Archive - Jan 2012 - Obituary
John William Dunaway Jr. 84, Masonry contractor and World War II veteran, died of natural causes Jan. 29, at his daughter's home in Sheridan.He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 15, 1927 to John William Sr. and Mary Elsie Fryer Dunaway. In spite of his mother’s dismay, he left home at age 15 to join the Navy and serve his country during World War II. He was stationed aboard the USS Trutta and fought valiantly alongside his shipmates in the South Pacific. He was always proud of his service, but like so many others in his generation, he was reluctant to talk about it.
Orene Merchant Moore, 82, died Jan. 28, at her home in Bryant. Orene was born February 17, 1929 in McCaskill to Jesse Orrin Merchant and Olive Pauline (Folsom) Merchant. Orene was a Registered Nurse, training at Leo N. Levi Memorial Hospital in Hot Springs before practicing at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. She spent 20 years as an Army officer’s wife. During retirement she researched her genealogy, traveling across the country doing research before joining the Daughters of the American Revolution.
January 30th
Sarah (Betty) Green Talbert, 85, of Little Rock, formerly of Sardis, passed away Friday, Jan. 27. She was born January 13, 1927 in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Mrs. Talbert was a homemaker and a member of Primrose Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Willie J. Poe; husband, William Darrell Green, Sr. and a sister, Margaret Dobson.
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Mark Steven Meeks, 54, of Bryant, passed away Friday, Jan. 27, at his home. He was born on December 28, 1957 in Camden. Mr. Meeks was a project architect with Cromwell Architects in Little Rock for over 21 years, was of Christian faith, and loved his family and granddaughter. He loved riding his Harley, was a member of the Unforgiven Militia Motorcycle Club, and was an exceptional artist.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Doris (Garner) Meeks.
Frances Anna Buffington, 89, of Benton, passed away Jan. 26. She was born on December 13, 1922 to the late Robert and Melissa Hunt. She was of the Baptist faith.
Frances was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Vernon Buffington, sons, Mac and Tim Buffington, daughter, Alpha Yates and granddaughter, Kathleen Yates.
She is survived by her son, James Buffington and wife, Margaret of Benton, sister, Delpha Chambers and husband, James of Paron, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Graveside services by Ashby Funeral Home will be 11:00 a.m. Monday at Fowler Cemetery.Â
January 27th
Powell B. Brown, 86, of Benton, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 25. He was born July 24, 1925, in Frisco City, Ala., to the late Robert and Mamie Brown.Â
Powell was a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. Powell was a member of Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Gloria Mae Brown; two brothers and five sisters.
January 26th
Jeremie Brent Harrell, 35, passed from this life on Jan. 20. He was born Aug. 1, 1976 in Little Rock.
He is survived by his wife, Melonie Harrell; three stepchildren; Damion West, Haley Nance and Raistlin Diebel; his mother, Vickie York of Franklin; a sister, Karmen Harrell of Franklin; a brother, Eric Fouth of Calico Rock; and his close friends, Albert Lee, Dennis King and Mike Farrow, as well as many other friends and family members who loved him and will miss him greatly.
Brent loved playing the guitar and working on cars.
A private service will be held.
Bonnie Jean Smith, 85, a resident of Benton, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 24. She was born Jan. 25, 1926, in Little Rock to the late Dewitt Talmadge Pool and the late Minnie Lee Bettis.
Bonnie loved to plant flowers at her house for many years. She was a member of Highland Heights Baptist Church.Â
She was preceded in death by her husband, A.L. Smith; and two sons, Larry Wayne Buster and Ronnie Hollingshead.Â
Ronald Allen Prince, 53, of North Little Rock passed away Jan. 23, after a long and brave battle with diabetes and cancer. He was born Feb. 18, 1958 in Little Rock. From an early age, Ron displayed talents both creative and entrepreneurial which would serve him well throughout his life. As a boy, he wrote, edited and published The Arnold Street News, a neighborhood newspaper that also contained ads for Ron’s other enterprises – neighborhood plays and eight millimeter film shows for which he would charge admission and serve refreshments.
William Brian Hampton, 50, of Benton passed away Tuesday, Jan. 24, at his home. He was born May 30, 1961, in Fort Smith to William Burke and Demo Lee (Stephenson) Hampton.
He graduated from Benton High School in 1979 and was a 1984 graduate of University of Central Arkansas, where he was member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. He attended Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church in Benton, was a member of the First Christian Church of Benton, and also attended the First Nazarene Church of Benton.
Mr. Hampton previously was employed at Benton State Bank.
