Earl "Gene" Armstrong

Earl "Gene" Armstrong, 76, of Moffett passed away
Sunday, Feb.8,2009,in Moffett.He was a member of
the Moffett Baptist Mission, an active member of
the MoffettTown Council, volunteer fireman and a
member of the American Legion. He graduated from
Fort Smith High School in 1950 and served in the
Army. He worked for Kaiser Steel in CA for several
years and Wright Service Station.

Services were held Thursday, Feb. l2, 2009, at
Moffett Mission in Moffett with burial at Forest
Park Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction
of Fentress Mortuary in Fort Smith.

LADONNA COFFMAN

Ladonna Coffman departed this earthly life on July 23, 2007, after a long battle with cancer. She was born June 2, 1934, in Clinton to Cora and John Hale. Ladonna was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Odie Hale of Clinton. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Edwin Coffman of Fort Smith; son, Phillip Coffman and his wife, Jane, and granddaughter, Kristin, all of Los Angeles; son, David Coffman and his wife, Beth, and grandchildren, Matt and Carol Ann, all of Tulsa; son, Dr. John Coffman and granddaughters Erin and Hannah, all of Fort Smith; sister, Zenobia Peacock and her husband, Clarence of Nashville, Tenn.; and brother, Sanford Hale and his wife, Judy of Tulsa; as well as many caring nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Ladonna was a retired nurse, a member of the Sparks Guild and the Nifty Fifties. She was a devoted wife and loving mother as well as a giving friend to so many. She loved visiting her hometown of Clinton, keeping in touch with friends on trips and fun excursions and taking care of her home. Ladonna also enjoyed tremendously the years she spent as den mother to her Boy Scout troop and over the years taught probably 50-plus kids to water ski on Lake Ouachita. Ladonna always thought of others before herself, was interested in everyone she met and will be missed by all who knew her for years or if they had just been introduced. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, July 26, 2007, at Goddard United Methodist Church with a private family committal at the U.S. National Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Edwards Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Mitch Jones, Bryan Whitaker, Bryan Mason, Kenny Irwin, Danny Johnson and Johnny Johnson. Honorary pallbearers will be Nifty Fifties, retired members of Medical Society, Jim Selig, Roger Robertson and Ben Lockerd. In lieu of flowers, memorials would be greatly appreciated by the following organizations: Peachtree Hospice, 4300 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901; Goddard Methodist Church, 1922 Dodson Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901; Sebastian County Humane Society, P.O. Box 10953, Fort Smith, AR 72917; or a charity of one’s choice. To place an online tribute, please visit http://www.edwardsfuneralhome.com/.

GARY DON STIPSKY

Gary Don Stipsky, 75, died Tuesday, July 17, 2007, in Fort Smith. He was a retired employee of the Whirlpool Corp. as a tool and die maker. He was a member of the South Side Baptist Church, the Elks Club and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was instrumental in forming of the Drug Awareness Program for children and he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He is survived by one daughter, Yvonne Griner of Fort Smith; stepdaughter, Carol and her husband, Mac McGrew of Fort Smith; one son, John and his wife, Connie Stipsky of Frisco, Texas; one sister, Utanah and her husband, Dave Williams of Pocahontas; three grandchildren, Rachel McGrew and her husband, Aaron, Katie and Elizabeth Borengasser, both of Fort Smith; one stepgrandchild, Megan McGrew. He was preceded in death by his first wife and the mother of his children, Betty June Stipsky; and his second wife, Christine Stipsky. Funeral service will be Saturday, July 21, 2007, at 10 a.m. at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow at the Woodlawn Memorial Park all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Dave and Jeff Williams, Jay Pankey, John Harris, Jerry Lofts and Mac McGrew. The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home on Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Fort Smith Girls Shelter, 2600 Raleigh St., Fort Smith, AR 72901 or the Elks National Foundation, P.O. Box 6236, Fort Smith, AR 72906.
To sign an online guest book, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.

JERRY SLAUGHTER - (CLASS OF 51)

Jerry Lee Slaughter, 74 , of Arlington, Texas, died Sunday, May27,
at his home. He was born March 29, l933, in Fort Smith, AR. He
graduated from Fort Smith High , was a former FBI agent, retired
from SBC as division staff manager security and claims in Texas.

Memorial service was held Thursday May 3l at St. Alban's Episcopal
Church in Arlington. Arrangements were under the direction of
Arlington Funeral Home of Arlington.

He is survived by his wife, Susan; two children; two stepchildren;
a sister, Jean Deislinger of Fort Smith; and six grandchildren.

Dr. THOMAS "TOM" DU PREE

Dr. Thomas "Tom" DuPree, 76, of Booneville died Wednesday,
May 23, 2007, in Booneville. He was born April ll, 1931, in
England, AR.

Graveside service will be l P.M. Friday May 25, at Carolan
Cemetery near Booneville. Memorial service will be 2:00 P.M.
Friday at First Methodist Church in Boonevilleunder the
direction of Roberts Funeral
Home of Booneville.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie Bell DuPree ; a daughter, Debbie Strom
of Booneville; two sons, Thomas and James DrPree, both of
Booneville; a brother, Jim DuPree of Newport; and five grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be grandsons.

The family will visit with friends from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the
funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Tom DuPree Scholarship
Fund, c/o First Western Bank in Booneville or the Booneville First
United Methodist Church renovation fund.

CHRISTINE WATKINS - STIPSKY

Christine Watkins - Stipsky departed this earth on May 3, 2007. She is survived by her husband, Gary Stipsky of Fort Smith; her mother, Pearl Kilgore of Moberly, Mo.;
three brothers and families; and one sister and family; one daughter, Carol McGrew and husband Mac of Fort Smith and numerous grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

She and her late husband, Harold Watkins, were formerly owners of the Red Barn Steak House,
along with other successful restaurants in Fort Smith. She was devoted to The Girls Shelter for
more than 30 years as a member of the board of directors, associate director and as executive director. She was an accomplished seamstress and artist.

Services were held May 8 at the Lewis Funeral Chapel.

For complete information and to place an online tribute to to: www.lewisfuneralchapel.net

HARRY BLACKMAN

Harry Blackman, 80, of Fort Smith died Saturday, March 17. 2007
in Fort Smith. He was owner/operator of Blackman Communica-
tions; retired from the Lucent Corp; was a member of the Grand
Avenue Church, Philatelic Society and he served the U. S. Navy
on the U.S.S. Currituck AV-7 during World War II.

He is survived by his wife, JANE NEISLAR BLACKMAN of the
home, the Rev. Greg Blackman and his wfie Debbie of Summerville,
GA.; and two grandchildren, Whitney Blackman of Kennesaw, GA.,
and Kristin Blackman of Summerville, GA.

Service will be Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at 11 A.M. at Edwards
Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Smith and burial to follow at
Stoud Cemetery in Greenwood.

For further info....visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com

JERRY GREEN

Jerry Durden Green, 74, of Richmond, TX; died Wednesday,
Feb. 28, 2007, in Richmond. He was born June 13, 1932, in Fort
Smith, AR. He attended Fort Smith High School and University
of Arkansas. Was an Air Force veteran; was in the wholesale
remodeling industry and owned Texas Building Products.

Funeral was held March 5, 2007, at Rosenburg, Texas.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; a daughter, Jeri Jobe of
Columbus, TX;two sons, Randy Green of San Antonio
and Douglas Green of Houston; and six grandchildren.

PEGGY SMITH BUCKNER

Peggy Joyce Smith Buckner, 74, of Charleston, AR died Thursday, February 22, 2007, in Fort Smith. She was born June 18, 1932, in Lavaca. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Charleston and a 1950 graduate of Fort Smith High School.

Rosary was held Sunday at Smith Mortuary Chapel in Charleston. Funeral was Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Charleston with burial at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Charleston.

She is survived by her husband, Everett; five daughters, Melinda Pillstrom of Charleston; Melissa Wattinger, Mary Quick and Martha Hudy, all of Austin, TX; and Mand Holt of Pfugerville, TX; a son, Willaim Buckner II of Charleston; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Charleston Fire Department, Charleston, AR 72933.

Marilyn Holt Crain

Marilyn Holt Crain departed September 10. 2006 at Dallas, TX surrounded by her four daughters and a granddaughter.

The funeral service was Friday, Sept l5 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Fort Smith.

For additional details of obituary, please visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.

JERRY W. RUSSELL (Carol Shermer Russell's husband)

Jerry W. Russell, 73, of Tulsa, passed away Thursday, February 23, 2006 at home.

Preceded in death by; his parents, Glyde and Edith Russell and son, Steven K. Rose.

Survived by his wife, Carol Shermer Russell. Seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Service will be 12 noon, Saturday, February 25, 2006 at Memorial Park Cemetary Chapel. Family suggests contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

SHARLA BOYD HILL

Sharla Boyd Hill died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006, in Dallas.
She was born in Fort Smith on Nov. 12, 1935. She was
preceded in death by her mother and father, Sidney and
Degan Boyd; and her brother, Robert S. Boyd. She is
survived by her husband, Edward Hill of Dallas; and her
step-children, Dick Hill of Marlborough, N.H. and Carrie
Bailey of Magnolia, Miss; three grandchildren; and a
sister-in-law Pat Boyd Hawkins of Fort Smith,
Sharla was the great-great-granddaughter of Capt. John
Rogers who founded Fort Smith arriving in 1823. She was
a 1952 graduate of Fort Smith Senior High and a 1956
graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville,
and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.
Gravesie service will be 2 p.m. Wed. Feb. l, 2006 at
Oak Cemetery with Dr. Wm. Galbraith of First Presbyterian
Church officiating.
Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Assoc, 322 No.
Greenwood, Fort Smith, AR 72901, or a charity of donor's
choice.
To place an online tribute please visit:
www.edwardsfuneralhome.com

Barbara Jean Threadgill

Barbara Jean Threadgill, 73, of Alma died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005, in a local hospital. She was a bookkeeper for Threadgill Electric.


She is survived by her husband, William “Bill” Threadgill of the home; three daughters, Rebecca Price of Booneville, Betty Pecoraro of Minot, N.D., and Sara Musgrave of Van Buren; two sons, Richard Threadgill of Van Buren and Bobby Threadgill of Fort Smith; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.


The services will be held privately.

Charles R. Staton

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, AR
Charles Ray Staton, 74, of Hot Springs Village died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005, at home.

Born June 12, 1931, at Fort Smith To Charlie James & Olar Fay Rainwater Staton. He was a U.S. Air Force Korean War veteran and member of Coronado Baptist Church and NARFE.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth A. Little Staton of Hot Springs Village; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kimberly W. and Mike Santacruz of North Little Rock, Stacy Powell of Springdale and David Powell of Fayetteville; one brother-in-law, Harry Lewis Litttle of Harvey; and two grandchildre, Anastacia Santacruz and Steven Santacruz.

The service was Saturday at Balboa Baptist Church with Pastor Johnny Ross officiating.

Memorials may be made to Coronado Baptist Church Building Fund, PMV 3164501 No. Highway 7 Suite A, Hot SPrings VIllage, AR 7l909

Guest register is a htt;://www.caruth-hale. com.

Robert "Bobby" Speer

Robert "Bob" Speer, 74, originally of Fort Smith, was born October 5, l931, and died Friday,December 9, 2005. He was a graduate of Fort Smith High School and the University of Oklahoma. He served in the Air Force and retired as a publishing executive in California. After retiring, he returned to Fort Smith where he established several small businesses.

He is survived by one daughter, Susan of Little Rock; three sons, James and his wife, Rebecca of Perry, GA., Robert and his wife, Christine of Thousand Oaks, CA., and John of Kathleen, GA.; seven grandchildren, Thomas Hunter, Stephanie, Melissa and Michael Branson, Sarah, Anna and Grant Speer; former wife and mother of his children, Nancy of Kathleen, GA.; one brother, Bill of Bell Gardens, CA.; and many nieces and nephews.

Graveside memorial service was held at the U.S. National Cemetery December 16, 2005.
Assisting with arrangements was Roller-Chenal Funeral Home of Little Rock.

MARY JULE ROSS CROUSE

From the Fort Smith Times Record - Monday, December 19, 2005 1:39 PM CST

Mary Jule Ross Crouse, 73, of Springfield, Ill., formerly of Auburn, Ill., and Fort Smith died at her home on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. She was born June 17, 1932, in Fort Smith to Ann Martin and Rutherford Jack Ross. She graduated from Fort Smith High School in 1950 and attended Centenary Junior College in New Jersey, the University of Texas, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi, and the University of Kansas. She married Kenneth Curtis Crouse Jr. in 1954 and lived in North Tarrytown and Armonk, N.Y., until her divorce in 1971.

She was a member and past secretary and treasurer of Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Association and received The Order of the Golden Arrow in 2001. She was a member of the Junior League of Fort Smith, a volunteer and member of the board of directors of the Arkansas Valley Habitat for Humanity, received the Governor’s Volunteer Excellence Award in 2000 and was a volunteer with Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect in Fort Smith. She loved all animals, especially her dogs and cats, books, music, art, crafts, swimming and travel.

She was employed by Walter Karl Inc. in Armonk, N.Y., and in Fort Smith by World Wide Travel, Peoples Federal Savings & Loan, Craftech and as an interior designer at Sherwin Williams and Beverly Enterprises. She was employed as a house mother by the Phi Kappa Pi fraternity at the University of Kansas. She served as director of the Crisis Center for Battered Women in Fort Smith until her retirement.

Her baptism, confirmation and marriage were all celebrated in St. John’s Episcopal Church in Fort Smith. She was on St. John’s altar guild, a lay reader and lay Eucharistic minister, a member of the organizational steering committee, drove the Sam Van, and served sandwiches through the sack lunch program.

A memorial service and interment will be held at St. John’s on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006, at 10:30 a.m.

Mary Jule Crouse is survived by her daughter, Julie Chatham and husband Gary of Chatham, Ill.; her son, Kenneth Crouse and wife Andy of Stilwell, Kan.; four grandchildren, Sara and Rachel Chatham of Chatham and Jessica and Mason Crouse of Stilwell; a brother, Rutherford Ross and wife Nancy of Fort Smith; three sisters, Sue Cross, Randall Viguet and husband Robert, all of Fort Smith, and Ann Pestel of Bella Vista; and several nieces and nephews.