Wednesday, November 07, 2007

OBITUARIES >> 11-07-07

Lorrain Deal

Lorrain Leah Groce Deal, 99, of Beebe, died Nov. 6.

She was born Nov. 1, 1908, at Carlisle to Homer and Nettie Oldenhouse Groce.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gus Deal; her parents, brothers and sisters.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews.

Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 at Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock.


Bessie Mathews

Bessie Mae Brown Mathews, 88, departed this earthly life peacefully Nov. 1 at the home of her twin sister, Tressie Fay Barker.
She was born Sept. 17, 1919 to Jessie and Ivy Brown in Cabot.  

She spent many memorable years with her siblings, growing up on the family farm.  

Even though she had health problems to overcome, she never let that stop her from accomplishing her goals and having a great sense of humor.  

She was valedictorian of Midway High School’s graduating class of 1937.  

She attended Beebe Junior College for two years, and began her teaching career at Midway High School.

When the Second World War was declared, she chose to join the Women’s Army Corp.  

After training in the United States she was sent to the China-Burma-India Theater and served in India until the end of the war.   

When she returned to Arkansas, she completed her education at Arkansas State Teachers College, becoming the only family member to graduate from college.

Her first job was in the Gravette Arkansas School District.  

After leaving there, she taught in the Cabot, Pulaski County and North Little Rock School Districts.  

“Miss Brown”, as she was known to her many students, taught for over 20 years.  

When she finally met the love of her life, George Mathews, she then retired to help her husband with his business.  

She also loved gardening.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Mathews and siblings, Lee, Len, Alice, Jessie “Bill,” Ed “Shorty,” Flora and Marion Brown.

She is survived by Tressie Barker, Bert Brown and Mary Lyons.  

She leaves behind many family members and caregivers who loved her dearly.

The family would like to thank Hospice of the Valley and Homecare in Phoenix, Ariz. Everyone did an excellent job in taking care of our “Bessie Girl.”  

They will all miss her “spunky spirit.”

There will be a viewing from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 at Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.  

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 at the funeral home.  


William Taylor

William Grant Taylor, Jr., 49, passed away Nov. 3.

He was a member of Russell Chapel Nazarene Church.

He was preceded in death by a son, James Owen Taylor and two brothers, Anthony Taylor and James David Taylor.

Survivors include his wife, Teresa Humphrey Taylor; four children, Niki Taylor, William Taylor III and Angie Stanley, all of Cabot and Billy Wayne Taylor of Calif.; his mother, Nancy Romine of Jacksonville; father and step-mother, William “Dub” Taylor, Sr. and wife Patsy of Cabot; two sisters, Nancy Rena Hightower and Amanda Midkiff, both of Cabot; two step-brothers, William Lloyd Taylor and Glen Dwayne Taylor, both of Cabot, and six grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 at Russell Chapel Nazarene Church in Cabot with burial in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are by Boyd Funeral Home of Lonoke.


Ruthel Kyle

Ruthel Kyle, 90, of Cabot, died Oct. 30 at Des Arc Nursing and Rehab.

She was born Sept. 4, 1917, at Dermott (Chicot County), to Albert Clinton and Maude Collins Abernathy.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wes H. Kyle, Sr. and three brothers, Harley, Everett and Clyde Abernathy.

She is survived by one son, Wes Kyle, Jr. and wife Helen of Cabot; one granddaughter, one grandson, two step-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held at McRae United Methodist Church Friday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m.


Marceil Anderson

Marceil Anderson, 92, longtime resident of Little Rock, passed away in Searcy Nov. 2.  

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul R. Anderson; parents, Wesley Johnson and Bertha Dickson Johnson Collie; and longtime best friend, Cecil Suitt.

She is survived by a daughter, Marylin Dandridge of Searcy and son, Gary Anderson and wife Pam of Little Rock; five grandchildren, Angela Elder of Searcy, Beverly Beck of East End, Shanna O’Neal and husband Keith of Cabot, Tracy Fisher and husband Tommy of Redfield and Brian Anderson; seven great-grandchildren, Charlie and Jason Beck, Nicole and Blake Elder, Meagan O’Neal, Brayden and Shelby Fisher and Julia Anderson and a host of other friends and relatives.

Funeral services to celebrate her life were Nov. 5 at Grace Fellowship in Cabot.

Burial was in Sumner Cemetery in Cabot. Funeral services were by Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.