Obituaries from
The EARLE
(and other various articles)
From the Year 1961
Compiled by Debbie Yates
August-September 2003
Return
to Earle Enterprise Index
Earle Enterprise,
C. I. Phelps, Editor
Ruth Phelps, Associate Editor
Mrs. Wrenn Phelps, Society
Published every Friday by Phelps Printing Company at Earle, Ark
TOWN SADDENED BY BOWERS TRAGEDY
Earle friends of Mr. and Mrs. James BOWERS, former residents, now making their home in Osceola, were saddened last week to learn of the death of their 7 year old son, JIMMY. Jimmy suffocated in a refrigerator stored in a utility room at a tourist court near his home while playing hide and seek with his friends.
Police said the child’s body was found by other children with whom he had been playing. The children told him Jimmy used the refrigerator as a hiding place earlier in the day and apparently went back to it during a later game.
National Funeral Home of Memphis was in charge of funeral arrangements.
SERVICES HELD OR EDWARD BOWLING
Services were held at the Earle Church of God Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 o’clock for EDWARD BOWLING of Nappannee, Indiana, and son of Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Bowling of Earle. Rev. Carl Selby, pastor, and Rev. Harold Ingle of Nappannee officiated. Burial was in Tyronza Cemetery.
Edward, 49 years old, met accidental death by electrocution while pumping water from the basement of his home last Saturday morning. His body was brought to Earle Monday to his parents home by Citizens funeral Home.
He is survived by his wife and three daughters, Joyce Bowling, Mrs. Bill Moody and Mrs. Willie Prescott of Nappannee; two brothers, Howard and Leroy Bowling of Earle; two sisters, Mrs. Bernice Sims of Victoria and Mrs. W. L. Romine of Memphis.
SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. A. BRANDES
Services were held in Memphis last Friday for MRS. ADELINE BRANDES, widow of Albert Brandes, a former merchant for many years in Earle. She is a sister of Mrs. Dave Schwartz of Earle. Mrs. Brandes died Thursday in the Baptist Hospital in Memphis where she had been a patient for ten days with a heart ailment. She was 71.
She leaves a son Albert Brandes Jr., a daughter, Miss Mildred Brandes of Memphis; two other sisters, Mrs. Mendel Shainberg of Memphis and Mrs. Jeanette Schwartz of Crossett, Ark.; a bother, Eugene Erber of Greenwood, Miss., one grandson. Services were held at the national Funeral Home. Burial was in Temple Israel Cemetery, Memphis.
SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. VIRGIE BRUNSON
Services for MRS. VIRGIE BARHAM BRUNSON were held at the Earle Baptist Church on Wednesday, March 22, with the Rev. Homer Bradley officiating. Burial was in Forrest hill Cemetery, Memphis with Citizens Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Brunson, who was 63, died at the Methodist Hospital in Memphis where she had been a patient for the past week. She was born in Crenshaw, Miss., and was the widow of B. B. Brunson, Chevrolet dealer in Earle for 30 years. She attended Blue Mountain College and was a member of the Baptist Church.
She leaves her father, L. J. Barham of Earle; two sisters, Mrs. Lucian Rogers of Earle and Mrs. Lawson Garner of Crawfordsville; a brother, Eugene Barham of Earle; and several nieces and nephews.
SERVICES HELD FOR CARL W. CANADA
Services were held in Jonesboro Saturday afternoon for CARL W. CANADA, who died early Friday morning in Earle at the home of his sister, Mrs. W. N. Holt, after several weeks illness. Burial was in Jonesboro.
Services were conducted by the Rev. Homer Bradley, pastor of the Earle Baptist church and the Rev. Dick Lamb, pastor of the Earle Presbyterian Church. He leaves his mother, Mrs. C. F. Canada of Marked Tree; four sisters, Mrs. Kinley Ray, Mrs. W. N. Holt of Earle; Mrs. Bill Channell of Tunica, Miss., Mrs. Dick Owen of Jonesboro; one brother, Sonny Canada of Chicago, Ill.
DOUGLAS DAVIS DROWNS NEAR EARLE
Funeral services were held last Sunday for thirteen year old DOUGLAS EDWARD DAVIS, son of Leta B. and John L. Davis, colored residents of Earle.
Douglas drowned last Thursday morning while swimming in a barrow pit on the Magness farm just east of Earle. The 15-foot deep barrow pit in which he was swimming with some of his friends is one created by the removal of dirt for highway construction on Highway 64.
Relatives said the boys had supposedly gone to the field to pick cotton. Douglas was a ninth grade student at Dunbar High School.
SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. BESSIE DREW
Services were held at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon at the Earle Assembly of God Church for MRS. BESSIE MAE DREW, widow of Mr. Bob Drew, who died last Friday at her home here. She was 66. The Rev. Morris Whitman officiated. Burial was in Gibson Bayou Cemetery with Citizens Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Drew was born in Tyronza and had spent most of her life in Earle. She owned and operated a grocery store near her home. She leaves two sons, Lee Drew of Forrest city and Bobby Drew of Earle; three daughters, Mrs. Harold Annis, Mrs. Richard Gibson of Earle and Mrs. Jim Meredith of Lockport, Ill., a brother, F. D. Winningham of Earle; a sister Mrs. Lon Webber of Wynne, seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
FATHER OF LOCAL RESIDENT DIES
Services for MR. ALVIS H. ELMS of Batesville, Ark., father of Max Elms of Earle, were held last Friday at Locust Grove Baptist Church near Batesville. Mr. Elms, a retired carpenter, was 66 years old, died at the Batesville Hospital after several months illness.
He leaves his wife; two daughters; one other son; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
SERVICES HELD FOR RALPH FOREHAND
Services for RALPH FOREHAND of Earle were at 2:30 Monday afternoon at the Assembly of God Church with Rev. J. M. Whitman, pastor, and Rev. Harold Wilson, pastor of the Methodist Church officiating. Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery. Langford’s Funeral Home of Jonesboro was in charge.
Mr. Forehand, who was 55, died Saturday morning at the Baptist Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for one week. He had been in ill health for the past four years. He had been a resident of Earle for the past 45 yeas and was a faithful member of the Assembly of God Church.
He leaves two sisters, Mrs. Marilda Edwards of Earle, with whom he made his home, Mrs. Al [Naomi] Cole of Waco, Texas, and a brother, Walter Forehand of Wellington, Texas.
NEWS FROM THE 1907 EDITION
A publication of the Earle newspaper dated 1907 was brought to the Enterprise office this week by Mrs. Tom Cloar Sr. The paper had been kept by her aunt, Mrs. Annie Blythe and to give you an idea of the type of journalism used in that era we are re-printing a few of the news items contained in this 54 year old issue.
The following is the obituary of Mrs. Cloar’s father, MR. ED FULLWOOD and is signed “A Friend”.
“One by one our friends pass away in the arms of the death angel. On the 7th inst. At 10 o’clock A.M. death entered the home of Ed Fullwood and took from its midst the husband and father. Ed was 33 years old and leaves his wife and two small children, two sisters, and a brother, and last but not least, a fond and loving mother and a host of friends. He died within two miles of where he was reared and was a good citizen full of energy. He was building a home, for himself and family, with the hope of enjoying it in after years with his wife and little ones, but alas – death came and fond hopes blighted. Weeping friends and tender hands laid his remains to rest in the church-yard at Gibson Bayou. He is gone but not forgotten.”
Among the names listed in the Muster Roll of Company H, First Regiment Arkansas State Guard, organized in Crawfordsville Jan. 1907 were, Capt. Pierre Swepston; First Lt. Daniel Boone; Privates, Dick Huxtable, George Donnahoe, F. C. Donnahoe, Rollo Miller, J. P. Milam, W. A. Richards, G. T. Cotham and J. L. Donnahoe.
SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. M. HAMMETT
MRS. MARGUERITE HAMMETT, a former resident of Earle, who was a social hostess for many years at the Parkview in Memphis, died at her apartment in the hotel Friday June 2nd at 2:30 in the afternoon. She was 71. Services were held Saturday afternoon at National Funeral Home in Memphis with burial in Forrest Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Hammett was born in Armington, Ill., and spent the early part of her life in Earle. She was the widow of Jim H. Hammett who died in Earle in 1920. Mrs. Hammett moved to Marion after her husband’s death and served as chief probation officer for Crittenden County for about five years. She moved to Memphis in 1937 and held several positions at the Parkview. She was a member of the Methodist church.
She leaves two daughters, Mrs. R. O. Mason of Phoenix, Ariz. and Mrs. Ralph Lewine of Memphis, and three grandchildren.
SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. DOYNE HARRIS
Services were held Saturday morning, July 8th, for MRS. DOYNE DUGAN HARRIS at the Assembly of God Church in Earle, with Rev. J. M. Whitman officiating. Burial was in Cogbill Cemetery near Wynne with Citizens Funeral home of West Memphis in charge. Mrs. Harris died Thursday afternoon at her home here, after a long illness of cancer. She was 59.
Born in Vermillion, Ill., she had lived in Earle for the past 41 years, and for 14 years had been distributor for the Commercial Appeal. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church. She leaves her mother, Mrs. Bertha Dugan of Forrest City; a daughter, Mrs. James Norvell of Earle; four sisters, Mrs. Nettie Jerrard of Dyersburg, Tenn., Mrs. Izora Dexter of Los Angeles, Cal., Mrs. Lorene Lucas of Forrest City and Mrs. Helen Douglas of Cherry Valley and seven grandchildren.
FORMER RESIDENT DIES IN LITTLE ROCK
MRS. WALTER HOLT, a resident of Earle for many years, died Sunday morning at her home in Little Rock after a long illness. Services were held Monday morning at 11 o’clock in Little Rock. Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery.
A native of Tennessee, Mrs. Holt and her family moved to Earle in the early 20’s and made their home here until several years ago when they moved to Little Rock to be near their daughter, Mrs. J. V. Satterfield, Jr. She was 86 years of age, a devout Christian and an active member of the Presbyterian Church until her health failed.
She is survived by her husband; two sons, Caton and Bill Holt of Little Rock; three daughters, Mrs. Lucille Davenport, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Mrs. Charlie Ferris of Macon, Miss., and Mrs. J. V. Satterfield of Little Rock. Eight grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
HUXTABLE HOME DAMAGED BY FIRE
The JACK HUXTABLE home was partially damaged by fire last Friday afternoon at 2:20 as a result of children playing with matches in one of the bedrooms. The blaze started when the bed caught fire. The flame spread to the window curtains and shades and part of the wall before firemen arrived.
CARD OF THANKS
Our heartfelt thanks to our neighbors and friends for their kind expressions of sympathy in our bereavement. These expressions have been deeply appreciated. (signed) MRS. KNAPP AND BECKY
FORMER RESIDENT
DIES IN
From the Carroll County Democrat, February 24, 1961 – Services for CHARLES BARNES O’NEILL, who died Friday at his home in Trezevant, Tenn., after a short illness, were held Sunday at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Raymond Burroughs, pastor, officiated, assisted by Neal Penny of Milan. Burial was in Trezevant Cemetery. Born and reared in Trezevant, Mr. O’Neill was the son of the late James Charles and Mary Virginia Barksdale O’Neill. He was 82.
Mr. O’Neill moved to Earle, Arkansas in 1917 where he was employed in the Bank of Earle. He later went into the grocery business. In Earle, he was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, was superintendent of Sunday School for many years, and taught a Bible. He returned to Trezevant in 1954. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church here.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Nettie Mai Christenberry O’Neill and two sisters, Mrs. Gardner Holmes and Mrs. H. L. Bryant of Trezevant. Pallbearers were Leroy Keaton, Hervey Dickey, J. D. Bullington, Odis Dotson, Buman Argo and James Hinton.
SERVICES HELD FOR ROBERT C. OUTZEN
Services for ROBERT CHRISTIAN OUTZEN, Crittenden County retired planter and former levee contractor, were held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at First Methodist Church. The Rev. Harold Wilson, pastor, officiated. Burial was in Forrest Hill Cemetery, Memphis. Mr. Outzen, who was 73, died last Friday at 5 p.m. at his home here after an illness of several months.
He was born in Memphis where he attended public schools and Christian Brothers College. Mr. Outzen and his father, the late Mr. Andy Outzen, began levee contracting work in Crittenden County in 1912. They were also engaged in extensive farming operations for many years. He retired because of ill health. Mr. Outzen had a host of friends in Crittenden County where he had lived most of his life. He was a Methodist.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Lillian Outzen; three daughters, Mrs. W. G. English of Earle, Mrs. Charles F. Smith of West Memphis and Mrs. Fred Angle of Amory, Miss.; a son, Robert Lewis Outzen of Burlingame, Calif., seven grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
CARD OF THANKS
We want to express our sincere gratitude to the people of Earle for their many deeds of kindness during the months of illness and the passing of our loved one. (signed) The Outzen Family
SERVICES HELD FOR CLARA WEAVER OWEN
MRS. CLARA WEAVER OWEN, of West Memphis, a resident of Earle for many years, died at Crittenden Memorial Hospital at 4:30 p.m. Friday June 23rd. She had been ill of cancer for more than a year. A resident of Crittenden County for most of her life, having spent the earlier years in Earle where she attended Earle high school before going to West Memphis with her family in the early 30’s. She was born in Sardis, Tennessee.
She was a member of the First Methodist Church in West Memphis and was active in all church activities before her illness. She had been awarded a life membership in the Woman’s Society of Christian Service. She taught in the West Memphis schools until her marriage in 1941.
Serves were held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 at the First Methodist Church in West Memphis with the Rev. William Watson officiating. Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park with Citizens Funeral Home in charge. She leaves her husband, Fred W. Owen; her mother, Mrs. W. A. Weaver of West Memphis; two sisters, Mrs. Melvin Dacus also of West Memphis and Mrs. Kate Dabbs, of Hulbert; one brother, Harold Weaver of Edmonson, Ark.
VERNON PAUL IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION
VERNON PAUL, prominent Parkin planter and ginner and former president of the Parkin bank, is in critical condition in the Baptist Hospital in Memphis as a result of a gunshot wound received Friday afternoon at his home one mile south of Parkin.
Mr. Paul was found immediately after the shot was fired by his two sons-in-law, Harry Melhorn Jr. and L. T. Beene, and his nephew, Phil Kelley, about 3:45 p.m. Friday. All three of the men farmed with Mr. Paul and had gone to his home by appointment to discuss their farming operations.
He was rushed to the Memphis Hospital where his injuries were found to be critical. Members of his family have been at his bedside since the tragedy.
SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. J. M. PRUGH
Services were held last Friday, April 21st, at the National Funeral Home in Memphis for MRS. MARY EVELYN PRUGH, a former resident of Earle. Burial was in Forrest Hill Cemetery in Memphis. Mrs. Prugh, widow of J. M. Prugh, died Thursday morning at her apartment in the Parkview Hotel in Memphis. She was 91 years old and had been in ill health for many years.
The Prugh family were residents of Earle for many years. She moved to Memphis about 30 years ago and made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Marguerite Hammett. Besides her daughter, she leaves two granddaughters, Mrs. Ralph Lewine of Memphis and Mrs. R. O. Mason of Phoenix, Arizona and three great-grandchildren.
FORMER RESIDENT
DIES IN
MRS. VIVIAN PUTMAN of Memphis, widow of the late Earnest Putman, residents of Earle for many years, died last Friday in a Memphis hospital where she had been a patient since suffering a stroke in late December.
Services were held in Memphis Sunday afternoon. Burial was in Cogbill Cemetery at Wynne. She is survived by a son, Jack Putman of Memphis and a daughter, Mrs. John Pittman of Hermosa Beach, Calif.
SERVICES HELD FOR BRADFORD RIEVES
Services were held last Saturday morning at National Funeral Home in Memphis for BRADFORD RIEVES of West Memphis. Mr. Rieves, a life long resident of Crittenden County, suffered a heart attack at his home about 10 Thursday night and died a short while later at Crittenden Memorial Hospital.
Born in Marion, he would have been 46 years old on July 11. He was the son of E. A. Rieves and the late Mrs. Rieves of Marion. A representative of National Burial Insurance Company, he had made his home in West Memphis for the past five years.
Burial was in Forrest Hill Cemetery, Memphis. In addition to his father, he leaves a brother, Elton A. Rieves, Jr., and a sister, Mrs. R. O. Baker, both of Marion.
PERSONALS
Mr. Pete Stein of Chicago, Ill. arrived in Earle the past weekend to be with his brother, George who is critically ill at Kennedy’s Hospital in Memphis.
SERVICES HELD FOR GEORGE E. STEIN
Services were held at Earle Methodist church as 2 p.m. Sunday, December 24, for GEORGE E. STEIN with the Rabbi James Wax and Rev. Harold Wilson officiating. Mr. Stein, owner and operator of Stein’s General Merchandise in Earle, died at Kennedy General Hospital in Memphis at 3:45 a.m. Thursday, December 21, following a long illness.
He was of the Jewish faith. Born in Little Rock, Ark., Mr. Stein moved to Earle as a small boy and spent his life here. He served in the Army in World War II and was a member of the American Legion.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Jessie Stein; one son, George Raymond Stein of Earle, and one brother, Raymond Stein of Chicago. Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery, National Funeral Home in charge.
CARD OF THANKS
The recent bereavement which has visited our home has brought to us a greater appreciation of our friends. Such kindnesses and neighborly thoughtfulness can never be forgotten. We sincerely thank you. (signed) The STEWART family
SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. MILLIE SWINDLE
Services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock at Earle Baptist Church for MRS. MILLIE JOHNSON SWINDLE, wife of Lewis Swindle, Sr., who died at her home north of Earle Sunday night around 8:30 following a heart attack.
Services were conducted by Rev. Homer Bradley, pastor, and Rev. Don Reed of Tupelo, Miss. Mrs. Swindle was 66 years old and had been a resident of the community most of her life. She was a member of the Baptist Church.
Besides her husband, she leaves two sons, Lewis Swindle Jr. of Earle, John Donnahoe of Fort Tuna, Col.; one daughter, Mrs. Lester Cagle of Tupelo, Miss., and eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.
SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. MARY WAMPLER
Services were held Monday afternoon at Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis for MRS. MARY RODGERS WAMPLER, a life long resident of Turrell. She is a sister of Mrs. Jim Ingram, Mrs. Pearl White and Mrs. Fannie Knapp of Earle. Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.
Mrs. Wampler, who was 56 years old, was a member of the board of stewards of the Turrell Methodist Church and was president of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service of the church. Besides her three sisters in Earle she leaves her husband, L. J. Wampler; three daughters, Mrs. Edward Horton, Mrs. James Young of Turrell and Mrs. Benton Moore of Gilmore, another sister, Mrs. Bessie Sando of Memphis, Tenn.
SERVICES HELD FOR FORMER RESIDENT
MRS. W. A. WEAVER, a resident of Earle from 1910-1938, died August 22nd at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Melvin Dacus in West Memphis after an illness of several months. Private services were held at the Dacus home last Thursday, August 24, with the Rev. William Watson officiating. Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.
Mrs. Weaver was born in Henderson County, Tennessee, and moved to Earle with her family in 1910 from Saltillo, Tenn. Mr. Weaver died in 1924. In 1938 she moved to West Memphis to make her home with her daughter, the late Mrs. Clara Weaver Owens. She observed her 86th birthday on August 3rd. She was a member of the Methodist church.
She leaves two daughters, Mrs. Dacus, and Mrs. H. R. Dabbs of Hulbert; a son Harold E. Weaver of Edmonson; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
OLD LANDMARK TO GIVE WAY TO PROGRESS
The old Earle Grammar School building that has stood on the campus and been in use for the past half century is being torn down and it is hoped by the school officials that a modern gymnasium can be erected on the site.
The corner stone bears the date 1909, along with the names of six of Earle’s late influential citizens including, M. T. Boone, president; L. J. Machen, secretary; directors, H. A. Morrison, G. W. Essary, S. D. Donnahoe and C. W. Cloar.
The building was remodeled a few years ago when the second story was removed and a fresh paint job gave the old building a new appearance.
Today, the old landmark is going the way of “The Little Red School House” but it will always hold happy memories for past generations of this community who learned their 3 R’s in the old classrooms, under the tutelage of such intellectuals as the late, Professor T. P. Johnson who served as superintendent for many years at the old building, that housed the first through the twelfth grades.
We regret the passing into history of the old landmark and with a bit of sadness we bid a fond adieu to “the little red schoolhouse,” with its wide hall and old-fashion class rooms as it gracefully bows out in this modern age.
CURE FOR HEPATITIS IS STILL UNKNOWN
There’s a mystery disease called hepatitis which has health experts worried. To date there is no cure for it. The disease affects the liver, and its allusive virus makes it difficult to diagnose. Reported cases in 1961 may total 80,000, nearly twice as many as last year, according to the United States Public Health Service, and four times as many as in 1952, the first year the service recorded annual figures for the disease.
Actually, the 80,000 reported cases will be only a small part of actual cases in 1961, since often the disease is not detected because patients suffer mild or disguised symptoms. Four research laboratories are trying to come up with a vaccine or a miracle drug to fight the disease.
TUBERCULOSIS DEATHS REPORTED FOR APRIL
Arkansas had 15 deaths from tuberculosis during the month of April, 1961, according to the latest report of the Bureau of Vital Statistics, Arkansas Department of Health.
Arkansas still ranks fifth from the highest among the states in death rate from tuberculosis. Dr. Ben Saltzman, Mountain Home, President of the State Association, said “For this reason, every man, woman and child in the state should have a tuberculin test or a chest X-ray each year – for self protection as well as for the protection of family and friends.”
Deaths from tuberculosis in April, 1961, occurred in the following counties; Baxter (1); Benton (1); Bradley (1); Dallas (1); Grant (1); Hempstead (1); Hot Springs (1); Howard (1); Mississippi (1); Pulaski (1); Saline (1); Union (1); and Woodruff (1).
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