Wednesday, February 15, 2006

OBITUARIES >> 02-15-06

Harry Vines

Harry Doyle Vines, 67, died at home on Feb. 11.

He was born in Caldwell Corner on Sept. 12, 1938. He grew up working in the cotton fields of eastern Arkansas until junior high, when he discovered basketball. The game he loved would take him all over the world for the rest of his life. He graduated from Little Rock Central High School in 1957.

He was a member of the Central High basketball Tigers, leading the team to a Big 8 championship and earning a high school All American award in 1957.

He went on to play for coach Abe Lemons, his mentor for life, at Oklahoma City University, playing in the NIT in 1959 and leaving as the sixth-leading scorer. He graduated from OCU in 1961 and became a basketball coach at Southwest Ju-nior High. He later earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation from North Texas State University.

He went to work for Arkansas Rehabilitation Services in 1963 and served the state in positions with the Services for the Blind, attorney general’s office, governor’s office and Workers Compensation Commis-sion for 32 years.

In 1978, he found his true calling when he was asked to coach a fledgling wheelchair basketball team, the Arkansas Rolling Razorbacks. He coached the Rolling Razorbacks for 22 seasons, with 21 winning seasons and a record of 238-40. His teams made 13 final four appearances in the 1980’s and 90’s and won five national championships, their first in Little Rock in 1991.
He later coached U.S. teams in the World Cup, the Paralympics and many other international competitions. At the time of his death, he was the president of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.

Though he gave of himself and his time unselfishly, he received many honors for his achievements. He was a Governor’s Volunteerism Award recipient in 1980 and Sher-wood Chamber of Commerce man of the year in 1980 and 1983.

In 1990, he was honored by President George H.W. Bush with a Volunteer Action award and later as Bush’s 967th “point of light.” He and the Rolling Razorbacks later visited President Clinton at the White House. He was pleased to be an A-SOB (Arkansas Staff of Bill). He was a Kiwanis Paul Harris Fellow.

He was inducted into the OCU Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 and the National Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.
He served the Governor’s Com-mission on People with Disabilities, the Our Way board of directors, the Arkansas Community Service Com-mission and the city of Sherwood personnel committee.

He was a charter member of the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Max Howell Roast, a scholarship fundraiser. He was a member of Sylvan Hills Methodist Church. He walked on the court at Boston Garden, played the Old Course in Scotland and traveled to all 50 states.

He is survived by his wife and partner, Cheryl; his daughter, Holly Vines and son, Dr. Phillip Vines, both of Little Rock; an aunt, Christine Hampton of Colt, and two uncles, Donald Parkman of Forrest City and Jerry Parkman of Zell-wood, Fla.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Cindy and Kenny Limbo of Fair Oaks, Calif., and Steve Lady and Shary Smith of Emigsville, Pa.; nieces and nephews, Kasey Limbo, Shellee and Jesse McAsey, Vanessa and Lucy, and a host of cousins and friends, as well as the past and present members of the Arkansas Rolling Razorbacks.

The family thanks Dr. Tom Meziere and Dr. Mark Peterson for their compassionate care and support over this long illness.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Sylvan Hills United Methodist Church.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Roller-Owens Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Arkansas Rolling Razorbacks, P.O. Box 1669, North Little Rock, Ark. 72115.


Robert Harkey 

Robert Ervin Harkey, 68, of Cabot passed away on Feb.13.

He was retired from the Air Force and was a veteran of both Vietnam and Korean Wars.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Harkey; five sons, Cecil and wife Becky Harkey of Austin, Texas; Merlin Harkey of Mocksville, N.C.; Roger and wife Abby Barker of Batesville; David Barker of Cabot; Tony and wife Lisa Barker of Texarkana; one daughter, Denise and husband Pat Brandt of Amarillo, Texas; four brothers, Bill Harkey, Frank Harkey, Neddie Harkey and Tony Harkey all of North Carolina; four sisters, Brenda Peffley, Bonnie Williams, Ruby Williams and Joanne Smith all of North Carolina; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel in Lonoke, with interment in Lonoke Cemetery.


Alice Hensley

Alice Marie (Mower) Hensley, 76, died Feb. 13.

She was born Aug. 29, 1929, in Jackson, Miss., to Curtis D. Mow-rer and Icis (Heath) Mower. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Joe F. Hensley and Alvin Ingle; brothers, Ellis Mowrer and Calvin Mowrer and a sister Edith Cornett of Lonoke.

Survivors include sons, Troy Hensley and wife Frances of Beebe, Tom Hensley and wife Sharon of Hot Springs Village and Dan Hensley and wife Brenda of Mabelvale; brother James R. Mowrer of Austin and sister Dorothea Pearson.

She was a loving grandmother to grandchildren, Jennifer Hensley of Fayetteville, Erica Preston and husband Clinton of Lowell, Niki Moss and husband Josh of Con-way, Justin Hensley and wife Sun-ny of Baton Rouge, La., and Jon Hensley and Ariel Hensley of Mabelvale and three great-grandchildren, Maddie, Ethan and Georgia.

Hensley was a charter member of New Testament Missionary Baptist Church in Lonoke.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke with interment in Brownsville Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.


David Jackson

David L. Jackson, 41, of Austin died Feb. 10.

He was a race horse trainer and a member of the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; son, Stuart Jackson of Austin; daughter, Jamie Jackson of Conway; two step-sons, Luke and Spencer Eldridge of Pang-burn; father, Walter “Red” Jackson of Austin; brother, Walter Ray Jackson of Arlington, Texas, and sister, Carolyn Harbort and husband Eric of Mildenhall, England.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lucille and his first wife, Patricia.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 1430 McCollum Road, Austin, Ark., 72007.


Ryan Duncan

Ryan Howard Duncan, 29, of Cabot passed away Feb. 13.

He was born July 1, 1976 in North Little Rock to Kent and Bonnie Best Duncan. He was a member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church.

He is survived by his parents, of Austin, and two sisters; Angela Paige Lantz and her husband Ronnie of St. Louis, Mo., and Stacy Duncan of Lonoke. He is also survived by three nieces; Ashley Stricklin, Sydney Stricklin and Hannah Lantz and one nephew, Aaron Stricklin.

The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cabot Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Mount Carmel Baptist Church with Bro-thers Mitch Tapson and Ronnie Simmons officiating.

Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery.


Annie King

Annie Cassini King, of Cabot, born July 14, 1937, was received into glory on Feb. 12.
 
With her heart and house always open and a smile to welcome family and friends; she will be dearly missed.  

Preceding her in death were her parents, Ira and Frances Buckner; and six brothers.

Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Chester King; four sons: Chester and wife Judy King of Jacksonville, Stephen and wife Kelly King of Hot Springs, Timmy and wife Miki King of Hot Springs, Phillip and wife Pattie King of Hot Springs; daughter, Melba Roe of Cabot; foster daughter, Ginger Palmer of Missouri; seven grandchildren: Crystal, Sean, Kosha, Kara, Nikki, Courtney and Celsey; two great-grandchildren: Dailen and Keegan;  brother, J.C. Buck-ner of Slidell, La.; two sisters, Laura Alexander and Bettye Thomson both of Cabot; countless nephews, nieces and extended family members.

Funeral services are 2 p.m., Wednesday at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church with Dennis Wilson officiating.  

Burial will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Arrangements by Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home in Cabot.


Ellen Sheets

Ellen R. Sheets, 70, of Jackso-nville passed away Feb. 7 in Jacksonville.

She was born March 10, 1935 in Lonoke County to the late Joe and Sarah Grimes Weaver. She is preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters. She was an avid Razorback fan and a Methodist.

Survivors include her loving husband, Bobby Joe Sheets, of Jacksonville; daughters, Chris Hobson and her husband Bill of Sherrill and Cindy Stivers of Conway; son, Jody Sheets and his wife Shelly of Conway; three sisters, Peggy Griffin of Colonial Heights, W. Va., Callie Berger of Diamond Springs, Calif., and Martha Petray of Jacksonville, as well as five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday at Mulberry Cemetery in England with Rev. Larry Ballard officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.


Martha Philpott

Martha Helen Philpott, 80, of Jacksonville died Feb. 13 at St. Vincent Medical Center North in North Little Rock.
She was born February 19, 1925 in Mullens, W.V., to Roby and Phoebe Smith Blevins.

She is survived by four children, Bobbie and her husband Wally Waddell of Jacksonville, Betty Kemmer of California, Bill Agee of Fayetteville, Ben and Mary Ellen Philpott of Boones Mill, Va.; eight grandchildren; five great grandchildren; three brothers, Lennie Blevins of Richmond, Va., Earl and Ralph Blevins, both Montgomery, Ala.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Beckley, W.V. with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Park there.
Local funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.


Patsy Corpier

Patsy Corpier, 55, of Higden, died Feb. 11. She was a beautician and attended Fairfield Bay Baptist Church.
She is survived by one son, Jody Copier and his wife, Jennifer, of Higden; one grandson, Jacob; and her mother, Cleo Wright of Higden.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Corpier.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Fairfield Bay Baptist Church.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at the church, with burial in Pinecrest Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, a fund has been set up in her memory for donations to the Make A Wish Foundation.

Donations may be made to the Patsy Corpier Memorial Fund at Heber Springs State Bank or mailed to Patsy Corpier Memorial Fund at P.O. Box 1273, Greers Ferry, Ark., 72067.