Evelyn Miller
Evelyn M. Miller, 96, passed away Dec. 19 at Golden Years Manor in Lonoke after living a long and extraordinarily blessed life.
Born Oct. 1, 1911 to William and Madia Jane Boyd, Evelyn was one of five children. She grew up and graduated high school in Humphrey and went on to study nursing at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock.
In 1931 she married Howard W. Jennings and had two daughters, Boydice Ann and Joyce. She married Noble V. Miller in 1936 and had one daughter, Maida.
Evelyn was active in the Lonoke community, a past member of the Lonoke Baptist Church and was a member of the Eastern Stars. She was deputized and served as acting sheriff of Lonoke County, when her husband, Sheriff Noble V. Miller, was in the Navy in San Diego .
The couple purchased several cottages on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, where they operated the small resort and enjoyed life swimming and fishing with their family. They later moved to Oklahoma City, where her husband founded Investor’s Life Insurance Co.
She was known as “Eka” to her grandchildren who love her dearly. She often took extended summer trips across country with each of them for treasured one-on-one time. She loved to travel and was an active member of the Good Sam RV Club, where she participated in many cross-country caravans. One of her treasured possessions was an atlas given to her by her granddaughter, Lynn. She took pleasure in teaching her grandchildren how to cook, crochet and garden which was one of her favorite pastimes.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Noble, and daughter, Boydice Ann.
She is survived by daughters, Joyce and husban John Pack of Lonoke and Maida Maxwell of Midwest City, Okla.; six grandchildren, Michael and wife Jan Pack, Pamela and husband Richard Burt, Debbie Bunting, Mark and wife Shala Pack, Lynn Bunting and David Pack; as well as nine great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends and family from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 23 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke. A graveside service will follow at noon in Mulberry Cemetery in England.
Special thanks to the caring staff and residents of Golden Years Manor.
Chris Flurry
Chris Flurry, loved by family and friends, passed away Dec. 16 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, after a brief but fierce battle with liver cancer.
Her husband Greg, sons Mitchell and Jared, and daughter-in-law Stephanie were with her at the end.
She was born to Charles and Ruby Bobo on Nov. 9, 1953 in Memphis and was raised in Jacksonville.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in education from the University of Kentucky.
She taught eighth grade Earth science in Lexington, Ky., before moving to New York and then, in 1982, to Austin, Texas.
She spent the next 25 years raising a wonderful family and cultivating friendships at work and play. Her passions were her family, her friends and her pets. She put all of these ahead of herself.
For many years, she was a soccer, baseball, football and basketball mom while she nurtured her sons so they became wonderful, successful young men. She cherished visits and vacations with her sister, brother, sister-in-law, nieces and nephews. She treated her dogs, and especially her cats, with the same tenderness as her family.
In her last few years, she devoted most of her energy to Bethany United Methodist Church and the people of it. She contributed to all 18 care ministries, and especially enjoyed working with the Prime Timers, the elderly within the church. She also volunteered in the House of Friends respite- care program. In the most recent demonstration of her passion for people, she found the time to complete the prerequisites for, and be admitted to nursing school.
She lived her too-short life with a grace which only love and peace within, and contentment in the Lord, could create. She mastered a beautiful dance — a melody of goodness in the soul. Her greatest achievement, though, was the love which was so wonderfully and spontaneously generated by her warm presence. She’s gone and will be sorely missed, but above all, she will be remembered by the so very many that she loved and loved her.
There was a memorial service for her at Bethany Methodist Church, Austin, Texas, Dec. 20.
She will be interred with her parents at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Memorial Park in North Little Rock at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, or one of the church groups for which she was so passionate—the Prime Timers, or the House of Friends (c/o Bethany United Methodist Church).
Ralph Morris
CMSGT, Ralph P. Morris, Sr., 77, of Jacksonville was called home to the Lord Dec. 15.
Born July 31, 1930 in Electra, Texas to the late Walter and Catherine Morris, he was youngest of four children.
As a veteran, he served his country for 27 years in the Air Force, where he retired as a chief master sergeant. He then went on to work at UAMS for 17 years in the physical plant as an assistant director before retiring.
He valued God, family and friends. Always being a generous person his whole life, Ralph often helped others without a second thought. Many of us have fond memories of his joking nature and sportsman-like conduct.
He enjoyed laughing, taking care of others and seeing the best side of life. His second home was McArthur Assembly of God Church.
Nothing pleased him more than going to church. His many friends and family will miss him greatly.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 56 years, Helen Marie Morris in November 2006; his daughter, Joy Gail Morris; one daughter-in-law, Patrice Morris; his loving parents, Walter and Catherine Morris; two brothers, Milford and Bob Morris; and one sister, Babe Morris.
He is survived by two sons, Ralph, Jr. and Terry Morris; daughter-in-law, Sharon Morris; five grandchildren, Danielle, Jarid, Beau, Shaleen and Jordan; five great-grandchildren, Carissa, Devon, Amber, Nathan and Austin.
Funeral services were Dec. 20 at McArthur Assembly of God Church in Jacksonville with interment following at Arkansas State Veteran’s Cemetery in North Little Rock with military honors.
In lieu of flowers donations should be made to McArthur Assembly of God Church, 3501 John Harden Dr., Jacksonville, Ark. 72076. Funeral arrangements were by Thomas Funeral Service in Cabot.
Selma Magness
Selma Magness, 85, of Sherwood passed away Dec. 18.
She was a member of Sylvan Hills United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her daughter, JoAnn Heslep and husband Larry of Sherwood; three grandsons, Jeff and wife Jan Heslep, of Georgetown, Greg and wife Angela Heslep of North Little Rock and Keith and wife Sandra Heslep of Cabot; five great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; sister, Gloria McConnell of Booneville and a host of relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roland Magness.Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association, 320 Executive Court, Ste. 104, Little Rock, Ark. 72204.
Funeral services were Dec. 21 at Sylvan Hills United Methodist Church.
Graveside services were at Harmony Cemetery in Center Hill. Funeral arrangments were by North Little Rock Funeral Home.
Carolyn Johnson
Carolyn Faye Richey Johnson passed away Dec. 18.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Lucille Vansell Richey, and her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Vansell.
She is survived by two daughters, Molly C. Martinez of Jacksonville and Kimberly G. Hale of Cleveland, Ohio; two brothers, Ellis Faye Richey and Billy Wayne Richey; nine grandchildren, Jacob S. Williams III, Christopher Williams, Victoria Williams, Jeffrey Williams, Jessica Peak, Heather Blackwell, Samuel Martinez, Stormey Gale Martinez and Ronnie Hale III, all of Avonlake, Ohio; and 10 great-grandchildren.
In loving memory of our mother, a memorial service was held Dec. 21 in the chapel of North Jacksonville Church of Christ.
Funeral arrangements were by Wood Funeral Home of Jacksonville.
