Stories from Monday, December 31, 2012

Ervin Johnson, 82, of Blytheville passed from this life Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 at his home. Born in Morrilton, Ark., to Austin Guinn and Willie Lee (Stell) Johnson, he was a United States Marine, who proudly served during the Korean War. ...

Jerry Everett Dean McFarlin, 76, of Monette passed away Dec. 26, 2012, in Jonesboro. He was born in Monette Sept. 15, 1936, to the late Thomas and Jenny Mae Drayford McFarlin. A lifelong Monette resident, Dean and his wife contributed to the local and farming community through automotive mechanics and tire sales and repair until their retirement in 1995. ...

George Junior Miller, 80, of Jonesboro, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, at NA/Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born at Bucoda, Mo., he was the son of the late George Washington and Melinda Troop Miller and had been a longtime Arbyrd resident before making his home in Jonesboro 16 years ago. ...

Lee Roy Poe, 88, of Monette, passed away Dec. 26, 2012, in Jonesboro. He was born Feb. 10, 1924, in Monette to the late Clarence Lee and Altha A. Foster Poe. He was a farmer his whole life and a member of Rowe's Chapel Baptist Church for over 52 years. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather who loved to fish and garden...

Former Arkansas State Sen. Steve Bryles passed away early Friday morning, ending his battle with esophageal cancer. A Blytheville native and businessman in the cotton industry in the area, Bryles was elected to represent District 15 in the State Senate in 2001, and served until 2011. ...

NEW ORLEANS -- Blytheville native and New Orleans junior forward Amber Clay was named 'Independent Player of the Week' by College Sports Madness on Monday morning. In the UNO women's basketball team's only game of the week, Clay became the second player on the roster to net a double-double this season...