Edmond D. Cleaves

Edmond Dee Cleaves, 83, of Jonesboro, died Thursday at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House.

Born in the Farm Hill community south of Harrisburg, Ed graduated from Harrisburg High School in 1948 and entered the U.S. Air Force. He retired from the Air Force on January 1, 1969, with 20 years and 5 months of active duty and a veteran of the Korean War.

Following military service, Ed moved to Jonesboro where he worked several years for General Electric and retired from Boling Security. During his working career, Ed was also a licensed barber.

Ed was a member of Nettleton Baptist Church and the Olive Chapter of O.E.S. He was also a 50+ year member of Jonesboro Masonic Lodge, a 33rd degree mason and a member of Scottish Rites. Ed was a member of the Goldwing Road Riders Association and Good Sam's Club. He and wife Martha Jean had visited all 48 lower states through their travels.

The Cleaves family wishes to extend grateful thanks to the many friends and family who visited Ed in his final days. The uplifted prayers and kind words were encouraging and appreciated. Ed would conclude each visit with a hug and farewell greeting of, "I'll see you on the other side."

Ed was preceded in death by his parents: Harry and Bessie Austin Cleaves, a son, Harry William Cleaves, 4 sisters: Ruby Cleaves, Jewell Clements, Janice Welch and Emogene Valentine, and a son-in-law, Rev. Jim Marshall.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Martha Jean Wallace Cleaves;

2 daughters: Dottie (Gene) Hill of Southaven, Mississippi, and Linda (Harroll) Henry of Florence, Alabama;

1 son, Jim Cleaves of Maumelle;

1 brother, John (Betty) Cleaves of Jonesboro;
2 sisters: Wilma (Tommy) Volner of Highland, Indiana, and Betty (Guy) Smith of Trumann;

8 grandchildren: Steve (Jamie) Marshall and Danny (Tammy) Marshall of Olive Branch, Mississippi, Dave (Hope) Marshall of Munford, Alabama, John Marshall of Memphis,
Rev. Jeff (Rachel) Henry of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Christina (Ben) Prine of Cookeville, Tennessee, Ben Cleaves of Little Rock and Adam (Brittney) Cleaves of Conway; and

12 great grandchildren: Mae and Sam Marshall, Lily Marshall, Alex and Andrew Marshall, Lanah Stephens, Eden and Lydia Henry, Henry Prine, Madi Cleaves, Autumn and Logan Cleaves; and a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 2:00 p.m. in Emerson Memorial Chapel with grandson Rev. Jeff Henry and Dr. Stan Ballard officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Harrisburg Memorial Park. Grandsons and great grandsons will serve as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include members of Jim Carter's Sunday school class and Olive Chapter of O.E.S.

Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 p.m-7:00 p.m. and Monday from 1:00 until service time at Emerson Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that consideration be given to the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, 400 East St., Jonesboro, AR 72401, or to a charity of the donor's choice.