Obituaries
In our Care
George A. Best Sr
Sep 24, 2017
George Alvin Best Sr. age 85, of Kingsland, Ar. went to be with the Lord September 24, 2017 at his home in Kingsland surrounded by family. Mr. Best was born on November 15, 1931 in Tichnor, Ar. He was the son of the late George Dewey and Betty Lee Best of Tichnor, Ar. Mr. Best retired as...
Joe Bob Lynn
Sep 20, 2017
Joe Bob Lynn, age 68, of Rison died Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at his home. Mr. Lynn was born on October 6, 1948 in Rison, Arkansas, to the late Robert Lee "Bob" and Martha Agnes Doss Lynn. He was a retired English teacher for the Rison School District, where he also coached the girls softball team. Mr....
William "Ray" Cockrell
Sep 19, 2017
William "Ray" Cockrell, age 82, of the Randall community, near Rison died Tuesday, September 19, 2017. Mr. Cockrell was born December 24, 1934 in Bastrop, Louisiana, to the late Dent and Billie Blackmon Cockrell. He was known to never shy away from hard work, having been a cattle farmer, owner of Rison Auto Sales and an employee...
Viola Moore Smith
Sep 18, 2017
Viola Moore Smith, 75, of Bald Knob went home to be with the Lord September 18, 2017 at Unity Health in Searcy. She was born May 22, 1942 at Bald Knob to the late Ernest Lee and Onilee Edwards Graham. Mrs. Smith accepted the Lord at an early age and was baptized at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. She was...
Patricia Ivine (Gould) Thorne
Sep 18, 2017
Patricia Thorne, 76, of Kensett, passed from this life surrounded by her family September 18, 2017 at her residence. She was born February 19, 1941 at Fairview, Oklahoma to the late William and Velva Krisup Gould. She was a member of Kensett United Methodist Church and love to read, sew, crochet and work on crafts; but most of all...
Lynda Marie Brewer Butcher
Sep 15, 2017
Lynda Marie Brewer Butcher, age 74, of Rison went to be with the Lord on Friday, September 15, 2017. Mrs. Butcher was born December 30, 1942 in Rison, Arkansas, to the late Joe Oliver and Alcy Jones Brewer. She was a 1960 graduate of Rison High School. Lynda married Thomas C. Butcher, Jr. on August 27, 1960....
Daniel Gordon
Sep 14, 2017
Daniel Gordon, 57, of Searcy, died September 14, 2017 at his residence. He was born December 7, 1959 at Holland, Michigan to the late Robert and Laura Piehl Gordon. He is survived by one brother, Robert Gordon of Holland, Michigan; five sisters, Helen Lutner of Searcy, Susan Goorman and Karen Tien of Zeeland, Michigan, Cynthia Clark and Darla Blanton...
John David Caley
Sep 14, 2017
Interment following funeral service Thursday September 21, 2017 Brown Cemetery Brown Cemetery Road Enola, AR 72047
Lester Tommy Beck
Sep 12, 2017
Lester Tommy Beck, age 86, of Rison died Tuesday, September 12, 2017. Mr. Beck was born September 24, 1930 in Prattsville, Arkansas to the late Homer and Pearl Heath Beck. He was a retired accountant for Union Carbide Corporation and others as well. Mr. Beck spent many hours in his Christian ministry as one of the Jehovah's Witnesses....
Pearl Eudean Doss
Sep 9, 2017
Pearl Eudean Doss, 83, of Kedron (Cleveland County), passed away Saturday, September 9, 2017 at Pine Hills Health and Rehabilitation in Camden. She was born December 28, 1933 in Kedron to the late W.A. "Phonzie" and Edna Cordelia Harris Ratliff. She was a retired secretary for Riley Butane and was a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church....
Giles Edward Kitchens
Sep 5, 2017
Giles Edward Kitchens, age 74, of the Woodlawn community, near Rison went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 5, 2017. He was born October 27, 1942, to the late Marion and Mary Gable Kitchens. Mr. Kitchens served four years in the United States Air Force as an airplane mechanic in Anchorage, Alaska. Before retirement, he...
Emily Geraldine Mckinney
Sep 5, 2017
Emily Geraldine McKinney, age 95, of Rison, passed away in Springdale, Arkansas on Tuesday, September 5, 2017. Mrs. McKinney was born April 15, 1922 in Pansy, Arkansas, to the late David Horace and Lela McCullough Thomasson. She graduated from Rison High School. Mrs. McKinney served as the  City Treasurer in Rison for thirty years. Mrs. McKinney...
Lois Marie Blake Heffner
Sep 4, 2017
Lois Marie Blake Heffner, age 93, passed from this life Monday, September 4, 2017. She was born November 28, 1923 in Sheridan. Mrs. Heffner was a faithful member of Lorance Drive Church of Christ since 1953. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. B. Blake and five brothers, Edgar, Calvin, Basil, Carthell,...
Lawrence Junior Bench
Sep 4, 2017
Lawrence Bench, 69, of Searcy, died September 4, 2017 at Unity Health in Searcy. He was born September 15, 1947 at Jerome, Missouri to the late Jack and Elizabeth Watts Bench. He attended Trinity Pentecostal Church in Higginson and loved to fish and hunt and enjoyed listening to music. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death...
Rita Neeley Rogers
Sep 3, 2017
Rita Neeley Rogers, age 73, of Mabelvale passed away Sunday, September 3, 2017. Mrs. Rogers was born November 23, 1943, in Grayson, Louisiana to the late Ervin and Opal Thompson Neeley. She was a member of Cornerstone Apostolic Church in White Hall and a retired bookkeeper. Mrs. Rogers was preceded in death by a brother, Raymond Neeley...
Carolyn Sue Mckinzie
Sep 2, 2017
Carolyn Sue McKinzie, age 67, of Rison, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff. Carolyn was born April 17, 1950 in Lubbock, Texas, to the late Glenn and Jessie Martin Annear. She married Randy Louis McKinzie on September 6, 1975 and were married for forty-two years. Before retirement, Carolyn...
Betty Jean Taylor
Aug 31, 2017
Betty Jean Lisemby Taylor, age 83, of Kingsland, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 31, 2017 at Dallas County Medical Center in Fordyce. Mrs. Taylor was born May 26, 1934 in Kingsland, Arkansas, to the late Ross and Ophie Williams Lisemby. She attended New Edinburg Public School, where she was an All-district basketball player...
Laura Ann Ringer
Aug 31, 2017
Laura Ann Ringer, age 65, of Rison passed away on Thursday, August 31, 2017 at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff. She was born on February 5, 1952 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Bert Hansen and Janette Coonrod. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Ringer. Mrs Ringer is survived by her son, Matt...
Penny Ann Word Hopper
Aug 30, 2017
Penny Ann Word Hopper, age 77, of Rison, died Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff. Ms. Hopper was born September 11, 1939 in Wilmar, Arkansas, to the late James Franklin and Lillie Floyd Granderson Word. She was a 1957 graduate of Rison High School. In addition to her parents,...
