Obituaries

Jan 6, 2009

Vernon J. “Vern” Mather, 73, of Bay, Arkansas, formerly of Matteson, Illinois, died Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at NEA Baptist Hospital. He was the past president of Sertoma, a girls softball coach and an avid Chicago Bears and White Sox fan. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and one brother. Vern is survived and loved...

Jan 2, 2009

Donald Albert Eshenroder Jr, 56, of Jonesboro passed away Friday January 2, at St. Bernards. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri and lived in Jonesboro for two and a half years, moving here from Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was of the Catholic faith; member of the St. Mary Catholic Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He devoted his work...

Jan 2, 2009

Don Riggs, 73, longtime Jonesboro High School coach and athletic administrator, died at his home Friday.

Riggs spent more than 40 years at JHS, serving as head football coach from 1965 until 1987. During that span, his teams won two state championships, were three time state runner-ups and won eight conference championships. He was head coach of...

Jan 2, 2009

Ernest “Eugene” Pennington, 52, of Jonesboro died Friday January 2, at his home. He was born in Galveston, Texas and lived in Jonesboro for six years, moving here from Paragould. He was a factory worker for Thomas and Betts. He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Patsy Baker Pennington. He is survived by his wife Vicki...

Dec 31, 2008

Billie Lois Barkley, 79, of Jonesboro, died Wednesday, December 31, 2008, at Skil Care Nursing Center in Jonesboro. Born in Trumann, Billie lived most of her life in the Jonesboro area. She was a retired sales clerk in the clothing profession and was a member of Cathedral Baptist Church. She enjoyed yard work and gardening, and was preceded in...

Dec 30, 2008

Marie Elizabeth (Prusinski) Zisk, 90, of Cherokee Village died Tuesday at Craighead Nursing Center. She was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Cherokee Village. She is survived by three daughters, Josephine Beatty (Joe) of Jonesboro, Florence Kozub (Jack) of Parma, Ohio, and Rose Skurla (John) of Danville, Indiana; nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. She was preceded in...

Dec 29, 2008

Buren Ballard, 88, of Bay, died Monday afternoon at his home. He was born in Hodges, Alabama but had lived most of his life in Bay. He was a member of the Bay First Baptist Church where he served as deacon. At one time he was the chair of the deacons. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, and loved farming;...

Dec 29, 2008

Lola Medlock Smith Scholl was born August 7, 1936 in Trumann, Arkansas. She was married to Alfred Scholl December 14th 1985 of the home. She was the Chief of the Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri and spent her life working for federal reinstatement of the tribe. Lola was also retired from GE in Jonesboro. Her children include...

Dec 27, 2008

Leo R. Robertson, 80, of Jonesboro, died Saturday, December 27, 2008 at his home. He has lived in Jonesboro for the past 21 years, moving here from Chicago, Illinois. He loved being outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was preceded in death by his wives Mary Anne Robertson and Bettavee Robertson; his parents Euel and Pauline...

Dec 26, 2008

Marshall A. Priest A memorial service has been scheduled for Marshall Priest of Grand Junction, Colorado. Marshall spent his childhood years in the Jonesboro and Paragould areas. He was of the Methodist faith. He was married to Constance Lewis, who preceded him in death. Marshall leaves behind his mother, Mikie Lou Coates of Paragould; his stepmother, Harrilean Priest of...

Dec 24, 2008

E. L. “Monk” Pickering, 95, of Jonesboro died December 24, 2008 at NEA Baptist Hospital. He was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi and had lived in Northeast Arkansas since 1927. He was a farmer and a member of Revival Tabernacle in Bono. Monk was preceded in death by Nora Earline Eaton Pickering, wife; Donald Wayne Pickering, Son; five brothers, two...

Dec 24, 2008

William A. “Tony” Montgomery, 74, of Jonesboro, died Wednesday morning at his home. Born in Muncie, Indiana, he had lived in Jonesboro since 1959. He was a retired manager from G.E. after 34 years of service. After his retirement he became involved in insurance sales. He loved to fish, bow hunt, and was an avid duck hunter. He was...

Dec 24, 2008

Barbara “Jeanie” (George) Ring, age 63, of Jonesboro, went home to her Lord December 24, 2008, at St. Bernard’s, surrounded by her family and friends.

She is survived by her children, Susan Williams of Osceola and Robert Ring and granddaughters Kristen and Demi Ring, all of Paragould; two sisters, Dollie Flemon of Jonesboro and Patsy Nichols of...

Dec 23, 2008

Ruby Lee Brust of Brookland, died in her home at the age of 68. She loved the open country and woods. She was an avid bird watcher and was a lover of wildlife and animals. She is preceded in death by her parents, Clyde Brust and Audrey “Doll” McEwen Brust. She is survived by her first cousins, Ed Hankins...

Dec 23, 2008

Ricardo Garcia, 60, of Jonesboro, died Tuesday morning, December 23, 2008, in a single-vehicle accident near Trumann. Born in Los Angeles Poanas, Durango, Mexico, Ricardo lived in Kansas before moving to Jonesboro 25 years ago. He was a maintenance person for CWC Mechanical in Jonesboro and a Catholic. He was preceded in death by a son, Julio Caesar Garcia....

Dec 22, 2008

Lawrence “Larry” Frank Bauer died on December 22, 2008 at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center after a long term illness. He was the son of the late Al “Cotton” Bauer and Rosalie Metzler Bauer. Larry was a life long resident of Jonesboro, Arkansas. He graduated from Jonesboro High School and Arkansas State University where he was a member of...

Dec 21, 2008

Mrs. Jewell Turley, 85, of Jonesboro, died Sunday at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born near McCrory, Jewell lived much of her life in the McCrory area before moving to Jonesboro two years ago. She was a homemaker and a member of the Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Turley, 4 brothers and...

Dec 19, 2008

Floyd A. Dupwe, Sr., 97, of Jonesboro, died Friday at his home.

A native and life-long resident of Jonesboro, Floyd was a Field Supervisor for Bertig Cotton Company in Paragould for many years. He later classed cotton for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 15 years before retiring. He was a vegetable gardener for most of his...

Dec 12, 2008

GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA - AVANELL HARDCASTLE BAKER, age 94, of Gainesville, Georgia, formerly of Cotton Plant, Arkansas, passed away on Friday, December 12, 2008. She was born August 14, 1914, at Pangburn, Ark., to James Phillip and Josie Ella Davis Hardcastle. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Cotton Plant, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by...

Dec 12, 2008

Loretta Burlison, 66, of Jonesboro dies Friday, December 12, 2008, at St. Bernard's Medical Center. She has lived in Jonesboro since 1971, moving here from Blytheville, Arkansas. She was a member of the United Methodist Women and retired from the State of Arkansas Department of Human Services. She was preceded in death by her parents. Loretta was survived by...