DEATHS FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2009
Jack Bradshaw
Jack Bradshaw, age 72, of Pine Bluff died Friday, March 27, 2009.
Born June 7, 1936, at Star City, he was a son of the late John Hearnsberger and Virginia McEntire Hearnsberger. He lived in numerous locations around the world with his military family, and graduated from White Hall High School. He served in the United States Marine Corps for several years and was a Baptist.
He started working for the Pine Bluff Fire Department in 1959, and rose through the ranks until retiring as Assistant Fire Chief in 1999. His retirement years included a lot of fishing and camping.
Survivors include his wife, Louise Shelby Bradshaw, whom he married on June 3, 1965; a son, Charles Hastings; two daughters, Susan Hastings Taylor and husband Randall and Cathy Hastings Turner; a brother, Guy Bradshaw; two sisters, Nadene Linker and Darlene Hale; a grandson, Brian Hastings; and a great-grandson, Bridger Hastings.
Funeral services will be Monday at 10 a.m. at Fuller Hale-South Funeral Chapel. Internment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery with military and fire department funeral honors.
Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Please make memorials to the Burn Unit at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 800 Marshall St., Little Rock, AR 72202.
Online condolences: www.FullerFunerals.com.
Howard Parette
Howard Phillips Parette Sr., age 84 years, died Thursday in Pine Bluff having committed his life to preparing future leaders and serving the state and local communities through a wide array of organizations. Born May 7, 1924, he was one of four children born to the late Elmer Eugene Parette and Effie Phillips Parette of Morrilton, Ark.
During his formative years in Conway County, Mr. Parette was a “Lone Scout” in the Boy Scouts of America, as well as an active member of a local 4-H club where he developed an understanding of the importance of “service” to one’s community. He attended Morrilton High School, followed by a short term of employment in Brideport, Conn., as a cadet aircraftsman for the U.S. Navy, Bureau of Aeronautics. He was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1943 and completed the Ranger Program, where he was a marksman and truck driver in the 536th Amphibian Tractor Battalion.
He participated in numerous Pacific campaigns in the Philippines, including the initial wave landing at Leyte, and in Okinawa. He subsequently received two Bronze Services stars for valor. Representing his battalion, he further distinguished himself as a Golden Glove boxer. Mr. Parette was a long-time member of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Throughout his life he remained deeply committed to his fellow WWII comrades in arms with whom he served, and was strongly influenced to serve others as a result of his war experiences.
Following WWII, he attended Arkansas Polytechnic College and the University of Arkansas, receiving a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. He married the late Marjorie Edith Wright of Subiaco, Ark., on May 26, 1950, and moved to Plum Bayou where he taught vocational education, worked with the local Boy Scout troop and served as a rural “veterinarian” for the community. In 1952, he moved to Pine Bluff where he worked for Hardware Mutual Insurance company, followed by a 37-year career at the National Bank of Commerce and Worthen Bank Corp. before retirement in 1993.
He was a member of Good Faith United Methodist Church for 53 years, where he served in every capacity available to lay members including Church Board Member, Administrative Council and Sunday School Teacher. Primary among his service work to youth was his dedication to the Boy Scouts of America for more than 55 years.
He was both a Scoutmaster and Explorer Post Advisor, with a history of more than 45 years of work with Troop 380 in Pine Bluff. He developed advanced leadership skills through Wood Badge training and as a District and State Leadership Trainer. Mr. Parette received the Silver Beaver Award in 1966, the highest award given by the Boy Scouts of America at the State level, and received a range of distinctions over time for leadership activities. He received the Vigil Honor by the Quapaw Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America in 1967, and served both as a local Chapter Leader of Tri-County District, and a lodge leader in Quapaw Lodge 160.
Influenced by early experiences with 4-H clubs, he also committed more than 131 years to youth work as a founding leader of Willow Pride 4-H Club in Watson Chapel. For decades he was involved in leadership training at both the county and state levels, and was a member of the Jefferson County 4-H Foundation.
Mr. Parette served as a Commissioner of the Arkansas Regional Planning Commission since 1966, and was Chair of this planning group since 1999. He served as both a member and President of the Jefferson County Board of Education. Mr. Parette was a member and Chair of the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Economic Opportunities Commission, and also had served as Chair of the Pine Bluff Urban Area Transportation Coordinating Commission.
He was a member of the Pine Bluff Kiwanis Club for 50 years, during which time he served in two different officer rotation cycles as President, and received the George F. Hixson medal in 1997. He was also acknowledged as Kiwanian of the Year on numerous occasions. He also served his community as a Justice of the Peace, Notary Public and Deputy Sheriff. Mr. Parette is also a permanent member of the Arkansas Historical Society. He has been recognized for his lengthy leadership and serve to the Regional Adult Education Center. His lifetime service accomplishments were recognized in 1990 when he was inducted into the Pine Bluff Leadership Hall of Fame and presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
He is survived by his wife, Alline Hays Parette of Pine Bluff; two siblings, Louise Parette Gooden of Alexandra, Va., and Bobbie Eugene Parette of Little Rock; three sons, Howard Phillips Parette Jr. of Bloomington, Ill., and Michael Dennie Parette and John Joseph Parette of Pine Bluff; and four grandchildren, John Jacob Parette of Alma, Ark., Alexandria Hope Parette of Pine Bluff, Erin Patricia Riches of Santa Monica, Calif., and Sean Goeffrey Riches of Columbia, Mo.
Pallbearers will be William G. Smith, Kurt M. Lusinger and Herman Little of Pine Bluff; Eddie M. Morris of Conway, Ark.; John Arthur Phillips of Elkins, Ark.; Keith Parette of Jacksonville, Fla.; Ned Parette of Fayetteville; and David Schimmel of Pine Bluff.
Visitation services with the family will be held at Ralph Robinson and Son in Pine Bluff on Monday, March 30 from 6 to 8 p.m., with a formal service conducted at Good Faith-Carr Memorial United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, with Rev. George Odell officiating.
Graveside services will be held at Roselawn Cemetery, under the direction of Ralph Robinson & Son and with full military honors by the Thaddeus H. Caraway Post 2278 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Hot Springs. Acknowledgments of Mr. Parette’s lifetime of service to the community may be made to Good Faith-Carr Memorial United Methodist Church, 3703 Ryburn Road, Pine Bluff, AR 71603, or to the Alzheimer’s Central Arkansas Regional Center, 411 S. Victory, Suite 202, Little Rock, AR 72201.
Online register at www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.
Hazel Campbell
REDFIELD — Hazel M. Campbell, 87, of Redfield died Friday at Sheridan Nursing Rehabilitation Center in Sheridan.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday at Buie Funeral Chapel in Sheridan.
Burial will follow at Orion Cemetery near Redfield.
Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Please sign the online guestbook at www.buiefuneralhome.com.
Nancy Tapp
REDFIELD — Nancy Stevens Tapp of Redfield passed away from this life to join her Lord and Savior surrounded by her family Friday, March 27, 2009. She was born July 26, 1940, to the late J.T. “Shorty” and Myrtis Whitmire Stevens. She was a graduate of Sheridan High School. She also attended Baptist School of Nursing and enjoyed a nursing career for more than 25 years. Nancy never met a stranger and was always there to help and give to those in need.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a daughter, Julie Diane Forbis, and brothers and sisters, James Olice Stevens, Virginia Ann Evans, Willa Mae Buchanan, John Thomas “Tommy” Stevens and Margie Sue Stevens.
Nancy is survived by her husband of 36 years and loving caretaker, Harry A. Tapp Jr.; three loving daughters and sons-in-law, Terri and Greg Burris of Hensley, Tammi and Chuck Croy of Redfield and Belinda and Richard Healey of Benton; step-daughters, Vicki Williams and the late William “Willy” Williams and Tabitha Tapp; five beautiful grandchildren, Sarah Hufford and husband Jason, Rachael Burris, Cristen Coldiron and husband Jonathan, Ashlea Clark and husband Kevin and Spencer Croy and wife Amy; step-grandchild, Rebecca Price and husband Robert; seven great-grandchildren, Jayson and Jackson Hufford, Brooke and Robert Dooms, Ayden and Levi Coldiron and Carson Clark; sisters, Barbara and husband Buddy Nichols of Redfield and Juanita Benson of Missouri; brother, Bobby Stevens of Oklahoma; and numerous nieces and nephews who enriched and blessed her life.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 30, 2009, at Marlow Missionary Baptist Church in the Ico Community. Internment will follow at Bethel Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday evening from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Jason Hufford, John Evans, Jonathan Coldiron, Kevin Clark, Spencer Croy and Duane Riely. Honorary pallbearers are Greg Burris, Chuck Croy, Richard Healey and Buddy Nichols.
Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan, (870) 942-1306. To sign the online guest book: www.memorialgardenssheridan.com.
Jack Harper
ROCK SPRINGS — Jack Randal “Randy” Harper, 52, of Rock Springs, passed away Saturday, March 28, 2009. He was born July 31, 1956, in Bossier City, La.
He was a retired jewelry repair man and a member of Rock Springs Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his mother, Louona Jane Teer Harper.
Survivors include his father, Jack Harper of Rock Springs; one brother, Eugene Harper of Rock Springs; and three sisters, Teresa Bostian of Rock Springs, Donna Harper of Harrell and Gloria Jordan of Monticello.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Rock Springs Methodist Church. Burial will be in Rock Springs Cemetery by Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home of Monticello.
Visitation: 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Angela Nelson
RYE — Angela Dean Nelson, 78, of Rye died Friday at Wagnon Place Nursing Home.
She was born Jan. 9, 1931 in Mason, Texas, a daughter of the late J.E. Gates and Ruby Lee Stark Gates.
She is also preceded in death by her husband, Milton Byron Nelson.
Survivors: Three sons, Fred Nelson of Greenlee, Colo., Lee Nelson of Rye and Dean Nelson of California; a daughter, Laura Venita Bergmann of Glendora, Calif.; two brothers, J.E. “Tex” Gates of Rye and Jack L. Gates of Palestine, Texas; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Graveside services: Mountain View Cemetery of Barstow, Calif.
Arrangements by Frazer’s Funeral Home of Warren.
Teresa Solida
SHERIDAN — Teresa Rylie Solida, 40, of Sheridan died Friday at her home.
Survivors: Husband, George J. Solida; sons, Kaleb Dewight Solida, Jacob Tyler Owen Solida, Joseph Sidney Solida and Justin Glenn Webb; daughter, Trista Izerrah Higgins; parents, Charles and Marilyn Rylie; brother, Chuck Rylie; sisters, Tina Duncan and Tonya Crutchfield; and one grandchild.
Memorial service: 2 p.m. Monday at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan, (870) 942-1306. To sign the online guest book, www.memorialgardenssheridan.com.
O.D. Mitchell
SHERIDAN — O.D. Mitchell of Sheridan Ark., was born Jan. 17, 1937 in Fifty Six, Ark., the son of the late Forrest and Verga Passmore Mitchell. He was a member of the Sheridan Riding Club and of Mid State Horse Show Association and also liked to hunt. O.D. enjoyed anything that involved horses, from training them to riding them to showing them. He not only made a living as a horse shoer, he also made many friends all over the state doing it. His greatest joy came from making many wonderful memories with his family.
O.D. died Friday, March 27, 2009, at Arkansas Hospice in Little Rock at the age of 72.
Survivors: Wife of 54 years, Eleanor Chambers Mitchell of Sheridan; son, Steven and wife Lesa Mitchell of Mountain View; daughters, Toni Ferguson of Little Rock and Teri Mitchell of Benton; sister, Marjorrie Lowe of Mountain View; grandchildren, Krista Lybrand and husband Nick of Sheridan, Eric Mitchell and wife Jennifer of Mountain View, Melissa Clark and husband Clint of Mountain View and Jessica Ferguson of San Antonio, Texas; and five great-grandchildren.
A gathering of family and friends will be Sunday, March 29, 2009 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home in Sheridan.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sheridan Riding Club, c/o Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, P.O. Box 540, Sheridan, AR 72150.
Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan, (870) 942-1306. To sign the online guest book, www.memorialgardenssheridan.com.
Charles Wyles
Charles L. Wyles, 70, of Sheridan died Friday.
Survivors: Wife, Iva Wyles of Sheridan; sons, Robert Wyles of Grady, Gerald Wyles of Conway and Dewayne of North Little Rock; daughters, Mary Lisenby and Samantha Norwood, both of Sheridan; sisters, Mary Dell Vance, Billie Dean Fuqua, Carolyn Kelly and Barbara Kilburn, all of Sheridan, and Peggy Schader of Farmington; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Chapel. Burial: Orion Cemetery.
Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan, (870) 942-1306. Online at www.memorialgardenssheridan.com.
Pat Curry
SIKESTON, Mo. — Pat Curry, 62, of Sikeston, Mo., died Wednesday.
He was born March 15, 1947, in Pine Bluff to the late Gene and Anne Curry.
Survivors include: Wife, Terry Butler Curry of Sikeston, Mo.; daughter, Kristi Curry-Rogers of St. Paul, Minn.; son, Stephen Curry of Sikeston, Mo.; brothers, Jeff Curry of Benton, Ark., and Scott Curry of Pine Bluff; and four grandchildren.
Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Monday at Nunnelee Funeral Home in Sikeston, Mo.
Memorials: Music for Tomorrow, 2925 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119; or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Michael Allison II
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Michael Ray Allison II of Riverside, Calif., died March 22 at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Riverside, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Flossie Williams.
Survivors: Parents, Michael and Shenola Allison Sr. of Altheimer; two brothers, Frank Williams and Troy Allison; and one sister, Tina Allison Bobino.
Funeral services: 10:30 a.m. Monday at Crestlawn Memorial Park, 11500 Arlington, Riverside, Calif., by Pierce Brothers Funeral Home.
Wayne Bullock
THESSALONICA, Greece — Wayne Douglas Bulloch (Father Barnabas) died Thursday, March 5, 2009 in Thessalonica, Greece.
He was born Sept. 12, 1942 in Pine Bluff, son of the late James Townsend and Viola Poole Bulloch.
He graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1960 where he was a member of the National Honor Society and A Cappella Choir.
In 1964 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from Arkansas A&M College (now the University of Arkansas at Monticello). While at A&M he was a member of Phi Lambda Chi fraternity, and was elected to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and Alpha Chi scholastic honor fraternity.
After college Wayne served as National Secretary for Phi Lambda Chi fraternity, and also obtained a Master of Arts degree in French at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
In 1965 he returned to A&M as a French instructor.
Wayne was confirmed in the Episcopal Church while at LSU and later made the decision to enter Nashota House, an Episcopalian seminary in Wisconsin, in order to serve the Lord in ministry. After his ordination as a priest he served parishes in Wisconsin and Florida.
During sabbaticals he visited several American Orthodox monasteries and also several Greek monasteries.
Having determined that he wanted to spend the remainder of his life as a monk, Wayne entered the monastery at Karakallou on the Holy Mountain, Mount Athos, in Greece.
After meeting the requirements for investiture as a monk, Wayne chose the name Father Barnabas (the encourager). Besides participating in the spiritual aspects of life in the monastery, he also worked in the kitchen and in the olive gardens and vineyards tended by the monks.
English-speaking pilgrims to the monastery were often greeted by Father Barnabas who served as their host while at Karakallou. Several such pilgrims remarked in their online journals that he possessed a gentle and compassionate nature.
Giving thanks to God for the life of their beloved brother are three surviving sisters, Beverly Farrell (James N.) of Hot Springs, Linda Lynch (Alfred B. III) of Arkadelphia, and Sandra Murry (Tommy) of Bastrop, La. He is also fondly remembered by a niece, Brooke Lynch Deaton (Greg) of Arkadelphia, two nephews, Bradley Neil Farrell (Patty) of Fayetteville and Matthew Townsend Farrell (Rev. Julia) of Round Rock, Texas, and cousins Janice Helvie Tiner of Pine Bluff and Brenda Helvie Costa (Philip) of Houston, Texas.
The Abbot of the Monastery at Karakallou officiated at services held for Father Barnabas on Saturday, March 7, 2009. His remains were interred on the cloistered grounds of the monastery overlooking the Aegean Sea.
Willie Richardson, 58, of Pine Bluff died Friday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.