Mountaineer Echo Newspaper Week of December 9, 2002 issue: Dale LAFFOON of Harriet, Arkansas died Wednesday, December 1, 2004. He was 80 years old. Mr. LAFFOON was born March 25, 1924 at Rush, Arkansas. He was a farmer, veteran of the US Army and member of the Rock Creek Assembly of God Church. Survivors include his wife, Polly WATTS LAFFOON of Harriet, AR; daughters, Georgia Sue HORTON of Marshall, AR and Nancy DOCEKAL of Witt Springs, AR; sisters, Zella AVEY of Rock Creek, AR and Linnie JACKSON of Cozahome, AR; nine grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. Visitation was held Thursday, December 2, 2004 at Roller-Coffman Funeral Home. Funeral services were held Friday, December 3, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at Rock Creek Assembly of God Church with Phillip Avey, Phillip Clark and David Campbell officiating. Burial followed in Rock Creek Cemetery with Charles DYE, Fred JACKSON, Jerry WATTS, Jerry JONES, Donnie Bert WATTS and Andrew LAFFOON serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Odas HUMPHREY and all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Coffman-Roller Funeral Home in Marshall, Arkansas (870) 448-3338.
Mountaineer Echo Newspaper Week of December 9, 2002 issue: Alma CHEEK of Yellville, Arkansas died Friday, December 3, 2004 at the Marion County Nursing Home in Yellville. She was 101 years old. Ms. CHEEK was born October 9, 1903 at Pyatt, Arkansas to John and Caldonia FISHER CHEEK. She was a homemaker and worked and cared for Mr. and Mrs. Gus PIERCE for 27 years. She also cared for her parents while they were living. Ms. CHEEK was a lifetime resident of Marion County, Arkansas. She was a member of the Snow Assembly of God Church. She enjoyed sewing and making quilts that she gave away to her loved ones. Ms. CHEEK saw many changes in her lifetime from growing cotton to Social Security and from horse and buggy to the automobile. Survivors include her brother, Clifford CHEEK of Yellville, AR and a host of nieces and nephews. Her parents, six brothers, Dorsie, Deroose, Virgil, James, Bill and Dewey, and three sisters, Tessie WILLIAMS, Eva WILLIAMS and Mae MITCHELL preceded her in death. Visitation was held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 5, 2004 at Burns Funeral Home in Yellville. Funeral services were held Monday, December 6, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home Chapel in Yellville with Brother Kevin Rogers officiating. Burial followed in Georges Creek Cemetery in Yellville with Gene KING, Tommy CHEEK, Doyle CHEEK, Charlie CHEEK, Johnny CHEEK and Bobby CHEEK serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Tim GILLEY, Junior GILLEY, Dr. Thomas LESLIE, Dr. Richard AHRENS, Dr. Robert AHRENS and the staff of the Marion County Nursing Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Georges Creek Cemetery, c/o 117 MC 3028, Yellville, AR 72687. Arrangements were under the direction of Burns Funeral Home in Yellville, Arkansas (870) 449-6621.
Mountaineer Echo Newspaper Week of December 16, 2004 issue: William "Bill" STEVENS, 67 of Gassville, Arkansas passed away at his residence on Monday, December 6, 2004. A gathering of friends is planned at 273 Gassville Gardens Loop, Apt. #7 for family and friends on Thursday, December 23, 2004 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Burial will be private. William Lewis STEVENS was born to Lewis and Adeline Dorothy GRAMER STEVENS on January 20, 1937 at Chicago, Illinois. On April 16, 1960, "Bill" married Geraldine KRENCIK and lived in the Chicago area during his years as a cost accountant for a construction company. He moved to Arkansas in 1999 from Sun City, Arizona. He enjoyed reading, philosophy and his dogs. Mr. STEVENS is survived by his son, William STEVENS, Jr. of Hampton, Virginia; two daughters, Madeline (Richard) TUCKER of Cotter, AR and Maria Olivia STEVENS of Chicago, IL; one granddaughter, Sunshine Brittany TUCKER of Cotter, AR; and former wife Geraldine STEVENS of Chicago, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents. The family requests memorials to the Diabetes Foundation. Arrangements are by Twin Lakes Cremation Society and Funeral Home in Bull Shoals, Arkansas 870-445-4257.
Mountaineer Echo Newspaper Week of December 9, 2002 issue: Russell "Burhead" WALLACE of Tecumseh, Missouri (since 1997) died Tuesday, December 7, 2004 at Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He was 75 years old. Mr. WALLACE was born January 29, 1929 to Jeff and Ruth MANN WALLIS. He was a self-employed dry waller. Survivors include his wife, Anna WALLACE of Tecumseh, MO; sons and daughters-in-law, Ronnie and Glenda WALLACE of Flippin, AR, Norman and Diane WALLACE of Flippin, AR and Rusty and Tania WALLACE of Salem, AR; step-sons, Larry GRAY, Tony GRAY and James C. GRAY all of Festus, MO; step-daughter, Karen HOYLE of Summit, AR; brother, Tommy WALLACE of Berryville, AR; sister, Helena WALLIS of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. His parents, first wife, Maxine Rose, his second, wife, Inez WALLACE, and grandson, Breten Russell WALLACE, preceded him in death. Visitation will be Friday, December 10, 2004 from 1:00 p.m. until time of service at Burns Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral service will be Friday, December 10, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home Chapel in Yellville, Arkansas with Minister Glen Hicks officiating. Burial will follow in Flippin Cemetery in Flippin, Arkansas with Jimmy WALLACE, Ronnie WALLACE, Shannon SCHROEDER, Norman WALLACE, James WALLACE, Tommy WALLACE, Rusty WALLACE and Ronald Lee WALLACE serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Brandon HUDSON, Scotty MELTON, Monty MCCRACKEN, and Josh STONER. Arrangements are under the direction of Burns Funeral Home in Yellville, Arkansas (870) 449-6621.
Mountaineer Echo Newspaper Week of December 16, 2004 issue: Ben F. PEOPLES of Yellville, Arkansas died Friday, December 10, 2004 at the North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison, Arkansas. He was 71 years old. Mr. PEOPLES was born July 2, 1933 at San Diego, California to Casey and Pauline Oral MCPHERSON PEOPLES. On December 2, 1966, he married Vera MONTEZ. Mr. Peoples was employed as an audio specialist for Hope International. He was a US Army veteran and a member of the Yellville Seventh Day Adventist Church. Survivors include his wife, Vera PEOPLES of Yellville, AR; sons, Ben PEOPLES of Riverside, CA and Glen PEOPLES of Idaho; daughters, Becky O'REILLY of Maryland and Beverly WALKER of St. Louis, MO; sisters, Nancy BOYCE of Chula Vista, CA and Patty WOOD of Orting, WA; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchildren. His parents preceded him in death. Funeral service and burial will be private. No visitation is scheduled. Arrangements are under the direction of Burns Funeral Home in Yellville, Arkansas 72687.
Mountaineer Echo Newspaper Week of February 3, 2005 issue: Hazel Virginia BRIGGS, 85, passed away Dec. 12, 2004 of natural causes. Hazel was born in Flippin, Arkansas on March 18, 1919 to Will and Clara S. OSBORN. Hazel spent her school years in Arkansas. She was married to Jewell BRIGGS, Jr., on Sept. 23, 1939. They relocated to the Yakima Valley in 1941. Hazel was known for her love of the Lord and was a member of the Church of Christ on McKinley Ave., here in Yakima. Her early years were spent working at a variety of jobs, including Birds Eye Cannery, packing apples, Avon salesperson, in the orchards by her husband's side, seamstress and tailor. She loved to spend time, sharing her knowledge of sewing and teaching those skills to anyone who wanted to learn. She was active growing up in 4-H as a member and later here, as a leader for several years. She considered sewing a hobby, not just a job, but gardening was a definite favorite. She loved both vegetables and flowers, but bar none, roses were her favorite! She was considered a friend to many and will be deeply missed by all including her three children, Larry BRIGGS and wife, Bonnie of Selah, Jack BRIGGS of Yakima and Sandra HANSON of Bellevue, WA; three brothers, Richard OSBORN and wife, Genevieve of Dora, MO, Arnold Ray OSBORN and wife, Jewell of Bella Vista, Ark., George OSBORN of Flippin, Ark.; three sisters, Wanda ROSE and husband, Gerald of Yellville, Ark., Allen BILLINGS of Yellville, Ark., and JoAnn MCDOWELL of Flippin, Ark.; sister-in-law, Virginia KLEIN and husband Ned of Yakima; seven grandchildren, Rodney BRIGGS and wife, Sharon of Yakima, Done Lynn FELDMAN and husband, Robert of Mid West City, OK, Anthony BRIGGS of Seattle, Carrie NOYES and husband, Chris of Yakima, Christie BINGLE and husband, Bo of Yakima, Jason STONE and wife, Jessica of Yakima and Ryan MACDONALD of Seattle; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Aaron BRIGGS, and her husband, Jewell BRIGGS, Jr. Special acknowledgement to the June KING family, close friend Pat KING, and a loving church family. Funeral Services were held Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at Valley Hills Funeral Home, Yakima, with burial followed in Tahoma Cemetery. Family. Friends gathered at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Spirit Alive Wesleyan Church, 3601 Mountainview Rd., Yakima. Donations in her memory may be made to the Church of Christ, 1906 McKinley Ave., Yakima, WA 98902. Arrangements were under the direction of Valley Hills Funeral Home in Yakima, WA.
Mountaineer Echo Newspaper Week of December 16, 2004 issue: Gary Gene HOLMES of Yellville, Arkansas died Monday, December 13, 2004 at his residence in Yellville. He was 42 years old. Mr. HOLMES was born July 17, 1962 at French Camp, California to Kenneth Herman HOLMES and Norma Jean POOR MAXWELL. On September 20, 1982, he married Dina Michelle JEFFERSON. Mr. HOLMES was a farmer and resident of Marion County, Arkansas since 1975. He moved to the area from Elkins, Arkansas. Survivors include his wife, Dina Michelle JEFFERSON HOLMES of Yellville, AR; son, Kenneth Chase HOLMES of Yellville, AR; daughter, Kylie Michelle HOLMES of Yellville, AR; father, Kenneth HOLMES of Bakersfield, CA; mother, Jean MAXWELL of Yellville, AR; brothers, Wayne HOLMES of Batesville, AR and Jacky B. HOLMES of Salesville, AR; and sisters, Martha Jeannie GILLEY of Yellville, AR, Tracey Lynn LAYTON of Yellville, AR and Bobbie Sue LANCE of Conway, AR. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 17, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at Yellville First Baptist Church in Yellville with Brother Jeff Jefferson and Brother Jackie Jefferson officiating. Burial will be at Mountain View Cemetery in Flippin, Arkansas with Wayne HOLMES, Jacky HOLMES, Joshua HOLMES, Brandon HOLMES, Ben HOLMES and Corey MATHIS serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Robbie ALLEN, David (Coon) CASSELL, Marc (Tottie) MILLIGAN, Terry Bud LAYTON and Jim JEFFERSON. Arrangements are under the direction of Burns Funeral Home in Yellville, Arkansas (870) 449-6621.
Mountaineer Echo Newspaper Week of January 13, 2005 issue: Bob STAFFORD, age 78, of Oakland, Arkansas died Monday, December 27, 2004. He was born January 14, 1926, to George R. and Emma Sue COLLINS STAFFORD. A lifetime area native, Mr. STAFFORD married Wilma Jean HENRY on June 15, 1947, at Flippin. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran who served on Okinawa. Mr. STAFFORD was a lifetime member of Hoevel-Barnett VFW Post 1341 in Bull Shoals, Mountain Home Masonic Lodge 225 and was the former owner of Cedar Tap Restaurant. He served in the early 1960s with Mountain Home Police Department, and, more recently, was a greeter at Wal-Mart Supercenter. Survivors are two sons, Jim (Kathy) STAFFORD of Oakland, AR and Jerry (Linda) STAFFORD of Lakeview, AR; five grandchildren, Misty, Amy, Michelle, Jamie and Cody; and one great-grandchild, Kaydence. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife. Visitation was from noon-9 p.m. today at Roller Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. Funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Thursday, December 30, 2004 at Roller Chapel with Bro. Jim Wallis officiating. Interment will followed at Oakland Cemetery with military honors by Hoevel-Barnett VFW Post 1341. Pallbearers were Paul SISNEY, Jeremy SKIVER, Ricky RING, Dave BRUCE, Ronnie COLLINS and Sean VAUGHAN. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Ozarks. Arrangements were under the direction of Roller Funeral in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Visit on online guest book at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.