Obituaries

DEATHS FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2008

Saturday, June 28, 2008 11:17 PM CDT

Iris Sanders

BELLA VISTA — Iris Louise Stone Sanders, 96, Bella Vista, died Saturday at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville.

She was preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Mary Blythe Stone, her husband of 70 years, Emmett Sanders; twin brother Ira Louis Stone; and brother Samuel Solomon Stone, Jr.

She is survived by son Emmett Earlton Sanders, Jr., of Huntsville, Ark.; daughter Joan Eleanor Sanders Turner, of Bella Vista, Ark.; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one sister, Faye Scallion, of Searcy.

Funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Monday, June 30, 2008 in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Home.www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Mildred Bledsoe

HOT SPRINGS — Mildred Irma Harper Bledsoe entered into her heavenly home on June 26, 2008. She was born on July 22, 1912 in Lapile, Ark., to Nannie Tuberville Harper and William Eggleston Harper, Jr.

She attended college at Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia, Ark., where she met and married Doyle Benjamin Bledsoe. She taught school in several schools in Arkansas where her husband also taught and was in administration. Later he graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas and the couple served in churches in Arkansas and Missouri. Mildred served in all aspects of the church and was best loved and admired for her remarkable ability as a gifted Bible teacher and her dedication to intercessory prayer.

She spent her life as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She leaves countless wonderful memories to all her family and friends. She is survived by three sons; Dr. Benjamin William Bledsoe and his wife Susan of Memphis, Tenn., Dr. James Harper Bledsoe and his wife Cecile of Rogers, Ark., Dr. Robert Doyle Bledsoe and his wife Carol of Hot Springs, Ark.; and two daughters; Nancy Rosa Chandler and her husband Don of Hot Springs, Ark., and Millie Ruth Rollins and her husband Keith of Waco, Texas. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, June 30,2008 at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at Diamondhead Community Methodist Church with Dr. Benjamin W. Bledsoe and Rev. Mike Fikes officiating. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. the same day at Pine Bluff Cemetery in Pine Bluff, Ark.

Arrangements are by Caruth-Hale Funeral Home. Guests may register at www.caruth-hale.com.

Mildred Smith

SHERIDAN — Mildred Clement Baker Smith, 87, of Sheridan, died Friday.

Survivors include her children, James Baker, David Baker, Anne Threlkeld and Kay Oakley, all of Sheridan; brothers, J.C. Clement of Pine Bluff and J.F. "Chub" Clement of the Ain Community; sister, Anna Mae Spears of Greenbrier; 13 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.

Funeral: 10 a.m., Monday, Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel in Sheridan. Burial: Clement Cemetery. Visitation: Sunday, 3-5 p.m. Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan (870) 942-1306. To sign the online guestbook: www.memorialgardenssheridan.com

Jerry Hoyt Sr.

STAR CITY — Jerry Ray Hoyt Sr., 80, of Star City, Ark., lost his courageous battle with cancer on June 26, 2008 at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. He was born May 2, 1928 to the late Claude Clinton Hoyt Sr., and Georgia Alice Guy Hoyt.

Jerry will always be remembered for his love of his family, courageous spirit, carpenter skills, love of animals and devotion to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Survivors include two daughters, Becky Barclay and husband Monty of Missouri, Phyllis Knight and husband Robert of Star City; and one son, Jerry Ray Hoyt Jr., of Star City. Additionally he leaves eight grandchildren, Zach Wirges, Alyssa and Hannah Loyd, Joey Knight, Amy Dean, Jonathan, Jarrod and Tanner Hoyt; and six great-grandchildren, Zane, Alexis, Kylei and Anna Knight, Hayden and Cole Dean. Other survivors include his brothers Guy and Van Hoyt, and sisters Helen Gassaway, Mary Alice Calloway, and Sue McGriff. He was preceded in death by his brothers Clifton, Claude Jr., and Basil Hoyt, and one sister, Katherine Ashcraft.

Funeral services will be Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Griffin’s Funeral Home with Brother W. H. Ashcraft officiating. Pallbearers are Winfred Ashcraft, Steve Newton, Danny Roberts, Jonathan Hoyt. Honorary pallbearers are Keith Hoyt and Billy Allen Yarbrough.

Visitation was Saturday, June 28 from 7 yo 9 p.m. at Griffin’s Funeral Home in Star City.

The family will be at Phyllis Knight’s home in Cornerville. Arrangements are by Griffin Funeral Service in Star City.

Leonard Newman

STAR CITY — Leonard Leon Newman, 72, of Star City, passed from this world with his loving family at his bedside on Friday, June 27, 2008.

Born the son of the late Stark Joseph Newman and Helen Marie (Drewery) Newman on March 10, 1936, he was a graduate of Star City High Class of 1955, attended Ohio State University for one semester on a full paid football scholarship. While in Columbus, Ohio he worked for Suburban Motor Freight. Returning to Arkansas, he worked for International Paper as a Supervisor for Huckaby Construction and spent 23 years working for Arkansas Best Freight as a truck driver. In 1986 he served as a Correctional Officer and Maintenance Supervisor for the Arkansas Department of Corrections. In 1995, he retired to ranch and farm for the remainder of his life. He loved riding and breaking horses. Leon came to know the Lord at the age of 15. He was a member of the Lone Grove Missionary Baptist Church, the Glendale and Pigeon Roast Saddle Club, the Carpenter’s Union, and the Little Rock Teamsters. He was known by his friends to be the life of the party.

Preceded in death by his parents Stark Joseph, Helen Marie and his only son, Jimmy Leon Newman.

He is survived by four daughters, Kay Bates of Woodlawn, Carolyn Jo Bennett, Paula Rodgers and Roxane Newman of Star City; one brother, Stark Joseph (Junior) Newman of Star City; three sisters, Marilyn Mills of Hobbs, N.M., Charlene Horn of Columbus, Ohio, and Helen Lemons of Star City; nine grandchildren, Desha Carter Brown, Dusty Bennett, John, Joshua and Melissa Jo Rodgers, and Blaine Newman, all of Star City, Shannon Bates Weber of Chattanooga, Tenn., Charlie Bates of Arkadelphia and Miranda Jill Newman of Conway; two great-granddaughters, Samantha Bennett and Lauren Brown of Star City.

Leon was also blessed with his extended family, fiancee, partner and caregiver Sheila Ames and her four children and seven grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 29 at the Griffin Funeral Home in Star City.

Funeral service will be Monday, June 30 at 2 p.m., in the Chapel at Griffin Funeral Home with Brother Allen Hagood and Brother Gid Walters officiating. Burial will be in Newman Cemetery. The family will be at his home on Arabian Road. Arrangements by Griffin Funeral Service in Star City.

R.E. Greenwood Jr.

WARREN — Raleigh Earl “Sonny” Greenwood Jr., 71, of Warren, died Friday at Wagnon Place Nursing Home. He was born Aug. 16, 1936, at Grapevine, a son of the late Raleigh Earl Greenwood Sr., and Myrtis Taylor Greenwood.

Also preceding him in death were brothers Harry Greenwood, Charles Greenwood, Harold Greenwood.

Survivors are two brothers, J .W. Greenwood of Warren and Kenneth Greenwood of Excelsior Springs, Mo.

Graveside services 2 p.m. Tuesday in Shady Grove Cemetery near Grapevine by Frazer’s Funeral Home.

Online guest register: www.frazerfuneralhome.com

Thomas Seymour

COVINA, Calif. — Thomas Joseph Alfred Seymour (“Al” or “Joe”) born Sept. 7, 1913, died at age 94 on May 23, 2008. A memorial service is planned for Sept. 6, 2008, 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Covina, Calif.

Mr. Seymour was born in Pine Bluff, Ark. He married Willine Putnam in 1938 at the First Presbyterian Church of Pine Bluff. They lived in Missoula, Mont., from 1943 to 1965 and in Covina, Calif., from 1965. Willine died in 1999.

He was a newspaper pressman until age 74, working at the Pine Bluff Commercial, The Missoulian, and The San Gabriel Valley Tribune. He and several friends then put together a machine shop in an addition to his garage, where he spent many hours working and visiting.

He is survived by three daughters, Joanna (Ron), Jane (Jack), and Judy (Joe); four grandchildren, Kai (Anna), Krista, Kurt (April) and Ryan; three great-granddaughters, Katie (Randy), Ariel, and Brianna; one great-great-grandson, Aaron.

He was a member of The Lions in Missoula and The Elks in West Covina and sailed out of Marina del Rey. He enjoyed dances at The Covina Bowl, “Y”, and senior centers over many years, the last several years with Peggy. Breakfast and a late-night coffee were always enjoyed at Millie’s counter in Covina, where he was known as “Pappy”.

He was a member of The First Baptist Church of Missoula and The First Presbyterian Church of Covina.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation to a charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated.

Antonio Bennett, 28, of Pine Bluff died June 20, 2008. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Christian Way Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

Albert Shy, 67, of Pine Bluff died Saturday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

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