Wednesday, October 24, 2007

OBITUARIES >> 10-24-07

James Roberts

James “Jim” Raleigh Roberts, 26, of Ward went to be with the Lord Oct. 18 in Little Rock. He was born Feb. 25, 1981 in Lawton, Okla.

He attended the New Life Assembly of God Church in Gravel Ridge and was an electrician for his family business, Cabot Electric. His two loves in life were spending time with his family and being outdoors. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Hilda Stevens.

He is survived by his wife, Christina M. and son, Caleb James of Ward; mother, Kathy D. Wilk of Vilonia and father, Richard E. Wilk of Albuquerque, New Mexico; two sisters; Ruby Juarez of Ward and Jamie Roberts of Ward; daughter, Brooklyn Roberts of Jacksonville; and son, Colton Roberts of Cabot. He will be dearly missed by a host of family and friends.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25 at New Life Assembly of God Church in Gravel Ridge with burial to follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park in Jacksonville.


Dakota Raney

Dakota Marie Raney, infant, of Cabot passed away Oct. 19. She was born Oct. 19 to Jeffrey Raney and Stefanie Hochhalter.

She was preceded in death by her grandfather, George Raney, Sr.; great-grandfathers, Vernon Brent Willis and George Henley; and great-grandmother, Verdie Kellett.

She is survived by her father, Jeffrey Allen Raney and mother, Stefanie Nicole Hochhalter of Cabot; grandparents, Carol Willis “Marc Henley” of Conway; Dana Hochhalter “Debra” of Montgomery, Ala., and Ernestine “Amy” Raney of Cabot; three great-grandmothers and one great-grandfather; four uncles, one aunt, along with other close family members and friends.

Graveside services were Oct. 22 at Mayflower Cemetery in Mayflower. Arrangements were by Thomas Funeral Service of Cabot.


Gary Wright

Gary Wayne Wright, 50, of North Little Rock passed away Oct. 20. He was born Dec. 15, 1956 in Little Rock.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Georgia Ives, and two sisters, Gladys Vondran and Connie Eubanks.

He is survived by two brothers, David Ives and Bobby Wright and wife Wendy; one sister, Barbara Campbell and many other family members and friends.

Funeral services were Oct. 23 at Thomas Funeral Service in Cabot. Burial was at Evans Cemetery in Cabot.


Etta Wright

Etta M. Wright, 99, of Ward died peacefully in her home on the morning of Oct. 20.

She was born April 5, 1908, at Des Arc to Sam and Martha Ford Williams. She was a member of Ward Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carol Dewey Wright; one sister, Bonnie Dalton; and three brothers, Troy, Edward and Clarence Williams.

She is survived by one son, Rayford Wright and his wife Bonnie; one granddaughter, Jeri Lynne Wright; one grandson, Steve Wright; and two great-granddaughters, Alyssa and Tawna Wright, all of Springfield, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe Oct. 22. by the Rev. Frank Warden. Burial was at Johnson Chapel Cemetery.


James Sanders

James Leslie Sanders, 67, of Mabelvale died Oct. 18.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Phillip Sanders.

He is survived by his loving wife, Linda; sons, Norman Sanders and Jerry Sanders; daughter, Sandra Dailey; four grandchildren; sisters, Jeanette Wilson, Joyce Allen and Charlotte Curtis; mother, Dessie Mae Sanders.

Funeral services were Oct. 20 at North Jacksonville Church of Christ. Burial was Oct. 23 at Arkansas State Veterans’ Cemetery in North Little Rock. Funeral arrangements were by Wood Funeral Home of Jacksonville.


Ray Snell

Funeral services for Ray Williamson Snell, 84, who passed away Oct. 5 were held Oct. 8 at Oak Grove Baptist Church, Meridian, Miss., with the Rev. David Chandler officiating. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery with James F. Webb Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

Snell was a retired postal worker and had worked in his father’s business, the Bob J. Snell Candy Company, for many years. He was a veteran of the Second World War and served in the Army Air Corps.

He was a member of the American Legion and a member of the E.J. Knox-King Solomon Lodge 130 F&AM.

Survivors include his brother, Reese Harris Snell and wife Carolyn of Hattiesburg, Miss.; niece, Sandy Snell Booth; great-nieces, Haley Booth and Abby Booth of Lawrence, Ga.; niece, Linda Snell McComb; great-nieces, Meredith McComb Eason and Morgan McComb of Clinton, Miss.; great-niece, Katey Evans and great-nephew, Derek Evans, of Jacksonville; niece, Jennifer Gullette Boyd and great-nephew, Jesse Boyd of Jacksonville; nephew, Bob J. Snell II; great-nephews, Reese Snell II and Ryder Snell of Jonesboro.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob J. Snell and Ella B. Williamson Snell; brother, Robert J. Snell; sister, Mary Kate Snell Gullette, and niece, Julia Kay Gullette Evans.


Lillian Ervin

Lillian Ervin, 78, of North Little Rock went to be with her Lord Sept. 29. She was born in Vermilion County, Ill., and attended schools in that area. She was interested and participated in bluegrass music and arts and crafts.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Donald; daughters, Donna Wilson and Carolyn and husband John Gloyd; three sisters, Ernestine, Barbara Jean and Wilma; two grandchildren, Terry Lott and Cody Speer.

Graveside services were at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock by Huson Funeral Home of Sherwood.


Boyd Gilson

Boyd Roland Gilson, 70, of North Little Rock died Sept. 19 in Little Rock.He was born in Decorah, Iowa, Oct. 3, 1936 to the late W.L. Gilson and Esther N. Gilson. He spent 20 years in the Air Force and another 20 years as the butcher at Little Rock Air Force Base. He was also a member of Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Sherwood.

He had nine brothers, Bill and wife Marylin of Wicks, Phillip of Jacksonville, John and wife Bessie of Mena, Chucky of Conway, Mo., Ronnie and wife, Arlyss of Wright City, Mo., Norman of Texas, Larry of Arkansas, Duane and wife Veverly of Nixa, Mo., and Donnie who preceded him in death.

He is survived by his loving wife, Grace P. Jones Gilson of North Little Rock; two sons, James D. Gilson and wife Laura of North Little Rock, and John Gilson of Texas; two daughters, Esther Ashworth and husband Ben of Miss., and Elizabeth Hicks of Jacksonville; three grandsons, Brandon Ashworth, Chris Hicks and David Gilson; and a granddaughter, Allison Hicks; four sisters, Lucy Bowman of Galena, Mo., Nancy and husband Wayne Towe of Rogers, Cheryl Reid of Paris and Beth and husband T.M. Morgan of Mena; and many nieces and nephews. Cremation arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.


Joe Vann, Jr.

Joe “Poppy” Wilton Vann Jr., departed this life Oct. 22. He was born April 8, 1931.

He is survived by his wife, Marie; brother, John Sukeforth and wife Sharon; sister, Barbara Vann; children, Joe W. Vann III, Cheryl Vann Laar, Pamela Marie Walthers and Michael Ray Le Master; seven grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and one mother-in-law. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Wood Funeral Home, Jacksonville.