Archive - May 2011 - Obituary
May 26th
Robert Vance, 71 of Alexander, passed away Monday, May 23, 2011 in Benton. He was born on November 15, 1939, in Danville, Ill.; he was the son of Albert M. Vance and Dorothy Mae Howard-Vance. Robert was a retired United States Navy and Coast Guard Veteran. He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters Sandra Vance and Judy Vance and one brother. Survivors include his wife Diddy Vance; children Vicki Alimboyoguen, Carla Stacker, Robert Vance Jr., Justina Rollins, and Michael Vance, 15 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and two brothers William Vance and Albert Vance.
Billy N. Tackett, age 77, of Lonsdale, passed away Wednesday, May 25, 2011. He was born March 2, 1934, in Traskwood. Mr. Tackett was a retired from Boilermaker Local 69. He worked there from 1966 until 1983. He was mayor of Lonsdale for 20 years and fire chief of Lonsdale for 20 years. Billy  was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Amma Tackett, and brothers, Derwin and Dural Jean Tackett.Â
May 21st
Mr. Charles T. Cates III, age 89, of Fort Smith formerly of Benton died Friday, May 20, 2011. He was born April 18, 1922, in Maryville, Tenn. Charles graduated from the University of Tennessee and was a decorated WWII Air Force Veteran, an FBI Agent, employed for over 25 years with Alcoa, a Hospital Volunteer, an avid Razorback fan and golfer, and a member of the First Baptist Church in Benton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles M. and Grace Johnson Cates, his wife of 62 years, Elizabeth Pickens Cates and his sister, Penelope Bishop.
Doris Annette Mills Smith , 90, of Haskell, passed from this life on May 20, 2011. She was born April 20, 1921, in Haskell to Reuben Lee Mills and Thursa Evalyn Allen Mills.
Billy Ray “Bill†Hogue, 72, of Heber Springs, formally of Benton, passed away May 17, 2011. He was born June 3, 1938, in Altheimer to the late Earcle and Edythe Hogue. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Joann Hogue.Â
May 18th
Charles Thomas Alexander, 71, of Little Rock, passed away May 16, 2011. He was born in Little Rock to Oran Randle and Beatrice Weaver Alexander and was a member of Pleasant Valley Church of Christ. Charles was a real estate broker, a member of the Arkansas Air National Guard and a past member of the Toastmasters and the Lions Club. He retired from the Post Office as a Postmaster. He was also a very clever poet.
Bonnie LeNore Weatherford, 58, of Traskwood, passed away Saturday, May 14, 2011, in Benton. She was born March 22, 1953, in Rochester, N.Y. She was the daughter of William Mose Barnard and Mary ‘Covell’ Barnard. Bonnie was an LPN, who was a devoted wife and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She loved nursing and taking care of all of her patients. She also had a great love for her cats and wildlife in her backyard, where she enjoyed spending a lot of her time. Bonnie also enjoyed fishing and cooking.
Janet L. Renfro, 53, of Benton, died Monday, May 16, 2011. She was born on March 11, 1958, in Sacramento, Cali. to the late Wayne Alverson and Sally Birdie Phillips.Â
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Drew Allan Renfro, and one brother, Danny Alverson.Â
She is survived by two daughters, Haley Blankenship and husband, Scott, and Brandee Gray, all of Benton; one sister, Terri Nicholson of Wichita, Kan.; one brother, Garry Alverson of Humphrey; one aunt, Nona Alverson of Heber Springs, seven grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and many friends.
May 17th
Mrs. Lorene Shaver, age 90, of Benton died Tuesday, May 10, 2011. She was born September 14, 1920, in Lamar. Lorene was a housewife and a member of Geyer Springs Baptist Church and a member of the Easter Star. She was preceded in death of her parents, Jerome E. and Arnie Owens Cromer and three sisters.
Survivors include her brother and sister-in-law, J.E. Cromer and wife, Carol of Norfork; nephew, Joseph Cromer; niece, Jacquelyn Cromer; and three grandchildren.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Bayou Meto Cemetery in Jacksonville. Rev. Tom Brock will be officiating.
Helen Elizabeth Hickey, age 88, of Benton, passed away Friday, May 13, 2011. She was born January 12, 1923, in Paron. Mrs. Hickey was a hairdresser and a member of First Baptist Church in Benton. She was preceded in death by her parents, Buck and Delia Holland; husband, Lynn Hickey; sister, Pauline Moberly and brother, Bob White.Â
She is survived by two sons, Dwight Hickey of Benton and Glenn Hickey and wife, Sandy of Little Rock; one grandson, Jeffrey J. Hickey and wife, Renee; and two great-grandchildren, Taylor and Andrew Hickey.
