JIMMIE BOWLAN
Jimmie Keith Bowlan, Sr., 49, of Carlisle departed this life Oct. 14.
His parents, Tom and Ruby Bowlan, preceded him in death. He is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Mary; children, Jimmie Bowlan, Jr. and Ashley Bowlan all of Carlisle; his brothers, Tommie Lee of Mansfield, Ronnie and Dannie of Carlisle; two sisters; Louise Snider of Hazen and Bonnie Kay of Floyd, and many nieces and nephews.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman. When he was on the lake or out in the woods, he was happy. He worked for the Lonoke County Road Department for 23 years. Jimmie leaves behind to cherish his memory his family, friends and co-workers.
Funeral services were held Oct. 17 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke with burial in Hamilton Cemetery.
WAYNE COCHRAN
Wayne Cochran, 77, of Cabot passed away Oct. 15.
He was born Sept. 29, 1929 in Bearden to the late Tom Henry and Myrtle Marie Cochran. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother. Survivors include his wife, Melba Cochran of the home; two sons, Steve Cochran of Little Rock and David Cochran of Cabot; one daughter, Cindy Cochran of Atlanta, Ga.; one sister, Eloise Landis of Grapevine, Texas; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18 at Thomas Funeral Service at Cabot. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 in Mt. Carmel Cemetery at Cabot officiated by Bruce Tucker, minister of Southside Church of Christ.
Family requests memorials be made to Southside Church of Christ; Arkansas Hospice Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Founda-tion of America.
MELANIE COX
Melanie Dawn Cox, 20, of Cabot passed away October 10 in Searcy.
She was born July 20, 1986 in Blytheville. Melanie was a member of Southside Church of Christ in Cabot. She received a liver transplant in 2002. She was a 2004 graduate from Cabot High School, where she participated in band and junior high basketball.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Janiece Smithson, and grandfather, Douglas Fairley; great-grandparents, Martha Abbott, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fairley, and Mr. and Mrs. Doyle V. Bradsher. Melanie is survived by her mother, Maleah Smithson of Cabot; stepfather, Michael Smithson of Austin; two sisters, Malorie and Melissa Smithson both of the home; grandparents, Ron and Billie Finley of Searcy, J.W. Smithson of Trumann, and Rosa Cox of Tenn.; great grandparent, Ira Abbott of Trumann; aunts and uncles, Trey and Paige Talley, Shane Fairley, Debbie Smithson, and Dana Ferguson.
Services were Friday, Oct. 13, at Southside Church of Christ with Bruce Tucker officiating. Burial was in Mississippi County Memorial Gardens in Osceola.
Pallbearers were Mike Fortson, Hal Reper, Jonathan Walthall, Josh Henson, Matt Straschinski, John Minard, Jonathan Taylor, Lindsey Fairley, Shane Fairley, Derrick Smithson, Doyle Bradsher, David Bufford, and Trey Talley.
Memorials may be made to the Cabot Schools band program and to any organ-recipient association. The family would like to encourage others to have an awareness of the importance of organ donation. Arrangements were under the direction of Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
BETTY GIBBS
Betty Anne Gibbs, 60, passed away Oct. 9.
She was a member of Mountain View Baptist Church in Wolverton Mountain, and was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Survivors include her husband, Don Gibbs of the home; one son, Tim Gibbs and his wife Derenda and two grandchildren, Blake Gibbs and Seth Gibbs, all of East End; her mother, Betty Marie Howard of Heber Springs; two brothers, Jimmy Burris of North Little Rock and Daryl Wilds of Mayflower; two sisters, Charlene Wilds of Quitman and Jeanelle Verser of Prim.
Funeral services were Oct. 12 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke with burial in Lonoke Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Home Care, Inc. of Conway, 821 North Creek Dr., Conway, Ark. 72032.
B.A. GRIFFITH
B.A. “Buck” Griffith, 81, of McRae died Oct. 14. He was born March 20, 1925, to the late Lee and Elsie Osborne Griffith.
He was baptized in the Methodist Church and a member of McRae United Methodist for many years. He served three years in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II, two years in the Korean War, four years in Naval Reserve and four years in the Air Force Reserve.
Buck served 20 years with the Little Rock Police Department, retiring as a lieutenant. He worked for Arkansas Trailer Manufacturing for six years as vice president and sales manager. Later, he was employed at Baker Leasing Corporation for seven years, also as vice president and sales manager.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father; a sister, Pauline Griffith; two brothers, James H. and Paul F. “Cub” Griffith; two nephews, Mike and Jim. Buck is survived by his loving wife, Peggy Self Griffith; two sons, Danny Griffith and wife Liz and Jacque Griffith, all of Little Rock; one grandson, Scott Griffith and wife Melody; one great-grandson, Zac, all of Little Rock, and a host of nieces and nephews and wonderful friends.
Donations may be made to the McRae Veterans Memorial c/o McRae City Hall, 115 South Grand, McRae, Ark. 72102, which Buck and numerous others were instrumental in establishing. Funeral was Oct. 17, at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Beebe.
DAVID KIGHT
David Houston Kight, 40, of Cabot passed away on Thursday, Oct. 12. He was a welder and member of Boiler Makers Union Local 66. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly Blucker Kight and one son, Ian Tyler Kight, both of Cabot; mother, Margrett Kight; a brother, Heath Arlen Kight; father and mother-in-law, Wayne and Joyce Blucker; sister-in-law, Linda Blucker, all of Jacksonville and his best friend, Buddy.
He was preceded in death by his father, David Arlen Kight; grandparents, Gilbert Houston and Willie Pearl Kight and Edward L. and Natella Childs. Funeral services were Oct. 17 at North Little Rock Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Bethel Cemetery.
ELVEN SLAVENS
Elven DeLos Slavens, 69, of Jacksonville went to be with the Lord Oct. 15 in North Little Rock.
He was born July 19, 1937 in Napa, Calif., to the late Cameron Elven Slavens and Ruby Evelyn Craig. He was also preceded in death by his step-mother, Genela Slavens and sister-in-law, Esther Crowder. He served in the Army, was a carpenter by trade, a manufacturing engineer for IBM and a member of two bowling leagues at Sherwood Lanes. He was a Christian.
Survivors include his wife, Marlene Slavens of Jacksonville; children, Kandy and her husband Steve Sager of Tucson, Ariz., Frank Slavens and his wife Marsha of Bowling Green, South Carolina, Steve and his wife Libby Slavens of Harlingen, Texas, and Jacqueline and her husband Douglas Zender of Loveland, Col.; stepfather, James T. Crowder, Sr. of Col., brothers James T. Crowder, Jr. and his wife Linda of Longmont, Col. and David Alan Crowder of Col.; sister, Lois Ann Tatum and her husband Lynn of Jacksonville; sister-in-law, Joyce Kandra-Bell of Salt Lake, Utah; grandchildren, Cember Slavens, LaRee Slavens, Crystal Slavens, Heidi Meador, Rochelle and Jeremy Roden, Cameron Slavens, Craig Slavens, Phillip Slavens, Christopher Mercer, Jonathan and Shea Slavens, SSGT Elizabeth A. Jones, and Jeremy Zender; great-grandchild, Haley Roden; nieces and nephews, Debbie and Dan Sedelmeier, Kathy and Bruce Tenenbaum and Mark and Annette Tatum; other family, Paul A. Jones and Shelly Page- Slavens.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in Moore’s Funeral Home Chapel at Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree somewhere in his honor.
MILDREN WARREN
Mildred Harleston Warren, 91, a long time resident of Beebe passed away Oct. 15.
She was residing at Autumn Leaves of Carrollton, at Carrollton, Texas. She was born on May 11, 1915, in Hazen. She is survived by one daughter, Rosalie Alexander and husband Ron of Highland Village, Texas, and one son, Dr. Robert Hughes Warren and wife Tommie of Little Rock; four grandchildren, Ann Marie Warren, Mark Richard Warren and wife Mandy, Robert Vera, and John Vera.; two great-grandchildren, Madison and Megan; two sisters; Rosalie Hassell and Jane Stephens of Judsonia.
Her husband, Robert Lee Warren, preceded her in death in 1990. She spent many years as an elementary school teacher. She also taught piano and organ lessons and served as a church organist at both First Baptist Church and First Methodist Church in Beebe. During her career she was a director of public school music at Beebe High School, music education instructor at the Arkansas Children’s Colony, and was the developer of the first public school program for the educable mentally retarded in the Beebe school system. She was active in the community and shared her love of music with many by playing for community functions and special occasions. She was named one of the remarkable women in Arkansas in 1977.
Even with an active career, she always put her family first. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren, always reminding them that she loved them more than the last number. She was a true example of a person who put God first, family second, and others third. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.
Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at First United Methodist Church in Beebe. Memorials may be made to: Castle Hills Baptist Church Choir, 4561 N. Josey Lane, Carrollton, Texas 75010.