Lester Williams
Lester Ray Williams, Sr., 74, of Cabot went to be with his Heavenly Father on August 11 while surrounded by his loving family.
Ray as everyone called him was born Feb. 21, 1933 in Lonoke County to the late Raymond L. and Bessie K. Williams.
In 1952, Ray entered the Air Force, where he served his country during wartime. On Nov. 23, 1954 he married Peggy Ann Skaggs in Dardanelle. Within four years they had three sons, Ray, Jr., Randy and Roy.
Ray was an avid Arkansas Razorback fan and St. Louis Cardinals fan. He was a charter member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, Gideons International, secretary for Mt. Carmel Cemetery and a member of Family Life Church in Cabot.
He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond L. Williams; mother, Bessie K. Williams; and one brother, Herbert C. Williams.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving wife of 53 years, Peggy Ann Williams of Cabot; three sons: Rev. Lester Ray Williams, Jr. and wife Carolyn of Little Rock, SMSGT David Randal Williams and wife Michelle of White Hall, John Roy Williams and wife Mary of Ward; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary K. Yarbrough of Van Buren; along with many other family members and dear friends.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 15 at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Cabot with Pastor David Smith and Rev. Ray Williams, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the Gideons International Cabot Camp, P.O. Box 212 Cabot, Ark., 72023. Arrangements are by Thomas Funeral Service.
Curtis Haynie
Curtis Lawrence Haynie, 80, of North Little Rock died August 11.
Born July 28, 1927, in Jacksonville he was the son of Herman J. “Red” and Lela Osborne Haynie.
On July 3, 1945, Mr. Haynie began service with the Navy onboard the USS LST 245, the USS LST 131, and the USS LST 8873 out of San Diego, Calif., and was honorably discharged when his tour of duty was completed.
He was a retired captain of the Little Rock Fire Department after 39 years of service.
He completed radiological monitoring school and taught classes in Little Rock for the firefighters, and was instrumental in training voluntary firemen in the nearby rural area.
He was a lifetime member of the Arkansas Firefighters Association Local 34; the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Carl W. Reed Post 9095 for 25 years when he transferred membership to the Levy Memorial Post 11474 in 1998; and a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 334. A lifetime member of the Magnolia Lodge 60, Consistory, and Shrine, Scimitar Temple, and a 32nd Degree Mason, he was also a member of Reynolds Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Joe Haynie and a sister, Lois Wallace.
He is survived by two daughters, Sandra Gail Graham and husband Ken Wyant, and Karen Elaine Knebel and husband Chuck, all of Cabot; one granddaughter, Rhiannon Lee Duke and husband Doug; one grandson, David Lawrence Harness; and two great-granddaughters, Madesyn Katheryn and Kenslee Nicole.
Special thanks are extended to Brookside Rehabilitation Center, to the Veterans Administration Hospital, and to Arkansas Hospice and staff. Also, the daughters wish to especially thank Mr. Haynie’s special friend and caregiver, Mary Haynie.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, August 16 in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth in Little Rock with his nephew, the Rev. Eric Jordan of Concord, Okla., officiating. Burial will follow in Bayou Meto Cemetery in Jacksonville.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, August 15 at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial, P. O. Box 56470, Little Rock, Ark., 72115.
Geneva Oates
Geneva Viola Stites Oates, 89, of Cabot, formerly of Little Rock, passed away August 10. She was born July 11, 1918 in Oliphant to George Andrew Stites and Crena Mayes Stites.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George Andrew Stites and Crena Mayes Stites; her husband, William Hershel Oates; son, William Hershel Oates Jr. and daughter-in-law, Pat Hendrickson Oates. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Roy “Bud” Pearrow of Cabot; four grandchildren, Bill Pearrow and wife Lisa of Cabot, Jeanne Odom and husband Jack of Cabot, David Pearrow and wife Laura of Russellville and Matt Oates and wife Teresa of Lebanon, Tenn.; seven great-grandchildren, Shea Pearrow, Christen, Stephenie, Micah and Mark Odom, Madelyn and Coleman Oates.
Graveside service was August 13 at Pinecrest Memorial Park. The family would like to thank Arkansas Hospice Staff from the North Little Rock Arkansas Hospice Unit for their loving care and devotion. Arrangements were by Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home in North Little Rock.
Betty Tipton
Betty Louise Tipton, 75, died in Conway on August 13 following a courageous battle with cancer.
She was born July 28, 1932 in Vilonia to the late Horace and Mamie Jones Stephens.
Betty joins her beloved husband of 55 years in heaven, James Curtis Tipton, who preceded her in eternal rest Nov. 6, 2006.
The two met in 1951 while working at the Sears and Roebuck Store in Little Rock and spent the next 25 years working together in the banking industry.
Upon their retirement, the Tiptons embarked upon a new adventure as business owners with convenience stores in the Jacksonville and North Little Rock area.
Even in the workplace, the Tiptons were inseparable. We are so thankful they are healthy, happy and together once again.
She was a member of Military Road Missionary Baptist Church of Jacksonville. She was also preceded by a grandson, Tanner Tipton.
Betty is survived by two sons, Tim Tipton, his wife Connie, their children Jordan, Chandler and Madelyn of Conway; and Geoff Tipton, his wife Michelle and their daughter Paige of Cornelia, Ga.; her sister, Marcelle Cherry of North Little Rock and her children: Jim, Dave and Ron; another sister, Frieda Burkett and her children, Steve, Rick and Stefani.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 15 at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home Chapel in North Little Rock.
A celebration of her life will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 16 at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home with entombment to follow at the Rest Hills Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be David Zakrzewski, Gene Frazier, Darrell Penn, Kevin Willhite, Willie Oxner and Mark Moody.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the Conway Regional emergency room physicians and staff, the CCU nurses, Dr. Lee, the staff at CARTI and Dr. Imamura. Your kindness and compassion are immeasurable.
The family would also like to thank Dr. Mendelsohn and his staff for their love, patience and extraordinary care given to our mother over the last year.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 901 N. University, Little Rock, Ark., 72203.
Terry Reynolds
Terry Karen Turner Reynolds, 50, of Jacksonville passed away August 9.
She is survived by her son, Curtis and wife Patricia Gaebel of Plano, Texas; daughter, Nicole Wilson of Cabot; mother and stepfather, Gerry and C.A. Lively of Cabot; and two grandsons, C.J. and Charles Gaebel, both of Plano.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to North Pulaski United Methodist Church, Hwy. 107 and Kelso Road, Gravel Ridge. A graveside service was held Monday at Rest Hills Memorial Park. Funeral arrangements were by North Little Rock Funeral Home.
Stella Gelakoske
Stella Vay Gelakoske, 98, of Austin died August 10.
She was born March 22, 1909.
Stella, the eldest of nine children, was born in a covered wagon in what was then Oklahoma Indian Territory.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Gelakoske.
She is survived by her daughter, Dixie James of San Diego, three sisters; one brother; granddaughter, Denise Jones and grandson in-law, Jeff Jones of Austin; five additional grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service date will be announced later. A memorial for junior bowlers will be established in her memory. Arrangements were by Westbrook Funeral Home.
O.D. Bradford
O.D. Bradford, 73, of Beebe went to be with his Lord Thursday, August 9. He was born Oct. 25, 1933, at Hickory Plains to Monroe Thomas and Una Lee Ferguson Bradford.
He served in the Army during the Cold War. He was a past member of the McRae School Board, territorial sales manager for Guerdon Industries and was a member of Crosspoint Ministries.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Bradford; one daughter, Shawna Kirk and husband Rick of Florida; one step-son, Donald Ward and wife Carla of Beebe; four grandchildren, Stephen Kirk, Ashley Craig, William Ward and Madison Ward; one brother, Roland Bradford of Indiana; two sisters, Geneva Bollnak of Searcy and Ludean James of Florida; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral was August 12 at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Beebe.
