JOHN SHIRLEY
John Harrison Shirley, 52, of Lonoke died on Nov. 6. He was preceded in death by his parents, James W. and Orie Jean Shirley.
He is survived by his children, Jeremy and Brenda Shirley of Holland, Mich., and Michelle and Benny Riegel, Jr. of Lonoke, six brothers, James Shirley, Mark Shirley, William Shirley of Lonoke, Larry Shirley of Michigan, Paul Shirley of Ward and Terry Shirley of Beebe, and sister, Vickie Rhein of Lonoke.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9 at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel with interment in Concord Cemetery.
CARL RICKETTS
Carl W. Ricketts, 73, of Conway died Nov. 5. He was born October 18, 1933 in Clarksville to the late Homer D. Ricketts and Bertha Hurst Ricketts. He was retired from Wal-Mart Distribution Center and an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.
He is survived by five sisters, Norma Boen of Kansas City, Mo., Alice Treadway of Cabot, Jeannie Smith of Lamar, Barbara Freeling of North Little Rock and Georgia Hale of Bald Knob, and one brother, Robert Ricketts of Fort Smith, and many nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Vernell Blakslee and Jane Bradley, and two brothers, Lawrence and Bill Ricketts.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 at Cabin Creek Baptist Church in Clarksville. Cremation arrangements by Roller McNutt Funeral Home in Conway.
GERALDINE COX
Geraldine Sentell Cox of Ward passed away Nov. 4 in her home following months battling a series of strokes. Geraldine, 78, was preceded in death in 1997 by her husband of 52 years, John E. Cox. Both were life long residents of Ward. Geraldine and her husband were retired dairy farmers, cattle farmers, business owners, business operators and business investors. Together they owned and operated the John Cox Roller Rink of Ward/Jacksonville from 1951 to 1962. John Cox Farms remains in operation today.
Geraldine was preceded in death by a baby daughter, her mother, Hettie Sentell of Ward, her father Allie (Ruth) Sentell of Ward, a sister, Allie Mae Sentell (Dewitt) Freeling of Jacksonville, three brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law. Geraldine is survived by her son, Frankie John and wife Pat Cox of Ward, her daughter, Francis Jean Cox and husband Joe Stocks of the residence, five grandchildren, Christopher Bradley (Trish) Cox of Cabot, Veronica Glover of Ward, Frankie Patrick (Esther) Cox of Ward, April (Dan) Devore of Ward, and Kim (Allan) Sol Cruz of Dallas, Texas, and six great grandchildren, Kayla, Hayley, Taylor, Ashley, Brooke and Alyssa.
Geraldine is also survived by two brothers, James and wife Clara Sentell of Beebe, and Donald and wife Pat House of North Little Rock, a sister, Darlene Sentell and husband Rev. Paul Graves of Sherwood, sisters-in-law, Mrs. Bernard Cox of Royal Oak, Mich., Mrs. Lloyd Cox of Mobile, Ala., Geraldine Cox and husband Jim Morris of Ward, and eight nieces and 16 nephews.
Geraldine was an active member of Ward United Methodist Church and the Auxillary of The Gideons International, Cabot Camp since 1980.
A very special “thank you” is extended to our churches, our families, our friends and our neighbors that provided spiritual and emotional support. A “thank you” is extended to Miss Sue for private home health care assistance during her latter months, and in the early months another special “thank you” to physical therapists, Donna and David with White County Home Health, the physical therapy staff of Reliance Rehabilitation Center in Beebe and McAfee Medical Clinic in Beebe.
Family received friends Nov. 6 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Funeral services were Nov. 7 at Ward United Methodist Church with Rev. Wes Howard and Rev. Paul Graves officiating with musical arrangements by Mrs. Paul Graves. Burial was in Sixteenth Section Cemetery in Lonoke County. Pallbearers were Jerry Russell, Richard Bradshaw, Ronald Gross, Wayne Guess, Jim Martin and Mayes Scott. Honorary pallbearers were The Gideons International.
DANNY ROWLETT
Danny Rowlett, 53, of Conway died Saturday Nov. 4. He was an avid outdoorsman, devoted family man and grandfather. He looked forward every year to bringing his family together for his annual fish fry. He worked for SnapOn tools for 33 years and was a member of Oak Bowery Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Judy, two sons, Danny Jr. and Jeremy Rowlett, both of Austin, two grandchildren, Christian and Brianna Rowlett of Austin, three brothers, Presley Rowlett of Waynesville, Mo., Larry Rowlett of Quitman and Randy Rowlett of Searcy, four sisters, Jonell Burroughs of Donaldson, Vicki Burnett of Conway, Gail Orvis of Floyd, and Debbie Finley of Austin, parents-in-law, Bead and Wanda Griffith, and many nieces and nephews.
Family received friends Nov. 7 at Westbrook Funeral home.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Beryl Baptist Church in Vilonia, with burial in Dunkard Cemetery at Austin.
CHARLENE GRIFFIN
Charlene Cotner Griffin, 74, of Vivian, La., passed away Oct. 31 in Vivian. She was born Aug. 29, 1932 to the late Jake and Mary Jane Cassinger Cotner in Henrietta, Okla. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Charles Cotner and a grandson, Larry Dorn. Survivors include her daughters, Jeannie Roberts of Cabot and Wanda Redding of Conway, sisters, Wanda Holbrook of Shreveport, La., and Glenda Vance of Russellville, a brother, Ron Cotner of Moss Point, Miss., as well as six grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were Nov. 3 at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Larry Burton officiating. Burial followed in Bayou Meto Cemetery in Jacksonville.
RUTH TUCKER
Ruth Lillian Jackson Tucker, 87, departed this life Nov. 3 to join her Savior and heavenly family. Ruth was born December 28, 1919 in Cadiz, Ky., to David and Elizabeth (Jefferson) Jackson. She was a caregiver to her parents for many years and was proud of her Jefferson and Jackson heritage. Ruth was a loving wife, mom, big momma, grandma, and mimi. She was a charter member of Victory Baptist Church in Cabot and she loved her church family very much. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, eight siblings, and her husband of fifty years, Thurman Tucker, as well as a daughter, Betty Burkhalter.
Ruth is survived by her children, Bill Tucker and Rex Tucker of Searcy, Ruth Ann Bush (Ed) of Benton and Peggy Taylor (James) of Beebe; grandchildren Herschell Burkhalter Jr., Kathy Burks (Paul), Bill Burkhalter (Rhonda), Billy Tucker (Tonya), David Tucker (Sissy), Charlie Tucker (Kelly), Reggie Tucker, Zoe Ann Abraham, Regina Turner (Jack), Leah Collins (Dale), Phil Filiatreau (LouAnn), SSgt. Corey Taylor (Misty), Jenni Richbourg (Dustin), and Tammy Taylor; great-grandchildren Trey Burkhalter, Jeremy Burkhalter, Kevin Burks (Esmerelda), Keith Burks, Beth Burkhalter, Brandi Burkhalter, Spc. Katrina Tucker (Brian), Laura Tucker, PFC Lance Tucker, Amy Tucker, Katy Tucker, Amanda Holland, Aaron Abraham, David Michael Key, Cambrin Collins (Jennifer), Canaan Collins, Austin Filiatreau (Amanda), Tommy Filiatreau, Raven Taylor and Lexi Taylor; great-greatgrandchildren, Jacob Burks, Avery Mills, Kierra Tucker, Katilyn Holland, Kyle Holland, Chase Abraham, Kayleb Key, Luke Collins, and the children of her heart, Herschell and Joyce Burkhalter, Howard and Charlene Burton, Martha Tucker, and a nephew, W.A. Tucker (Phyllis) and his family.
Family received friends Nov. 7 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. A celebration of her life and home going will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Victory Baptist Church in Cabot with burial to follow in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Beebe.
