, Arkansas, passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at his home. Fred was born on November 24, 1938 in Holly Springs, Arkansas, the son of Claude Gilbert Alston and Everette Jewel Jones Alston. He was married to Margie Ruth Dowell for 41 happy years, sharing a long life of family and love. Fred
worked for US Motors for 32 and half years but was also a farmer, with what could be called an obsession for Angus Cattle! He was also an avid bowler for over 50 years and enjoyed hunting and running his dogs. Fred loved his sweets, (especially chocolate pie) as well as sports and had a love/hate relationship with the Razorbacks. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and a friend to all and he will be most greatly missed. He is survived by, wife, Margie Alston of the home; sons, Claude Lucas “Luke” Alston and wife Deedee of Mena, Arkansas, Danny Hurst and wife Kim of Mena, Arkansas; daughters, Carolyn Tanner and husband Al of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Debbie Dilbeck and husband Larry of Knob Noster, Missouri; brother, Ronald “Dude” Alston of Mena, Arkansas; sister, Janet Alston Corcoran and husband Joe of Mena, Arkansas; grandchildren, Joe Willie Kirk, Jeff Hurst, Wes Hurst, Chandra Henderson, Jim Ed Hurst, Amber Judd, Adam Hurst, Cody Dilbeck, Mark Hurst, Tyler Hurst, Austin Hurst, Alex Hurst, Ryan Ozanich and Drey Ozanich; 21 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by, his parents, Gilbert and Jewel Alston, and a son, Eddie Lee Hurst. Funeral services were held Friday, July 15, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Concord Baptist Church in Ink with Brother Bernard Rusert and Brother Jerry Taylor officiating. Interment followed in Concord Cemetery under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Visitation will be general. Pallbearers were Eddie Price, Seth Guinn, Rick Cole, Joe Willie Kirk, Jerry Hansbrough, and James Gentry. Honorary pallbearers will be, Kenneth Cole, Gary Cole, Hoyt Graves and all of Fred’s friends at US Motors.
ROY JOE BRADLEY Roy Joe Bradley, age 69, of Mena, Arkansas, passed away on Thursday, July 14, 2016 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Roy was born to Roy D. and Lila E. Meridieth Bradley in Board Camp, Arkansas on September 16, 1946. Roy served his country in the United States Army and
made a lifetime career as an X-Ray Technician in the Pipeline Industry. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion as well as the B.P.O.E. Mena Elks Lodge. He is survived by, his wife, Sherry Lee Bradley; sons, David Alexander and Kerin Wade; grandchildren, Austin Alexander, Kelsey, Kylie, and Kori Wade; sister, Mary Lee Bradley; and several cousins and a host of friends. Roy was preceded in death by, his parents, Roy Dean and Lila E. Meridieth Bradley; grandparents, Boss and Birdie Bradley, and Joe and Mary Sells Meridieth, and nephew, Tory Bradley. Funeral services with military honors will be held Friday, July 22, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Beasley Wood Chapel with Brother Donnie Jewell officiating. Internment will follow at Pinecrest Cemetery. Pallbearers will be, Jerry Ralls, Vester Parks, Bobby Copelin, Jewel Watkins, Billy Martin, Terry Davis, Wendell Henry, and Travis Venable. Honorary Pallbearers will be, Cecil Rose, Roy (Pee Wee) Gilbert, Marty Caldwell, and Gerald Liles. Visitation is general. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Clarice’s Room of Hope or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Arrangements were made under the direction of the Beasley Wood Funeral Home in Mena.
WILMA LOUISE JOHNSON Wilma Louise Johnson, age 84, of Nella, passed away, Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at her home. She was born on Wednesday, November 4, 1931 to Fred and Annie Hudgens Staggs in Nella, Arkansas. Wilma loved life and enjoyed the outdoors working side by side with her loving husband, Leon for 69 years. She enjoyed working in her garden, making quilts, and cooking for her family and community; where she is best remembered for her homemade breads and cinnamon rolls. She worked outside of the home in Mena at the shirt factory then moved to Oklahoma where she worked for Griffins Grocery Company and a daycare in her home for many years. Wilma dearly loved the children she cared for and talked about them frequently. She was a lifelong member of the Shiloh Baptist Church in
Nella and spent the first years of her retirement with her husband, Leon making improvements and building a fellowship hall. Wilma was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend and will be missed by all who knew her. She is preceded in death by, her parents; two brothers, Gene and Billy Staggs and one sister, Irma Van De Wiele. Wilma is survived by, her husband of 69 years, Leon Johnson of Nella; one son and daughter in law, Ollen and Linda Johnson of Porter, Oklahoma; two daughters and sons in law, Jo Ann and Marvin Hahn of Phoenix, Arizona and Glinda and Mike Huitt of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Gerald Hahn of Phoenix, Arizona; Denise Peck and husband Shane of Phoenix, Arizona, David Hahn and wife, Bonnie of Phoenix, Arizona, Alissa Backes of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Renee Johnson of Porter, Oklahoma and Mike Wicks of Porter, Oklahoma; five great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services were Monday, July 18, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Nella with Brother Terry Benton officiating. Interment was Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at the Citizens Cemetery at Fort Gibson, Oklahoma under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas. Visitation was Sunday, July 17, 2016 from 5-7 P.M. at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mena. Pallbearers were, Gerald Hahn, David Hahn, Mike Huitt, Marvin Hahn, Randall Beaty and Tom Murdock. Online Guestbook: www.bowserffh. com
MAC MCCLAIN Mac McClain age 82, of Acorn passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2016 in Mena. Mac was born on September 14, 1933 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma to the late Roy McClain and the late Cora Ronsley McClain. He was happily married to Betty Treece for 63 years. Mac served his country in the United States Navy and was a power lineman by profession traveling from Alaska to New York and in between the United States. He also was a Barber instructor. CONTINUED ON PAGE 13