Alvia Fowler
Alvia “Granny” Faye Fowler, 92, of Beebe went to be with her Saviour Jesus Christ May 7. She was born Jan. 19, 1915, at Heber Springs to the late Kit and Bertha Bowers. She was preceded in death by her husband, Humbert Fowler; two brothers and two sisters.
She is survived by one daughter, Linda and husband Doyce Owens of Beebe; three grandchildren, Ricky and wife Trudi Owens of Austin, Angie and husband David Rowden of Merriam Woods, Mo., and Cindy and husband Andrew McColgan of Beebe; seven great-grandsons, Matt, Rick, Jr., Justin, Zack, John, Jeremiah and Houston; three great-granddaughters, Linda, Tosha and Emily; five great-great-granddaughters; four sisters, Eva Mann of California, Pauline Parrish of Little Rock, Reva Kelley of Beebe and Patsy Wilson of Floyd.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 9 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe with burial in Beebe Cemetery.
Dorothy Griffin
Dorothy Griffin, 78, of Austin went to be with her Lord and Savior May 7.
She was born May 18, 1928, in Searcy to the late Earnest Willie and Nellie Beakley Norman. She was a member of Austin Station Baptist Church where she was active in Women on Missions, music programs, vacation bible school and was a sunday school teacher.
She was preceded in death by husband, Cecil Herbert Griffin, and her sister, Wanda Griffin. She is survived by two sons, Mickeal Griffin and wife Robin of Cabot and Norman Griffin and wife Brenda of Ward; two brothers, Richard Norman of Texarkana and E. W. Norman, Jr. and wife Twilla of Austin; one sister, Alice Davis and husband James of Austin; four grandchildren, Joshua Griffin and wife Monica, Amy Johnson and husband Jeffery, Tim Griffin and wife Jenilee and Amber Teague and husband Brian; five great-grandchildren, Mason Griffin, Jeffery Ethan Johnson, Hoyt Griffin, Levi Griffin and Ava Griffin.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 9 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe with burial in Old Austin Cemetery at Ward.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Arkansas, 10411 West Markham, Suite 130, Little Rock, Ark., 72205-1409 or a charity of choice.
Davio Barrosa
Davio Ruben Barrosa, 37, died April 28. He was born Aug. 29 to Alberto J. and Noemi S. Barrosa. He proudly served his country for 18 years.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Romulo DeLuca; grandmother, Experanza DeLuca; aunt, Alicia Pawlak and uncle, Juan Sturiza.
He leaves behind his wife, Rose and two sons; Vincent and Aurelius. He is also survived by his uncle, Hector DeLuca; cousins, Daniel and Patrica Santone, Ricky Barrosa, Christina Barrosa and Robert Barrosa, Maria Alejandra, Andrea Sturiza and numerous friends and extended family.
“He was a beloved husband, father, son and airman. We all have been blessed to have known him and how he touched our lives with his sense of humor, warm smile and twinkling eyes. Our lives will never be the same. He will be greatly missed,” according to his family.
Funeral arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Duane Beck
Duane Len Beck, 48, passed away on April 29.
He was born March 18, 1959 in Oklahoma City, Okla. He graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood in 1977. He attended Henderson University in Arkadelphia as a music major for four years.
He moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex in the fall of 1981. He worked for Teter’s Faucet Parts for 22 years. He had recently worked for a courier service in the metroplex.
He was a loving and good son, brother, and uncle. He was a good friend to many. He was a very special best friend to Holly and Nina.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Elva Adams of Searcy; and his parents, Ranford R. “Pete” Beck and Myrtice Beck of Jacksonville.
He is survived by his sister, Dureta Sharp; brother-in-law, Mike Sharp; and nieces, Bethany Sharp and Katie Sharp Johnston, all of Jacksonville. Burial was May 6 at Honey Hill Cemetery in Searcy.
Joseph Ford
Joseph Charles Ford, M.D., 74, of Belton, Texas died April 30 at his home.
He was born in Beebe to Cleo and Guy Ford.
After graduating from Beebe High School, he attended Arkansas State Teachers College on a football scholarship, where he achieved a double major in English and Biology. He went on to receive his medical degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis. After medical school, he began an internship at Scott and White Hospital, where he met his wife, Mary Anne.
Upon the completion of his internship, he started his practice in Moody, Texas. After one year, he entered the Army, where he was honorably discharged as a captain. After one year of surgical residency at Scott and White, Joe and Mary moved to San Antonio where they raised five children. While in San Antonio, he became board certified in both surgery and plastic surgery. After 30 years of a successful private practice, they moved to Belton.
He went on to establish a plastic surgery residency program at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Temple, where he taught the art and science of his craft. He loved the practice of plastic surgery. It was his mission in life. He always taught his students to listen to their patients. He said, “They’ll tell you what is going on with them.” He never gave less than a “savage effort” in whatever he did.
He was a 32nd degree Mason of the Moody Lodge where he had been a member for almost 50 years. He received the Golden Trowel Award, the highest award given to an individual member. Though he suffered a massive stroke, which left him in a wheelchair for three-and-a-half years, still he lived with determination and dignity. “He never let us down. He was the strongest, most imaginative person we’ve ever known,” his family said.
He leaves behind his wife of 49 years, Mary Anne; sister, Margaret Ford; and children, Frances, Joanne, Joe Jr, Guy, and Mary; and grandchildren, Joe III, Jessica, Andrew, MaKayla, Reagan, and Cora.
Services were May 5 at the Little River United Methodist Church at 104 N. Kings Trail, Little River, Texas, with the Rev. Linda Mitchell officiating.
Graveside service were May 6 at the Beebe Cemetery in Beebe where he was raised.
Barbara Marino
Barbara Ann “Nanny” Marino, 68, of Hot Spring, departed this life May 3.
She is survived by two sons, Robert Marino Jr. and George T. Marino Sr.; six daughters, Patricia J. Terrero, Theresa Ann Fawcett, Chickie Terrero, Barbara J. Marino, Judy L. Orsatti, and Christina J. Blankenship; two sisters, Theresa Moustakos and Pattie Volivar; two brothers, Edward Cone and George Cone; 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held May 4 at North Jacksonville Church of Christ by Minister LeRoy Wood. Funeral arrangements were by Wood Funeral Home of Jacksonville.
Newman Smith
Newman Smith, 91, of Griffithville, died May 4. He was born March 20, 1916, to James and Grace Smith. He was a retired farmer and sawmill operator. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bertha Smith, and is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were May 7 at Welcome Home Cemetery near Des Arc.
James Mitchell
James Darren Mitchell, 36, of Cabot passed away Tuesday, May 1. He was born Dec. 19, 1970 in Brinkley to Gary David Mitchell and Eva Florence Norman.
He was preceded in death by his father, Gary Mitchell; two grandmothers, Dorothy Norman and Mary Mitchell.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly Mitchell of Cabot; two sons, James Brandon Mitchell and Ryan Mitchell; and three daughters, Kim Mitchell and Kayla Mitchell of Cabot and Tiffany Petty of Des Arc; mother and stepfather Eva and Jim Lipe of Cabot; brother, Rev. Gary Mitchell of Clarksville; sister, Loretta Sisco of Ok-lahoma; and stepsister, Sandy Anderson of Cabot; grandfather, James Norman of Cabot; one granddaughter, Takiah Murray of Des Arc; father and mother-in-law, J.L. and Ethel Wood of Cabot; and several nieces, nephews, and many other family members and friends.
Funeral services were May 4 at Calvary Pentecostal Church of God in Beebe with burial following at Evans Cemetery in Cabot. Funeral arrangements by Thomas Funeral Service.
