Obituaries, Times Record, Fort Smith, AR, Monday, December 30, 1996

Nita Shipley: Wister – Nita T. Shipley, 80 of Wister
died Saturday, Dec. 28, 1996 in Sparks Regional
Medical Center. She was a homemaker. 
Funeral will be 2 p.m. Tusday at the Oakland Cemetery
pavillion in Poteau with burial at Oakland Cemetery
under the direction of  Evans-Miller Funeral Home of
Poteau. She is survived by a son, Douglas A. Shipley
of Wister, and a number of nieces and nephews. 

Robert Johnson: Bonneville – Robert Frank Johnson, 84,
of Booneville died Sunday, Dec. 29, 1996 in a
Booneville hospital. He was a truck driver. 
Graveside service will be 1:30 pm Tuesday at Oak Hill
Cemetery under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home
of Booneville. He is survived by three sons, Dale of
Dallas, Paul of Mountain Home and Frank of Bonneville;
Three sisters, Edith Kowalishen on San Leando, Calif.,
Nona Gartman of Houston and Loretta Wright of Lincoln;
two brothers, Kenneth Johnson of Tulsa and Buster
Johnson of Cane Hill; five grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren. 

Louise Lasiter, 84, of Fort Smith, died Friday, Dec.
27, 1996 in a Fort Smith hospital. A retired
salesperson for Hunt's Dry Goods Department Store and
the Greggs Department Store, she was a member of St.
Paul United Methodist Church, the Business and
Professional Women's Organization and the League of
Women Voters. She was the widow of J. Putman Lasiter,
a former employee of the Times Record. Funeral will be
10 a.m. Tuesday in Fentress Mortuary Chapel in Fort
Smith with burial at Forest Park Cemetery. She is
survived by two daughters, Barbara Fraser of Livonia,
Mich., and Sue Smith of Fort Smith; one son, James P.
Lasiter of Fort Smith; two sisters, Melba McElroy of
Ada, OK, and Paula Kenne of Colorado Springs, Colo;
one brother, Benny Benson of Nashville, Tenn; seven
grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers
will be her grandchildren. The family will visit with
friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral
home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul
United Methodist Church, 4100 Grand Ave., Fort Smith,
Ark. 72904 or to Arthritis Foundation, 6213 Lee Ave.,
Little Rock, Ark. 72201

Margaret Misee: Charleston – Margaret Harris Misee,
88, of Charleston died Sunday, Dec. 29, 1996 in her
home. A member of the Hosanah Freewill Baptist Church,
she lived at Midtown Apartments in Fort Smith for 17
years. She was the widow of Hugh “Bill” Misee.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Smith Mortuary
Chapel in Charleston with burial at Morris Cemetery in
Bloomer under the direction of Smith Mortuary of
Charleston. 
She is survived by a daughter, Mary Ann Shotzman of
Charleston, a sister, Nellie Griffith of Charleston; a
brother, John C. Harris of Charleston; six
grandchildren, Wesley, Steve, Kelly, Kevin, and Don
Shotzman and Debbie Rhodes; and 12
great-grandchildren; 
Pallbearers will be Wesley, Steve, Kelly, Kevin, and
Don Spotzman and Lewis Griffith. The family will visit
with friends tonight at Smith Mortuary Chapel from 7
to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Fort
Smith Hospice of Hosanah Freewill Baptist Church. 

Bobby Reed: Waldron – Bobby Joe Reed, 65, of Waldron
died Saturday, Dec. 28, 1996. A Catholic, he was a
veteran of the Korean War and a retired inspector for
Ford Motor Co. 
Funeral will be 2 pm Tuesday in Martin Funeral Home
Chapel in Waldron with burial at Duncan Cemetery in
Waldron. 
He is survived by his wife, Betty; three daughters,
Jackie Morris of Dumas, Texas, and Lisa Bursey and
Pollyanne Cavanaugh, both of Waldron; four sons,
Arthur Husser of Waldron, Don Husser of Plymouth,
Mich., Alan Husser of Heavener and Robert Reed of
Atwater, Calif.; one sister, Cleta Thompson of
Stockton, Calif., two  brothers, Tom of Talihina and
Samuel of Idaho; 13 randchildren and one
great-grandchild. Viewing will be from 3 to 9 pm today
and 9 am to noon Tuesday at the funeral home. 

Katherine Cole, 76, of Van Buren died Saturday, Dec.
28, 1996, in a Fort Smith hospital. She was a member
of the First Presbyterian Church in Van Buren and a
retired secretary at Fort Chaffee.
Funeral will be at 10 am Tuesday in Ocker Memorial
Chapel with burial at Gill Cemetery under the
direction of Ocker Funeral Home. 
She is survived by her husband, Fred; a daughter,
Patricia Harmon of Van Buren; two sons, Fred G. Cole
of Bloomington, Calif., and James Cole of Springdale;
and several great-grandchildren. 
Pallbearers will be Jake Stratmann, Duke Campbell,
Jessie Sangster, Don Bower, Dick Friday and Paul
Bower. 

Cecelia Motti: Hartman – Cecelia M. Motti, 81, of
Hartman died Sunday, Dec. 29, 1996 in a Johnson County
hospital. She was the widow of John Leo Motti. 
Funeral will be at 2 pm Tuesday in Coal Hill Church of
Christ with burial at Coal Hill Cemetery in Coal Hill
under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home of
Clarksville.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Billy
Leo and Joyce Motti of Acworth, Ga.; one grandson,
Michael J. Motti of Inman, S.C.; and two
great-grandchildren, Mathew J. Mottie and Mariah J.
Motti of Calgary, Canada.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7 pm tonight at Hardwicke
Funeral Home. 

Mamie Martin: Stroud, OK – Mamie Martin, 87, of Stroud
died Thursday, Dec 26, 1996 in a Stroud hospital. A
homemaker, she was a member of First Freewill Baptist
Church. Funeral will be 11 am Tuesday at the Oakland
Cemetery pavillion in Poteau with burial at Oakland
Cemetery under the direction of Evans-Miller Funeral
Home of Poteau. She is survived by a son, Elmer Lee
Martin of Stroud; and a sister, Mary Adams of Ada, OK.


Nancy Collier
Muldrow – Nancy Lou Collier, 57, of Muldrow died
Saturday, Dec. 28, 1996 in Fort Smith. A homemaker,
she was a member of the Church of the Nazarene.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. today in Agent Chapel in
Muldrow with burial at Blackjack Cemetery near
Muldrow. 
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth; two
daughters, Sheryal Forst of Paris and Sharon Browder
of Fort Smith; her mother, Myrtie May Jones of
Muldrow; two sisters, Myrtle Childers of Gans and
Betty Heard of Shreveport, La; one brother, Jimmy
Jones of Roland; and six grandchildren. 
Pallbearers will be Harvey Rogers, J. W. Neal, Vernon
Ross and James, Wayne and Mark Childers. 

Oleta Brantley
Kibler – Oleta Lee Brantley, 82, of Kibler died
Saturday, Dec. 28, 1996 in Van Buren. A seamstress,
she was a member of Grand Avenue Baptist Church in
Fort Smith. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday
at Gill Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of
Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home. 
She is survived by one daughter, Zoleta Root of
Kibler; two sons, Le Royce Brantley of Gorman, Texas,
and Jerry Brantley of Grand Coulie, Wash.; one sister,
Bitsy Martin of Brownsfield, Texas; five grandchildren
and 15 great-grandchildren. 
The family will visit with friends from 6 to 7 pm
tonight at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, 4100 Alma
Hwy., in Van Buren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Fort Smith
Community Hospice, 1115 S. Waldron Rd., Fort Smith,
AR. 72903. 

Opal Hulsey: Arkoma – Opal Hulsey, 78, of Arkoma died
Sunday Dec 29 1996 in a Fort Smith hospital. A member
of the First Baptist Church of Arkoma, she was a
retired nurse’s assistant from Sparks Regional Medical
Center. 
Graveside service will be 10 am Tuesday at Oak
Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Lewis
Funeral Chapel of Fort Smith. 
She is survived by her husband, Walter; two daughters,
Pat Hallsted of Fort Smith and Ann Vandermillion of
Fort Smith; four sons, Raymond of Arkoma and Dale,
Danny and James, all of Fort Smith; two sisters, Ima
Ring of Indianapolis and Irene Gunning of San Antonia;
one brother, Woodrow Garner of Fort Smith; 10
grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. 
The Family will visit with friends tonight from 6:30
to 7:30 pm at the funeral home. 
Memorial contributions may be made to the American
Cancer Society, PO Box 5436,  Fort Smith, AR. 72913. 

Forrest Hensley, Jr: Amarillo, Texas – Forrest Thomas
Hensley Jr., 32 of Amarillo died Wednesday Dec 25,
1996 in Amarillo. A Protestant, he had lived in the
Talihina area most of his life. 
Funeral will be at 2pm today at Drake-Jones Chapel in
Talihina with burial at New Talihina City Cemetery. 
He is survived by his parents, Forrest Hensley Sr., of
Wakita, Okla., and Dolores Davis of Bengal, Okla.;
three sisters, Marsha Jones of Yukon, Okla., Susan
Kreiman of Cherokee, Okla., and Lisa James of Red Oak,
Okla.; two brothers, Brandon Hensley of Talihina and
Harry Davis of Coulterville, Calif.; and his maternal
grandmmother Lena Walden of Talihina; 
Pallbearers will be Melvin Palmer, Cameron and John
Swearigen, Eugne and Steve Wallen, and Marion
McCurtain, Jr.

(Picture) William Leding: William A. “Bud” Leding of
Fort Smith died Sunday, Dec. 29, 1996 in Fort Smith.
Preceded in death by Rose Ann Leding, he was a member
of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fort Smith
and was self-employed with Leding Cleaners. 
Funeral will be 10:30 am Tuesday in Immaculate
Conception Catholic Church with burial at Calvary
Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Edwards
Funeral Home of Fort Smith. 
He is survived by his wife, Marie; six daughters, Mary
Heiss of Hollister, MO., Cathy Kobler of Little Rock,
Cecilia Sloat of Conway, Theresa Jenkins of Plano,
Texas, and Celestine Eichler and Deloris Tomlinson,
both of Fayetteville; five sons, Bill of Memphis,
Tenn., John of Euliss, Pat of Springdale and Anthony
and Mike, both of Fort Smith; one sister, Mennie
Carlin of Fort Smith; 29 grandchildren and sevn
great-grandchildren. 
Pallbearers will be Bill, Anthony, John, Pat, and Mike
Leding and Benno Schluterman. 
Honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons, Leo Heiss,
Jeremiah Heiss, Chris Klober, Don Sloat IV, Scott
Sloat, Brian Sloat, Johnny Eichler, Chad Eichler and
Adam Eichler. 

(Picture) Ogle L Brandon, 84, of Fort Smith died
Saturday, Dec. 28, 1996 in Fort Smith. A member of
Calvary Baptist Church, he was a World War II veteran
and had retired from OG&E. He was the widower of Ruth
Brandon. 
Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at the U.S.
National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of
Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith. 
He is survived by one daughter, Jo Ann Hardgrave of
Mountainburg; one sister, Lucille Cannon of
Caulksville; one granddaughter, Deborah Hardgrave of
Fort Smith; and one niece, Jean Ann Steele of
Charleston. 
Pallbearers will be David Rucker, James Hawkins, Art
Jones, Jim Jenkins, Sam Norvell and Tom Hardgrave. 
Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist
Church, 2801 Midland Blvd., Fort Smith, Ark., 72904 or
the charity of the donor’s choice.