Stories from Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Ernest “Gene” Cook of Trumann departed this life Saturday Aug. 15, 2020, at the family residence at the age of 50 years, 1 month and 25 days. He was born June 21, 1970, in Jonesboro and lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. He was a 1989 graduate of Trumann High School and a merchandiser for Coca-Cola and attended Eastside Baptist Church. He was a family man and loved working. Ernest was preceded in death by one son, Dakota Cook, and his mother, Christine Moss...

Demetrius Lavalle Crawley, Jr., 20, of Osceola died Aug. 11, 2020, at Regional One in Memphis, Tenn. He was a factory worker. Demetrius was born May 1, 2000, in Peoria, Ill., to Demetrius Crawley, Sr. and Moetisha Moore. He was preceded in death by one sister, Deshante Crawley...

Julia Lynn Williams Cupstid, 61, of Conway, died Aug. 15, 2020, at her home. She was a homemaker and a member of First Pentecostal Church of God in North Little Rock. She was born Feb. 17, 1959, in Osceola to Dallas and Tommye Dunnam Williams. She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Mary Beth Cash...

Dolores O. Tolbert departed this life Aug. 10, 2020, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro at the age of 87 years, 4 months and 12 days. She was born Wednesday, March 29, 1933, in Bay and lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. Dolores was a artist, singer, songwriter and served on several city committees. ...

Mazie I. Henry, 86, of Jonesboro, passed away Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital. She was born Jan. 27, 1934, in Corning to Charley Jackson (CJ) and Eula (Mahan) Freeman. Mrs. Henry graduated from Lake City High School, received her AA from Arkansas Northeastern College and a BSE from LeMoyne-Owen College. ...

If you lived in Trumann from 1945-1957 you may have seen him at school, at church or momentarily at the Singer plant before he went off with the Army to Korea. If you liked to fish, you could have run into him one of the 100 weekends that he went fishing with his brothers somewhere in the early 2000s. Though he moved away, part of his heart and many of his family members still live on in the Trumann area...

Deborah Kaye Murphy Horner of Blytheville was born Sept. 1, 1957, in Milo, Okla., to the late Otis Murphy, Sr. and the late Rena Stevenson Murphy. She was a homemaker and a member of Temple of Praise in Gosnell. Mrs. Horner passed away Aug. 10, 2020, at St. ...

William Mitchell King, Sr., 84, of Blytheville, passed away Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced when complete. Cobb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Leandra "Sonny" Buchanan, Jr., 75, of Lepanto died Aug. 8, 2020 at his home. He was a retired Ritter truck driver after 30 years and a 58 year resident of Lepanto. Mr. Buchanan was born March 7, 1945 in Lepanto to Leandra Buchanan and Emma Lee Barnes...

Margaret Louise Thomas of Trumann departed this life Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro at the age of 84 years, 11 months and 16 days. She was born Wednesday, Aug. 28, 1935, in Trumann and was a lifetime resident of Trumann. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Pentecostal Church. Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by her husband, Riley Thomas; one daughter, Rhonda Thomas; and her parents, Robert L. and Bessie Shamlin Reed...

Mary Isabell Clem, “Mamabell”, daughter of the late Willo Maddox and William Andrew Lemons, was born April 22, 1922, in Florence, Ala. Mamabell was a devoted member of the Lepanto Church of Christ Church. As a result of her generous spirit and loving personality, she was loved by many. ...

Charley Berneal Mouser, 85, of Leachville, passed from this life Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born in Sikeston, Mo., he was the son of the late Clarence and Maggie Edgin Mouser and was raised in the Dell community. ...

Wanda Lea Parrish, 60, passed away Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Monette. She was born Sept. 24, 1959, in Monette to the late George and Mildred Pemberton. Wanda was a registered nurse and was a former nursing home administrator. She enjoyed sewing and a good cup of coffee and loved spending time with her granddaughters...

Everon Ray Rix, 87, of Blytheville, passed away Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, at Gosnell Therapy and Living Center. Everon was born in Clarrisa, Minn., to Roy and Hattie Zimmer Rix. Everon served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was a career military man and eventually retired from the Air Force. He was a member of the American Legion and the VFW. Everon loved cars and enjoyed working on them...

Robert O. Saunders, Jr., 86, of Trumann departed this life Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, at Arkansas Continued Care Hospital in Jonesboro at the age of 86 years, 10 months and 22 days. He was born Tuesday, Sept. 19, 1933, in McCormick and lived in Jonesboro and was formerly of Trumann and Lepanto area...

Dee Ceasar Smith, Sr. of Blytheville was born March 21, 1953, in Joiner to Essie Lee Smith and the late Dewitt Smith. He was a factory worker and was of the Baptist faith. Mr. Smith passed away Aug. 16, 2020, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville at the age of 67. He is preceded in death by his father, Dewitt Smith; his wife, Carla Smith; eight sisters, Annie Lee Osborne, Archie Lee Smith, Essie Lee Smith, Lee Bertha McClair, O’neal Jordon, Dora Mae Smith, Rosena Owens and Elnora Smith...

Esker Earl Wallace, 88, of Blytheville, passed away Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, at Gosnell Health and Rehab Center. Born in Pontotoc, Miss., he was the son of the late Clyde and Mary Kidd Wallace. Earl was a well-known farmer in Mississippi County for many years. ...

Marlin “Kitten” Williams of Blytheville was born Feb. 3, 1936, in Leslie County, Ky., to the late Wylie Williams and the late Morning Jones Williams. He was a factory worker. Mr. Williams passed away Aug. 13, 2020, at Heritage Square Nursing Center in Blytheville at the age of 84. ...

Manila Mayor Wayne Wagner and city council members met at the city park to look at the newly completed Versa Basketball Court. The court is one of two basketball courts that will be completed with the material. The second court will also serve as a basketball court, tennis court and volleyball court. ...

Dr. James Shemwell, Arkansas Northeastern College president, welcomed Gov. Asa Hutchinson to Blytheville and the campus on Tuesday. Gov. Hutchinson visited with local school administrators, city and county leaders, and local industry leaders at a luncheon prior to his daily Covid-19 press conference, which was held at ANC...

Anna L. Arnold was born May 26, 1987, to Aretha Arnold and Larry Pettis in Detroit, Mich. Anna departed this life on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, at her home in Gosnell at the age of 33. She was preceded in death by her mother, Aretha Arnold. Anna leaves to cherish her memories one son, Jevon Wilson of Jackson, Tenn.; her father, Larry Pettis; her grandmother, Eula Mae Pettis, both of Detroit, Mich.; one sister, Brianna Smiler of Gosnell; three brothers, Thomas Arnold of Blytheville, Steven Arnold and Robert Arnold; her aunt, Pearl Arnold; her uncle, Arthur Arnold III, all of Gosnell; and a host of other family members.. ...

Willie E. Wright was born Feb. 4, 1968 in Blytheville to Herman Wright and Bessie Thomas. He departed this life Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, in Blytheville at the age of 52. He was preceded in death by his father, Herman Wright. Willie leaves to cherish his memories, his mother, Bessie Thomas; two sons, Ja’Maitous Wright and Willie Wright Jr.; two daughters, Starisha Wright and Demetrius Wright; two sisters, Carolyn Faulkner, all of Blytheville, Ladrenna Singleton of Detroit, Mich.; six brothers, Michael Singleton of Saline, Texas, Ricky Wright of Detroit, Mich., Herman Singleton, Sherman Wright both of Atlanta, Ga., Tony Shannon of Bethany, Okla., and Ernest Blair of Blytheville; two grandchildren and host of other family members and friends.. ...