Archive - Obituary
May 6th, 2013
William Murl Tate, of Benton, passed away Saturday, May 4, 2013. He was 86 years old.
Murl was born at home in the Ten Mile Community (Lonsdale) on Oct. 10, 1926, the son of Thomas Jefferson Tate and Flora Mae (Craft) Tate.
 After school and working on the family farm, he went to work for Kaiser in the shipyard of Vancouver, Wash., during World War II. When he returned to Arkansas, he worked for Little Rock Piano Co. and in the 1950s began a wholesale piano company in Benton with Ernest Pelton.Â
Bertha Louanna Ray, age 76, of Alexander passed away Friday, May 3, 2013.
She was born Aug. 19, 1932 in Scott.Â
Mrs. Ray was a school bus driver for the Bryant School District and a member of Pleasant Hills Missionary Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Johnny and Adda Osburn; her husband, Boyce Ray; a daughter, Dianna Goss; and a son, Terry Ray.
Barbara Ann Atkinson, 65, of Haskell passed away Thursday, May 2, 2013. She was born Feb. 8, 1948, in Benton. Mrs. Atkinson was a licensed practical nurse and a member of the Family Church in Bryant.Â
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Mattie Whitley, and four sisters, Lillian Whitley, Ada Rogers, Lucille Cole and Joyce Parnell.
Frank Paul Kret Jr., 66, of Benton passed away Thursday, May 2, 2013. He was born Sept. 14, 1946, in Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Kret was a Vietnam Army veteran and worked as a machinist. He was a member of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church.Â
Mr. Kret was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Ruby Kret; parents Frank Paul Kret Sr. and Mattie Wilson Kret; mother- and father-in-law Mavis and J.C. Lawson; sister Frances Mack; and a brother, Charles Kret.
May 3rd
Diana Lynn “DeeDee” Schalk, 49, of Benton passed away with her family by her side on May 2, 2013. DeeDee was born in St. Louis on June 28, 1963, to Ira and Margaret Leake. She grew up in Franklin County, Miussouri; graduated from R-16 Strain-Japan; Sullivan High School; and East Central College, Union, Missouri. DeeDee was united in marriage to Marty Schalk on October 11, 1986 at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Gerald, Missouri. She, Marty and Caleb moved to Benton in 1992.
Woodrow W. Harrell, 78, passed away on Wednesday May 1, 2013. He was born June 6, 1934 in Cato. Woodrow was a retired Truck Driver and a member of Sardis United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Alice Hackler Harrell, brother, Roland Harrell, two sisters, Vivinell Turner, and Elmus L. Barnard.
John A. Jones,, 90, of Benton, passed away May 1, 2013. He was born September 9, 1922 in Idabel, Oklahoma to the late L.V. and Annie Leamons Jones. John was a member of Highland Heights Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Betty Jones and daughter, Susan Keller.
He is survived by, sons, Richard Jones, Michael Jones and Brad Jones all of Utah, daughters, Judy Greene, Nevada, Shari Cain, Utah, Barbara Aviril, California, brother, Gene Jones, Tenn., and sisters, Stella Moody, Tenn., and Ruby Ellis of Benton, Arkansas.
Arnold Wayne “Bubby” Simpson, Jr. age 35 of Hot Springs, has died. He was born on September 10, 1977 in Benton.
He is preceded in death by his father, Arnold Wayne Simpson, Sr.,
He is survived by his mother, Janis Segeda of Little Rock; his sister, Sandy Spence of Benton; two daughters of Glen Rose; two nephews of Benton, and many loving Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friends.
Memorial service will be 2 p.m., Saturday, May 4, at the Saline County Moose Lodge.
Online guestbook: jafunkfuneralhome.com.
April 30th
Stella Virginia Holst Estes, 86, of Malvern died April 28, 2013.
Virginia graduated from Malvern High in 1945. A self-taught pianist and organist, she traveled the region performing with her sisters and brother, evangelizing for the Assemblies of God. She went on to serve as pianist for several local churches over the years.
James “Jim” Turner, 63, of Benton passed away on April 27, 2013, with his family by his side.
Jim was born Dec. 18, 1949, to Carroll Joe and Rachel Turner in Arkadelphia. He was employed with American Laboratories. He loved his family and was a wonderful, husband, son, father, brother and grandfather. Jim enjoyed going to auctions, woodworking and working on old cars.
He was preceded in death by his father, Carroll Turner; a brother, Woodrow "Woody" Turner; and a sister, Cynthia Turner.
