Obituaries

Melba Irene Black

Jan 10, 2013

Melba Irene Black, 67, died January 10, 2013 at NEA Baptist Hospital. She was a native of Jonesboro and was of the Baptist belief. Melba enjoyed cooking, playing cards and loved spending time with her family. She is preceded in death by her parents, 2 children and 1 brother. Survivors include her loving husband of 52 years, Don of...

Sammy Barkley

Jan 10, 2013

Sammy Barkley, 65 of Jonesboro, died Thursday, January 10, 2013 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center. He was a member of Central Baptist Church. Sammy was retired from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as a Fishery Biologist and was an avid outdoorsman. He graduated with a BS degree in Biology. He was preceded in death by his father, Roy...

Kelly Vinal

Jan 10, 2013

Kelly Vinal, (Army CW4) 45 of Pocahontas died Thursday, January 10, 2012. He was of the Church of Christ belief. Kelly served in the US Army for 22 years and was the recipient of the Bronze Star. Survivors include his parents, Henry and Ruby Vinal; wife, Lisa Vinal; children, Chas Vinal, Kelley Ann Vinal, Ella Vinal, Madeline Vinal, Marley...

Anne Frances Levitt

Jan 9, 2013

Anne Frances Blindman Levitt passed away on January 9, 2013. The third of six children, Anne was born April 22, 1914, to the late Frank and Rose Blindman and was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in social work. Anne married Samuel Levitt in 1936. They lived in Minneapolis until moving...

William "Bill" Lawrence

Jan 9, 2013

William “Bill” Lawrence, 69, of Hoxie, formerly of Jonesboro, died Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center. He was of the Baptist belief. Bill retired from Rockford PowerTrain in Rockford, Illinois. He played music for the Senior Citizen’s Club in Bono and local nursing homes. Bill was a loving husband, father and he never met a stranger...

Hazel Katherine Vincent

Jan 9, 2013

Hazel Katherine Vincent, 92, of Van Buren, formerly of Jonesboro, died January 9, 2013 at the Legacy Heights Retirement Center in Van Buren. She was born in Lake City to John & Leora Keiker Haag August 10, 1920. She attended Pleasant Valley School near Bay. Hazel married her husband, Howard Vincent on July 10, 1945 in Jonesboro. Howard and...

N. W. "Bud" Mullins

Jan 9, 2013

N.W. “Bud” Mullins, 82, of Jonesboro, died Wednesday, January 9, 2013, at Twin Oaks Nursing Center in Jonesboro. Born in Bay, Bud lived in Missouri and Arkansas most of his life. He worked several years at the Singer Manufacturing Company in Trumann. He was a Baptist and enjoyed watching sports, especially football and St. Louis Cardinals baseball. A graveside...

Abe F. Blindman

Jan 8, 2013

Abe F. Blindman, 94, passed away January 8 in Memphis, Tennessee. The youngest of six children, Abe was born September 17, 1918, to the late Frank and Rose Blindman and was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota and served in World War II from 1942-1946. Abe and his brother and brother-in-law expanded the family manufacturing...

Frances Farrow Wiley

Jan 7, 2013

Frances Farrow Wiley, 74, of Jonesboro, formerly of Corning, died January 7, 2013 at Craighead Nursing Center. She was born in Biggers to James Hulen & Doris Whittington Farrow and moved to Corning in 1977. She had moved to Jonesboro 10 years ago. Frances loved the Lord and working in her church. She also loved her family and gardening....

Alisa Lane Gunn

Jan 7, 2013

Alisa Denette Gunn, 37, of Jonesboro, died Monday, January 7, 2013, at NEA Baptist Medical Center. Alisa was born in Paragould and lived much of her life in Brookland and Jonesboro. She was a 1993 graduate of Brookland High School and was a Phlebotomist with American Red Cross in Jonesboro. Alisa loved to spend time with her children and...

Bonnie Wright

Jan 6, 2013

Bonnie Wright, 72, of Jonesboro, died January 6, 2013 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center. She was of the Church of Christ belief and was the owner and operator of Wrights Place from 1991 to 2008. Bonnie is preceded in death by her husband Jimmy Wright; parents, Clyde and Thelma Mack; and a grandmother Myrtle McElroy. Survivors include her daughter...

Jimmie M. Fletcher

Jan 6, 2013

Jimmie Mack Fletcher, 84, of Brookland, formerly of Bay, died January 6, 2013, at his home with his family at his bedside. He was of the Baptist belief. Jimmie was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew Jackson “Jack” Fletcher and Mary Ada (Davis) Fletcher, 7 brothers: Willis Earl, Vanoy, Edward, Burrell, J.C., Darryl and Kenneth Fletcher, 2 sisters:...

Vanessa L. Wiley Dorton

Jan 5, 2013

Vanessa L. Wiley Dorton, 35, Jonesboro died January 5, 2013 at her residence. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Floyd and Betty Jane Loven and paternal grandparents, Dallas and Clara Wiley. She is survived by her daughters, Hannah, Gracie, Ella Dorton; mother, Sandra Loven Sartin; and father Michael Wiley all of Jonesboro; and a host of...

Gerald Gamble

Jan 3, 2013

Gerald Gamble, 75, of Jonesboro died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, January 03, 2014. He was born in Yuma, Arizona to the late Virgil and Violet Gamble on November 11, 1938. Gerald loved to volunteer his time to his Church and his children’s sports teams. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and anything outdoors. He is survived by Gayle...

Jeffrey A. Ruff

Jan 3, 2013

Jeffrey A. Ruff, 55, of Cherry Valley, formerly of Greencastle, Indiana, died January 3, 2013 at the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House. Among his survivors are his daughter, Amber Ruff and his sister, Judy Pritchard of Greencastle, Indiana. All services are private with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

James Carl (J.C.) West

Jan 3, 2013

James Carl (J.C.) West, 90 of Jonesboro died Thursday evening January 3, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. He was born on September 21, 1922 in Cash, Arkansas to Samuel and Myrtle West. He was a farmhand before joining the Army in 1945. He served in the Army during WWII for 4 years, before moving to Jonesboro....

Irene M. Roark

Jan 3, 2013

Irene M. Roark, 89, of rural Jonesboro, died Thursday, January 3, 2013, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. Irene was born in Craighead County and lived all of her life here. She was a graduate of Arkansas State University and was an elementary school teacher for 37 years, teaching in Brookland and Caraway schools and retiring from...

Catherine Lewis Patty

Jan 1, 2013

Catherine Lewis Patty, 88, of Jonesboro, died Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center. Catherine was daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Lewis and sister to George Lewis and Marie Schlicter now deceased. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro and the treasurer of the Tampa Women’s Club. D. Ellen...

Jean Northern Sanderson

Dec 31, 2012

Jean Sanderson, 80, of Jonesboro died Monday, December 31, 2012 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center. She had lived in Jonesboro all of her life and was a member of Central Baptist Church. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and two sisters. Survivors include one son, Michael Zagala and Fiancé Tammy Darnell of Jonesboro; one daughter,...

Homer S. Smith, Jr.

Dec 31, 2012

Homer S. Smith, Jr., 79, of Jonesboro, died Monday, December 31, 2012, at St. Bernards Medical Center. Homer was born in Jonesboro and following graduation from Jonesboro High School, moved to New York City where he furthered his education. While living in New York, Homer completed the Joseph Bulova School of watch making and watch repair. He returned to...