Obituaries

Mar 17, 2021

Nellie Virginia Kimery, 89 of Marked Tree, Arkansas departed this life March 17, 2021 in Marked Tree, Arkansas.  She was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma on November 14, 1931 to Aaron Linley and Penelope Ann Lay Keeling.

Nellie was a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Marked Tree, Arkansas.  She was a retired factory worker and an on-call...

Mar 16, 2021

Jimmie Don “Jim” Huff, 71 of Marked Tree, Arkansas departed this life on March 16, 2021 at his home.  He was born in Rector, Arkansas on September 24, 1949 to Don and Neva Rogers Huff.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Marked Tree, Arkansas. Jim served with honor as Sergeant in the...

Mar 8, 2021

Paul Edward Phillips, 87, of Marked Tree, Arkansas departed this life Monday, March 8, 2021 at Flo and Phil Hospice House in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  He was born on October 12, 1933 in Marked Tree, Arkansas to George Frank and Lois Faye Miller Phillips.

Paul was a member of Liberty Street Church of Christ in Marked Tree.   He...

Mar 5, 2021

Margaret Ann Huff (Pounders) passed away at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tennessee early on March 5, 2021 with her family by her side to join her Heavenly Father at the age of 74 years. She was born on December 27, 1946, to Velma (Purser) and Cephas Pounders. She was a school teacher in Arkansas and moved to Nolensville,...

Mar 4, 2021

Steve Lee Cockrell, 65, of Lepanto, Arkansas departed this life on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at his home.  He was born on April 5, 1955 to Claudie and Opal Jones Cockrell in Lepanto, Arkansas.  He was of the Baptist faith.  He loved spending time with his family, playing softball going to livestock shows with his grandkids and whatever his...

Mar 3, 2021

Jewel Dean Brown, 83, departed this life March 3, 2021 at her home in Marked Tree, Arkansas.  She was born on March 9, 1937 in Atkins, Arkansas to Loyd and Cloie Beatrice Sims Couey.

Jewel was a member of Marked Tree First Baptist Church.  She enjoyed reading, flowers and loved her kids and grandkids.

She...

Mar 1, 2021

Sarah Nell Ray Baker, 76, departed this life on March 1, 2021 at her home.  She was born April 16, 1944 in Crenshaw, Mississippi to Archie Y. Sr. and Mary Jane Taylor Ray.

Sarah loved the Lord and attended Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Hardin, Kentucky.  She enjoyed gardening, sewing, bowling, and spending time with her family...

Feb 22, 2021

Shirley Jane Barton Smith went to be with her Lord on February 22, 2021 at Grand Plains Skilled Nursing and Rehab, Pratt, Kansas.  She was 85 years old.  She was born May 4, 1935 in Tyronza, Arkansas to Whit and Vera (Gilmer) Barton.  On October 5, 1957, she married Reeder Smith in Memphis, Tennessee.  They were married for 62...

Feb 18, 2021

Linda Sue O’Dell, 68 of Marked Tree Arkansas departed this life on February 18, 2021 in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  She was born in Harrisburg, Arkansas on September 18, 1952 to Jesse James and Jo Ann Martin McCrary.

Linda was 100% devoted to others than her own self.  She owned Linda’s Flowers and Gifts in downtown Marked Tree and always...

Feb 13, 2021

Randall Lowery Burcham of Payneway/Marked Tree was born March 16, 1938, in Rienzi, Mississippi to Orlando Lowery Burcham and Doris Yancey Burcham. He died February 13, 2021, after battling Covid-19 in Jonesboro, AR.   He was a 1958 graduate of Messick High School in Memphis, TN.  Starting with a route for Taystee Bread, he later assumed managerial positions in...

Feb 13, 2021

It is with great sadness that the family of Vernon Lee shares that he passed away on February 13, 2021 at his home in Dyess.

Vernon was 65 and was born on June 23, 1955.  He was a retired farmer and lived in the Dyess area his entire life.  We guess he loved that gumbo dirt.

Feb 12, 2021

John Franklin Shinall, 67, of Lepanto, Arkansas departed this life Friday, February 12, 2021 in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  He was born on February 14, 1953 in Lepanto to Rueben Greene “Buster” and Jimmie Faye Jones Shinall.

John was a follower of Jesus Christ.  It has been his honor for 35 years to build houses and serve the Lepanto...

Feb 11, 2021

William Wayne “Bill” Craft, 78 of Marked Tree, Arkansas departed this life on February 11, 2021 in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  He was born in Marked Tree, Arkansas on September 18, 1942 to William Wesley and Tessie Irene Coates Craft.

Bill was of the Church of God faith.  He was very civic minded.  He was a former Poinsett County...

Feb 7, 2021

Travis Pitts, 70 of Marked Tree, Arkansas departed this life on February 7, 2021 in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  He was born on July 9, 1950 to Clayberne and Beatrice Simpson Pitts.

Travis retired in 2004 from the City of Memphis where he worked as an electronic Technician for 29 years.  He was a 1968 high school graduate of...

Feb 7, 2021

Bonnie Bell Tanner-Waterford, 83, of Manila, Arkansas departed this life on Sunday, February 7, 2021 in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  She was born on January 16, 1938 in Lepanto, Arkansas to Noah and Mae Brown Cato.

She is preceded in death by her husband: Lester John Tanner Jr., parents, one daughter: Sheila Saint and two brothers: Floyd Cato and...

Feb 3, 2021

Charles Leon Tyler Sr., 74, of Lepanto, Arkansas departed this life on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  He was born on November 20, 1946 in Lepanto, Arkansas to Paul Maxwell and Janice Shepard Tyler.

Charles was a truck driver for 52 years, a radio operator in the army and he received the National Defense Service Metal....

Jan 31, 2021

Patricia Ann Henderson, 66, of Wilson, Arkansas departed this life on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at her home.  She was born on July 28, 1954 in Merigold, Mississippi to Gene and Aileen Knapp Wheeler. Patricia was a member of The Lighthouse Assembly of God in Dyess, Arkansas and she was a retired paraprofessional from Rivercrest School District.

...

Jan 21, 2021

Ernest Bradsher Portis

March 20, 1945-January 21, 2021

Ernest Bradsher Portis, farmer, fisherman, hunter, storyteller, husband, father, grandfather, and loyal friend to many, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2021, marking the end of a life fully lived.

The son of J.C. and Evelyn Ann Portis, Ernest was blessed with an idyllic childhood,...

Jan 21, 2021

James Roy Douglas, Sr., 71 of Bryant, Arkansas departed this life on January 21, 2021 at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.  He was born on September 22, 1949 in Jonesboro, Arkansas to Fred Durell, Jr.  and Wanda Louise Roach Douglas.

Roy is survived by his wife: Marian Miller Douglas of 47 years, son: James Roy...

Jan 18, 2021

X.L. Ragan, 85, of Marked Tree, Arkansas departed this life Monday, January 18, 2021.  He was born on March 23, 1935 in Parkin, Arkansas to A. G. and Myritle Lee Dunn Ragan.

He worked as a carpenter and was a member of Trinity Baptist Church.  He was a former member of Neiswander Baptist Church and Central Baptist...