Obituaries from December 2008

Terry Lee Carpenter (12/30/08)
TERRY LEE CARPENTER, 49, of Alpena, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, at his home with his family by his side. he was born Feb. 5, 1959, in Wichita, Kan., the son of Jerry and Lillian Carpenter. He attended Alpena School ad on June 29, 199, was married to Cindy Rudd...

Shawn Robert 'Bobby' Sorg (12/26/08)
SHAWN ROBERT "BOBBY" SORG, a resident of Eureka Springs, was born Sept. 20, 1969, in Elwood, Ind., a son of Robert and Joan (Parker) Sorg. He died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008, in Oak Grove, at the age of 39. Mr. Sorg was of the Catholic faith. He loved animals, fishing and working on cars. He was formerly employed with Tyson Foods in Berryville and currently employed for the last two years with the Great Passion Play. He also worked for Ron's Auto...

Sylvia M. Palmer (12/26/08)
SYLVA M. PALMER, 81, of Green Forest, died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008, at St. John's Hospital -- Berryville. She was born June 12, 1927, in Stockton, Calif., to the late Claude Russell and Annie (Jones) Russell. On Sept. 13, 1947, she was united in marriage to Jim H. Palmer and to this union three children were born. Sylva was very devoted to her family, enjoyed horseback riding, dancing and was a talented seamstress...

Charles Robison Jackson (12/26/08)
CHARLES ROBISON JACKSON, 95, of Eureka Springs, died Dec. 17, 2008, at his home in Rogers. He was born in Macon, Ga., on Sept. 30, 1913, to the late Jesse and Allethia (Fields) Jackson. After returning from World War II and serving as a major in the Army, Charlie was a farmer for several years and then retired with the Corps of Engineers at Beaver Lake...

Mary Francis Dooty (12/26/08)
MARY FRANCIS DOOTY, a resident of Berryville, was born March 11, 1927, in Berlin, Okla. She died Monday, Dec. 22, 2008, in Berryville at the age of 81. Mrs. Dooty was a member of the Cove Club and was of the church of Christ faith. In 1950 Mrs. Dooty was united in marriage with Jesse Edward Dooty, who survives her of the home. ...

Edward Charles Eddie Deertz (12/23/08)
EDWARD CHARLES EDDIE DEERTZ, a resident of Berryville, was born Feb. 12, 1990, in Berryville, a son of Charles and Tracy (Wood) Deertz. He died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008, in Springfield, Mo., at the age of 18. Eddie is survived by his mother, Tracy Deertz of Berryville; father, Charles Deertz of Green Forest; one brother, Alvin Dean Lawrence of Green Forest; maternal grandmother, Patricia Wood of Berryville; paternal grandfather, Ronald Deertz of Green Forest; paternal grandmother, Patricia McKenzie of Green Forest; one son, Spencer Holman Coffell of Berryville; fiancп, Jessica Kayler; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews; and a host of other family and friends.. ...

Ann L. Allen (12/26/08)
ANN L. ALLEN, a resident of Eureka Springs, was born June 29, 1917, in Wisconsin. She died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008, in her home at the age of 91. Mrs. Allen was a waitress in the food industry and of the Catholic faith. Mrs. Allen is survived by her husband, Robert W. Allen, who survives her of the home. She is also survived by her best friend, Christy Parker of Berryville, and many other friends...

Harry Matthew Werbitzky (12/23/08)
HARRY MATTHEW WERBITZKY of Billings, Mo., was born June 29, 1931, and died Dec. 10, 2008. Mr. Werbitzky owned the White River Bed-and-Breakfast for 10 years in Eureka Springs. He asked that his obituary include: Pick out my prettiest picture, post that and write, It was a fine ride I got to do what I like best, had a good 49-year marriage, three sons and a daughter that made me proud, a sweet sister that will miss my counsel and friends that will recall me fondly. ...

Nellie G. Walker (12/19/08)
NELLIE G. WALKER, a resident of Holiday Island, was born May 14, 1921, in Higginson, a daughter of William J. and Effie A. (Reed) Walker. She died Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Eureka Springs, at the age of 87. Miss Walker served in the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War. She was a member of the Faith Christian Family Fellowship Church in Eureka Springs...

Harley M. Phillips, Jr. (12/19/08)
HARLEY M. PHILLIPS, JR., 85, of West Monroe, La., died Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in West Monroe. He was born Dec. 28, 1922, to Harley M. Phillips, Sr. and Viola Phillips in Altus. Harley grew up in the Arkansas River Valley. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and participated in many battles in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. After the war, he married Lucille Brady of Ozark, and soon after their marriage they moved to California...

Ann Woollard Basore (12/19/08)
Ann Woollard Basore, 82, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008. Born July 14, 1926, in Memphis, Tenn., she was the daughter of D.B. Woollard, Jr. and Mildred Borum Woollard Cooper, and the stepdaughter of John A. Cooper. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Neff Basore, whom she married in 1952...

Elmo F. Ash (12/19/08)
Elmo F. Ash, 80, of Gateway, died Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers. He was born Feb. 20, 1928, in Mundell, to Adam and Bertha Davis Ash. He was a farmer, as well as worked in the oil fields and at Northwest Tire and Dee Rylee Oil Company for a number of years. ...

Bettie Ruth Ash (12/19/08)
Bettie Ruth Ash, 80, of Gateway, died Friday, Dec. 12, 2008, at her home. She was born July 28, 1928, in Garfield, to Arthur C. and Ollie Jennings Weimer. She married Elmo F. Ash, Oct. 22, 1947, who followed her in death, Dec. 14, 2008. She worked at the Gateway Post Office for a number of years, and was a member of the Freedom Freewill Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her parents; a brother, David Daniel Weimer; a sister, Dorothy Zesotarski; and a grandson...

Jessie Mae Stamps (12/16/08)
JESSIE MAE STAMPS, 76, of Fayetteville, died Dec. 11, 2008, at the Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. She was born Nov. 5. 1932, at Kingston, the daughter of Otto Bee and Mamie Ellen Perry Stamps. She was a graduate of Kingston High School and Fayetteville Business College. She retired in 1991 from the Arkansas Department of Human Services after 39 years of service...

Johnnie Mae Gerlick (12/16/08)
JOHNNIE MAE GERLICK, a resident of Eureka Springs, was born Jan. 9, 1924, in Little Rock, a daughter of Clay and Sally (Sullason) Robinson. She died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, at the age of 84. Johnnie was a homemaker and a member of the St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Eureka Springs...

Wayne Daniel Birchfield (12/12/08)
WAYNE DANIEL BIRCHFIELD, of Eureka Springs, was born Sept. 16, 1939, in Eureka Springs, a son of Burt Robert and Gladys V. (Glocksien) Birchfield. He departed this life Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the age of 69. He was a member of the Christian Unity Church in Eureka Springs, and served in the United States Army during peacetime. He was a factory production superintendent for 15 years at Emerson Electric and 20 years at F.M. in Rogers...

Erma Jean Upshaw (12/12/08)
ERMA JEAN UPSHAW, a resident of Agra, Okla., was born May 29, 1953, in Harrison, a daughter of Alfred and Elsie (Essex) Logan, Sr. She departed this life Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, in Cushing, Okla., at the age of 55. She is survived by her husband of 19 years, Vernon Pearson of the home; three sons, Johnny Upshaw Jr., Ronnie Upshaw and Cody Upshaw, all of Texas; four daughters, Christy Sizemore of Agra, Sandra Seitz of Missouri, Joanie Lindley of Springdale, and Crystal Hall of Black Oak,; one brother, Alfred Logan Jr. ...

Joyce Charlene Powell (12/12/08)
JOYCE CHARLENE POWELL, of Green Forest, was born Dec. 18, 1930, in Hollister, Mo., a daughter of Charles E. "Chod" and Hazel Marie (Fine) Wells. She departed this life Saturday, Dec. 6, in Springfield, Mo., at the age of 77. She was of the Baptist faith...

William Henry Penn (12/12/08)
WILLIAM HENRY PENN, of Holiday Island, was born Dec. 24, 1917 in Chicago, Ill., a son of Henry and Ettie (Brandt) Penn. He departed this life Friday, Dec. 5, 2008 in Eureka Springs, at the age of 90. Mr. Penn graduated in 1935 from Fenger High School in Chicago, Ill. ...

Esther Frances Olson (12/12/08)
ESTHER FRANCES OLSON, of Terril, Iowa, was born Sept. 12, 1918, in Sioux City, Iowa, a daughter of Otto and Nellie (Reekers) Pekelder. She departed this life Saturday, Dec. 6, in her son's home, at the age of 90. In 1956 she was united in marriage with Myrl Allen Olson who survives her of the home. ...

Helen Farber (12/12/08)
HELEN FARBER, also known as HELENA BATALION FARBIARZ, of Eureka Spring, was born April 18, 1916, in Stryj, Galicia, a daughter of Natan Lebersfeld and Frimet (Fanny) Batalion. She departed this life Wednesday, Dec. 3, in her home at the age of 92. She is survived by one son, Natan Ranaga Farbiarz of Eureka Springs; two grandsons, Mayim Alpert of Prague, Czech Republic, and David Farber of Eureka Springs; one granddaughter, Celest Farber of Fayetteville; one niece, Lea Batalion Dror of Haifa, Israel, and her children, Carmela, Udi, Natalie and Ron; one nephew, Nathan Batalion of New York and his children, Shirra and Aaron; and one sister-in-law, Simone Batalion of Frankfort, Germany. ...

William 'Bill' Gerlick (12/12/08)
WILLIAM "BILL" GERLICK, of Berryville, was born Aug. 13, 1940 in Rockford, Ill., a son of Myron and Eunice (Almond) Gerlick. He departed this life Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the age of 68. Mr. Gerlick was an avid hunter and fisherman. On Oct. 6, 1992, he was united in marriage with Barbara (Beaman) Gerlick who survives him of the home. ...

Madison O'Neal Blanchard (12/12/08)
MADISON O'NEAL BLANCHARD, 24, of Springdale, passed away Monday, Dec. 8, in Springdale. He was born June 12, 1984, in Berryville, the son of Jim Blanchard and Debra (Dollar) Miner. He was a worker for Cloud Nine and was a student at the Unversity of Arkansas at Fayetteville...

Uncle Morris S. Overacre (12/09/08)
UNCLE MORRIS S. OVERACRE, of Berryville, was born Jan. 10, 1905 in Rogers, a son of James Thomas and Hattie Jane (Medalin) Overacre. He departed this life Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008, in Berryville, at the age of 103. Mr. Overacre worked as a Railroad Lineman for Rock Island Railroad. He was a member of First Baptist Church in McAlester, Okla., and a former member of the IOOF and IBEW Union...

Norma Jean Smith Humbard (12/09/08)
NORMA JEAN SMITH HUMBARD, a resident of Kansas City, MO., was born July 29, 1933, in Berryville, a daughter of Carl D. and Clara M. Smith. She departed this life Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 in her home in Kansas City, at the age of 75. She is survived by two daughters, Clarissa Ann and husband Bill Morrison and Susan Kaye and husband Mike Verstraete; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends...

Richard Phillip Swanson (12/09/08)
RICHARD PHILLIP SWANSON, of Holiday Island, was born Jan. 24, 1933 in Tinley Park, Ill., a son of Charles Waldemar and Anna Rose (Aiani) Swanson. He departed this life Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008, in Holiday Island, at the age of 75. Mr. Swanson served in the United States Army...

Charles (Chuck) Covington Clark, Jr. (12/09/08)
CHARLES (CHUCK) COVINGTON CLARK, JR., a resident of Green Forest was born Feb. 28, 1929, in Memphis, Tenn., a son of Charles and Lottie Mae (Williams) Clark, Sr. He departed this life Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 in Green Forest at the age of 79. Mr. Clark is survived by two sons, Chris Trask and wife Jewelle of Green Forest, and Lyn Trask of New Orleans, La.; two daughters, Harriet and husband Ralph Arnold of Springfield, Mo., and Susan and husband Frosty Cartwright of Sand Springs, Okla.; two brothers, Herman Phillips of Nashville, and Cecil Phillips; nine grandchildren, Sara Franklin, Bethany Cox, Wendy Neel, Christian Cartwright, J. ...

Ellee Fleming Swift (12/09/08)
ELLEE FLEMING SWIFT, 101, of Holiday Island, died on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008, at Eureka Springs Hospital in Eureka Springs. Mrs. Swift, daughter of Thomas Banks and Cora (Burt) Fleming, was born on Aug. 8, 1907, in Glade, Ga. She was united in marriage to Roy T. ...

Richard 'DICK' Major (12/03/08)
RICHARD "DICK" MAJOR, a resident of Eureka Springs, was born Aug.t 5, 1920, in Dixon, Ill., a son of Harry Arnold and Amanda (Teachout) Major. He died Nov. 14, 2008, in Eureka Springs, at the age of 88. Mr. Major served as a sergeant in the United States Army during World War II. He attended the First Christian Church. He also was the store manager for A&P Grocery...

Marilyn Lee Liggett (12/03/08)
Memorial services for MARILYN LEE LIGGETT, 45, of Golden, Mo., will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 at 2 p.m. at the Golden First Baptist Church in Golden, with the Rev. Woodrow E. Fletcher officiating. She was born March 27, 1963. Memorials may be made to the National Fibromyalgia Association at 2121 S. Towne Centre Place, Suite 300, Anaheim, Calif. 92806 or may be entrusted to the White Funeral Home...