Archive - Obituary
July 13th, 2012
Margie Moody, 85, of Benton passed away July 12. She was born Jan. 9, 1927, in Benton to the late Roy Robert and Josie Keene Wilson.
Margie was a member of the Grape Chapel Church of God and Sharon Extension Homemakers Club. She attended the Benton Senior Activities Center and was a volunteer for Churches Joint Council on Human Needs.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charlie Moody; a granddaughter, Kristy Kurtz; a great-granddaughter, Emma Kurtz; her brothers, Melton, Elton and Doyle Wilson; and her sisters, Edith Woodall, Lois Berry and Emma Hussey.
July 12th
Jo Ann Arras, 44 of Little Rock, passed away Tuesday, July 10. She was born April 14, 1968, to James and Lois Arras of Bryant.
Jo Ann was loving and devoted to her mother and grandmother. She was born on Easter Sunday and collected bunnies. She graduated from Baptist Health and was previously employed as an LPN at Baptist Health.
She was preceded in death by her father, James Arras; and her grandparents.
Jimmy Dale Moore, 80, of Benton passed away on Tuesday, July 10.Â
He was born June 4, 1932, in Benton. Jimmy Dale was a deacon, song director, Bible teacher, part-time pianist and a member for 55 years at Ridgecrest Baptist Church.Â
He was the manager of the ESSO Bulk Plant for 20 years and retired as the owner of the Bryant EXXON after 12 years. Jimmy Dale served as president of the Master Gardeners for two years.Â
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Addie Moore; a sister, Rutheda Wright; and two brothers, John Lewallen Moore and Charles Comer Moore.
July 11th
Betty J. Cozart, 82, of Benton passed away Monday, July 9. She was born June 2, 1930, in Hot Springs.
Betty loved crocheting, cross-stitching, collecting angels and traveling to Branson.
She was a loving mother who was always there for her family.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband of more than 60 years, Burl B. Cozart.
Ida Carolyn Raney, 76, of Conway, died Sunday, July 8.
She was born to Alvin Walters and Ida Maude Raney on July 7, 1936, in Saline County. She was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church and Round Mountain Community Church, both in Conway. She was a retired librarian (36 years) of Hendrix College, Conway, and a member of Gamma Conclave, Delta Kappa Gamma sorority.
She is survived by one sister, Ms. Linda Sheridan of Benton; and several nieces and nephews.Â
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 29, at Congo United Methodist Church near Benton.Â
Fred E. Fox, formerly of Bauxite, passed away on July 5, at his home in Shepherd, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Martha Fox, brother Odell Fox, and sister Ruth Fox Brazee.
He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Lula M. Fox, precious son, Michael Fox, and sister Ginger Fox English and husband, Jack.
Funeral service will be 3 p.m., Thursday, July 12 at Brookside Funeral Home Grand Chapel in Houston, Texas. Interment will follow in Brookside Memorial Park.
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, July 11 at the funeral home.
Marjorie Ann Middleton, 79, of Benton passed away Sunday, July 8.
She was born in Hot Springs on Oct. 6, 1932, to the late Duffie Nixon Searcy and Ethyl Hortense Sanders Searcy. She was a homemaker, was a member of First United Methodist in Benton, and was known as “Nana” to her grandchildren.Â
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Bob Middleton; and one brother, Larry Searcy.
Willie Roe Simpson, 87, of Tull passed away on July 6, with his family by his side.
Roe was born April 3, 1925, to the late Robert and Bessie Simpson in McRae. He enjoyed fox and deer hunting, fishing and dancing.  Roe retired after many years from Kruse Meat Market.
Roe was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife of 46 years, Jaunita Simpson; one grandson, Robert Wayne Simpson Jr.; one granddaughter, Erin Michelle Merritt; two sisters and two brothers.
July 9th
Doyle W. Whitfield, 88, of Benton, passed away peacefully June 27. He was the son of William H. and Mattie Whitfield. He retired from Reynolds Mining Co.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of forty-one years, Betty Potts Whitfield, five children, nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, three brothers and three sisters.
Services will be 10 a.m., Monday, July 9 with interment at Forest Memorial Park.
Family will be receiving visitors at 4110 Edison Ave in Benton.
Allison Marie Smart, 37, of Bryant passed away June 29.
She was born June 22,1975, in Little Rock to Lindeal and Brenda Ridling.
She was preceded in death by her mother and grandfather.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Smart; a step daughter, Samantha Smart; four brothers, Shane and Bo Ridling and Andy and Mathew Purdue; two grandchildren; her grandmother; two uncles; and her father, Lindeal Ridling.
Cremation was through Ashby Funeral Home.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m, Monday, July 9, at Foursquare Church in Benton.
Online guest book: www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.
