Obituaries from

The EARLE ENTERPRISE

 

Crittenden Memorial Park Cemetery

Burials

 

Compiled by Debbie Yates

 

August-September 2003

 

Return to Earle Enterprise Index

 

 

Earle Enterprise, Earle, Arkansas

C. I. Phelps, Editor

Ruth Phelps, Associate Editor

Mrs. Wrenn Phelps, Society

Published every Friday by Phelps Printing Company at Earle, Ark

 

Friday, January 8, 1954

SERVICES HELD TUESDAY FOR PIONEER RESIDENT

      MRS. ARTHUR H. ARMSTRONG, life-long resident of Crawfordsville, Ark., died Tuesday morning about 5 o’clock at Crittenden Memorial in West Memphis. She was 50.

      Mrs. Armstrong was enroute to her home from Memphis Monday afternoon and became suddenly ill, she was rushed to the hospital and given emergency treatment for a heart condition.

      She was the former Miss BESSIE MILLER MORRIS, daughter of Mrs. Annie Miller Morris and the late Mr. Knox Morris of Crawfordsville.

      Mrs. Armstrong was a talented artist and recently had paintings on display at Brooks Art Gallery in Memphis.  She was a member of the Methodist Church.

      She is survived by her husband and mother, of Crawfordsville.  Services were held Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 at National funeral Home in Memphis.  Burial was in Memorial Park.

March 19, 1954

C. P. BELUE, SR. IS VICTIM OF HEART ATTACK

      Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the Church of Christ, Jimmy Moffett officiating, for CLYNE PRENTISS BELUE SR., who was victim of a heart attack Monday afternoon while at the Crittenden Memorial Hospital for a check-up.  While he had suffered some discomfort, his death came as a distinct shock to his family and friends.

      Mr. Belue, who was 64, was born in Tishomingo, Miss. He came to Earle in 1923 and was in the employ of McCreary & Godbey who operated farming interests and store south of Earle.  He later went into the cleaning and pressing business here and as the years went by gradually consolidated his operations with those of his competitors until, finally, he had exclusive franchise in Earle.  As his sons grew older, he inducted them into the business and expanded until the present set-up, Belues’ Toggery, was effected which comprises one of the most modern in Arkansas.

      Always active in civic affairs, Mr. Belue was a member of the School Board, Director in the Earle State Bank and active in the work of the Church of Christ.  He was respected in the community for his ability as a business man and for his civic mindedness. His unfailing sense of humor helped promote the friendship of those who came in contact with him and was a valuable adjunct in his business life.

      Besides his wife, Mrs. Ernestine Belue, he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Robert Gammill and Ann Belue; three sons, Clyne Belue Jr., Jim Belue and Bill Belue, all of Earle; his mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Glasgow of Tishomingo, Miss.; two half-brothers Wheeler Glasgow of Earle and Morris Glasgow of Memphis, Tenn.; two half-sisters, Mr. J. E. Epperson, of Haleyville, Ala., and Mrs. L. E. Parrish of Florence, Ala.

      Active Pall Bearers were Eddie Sample, Bill Joe White, Mitchell Organ, Robert Karr, Daryl Cato, and L. C. Walker.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery, with Holt Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

June 12, 1953

GEORGE E. BLAYLOCK

      Services for GEORGE E. BLAYLOCK of 4134 Highway 51 North, retired farmer of Webb, Miss., and Earle were held at the Earle Baptist Church Sunday afternoon with Dr. C. M. Savage pastor, and Rev. H. L. Lipford of Brinkley officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park with Holt Funeral Home in charge.

      Mr. Blaylock was 74.  He died Saturday at the Highway 51 address where he lived with a daughter, Mrs. R. C. Lyles.  He also leaves his wife, Mrs. Susan Blalock; a son, Frank Blaylock of West Memphis; and two other daughters, Mrs. J. O. Dickinson of Memphis and Mrs. Emmett Crockett of Parkin. 

Friday, August 22, 1958

TOWN SADDENED OVER DEATH OF RAYMOND HOWARD BOWLING, JR.

      Services for HOWARD BOWLING, JR., were held at the Earle Baptist Church Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock with Dr. E. Butler Abington officiating.

      Howard Jr., was 11 years old and died of injuries when the motor scooter he was riding collided with an oncoming truck about 4 p. m. Tuesday on a gravel road 5 miles east of Earle.  Eddie Washington, Negro, driver of the truck, told state police that the accident was unavoidable.

      The motor scooter was Howard’s pride possession.  He had saved his money for many months to help pay for it.  He had the scooter about two weeks.  At the time of the accident he was returning home from a visit with his friends Howard and Roger Atkins.  No charges against Washington were filed.

      Howard Jr., was born in Earle on Sept. 3, 1946.  He was a member of the Earle Baptist Church and was active in the local Boy Scout troop.  A favorite of his schoolmates and he was loved by everyone for his friendliness and courteous manner.

      He leaves his parents, Mrs. and Mrs. Howard Bowling, a sister Betty and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O. D. Alexander and Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Bowling all of Earle.

      Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.  Citizens Funeral Home in charge.  Pallbearers were Mike Belue, Roger Atkins, George Watson, Johnny Twist, Phillip Feeney and John Phillip Haddad.

Friday, June 5, 1953

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR TOMMY LEE BOWLING

      Funeral services for TOMMY LEE BOWLING, age 44, were held at the Earle Baptist Church Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock with Dr. C. M. Savage of Earle and Rev. J. R. Womack of Forrest City in charge.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery.

      Mr. Bowling, a resident of Memphis, died at St. Joseph Hospital in Memphis at 2”30 Saturday morning following a long illness.  He was a member of the Earle Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife Mrs. Jewel Bowling, a son, Harold Lee, and a daughter, Carol Ann of Memphis; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Bowling; three brothers, Howard, Edward and Leroy, and two sisters, Mrs. Bernice Simms and Mrs. W. O. Romine all of Earle.

October 18, 1957

WILLIAM EARL BROWN

      Funeral services for WILLIAM EARL BROWN, who died at 9:45 last Friday night at home, were held Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock at the Earle Baptist church with Dr. E. B. Abington officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park by Citizens Funeral Home of West Memphis.

      Mr. Brown, a grocer and farmer, live din this community all his life.  He was 59.  He was a member of the Earle Baptist Church, the Crittenden Farm Bureau and the Wildcat Community farm committee.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Armittie Brazil Brown of Earle; a son Carroll Brown and a daughter, Jane Brown of Earle and three grandchildren.

Friday, October 23, 1953

JERRY GILBERT COLLUM

      JERRY GILBERT COLLUM, an Earle resident for a number of years, died Tuesday morning in Booneville, Ark., Sanatorium where he had been a patient several months.  He was 53. Mr. Collum was born in Bethesda, Ark., and lived in Goodwell, La., before moving to Earle.

      Besides his wife, Mrs. Leodis Collum, he leaves two sons, C. F. Collum of Memphis, Orin Collum of Earle; three daughters, Mrs. Earl Kennedy of Tampa, Fla., Mrs. Dorse Sutherland of Crawfordsville, Ark., and Jane Collum of Earle.

      Services were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis, Rev. C. M. Savage officiating.  Burial in Crittenden Memorial Park.

Friday, January 26, 1951

CAR WRECK FATAL TO J. R. COX

      Tragedy struck a car load of former Earle citizens Sunday afternoon as they were enroute to their homes in Memphis and Clarksdale, Miss., after attending the funeral of JIM DEXTER who died suddenly at his home in Earle last Thursday night.

      J. R. COX, 30 year old Automobile mechanic of Clarksdale, was killed and four member of his family were injured when the car in which they were riding overturned several times on Highway 64 between Earle and Crawfordsville. Mr. Cox, who was driving, was attempting to pass another car occupied by two unidentified Negroes when they accident occurred.

      Injured in the accident were, Mrs. Rosie Drew Cox, wife of the victim; Mrs. J. R. Cox, his mother, who is reported to have received a fractured spine; Mrs. Betty Dexter, Mr. Cox’s sister, and R. L. Abbott, a brother-in-law of Mrs. Dexter, who sustained a broken leg.  They were taken to Memphis by a Holt Funeral Home Ambulance.  All suffered cuts and bruises and other injuries, but none believed seriously hurt.

      Three youngsters escaped injury in the accident.  They were Jackie Dexter, 10 month-old daughter of Mrs. Dexter; Rickie Cox, 7, and Ina Bess Cox, 3, children of Mr. and Mrs. Cox.

      Mrs. Dexter said Mr. Cox was driving the car in which they were riding.  She said that when he attempted to pass the car occupied by the Negroes, the latter vehicle speeded up.

      “My brother also speeded up and lost control of the car, we overturned several times but never did hit the other car,” Mrs. Dexter said.  Arkansas State Police said the Negroes did not stop and they are being sought.

      Funeral services for Mr. Cox were held in Earle Wednesday at the Assembly of God Church with Rev. Burks officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery at Marion.  Holt Funeral Home of Earle was in charge.

      Mr. Cox was a former resident of Earle and student in Earle High School.  This marks the second tragic death in the Cox family.  J. D. COX, a twin brother, and former Bulldog football player, was the first casualty of World War II from Earle, having lost his life when a tanker to which he was assigned was sunk in Northern Waters.

January 5, 1962

SERVICES HELD FOR OSCAR B. COX

      Services were held Friday at Earle Baptist Church at 1:30 p.m. for OSCAR BENTON COX, burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park with National Funeral Home in charge. Mr. Cox, city marshal at Earle for the past 13 years, died suddenly at his home late Wednesday morning.  Mr. Cox was stricken while in his yard and died before help could be summoned.  He was 66.

      Mr. Cox was born and reared in Ashland, Miss.  He had lived in Earle for the past 20 years and had been re-elected as marshal for seven consecutive terms.  He was formerly a farmer and had lived in Hughes and Osceola.  He served in World War I, and was a Mason.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Jimmie Magness Cox; a son, Jerry Cox, student at Ouachita Baptist College; a daughter, Mrs. Jimmy Thomas of Earle; two brothers., L. Cox and C. L. Cox of Ashland; three sisters, Mrs. Frank Briggs, Mrs. Abb Autry and Mrs. Robert Orman, all of Ashland.

Friday, February 7, 1958

SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. CRENSHAW  (Photo)

      Services for Mrs. PEARL HILL CRENSHAW were held at the Earle Methodist Church Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock.  Rev. G. A. McKelvey officiated.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park with Langford’s Mortuary of Jonesboro in charge.  Mrs. Crenshaw, who was 44, died at the Forrest City Hospital Sunday afternoon.  Born and reared in Darlington, S.C., she had lived in Earle for 22 years.  She was a devout Christian and a faithful and active member of the Methodist Church.  She had served as president of the W. S. C. W. and taught in the Sunday School.  She was past president of the P. T. A.

      She leaves her husband, W. E. Crenshaw; a daughter, Caroline and a son, Billy, of Earle; her father, W. R. Hill of Darlington and a sister, Mrs. Wallace Humphries of Darlington.  Active Pallbearers were Charles Dibble, Nelson Dickey, Billy Wood, Richard Wood, Howard Newell, Frank Tremmel, Gene Harrison and Fred Rhodes.  Honorary Pallbearers included Wheeler Glasgow, George Stein, Eddie Heath, Dr. Jim Wright, Dr. J. T. Irby, James Wood, Ellis Haddad and the Board of Stewards of the Methodist Church.

Friday, December 4, 1953

W. I. ITZEL SUCCUMBS TO HEART CONDITION

      WILLIAM ISAAC ETZEL of Earle, retired Missouri Pacific telegraph operator died Friday, November 27, at Missouri Pacific Hospital in Little Rock where he had been a patient for several weeks.  He was 67.

      Services were held at the Earle Methodist Church at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon under the direction of Holt Funeral Home.  The Rev. G. A. McKelvey officiated.  Mr. Etzel was born in Carmine, Texas, and moved from Lexa, Ark., to Earle in 1938.  He was a member of the Earle Methodist Church and a Mason.

      He leaves his wife; two daughters, Miss Janis Etzel of Earle and Miss Mary Etzel of Houston, Texas; two sons, Edwin Etzel of Billings, Mont., Waldo Etzel of Houston; a brother Milton Etzel of Fort Worth; three sisters, Mrs. Alex Weyand and Mrs. Harrison Cobb of Austin, Texas and Mrs. Quinton Weatherly of Fort Worth.

      Masonic rites were conducted at the grave-side in Crittenden Memorial Park by Crittenden Lodge No. 607, with B. M. Butt in charge.  Pallbearers were J. S. Hodges, Hilton Griggs, W. E. Crenshaw, Billy Rogers, Wilbur Harris, Pete Baker and Buddy Harrell.

March 17, 1962

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.

Friday, July 27, 1951

LAST RITES HELD FOR FORREST STARR GLOVER

      FORREST STARR GLOVER, 56, died at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis Saturday morning, July 21, at 12:45 p. m. of congestive heart failure and hypertension.  Funeral services were held at Citizen’s Funeral Home in West Memphis at 3 p. m. Monday.  Interment was in the Crittenden Memorial Cemetery.  The Rev. Ray Langley officiated.

      Mr. Glover was born in Jackson County, Arkansas, Sept. 21, 1894, and moved to Earle in the early 1900’s, having been a resident for approximately 45 years.

      Forrest’s talents were many and varied.  He could fix a typewriter, an adding machine, a Frigidaire or airplane.  The Saturday Evening Post published an article a few weeks back which might well have been dedicated to his activities.  He was the last (in this neighborhood) of a long line of “tinkerers” to whom the children, as well as grown folks went for assistance.

      For years he followed the carpentry trade both as a workman and contractor.  In later years he chose a less strenuous mode of existence.  He had a host of friends in Earle and over the Tri-States, which he covered in active life, who are grieved at his departure.

      He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Gertrude Glover, a son William of Earle; three daughters, Mrs. J. M. Blankenship of Crawfordsville, Mrs. C. J. Eden, Dallas, Texas, Mrs. W. D. Willard, Marion and Mrs. Cole of Parkin.  Two brothers, A. F. and L. C. Glover of Earle; one sister Mrs. C. W. Hite of Parkin.

      Pallbearers were, Albert Forehand, Fred Arthur, Jimmy Fullwood, Dalton Lancaster, Aubrey Lancaster Jr. and Alfred Griggs.

January 22, 1954

SERVICES HELD FOR WALLACE F. GOODWIN

      Services for WALLACE FLOYD GOODWIN of Marion, father of Crittenden County Sheriff Cecil V. Goodwin, who died Sunday night at Crittenden Memorial Hospital, were held Tuesday morning at 10:30 at Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis with Rev. Alf Eason pastor of the Marion Methodist Church officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.  He was 71.

      Mr. Goodwin, born in Crenshaw, Miss., had lived near Marion for 40 years where he was a planter, cattleman and dairyman.  Mr. Goodwin moved to the county in 1913 and worked as a bookkeeper for the Banks & Danner Plantation at Clarkdale until he acquired his own land.

      He was active in the Farm Bureau, a former office, a former member of the county Quorum Court, and a member of the Marion School Board.  He was a member of the County Democratic Central Committee.  He had been in ill health for several months.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Julia Bretherick Goodwin; his son and two daughters, Mrs. Paul Coleman and Mrs. Charles Carder, all of Marion.

February 20, 1953

MRS. GOLDA GRIGGS SUCCUMBS TO ILLNESS

      After a long illness, Mrs. GOLDA GRIGGS died at her home here Sunday morning around 9 o’clock.

Services were held Tuesday morning at 10 at the Earle Baptist church with Dr. C. M. Savage, pastor in charge, assisted by the pastor of the Earle Methodist Church Rev. G. A. McKelvey.

Mrs. Griggs, who was 48, was born in Mockerson, Tenn.  She and her family had been residents of Earle for the past 30 years.  Mrs. Griggs was a devout Christian and was a faithful and valuable member of the Baptist Church.  Her Christian influence will forever live in the hearts and lives of her family and friends.

She leaves her husband, Alfred Griggs; a son Hilton Griggs, of Earle; two daughters, Mrs. Gordon Grafton, of Hughes and Mrs. Jimmy Hooper of Sidon, Miss.; a brother, the Rev. Roy Hilton of Ponder, Texas; and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Hilton of Earle.

Pallbearers were, C. L. Blanz, W. E. Crenshaw, Billy Rogers, W. C. Hudgins, Grady Franks and Richard Wood.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery.  Holt Funeral Home was in charge.

February 21, 1958

SERVICES HELD FOR C. T. HILTON

      Mr. C. T. HILTON, died suddenly Tuesday afternoon at 3:45 o’clock at his home in Norvell, after a heart attack as he was seated in his living room watching television.  He was 78.  Services were held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Earle Baptist Church with Dr. E. B. Abington, pastor officiating assisted by Rev. G. A. McKelvey pastor of the Earle Methodist Church.  Burial in Crittenden Memorial Park with Citizens Funeral Home in charge. Mr. Hilton was born in Indiana, May 25, 1880.  He had been a resident of Earle for 19 years where he engaged in farming.  He was a member of the Baptist Church.  He leaves his wife, Mrs. Mary Hilton of Earle, a son Rev. Roy Hilton of North Little Rock, one brother, J. W. Hilton of Russellville, Ark.., six grand-children and six great-grandchildren.

EVENING TIMES, WEST MEMPHIS, ARK.

Monday, May 4, 1987

MRS. HYACINTH HOOD

      Mrs. HYACINTH BORTON HOOD of Earle died Friday at Crittenden Memorial Hospital.

      Services will be at 1 p. m. today Earle Baptist Church.  Burial will be in Crittenden Memorial Park with Citizens Funeral Home in charge.

      Mrs. Hood, 82, widow of Clarence Hood and a long-time Earle resident, was born in Earle, Okla.  She was a member of Earle Baptist Church.

      She leaves six daughters, Mrs. Dora Jane Dupstaff of Ethel, Mrs. Harriett Bonds of Memphis, Mrs. Imogene Hawly of Sherwood, Mrs. Ginger Young of Vicksburg, Miss., and Mrs. Barbara Zapata of Portland, Ore.; three sons, Clarence R. Hood Jr. and Paul E. Hood, both of Earle, and Ronald Hood of Clarkedale, 19 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

      The family requests that any memorials be sent to the Earle Baptist Church.

August 24, 1962

SERVICES HELD FOR MR. ELLA HUDGENS

      Services were held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock for MRS. ELLA HUDGENS, the widow of W. C. Hudgens, who died about 40 years ago.  She died Friday night at 7:55 o’clock at the Cage Nursing Home in Memphis after a six weeks illness.  She was 95.

      Rev. Wm. Rucker and Rev. Harold Wilson officiated.   Burial was [at] Crittenden Memorial Park.  Mrs. Hudgens was born near Athens, Alabama on Sept. 15, 1867 and had lived in this community for 57 years.  At the time of her death she made her home with her daughter Mrs. Robert Morris.

      She was a devoted Christian and a faithful member of the Earle Baptist church since 1918.  She attended Sunday School and Church each Sunday, even though at times she was in a wheel chair and used crutches.  She never lost her interest people and her bright out-look on life was an inspiration to younger friends.

      She is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Marie Morris of Earle, two sons, W. M. Hudgens of Earle and R. L. Hudgens of Humbolt, Ark., eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

June 11, 1954

FRANK HUXTABLE SUCCUMBS TO ILLNESS

      FRANK BARTON HUXTABLE, lifelong resident of Crittenden County and a prominent citizen of Earle for more than forty years, died Thursday morning at 5:30 while visiting his farm near here.  He was 64.

      Mr. Huxtable, owner of the Main Drug Store since 1926, drove his car out to his farm and stopped near where Son Yarbour, a colored man, was at work in the field.  When he failed to get out of the car, Yarbour went to him and found him very sick, and within  a few minutes he died in his scar.  He has been ill for the past several weeks and was to enter the hospital later the same day.

      During his many years in the drug business in Earle he has made many friends, both white and colored.  His friendliness and his service to this community will be greatly missed.

      He was active in civic affairs, a member of the Baptist Church and of the Earle School Board.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Jewell Huxtable, one daughter, Miss Mary Ann Huxtable of Earle; two sons, Dr. R. F. Huxtable, with the U. S. Air Force in Japan and Lynn Huxtable of West Memphis and a sister, Mrs. Charlie Williams of Jonesboro.

      At this writing, funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Friday, September 26, 1958

SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. F. B. HUXTABLE

      Services for Mrs. FRANK B. (Jewel Parker) HUXTABLE, longtime resident of Earle were held Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock at the Earle Baptist Church with Dr. E. B. Abington officiating.  Mrs. Huxtable died at 9:00 p. m. Sunday at her home after a brief illness of a heart ailment.  She was 61.

      Born and reared at Lovelady, Texas, she had lived in Earle for the past 25 years.  She was a member of the Baptist Church.  She was an enthusiastic member of the Garden Club and possessed an ardent love for flowers and an artistic ability for arranging them.

      She leaves two sons, Dr. R. F. Huxtable of Torrence, Cal., Lynn P. Huxtable of West Memphis; a daughter, Mrs. Holen Barnett of Alexandria, La.,; her mother, Mrs. R. E. Parker of Earle; a brother Dick Parker of El Paso, Texas, and three grandchildren.

      Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.  National Funeral Home of Memphis was in charge.  Pallbearers were; Tom Sellers, M. E. Bird, Eugene Barham Jr., Charles Bernard, Jack Huxtable, Gene Morrison, Bert Dickey Jr., and Richard Wood.

June 8, 1962

SERVICES HELD FOR R. T. HUXTABLE

      Services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Earle Methodist Church for RICHARD T. (DICK) HUXTABLE SR., with the Rev. Harold Wilson, pastor officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.  Citizens Funeral Home was in charge.

      Mr. Huxtable was 75 years of age.  He had been a life-long resident of Crittenden County spending most of his life in Earle.  He had farming interests in his early life, later he owned and operated the Earle Furniture Company for many years before he retired due to ill health.

      He was a faithful member of the Earle Methodist Church and served on the Board of Stewards.  He leaves two sons, Jack Huxtable of Earle, Dick Huxtable Jr., of Yazoo City, Miss., one daughter, Mrs. Barbara Hathcock of Oklahoma City, Okla., two brothers and a sister, Mrs. Will Clark of Forrest City, Arkansas.

Friday, October 14, 1949

SHARRON HUXTABLE

      Funeral Services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Earle Methodist Church for Baby SHARRON HUXTABLE, the 2 ½ months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Huxtable.  Mr. H. M. Barnett, pastor, officiated.

      Sharron was sleeping in her bed Tuesday afternoon when her mother thinking that the nap was unusually long, went in to see about her and found that she had rolled over on her face and the little body was cold.  Mrs. Huxtable immediately called Dr. Ray who hurried to the home and pronounced the child dead.

      Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery with the Holt Funeral Home in charge.  Pallbearers were Kinley Ray and John Drane.  The Enterprise joins the host of friends in extending deepest sympathy to the bereaved parents.

January 23, 1953

SERVICES ARE HELD HERE MONDAY FOR J. M. JENKINS

      Services for JAMES MILLS JENKINS, a beloved citizen of Earle for the past 50 years, was held at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon at the Presbyterian Church. Dr. C. V. Carbo officiated, assisted by two former pastors of the Earle, church, Dr. J. P. Snipes of Clarendon and Rev. C. A. Harper of Frayser, Tenn.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial cemetery at Marion with Holt Funeral Home in charge.

      Mr. Jenkins, who was 75, died Sunday morning, January 18, at the Baptist Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for the past ten days.  He was born in Crawfordsville, Arkansas. the son of the late Dr. and Mrs. J. R. Jenkins.  He later lived in Huntsville, Ala., and was graduated from Alabama Polytechnical Institute at Auburn.

      He returned to Crawfordsville in 1901 and moved to Earle in 1905 where he held farming interests for many years.  He married Miss Lewis Powell of Earle in 1907, uniting two prominent families of Crittenden County.   Mr. Jim was a charter member of the Earle Presbyterian Church and has served faithfully as an Elder since its organization. His genial personality won for him friends in all walks of life.  He was active in civil affairs and in politics of the county and state.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Lewis Powell Jenkins; two sons, J. M. Jenkins of Frayser, Tenn., and John P. Jenkins of Earle; a daughter, Miss Carolyn Louise Jenkins of Memphis and a sister Mrs. Maggie Wall of Huntsville, Ala., and four grand-children.

      Active Pallbearers were, Daryl Cato, Gene Morrison, Ellis Haddad, Watt Campbell, James Wood, Ed Bond and J. C. Reece.  Honorary: J. O. Anderson, C. B. O’Neil, Floyd Roberts, F. E. Beattie, R. W. Miller and H. N. Rogers

June 11, 1954

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MISS LENA LEWIS

      Services for Miss LENA LEWIS, member of a widely known Crittenden County family, were held Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the Earle Methodist church with Rev. G. A. McKelvey, pastor officiating, assisted by Dr. C. V. Crabb, Presbyterian minister.

      Miss Lewis died Monday afternoon at 2:30 at Mustin’s Rest Home in Memphis.  She had been ill for two years.  She was 88. Born in Earle, she was the daughter of the late Confederate Captain John Gatewood Lewis.  She was educated in West Point, Miss., and at the Columbia School of Expression in Chicago.  She made her home in Earle for many years with her sister, the late Mrs. Lula Scott, and her niece, Mrs. J. M. Jenkins.  She was loved by a host of friends in this community.

      Miss Lena was always interested in young people and taught them creative expression as a hobby, and was organizer of the Capt. John Leis Chapter of the Children of the Confederacy. She was a great lover of classic poetry and had written many poems that won for her the title of “Poet Laureate of Eastern Arkansas.”  She was a devout Christian and an active member of the Earle Methodist Church until her health failed.

      Besides Mrs. Jenkins she is survived by two other nieces, Mr. W. C. Watson of Hot Springs and Mrs. Frank Glankler of Memphis; a nephew, John G. Lewis.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery. Holt Funeral Home was in charge.

March 8, 1957

SERVICES HELD FOR H. E. LITTLEJOHN

      Services or HARRISON ELIJAH LITTLEJOHN, farmer and carpenter of Earle, were held at the Baptist Church Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock with Dr. E. B. Abington, officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.  Holt Funeral Home of Earle in charge.

      Mr. Littlejohn, who was 69, died at his home here Tuesday morning.  Born in Blue Springs, Miss., he moved to Earle 37 years ago.  He was a Baptist.

      He leaves his wife, Ms. Lula Brazile Littlejohn; a son, Bernice Littlejohn of Earle; two daughters, Mrs. P. H. Smith of Earle and Mrs. L. H. Harrison of Chicago, four brothers and one sister.

Friday, December 23, 1955

BABY ELLEN LUNSFORD

      Little ELLEN LUNSFORD, the 17-month-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Lunsford of Earle, died Monday afternoon around 5 o’clock at Le Bonheur Hospital in Memphis where she had been seriously ill for the past three weeks.  Cause of death was undetermined.  (Leukemia – dly)

      Services were held at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon at the Baptist Church with Dr. C. M. Savage, pastor officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park, Marion.

Friday, August 6, 1954

V. R. LUNSFORD

      V. R. LUNSFORD, who has farmed in the Three-Way neighborhood for a number of years and was recognized as one of Earle’s successful farmers, died at Kenne3dy’s Hospital in Memphis Sunday, August 1^st.

Mr. Lunsford had been having recurrent illnesses and had been more or less incapacitated before his death. 

      He was 62 years of age, a veteran of World War I, and is survived by his wife, Mrs. Gladys Lunsford, and two sons, Allison and Herbert Lunsford, all of Earle.

      Services were held Tuesday afternoon at Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery.

January 11, 1957

SERVICES HELD FOR HOLLIE MARTIN

      Services were held for HOLLIE MARTIN, Crittenden County farmer, who died at his home in Earle Thursday of last week were held at 2 Saturday afternoon at the Earle Church of God.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park by Citizens Funeral Home.

      Mr. Martin, who was 54, was a lifetime resident of this community.  He leaves his wife, Mrs. Dora Larmon Martin; two sisters, Mrs. Bill Watson and Mrs. Bertha Beazley and two brothers Andy Martin and Clarence Martin both of Earle.

March 23, 1962

SERVICES HELD FOR WM. C. MCCREARY, JR.

      A West Memphis oil man was killed and a West Memphis motel owner seriously injured Friday when their light plane crashed near Palatka, Fla. Dead is WILLIAM C. MCCREARY JR., 44, an oil and gasoline distributor.  Ed Bretherick, owner of the West Memphis Tourist Court and a service station, was in critical condition at a Gainesville, Fla., hospital.

      The plane was taking off for a return to Arkansas when it sheared off the top of a pine tree near Fort Gates Landing in the Ocala National Forest. The Tri-Pacer single-engine plane continued for about three-tenths of a mile before hitting another tree and plunging to the earth.  It did not burn.

      The two men and Albert McCreary of Enterprise, Ala., brother of the victim, had been on a fishing trip since last Tuesday.  The plane had landed on a graded road and had taken off from the roadway.  It was banking when it struck the first tree.

      The plane was out of sight when it struck the second tree, sheriff’s deputies said, but the impact could be heard.  Albert McCreary, left at the camp, went racing through the woods with others to the wreckage.

      Services were held Sunday at Citizens Funeral Home, West Memphis.  Burial was in C. M. [Crittenden Memorial] Cemetery.

      He spent his entire life in Crittenden County, except for World War II service as a lieutenant in the Army.  He was graduated from Crawfordsville High School and attended Southwestern at Memphis.  He leaves his wife, Mrs. Sarah McCreary; a daughter, Miss Virginia McCreary, both of West Memphis; a brother, Albert McCreary of Enterprise, Ala., and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. McCreary of Crawfordsville.

July 29, 1955

ED L. MCKINNEY DIES SUDDENLY NEAR EARLE

      ED L. MCKINNEY, farmer of near Earle died suddenly at 3:30 a. m. last Friday at his home. Mr. McKinney who was 54, had lived in the Earle vicinity for the past 20 years.  He was born in Madison County, Alabama and was a member of the Church of Christ.

      Services were held Saturday afternoon at Citizens Funeral Home chapel with Elder R. L. Colley officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Josephine Rouse McKinney, five sons, Silas McKinney, Robert E. McKinney and Lloyd McKinney, all of Earle, and Thelvin McKinney and Junior McKinney, both of Blytheville; five daughters, Mrs. Willie Barnhill of Marianna, Mrs. Edward Wright of Crawfordsville, Mrs. James Pipkins of Blytheville and Mrs. Edmond Roberts and Miss Opal McKinney, both of Earle.

November 22, 1957

MRS. ADA MILLER

      MRS. ADA TAYLOR MILLER, long time Crittenden County resident, of near Turrell, died at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis Thursday evening, Nov. 14 about 11 o’clock. Mrs. Miller was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a devout Christian woman, devoting much of her time to church work during her active life.  She was 74.

      Funeral services were held at Barton Chapel Baptist Church at 3 p. m. Saturday, November 16, with Rev. Jack Parchman officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park with Langford’s Funeral Home, Jonesboro, in charge of arrangements. She is survived by a son, Aulty E. Miller, Tax Assessor for Crittenden County, and a brother, Jim Taylor of Sheffield, Alabama.

November 11, 1949

BILL MINOR

      Mr. BILL MINOR, 53, of Dyess, Ark., and a former resident of Earle, died November 5 in the Baptist Hospital in Memphis at 11:30 p. m.  Services were conducted in the Dyess Methodist Church Monday, November 7^th at 1 o’clock.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery.  Holt Funeral Home of Earle was in charge.

      Mr. Minor and his family lived in this community for a number of years before they moved to Dyess, where they were living at the time of his death.  He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.

December 31, 1954

CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY TAKES TWELVE LIVES

      Twelve victims of a kerosene explosion and fire which wrecked a three room tenant house near Parkin, Ark. Christmas Eve were buried Monday afternoon in Crittenden Memorial Park, near Marion. 

      “We love the Lord because He has heard my voice in supplication,” Father Edward J. McCormick of West Memphis said as three silver gray caskets containing the 12 bodies were lowered into the earth.

      A chilling rain fell on about 75 friends and relatives of the MONTANA and SANTANA families who attended the services.

      Two survivors of the blast, Mrs. Raul Montana and her daughter, Marie Montana , wept brokenly throughout the brief services.

      The caskets held the bodies of five of Mrs. Montana’s six children.  Her husband, who poured kerosene into a bedroom heater to touch off the explosion is in St. Joseph Hospital in Memphis, critically burned.

      The other victims were members of the family of PETE SANTANA SR.  Only living member of that eight member family is 12 year old PETE SANTANA JR., who is also critically burned and in the hospital.

      The kerosene ignited fire was the worst accident in the Nation during the Christmas holidays.

      Citizens Funeral Home of West Memphis was in charge.

July 16, 1954

SERVICES FOR MRS. J. B. O’NEAL

      Services for Mrs. LUCY GRANTHAM O’NEAL, who died Monday night at the Baptist Hospital in Memphis, were held Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock at the Earle Baptist Church with Dr. C. M. Savage officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park with National Funeral Home of Memphis in charge.

      Mrs. O’Neal was the wife of J. B. O’Neal, a prominent farmer of the Wildcat Community for the past 18 years.  She was a member of the Baptist Church and had been active in church work until ill health curtailed her activities.  She was 73.

      Besides her husband, she leaves a son T. C. O’Neal of Earle; a brother, Watt Grantham of Arcola Miss., and four sisters, Mrs. George Barrow of Greenwood, Miss., Mrs. Jim Barrow and Mrs. Mason Kuykendoll of Money, Miss., and Mrs. Linda Smith of Greenwood.

      Pallbearers were C. L. Trammel, Bill Joe White, Cecil Neson, Levy McCracken, Bert Dickey Jr., Chas. T. Bernard, James Wood and J. E. Fullwood.

April 19, 1957

SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. BESSIE ORGAN

      MRS. BESSIE GOAD ORGAN, widow of the late Charles H. Organ Sr., died suddenly of a heart attack at her home here Saturday.  She was 57.

      Funeral services were held at the Earle Baptist Church  Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock with the Rev. Ray Langley, pastor of the Parkin Baptist Church officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery with Holt Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

      Mrs. Organ was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Goad of Earle and wa a life-long resident of Earle.  The Goad family were pioneer citizens of this community as was the family of the late Mr. Organ.  She  was a member of the Baptist Church.

      She is survived by five sons, Mitchell, John T., Bobby, Rufus of Earle and Charles Jr., of Memphis; one daughter, Mrs. Charles Ferrell, who is with her husband in Germany one sister, Mrs. Hobart Bibbs of Little Rock and seven grandchildren.

      Pallbearers were, James Terry, John Snelson, Clyne Belue, Brooks McCollum, Bill Kennedy and Dalton Lancaster.

June 30, 1961

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 23^rd.  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.

April 12, 1957

MRS. ALICE BROWN PAUL

      Services for MRS. ALICE BROWN PAUL, who died at 8:30 Sunday night at her home in West Memphis, were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock in Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis with Rev. Vernon Paysinger, Methodist minister, officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.

      Mr. Paul, who was 60, had lied in West Memphis for sixteen years.  She was born in Paducah, Ky., and attended school there.  She moved to Crittenden County after her marriage to the late Clint Paul, restaurant owner in Earle for 20 years.  She was a member of the Methodist Church.

      She leaves two daughters, Mrs. Mary Barton of West Memphis and Mrs. Frances Mahar of Crawfordsville.

July 22, 1955

POWELL RITES ARE HELD ON MONDAY

      Services for R. L. POWELL, retired farmer of Earle, was held at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon at the Citizens Funeral Home at West Memphis.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park with Swift Funeral Home of Osceola in charge. Mr. Powell, who had been ill for several months, died at 6:45 Saturday night at the Baptist Hospital in Memphis.  He was 77.

      Mr. Powell was born in Lee County, Miss., and moved to Earle many years ago.  He was a Methodist and was a regular attendant at services until recently.

      Mrs. Powell died several years ago.  He leaves two sons, R. F. Powell of Earle and George Powell of Marion; four daughters, Mrs. Temple Warner of West Memphis; Mrs. Irma Layton and Mrs. Lera Layton of Earle and Mrs. Erlie Gardner of Woodland, Ill.; a brother, O. D. Powell of Tupelo, Moss., 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

June 4, 1954

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MILO ALVA PRYOR

      Services for MILO ALVA PRYOR, a retired cotton ginner who died at his home in Parkin, Saturday night were held at 3 p.m. Monday at the First Methodist Church in Parkin.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park with Citizens Funeral Home in charge.  He was 73.

      Born in Mason, Mich., Mr. Pryor had lived in Parkin the past 40 years.  He owned Pryor Pecan Shelling Co., in West Memphis.  He was a Methodist, and honorary member of the Rotary Club and a Mason.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Gertrude Maynard Pryor of Parkin; a daughter, Mrs. Alfred Knox of Ft. Smith, Ark.; a son, Russell Pryor of West Memphis and three brothers, Asa Pryor and George Pryor of Charlotte, Mich., and E. C. Pryor of Lansing, Mich.

May 4, 1962

SERVICES ARE HELD FOR C. F. RILEY JR.

      C. F. RILEY JR., owner and operator of the C. F. Riley Seed Cleaning Plant of Parkin for the past 15 years, died at the Baptist Hospital in Memphis at 12:45 p.m. Friday as the result of a long illness. His death occurred on his 56^th birthday.

      Mr. Riley, who was born in Crawfordsville, Ark., was graduated from the University of Arkansas and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Earle.  He was a cotton buyer for Memphis cotton firm for 20 years.  A veteran of World War II, he served three years overseas in the Marshall Islands.  He was a former operator of the L. & R. Flying Service in Helena, Ark., before establishing his own cotton seed cleaning business here.  He was a member of Sigma Chi.

      He leaves his mother, Mrs. C. F. Riley, and one brother Gordon Riley of Green River, Wyoming.  Services were held Sunday afternoon at National Funeral Home in Memphis with the Rev. Richard Lamb, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Earle, officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.

January 25, 1957

JOHN W. ROBERTSON

      JOHN WELSEY ROBERTSON SR., construction worker who moved to Memphis from Earle 15 years ago, died at 8:10 Monday night at the Methodist Hospital after a short illness.  He was 43. Mr. Robertson was born in Earle.  He was a Methodist and a Mason. 

He leaves his wife, Mrs. Edith Robertson; his son James Wesley Robertson Jr., two daughters, Kathy and Martha Lou Robertson; his mother Mrs. Kate Ingram and his step-father Tom Ingram all of Memphis; three brothers, Charlie Robertson of Earle, Willie Robertson of Michigan City, Ind., and Jim Robertson of Detroit; two sisters, Mrs. Kate Weatherford of Tucson, Ariz., and Mrs. Albert Keck of Memphis.

      Services were held Wednesday at 2 p. m. at Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis, Rev. Harry E. Williams officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery.

Friday, March 16, 1951

HEART ATTACK FATAL TO EARLE PLANTER

      Funeral services were held last Friday afternoon at the Earle Presbyterian Church for Mr. JIM W. RODGERS, a prominent planter in this community.  Dr. C. V. Crabb officiated.

      Mr. Rodgers had been in failing health for the past few years and died Thursday morning while enroute from his home East of Earle, to the doctor’s office.  He was 70.

      He was born in Yazoo City, Miss., February 14, 1881.  He attended Mississippi State College and Maryville College, Maryville, Tennessee.

      He was engaged in farming in Phillips County Arkansas for many years before moving to Earle about fifteen years ago.  He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and the beautiful floral offerings and the host of friends present at his funeral was evidence of the high esteem in which he held.

      Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery, Holt Funeral Home of Earle in charge.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Cleo Rodgers; two daughters, Mrs. Howard Atkins and Mrs. Bill Beattie Jr., both of Earle; one sister Mrs. Victoria Myers. Pallbearers were Dr. H. S. Watson, H. W. Campbell, M. E. Klindworth, W. A. Black, H. N. Rogers and Floyd Roberts.

August 10, 1962

SERVICES HELD FOR WINFORD B. ROSE

      WINFORD B. ROSE of Earle died last Thursday, August 2 at his home after a lengthy illness.  He was 46. He was born in Ripley, Tenn., and lived in Memphis about 15 years before moving to Earle two years ago.  He was a mechanic for People’s Implement Co.  He was a Methodist.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Lurlene Rose of Earle; a son, W. L. Rose of Halls, Tenn., and two sisters, Mrs. Ora Simpson of Osceola, and Mrs. John Henderson of Little Rock.  Services were held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Earle Methodist church, with burial in Crittenden Memorial Park.

MABLE MCCOLLUM SAMPLE

Friday, September 26, 1958

SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. DAN SAMPLE

      Services for Mrs. Mable McCollum Sample, wife of Dan Sample Sr., of Earle, were held at the Earle Baptist Church Monday afternoon with D. E. B. Abington, pastor, officiating.  Burial was at Crittenden Memorial Park with Citizens Funeral Home in charge.  Mrs. Sample, who died at the Baptist Hospital in Memphis late Saturday, was 70.  Born and reared near Rutherford, Tenn., she had lived in Earle 41 years.  She attended Laneview College at Bradford, Tenn., and before her marriage taught school.

      She was a faithful member of the Earle Baptist Church and formerly taught a boy’s Sunday school class and was recent assistant teacher of the woman’s class.

      She is survived by her husband, one daughter Annie Ruth Sample of Earle; three sons, Eddie Sample of Earle, Billy Sample of El Paso, Texas, and Dan Sample Jr., of Memphis; two brothers, E. B. McCollum of Earle and D. A. McCollum of Los Angeles; two sisters, Mrs. S. J. Lumpkin and Mrs. R. T. Jewell of Dyer, Tenn., and eight grandchildren.

August 10, 1962

SERVICES HELD FOR CHARLES F. SMITH

      Services were held at 2 Sunday afternoon at Citizens Funeral Home, West Memphis, for State Senator CHARLES F. (RIP) SMITH, prominent West Memphis attorney.  The Rev. William Watson, pastor of the First Methodist Church of West Memphis, officiated.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.

      Volunteer Searchers found Smith’s body around 7 a.m. Friday floating on Horseshoe Lake.  He had been missing since a fishing trip to the lake Wednesday, August 1^st.

      Smith’s watch had stopped at 9:30, but Coroner T. H. McGough said it could not be determined whether that was the time of his death.  Although an air-tank supported boat which he was using has not been found, was attributed to drowning and there was no indication of foul play McGough said.

      Born in Hot Springs, Mr. Smith was 50 years old July 6.  He had been reared in Crittenden County and was graduated from Crawfordsville High School.  He received his law degree from Southern Law University in Memphis.

      Mr. Smith leaves his wife, the former Lillian Outzen of Earle, his mother, Mrs. Charles f. Smith, Sr., who made her home with her son; two daughters, Miss Helen Smith, who is a senior at the University of Arkansas, and Mrs. Thomas B. Vivona of Newark, N. J; and two sisters, Mrs. R. C. Taylor of Earle and Mrs. H. Wilburn Keller of Birmingham, Mich.

March 5, 1954

SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. ROSA STANLEY

      Services were held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock for Mrs. ROSA BELL STANLEY who died Saturday at 12:30 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Waco Hodo in Earle with whom she made her home.  She was 76.  Dr. C. M. Savage was the officiating minister.

      Born in Oxford, Miss., Mrs. Stanley had lived in Earle since 1947.  Besides her daughter in Earle she leaves a daughter, Mrs. B. C. Lyle of Midwest, Okla.; two sons, R. K. Stanley, Williamson West Va., and C. H. Stanley of Memphis.  A brother W. E. Kimble of Memphis.  Twelve grand-children and five great-grand-children.

      Burial was in Crittenden Memorial …..Home of Memphis in charge.  Pallbearers were John T. Organ, Bruce Shannon, J. D. Hodo, N. C. Rook, Edmon Davis and Jack Delashmit.

December 29, 1962

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.

Friday, January 6, 1951

ALEX STIREWALT DIES IN MEMPHIS HOSPITAL

      ALEX STIREWALT of Gilmore, on of Crittenden County’s most prominent planters and a civic leader died Sunday morning at 9:07 at the Baptist Hospital in Memphis, where he had been a patient since Dec. 17.

      Services were held Monday afternoon at 3 at Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis with the Rev. W. F. Cooley of Fayetteville, assisted by the Rev. Lester Weaver of Turrell, officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.

      Mr. Stirewalt was born July 4, 1887, in Timothy, Ill., and came to Gilmore as a child of 7.

      At the time of his death he was a part owner of the Ed Talbot & Co. plantation at Gilmore.  In addition to farming, he had ginning and mercantile interests.  He suffered a stroke on Dec. 15 while at work.

      Mr. Stirewalt was a Methodist and Chairman of the Board of Stewards of the Gilmore Methodist Church.  He was a 32^nd Degree Mason and a Shriner.  A member of the School Board in the Turrell School District since its organization, he had served as president of the body for a number of years.

      H had served as chairman of the Crittenden County Selective Service Board since its establishment prior to World War II and for more than a decade had been chairman of the Crittenden County Production and Marketing Administration Committee.  He was a stockholder and director of Citizens Bank of Marion.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Ola Jordan Stirewalt: a son Mayor Alex Stirewalt Jr., of Turrell; a daughter, Mrs. Carter Short of Fayetteville, a sister, Mrs. Almonta Smith of Memphis; a brother, L. W. Stirewalt of Gilmore; his father, Joseph Stirewalt of Gilmore, and five grandchildren.

Friday, February 2, 1951

PIERRE SWEPSTON DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS

      PIERRE SWEPSTON, former Crawfordsville mayor and Crittenden County legislator, died at 1:30 Friday morning at the Baptist Hospital in Memphis.

      Services, conducted by the Rev. Jack Glass of Crawfordsville, was held at the Crawfordsville Methodist Church at 1 o’clok last Saturday afternoon.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park with Citizens Funeral Home of West Memphis in charge.

      Mr. Swepston was the son of the late Wilsie Wise Swepston and Mary Wille Denton Swepston, early residents of Crawfordsville.  He was a lifelong resident of Crawfordsville, and had farming and mercantile interests.

      A graduate of Bingham School of Ashville, N. C. he served as a young man as Crittenden County’s representative in the Arkansas Assembly.

      For 47 years he was a trustee of the Crawfordsville Methodist church.  He was formerly chairman of the Crawfordsville School Board and served on the Building Committee for the present school building.

      He leaves his wife Mrs. Virginia Maynard Swepston; a daughter, Mrs. Buford Wallace; a son, John Maynard Swepston, and three sisters, Mrs. T. S. Hare, Mrs. S. D. Bond and Mrs. Egbert Jones all of Crawfordsville.  Another sister, Mrs. C. H. Neely of Oak Grove, La., and a brother Judge John E. Swepston of Memphis.

May 5, 1961

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.

January 24, 1958

SERVICES HELD FOR “BIG JIM” TARVER

      JAMES GROVER “BIG JIM” TARVER, former circus giant, died at his home in Turrell Tuesday morning.  He was 72.  Services were held Thursday afternoon at the Citizens Funeral Home at West Memphis with the Rev. J. T. McGill, Baptist minister from Helena, officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery.  During his circus days, with Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey and others, Mr. Tarver purchased a farm near Turrell where he lived during the winter when the circus was not traveling.  Since his retirement from circus life he had made this his home. Big Jim, in his prime, weighted 460 pounds and was eight and one half feet tall, and was billed as the “World’s Largest Man.”  At the time of his death he weighed about 400 pounds.  Born in Franklin, Texas, Sept. 17, 1885 of normal sized parents, Big Jim, like Topsy, “just growed.”  He was a 32^nd degree Mason and a Shriner, and up until his illness was active in Crittenden County affairs.

January 28, 1955

WAR INJURIES PROVE FATAL TO FORD TURNER

      FORD TURNER, 34, of Marion, Arkansas, a native of Earle and who spent most of his boyhood days in this community, died last Saturday at 12:15 p. m. at Kennedy Veteran’s Hospital in Memphis.

      Ford was critically injured in a plan crash over Africa during World War II necessitating a series of operations since that time.  He was admitted to the hospital for the last time on January 10.

      His father was the late Judge Renfro Turner of Earle.  His mother Mrs. Elise Turner lives at 4206 Myers in Memphis. Ford was graduated from Earle High school in 1939.  He was a favorite among his young friends and classmates and was loved and admired by all who knew him for his sterling traits of character.

      At the time of his death he operated the Byrnes-Turner Insurance Agency in Marion.  He attended Southwestern in Memphis shortly before he entered the U. S. Air Force. Ford was active in the Methodist Church and was Superintendent of the Sunday School.  He was also a Mason.

      Services were held at 10:15 Monday morning at the grave in Crittenden Memorial Park near Marion.  The Rev. I. L. Claud pastor of the Marion Methodist Church officiated.  Masonic services followed.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Rhodes Turner; a son, Bart, a daughter Susan Porter Turner all of Marion; his mother of Memphis; two sisters, Mrs. Dan Femal of Houston, Texas and Mrs. Nat Norten of Forrest City and two brothers Phil Turner of Memphis and Comdr. Renfro Turner who is in the Navy stationed at Newport News, R. I.

March 8, 1957

GRADY WAGES

      Services for HENRY GRADY WAGES, retired resident of Parkin, and a former Earle resident, was held at the Earle Baptist Church at 2:30 Saturday afternoon with the Rev. Ray Y. Langley, pastor of the Parkin Baptist Church, officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park with Holt Funeral Home in charge.

      Mr. Wages died at 1 p. m. lat Friday in Baptist Hospital at Memphis after a heart attack.  He was 67.  Born in Tipton County, Tenn., Sept. 22, 1889, Mr. Wages came to Arkansas in 1906.  He was a construction worker for 30 years and worked for the Federal Compress and Warehouse in Earle for 10 years.  He was a Baptist and a Woodman of the World.

      He leaves two sons, H. G. Wages Jr., of Whitehaven, Tenn. and William Wages of Malden, Mo.; three sisters, Mrs. Claude Sinclair and Mrs. Enzie Everett of Memphis and Mrs. Lizzie Wright of Blytheville, and a granddaughter.

June 19, 1953

J. A. WALKER

      JAMES ALEXANDER WALKER, a former Earle resident, a retired farmer of Jeffries, Miss., died Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 o’clock at Kennedy Veterans Hospital in Memphis.  He was 62.

      Mr. Walker was born and reared at Carrollton, Miss., and operated a large farm at Earle until his retirement three years ago.  He was a World War veteran and member of the American Legion.  He was a Baptist.

      He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Alvin J. Weeks of Memphis, and Mrs. Ben Wilkins of Jeffries, one son, James A. Walker also of Jeffries, and four grandchildren.  Services were held Wednesday afternoon at Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis.  Burial in Crittenden Memorial Park.

October 8, 1954

PROMINENT EARLE LUMBERMAN AND PIONEER CITIZEN SUCCUMBS TO HEART ATTACK

      Another pioneer resident and valued citizen was lost to Earle this week with the passing of LUTHER WALLIN, lumberman and landowner, who succumbed to a heart attack at the Crittenden Memorial Hospital Wednesday morning.  He had been in ill health for several years.

      Services will be held at 10 Friday (today) morning at the Earle Methodist Church with the Rev. G. A. McKelvey officiating.  Burial will be in Crittenden Memorial Park.

      Aside from his extensive land holdings, Mr. Wallin was senior partner in Luther Wallin & Son Lumber Company here, and president of the Wallin, Dickey & Rich Lumber Companies.

      His parents were the late Mr. and Mrs. Harriet Catlett Wallin of Walker County, Georgia, who came to Cross County when he was 6, and a few years later moved to Crittenden.

      As a young man, Mr. Wallin started hauling logs on a small salary but being of the progressive type soon owned his own ox teams, which was the method of operation in that day, and soon was employing a force of men.  His six and eight yoke ox teams was a common sight plowing the muddy streets of Earle in the earlier days.

      In 1920 he opened his first sawmill, which was one of a series ranging from the ground hog type to the larger operations to which he devoted his time in later years.  In the course of buying timber for these mills he acquired vast land-holdings in various parts of the section, which are now in the form of highly developed farms.

      In his younger days he adopted a mode of dress which became a fetish with him and gave rise to the nickname of, “The White Cap Man.”  Until recent years he wore a white engineer-style caps and denim jumper on almost every occasion and it became his trademark.  He found time to serve the City of Earle in the capacity of Alderman for almost 30 years; was willing to give of his time and money to any charitable cause, and Wallin’s Chapel, south of Earle, stands as a memento to his generosity toward the furtherance of Christianity.

      He had held many executive offices which are of no importance now that he has passed away, but the “White Cap Man” will be remembered for his many acts of kindness and by those who worked for him during both the fat and lean years as one who never allowed them to suffer.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Sarah McElroy Wallin; three daughters, Mrs. B. G. Dickey and Mrs. Frank Stalcup of Earle; Mrs. Jack Rich of Memphis; three sons, Reg and Gene Wallin of Earle and Luther Wallin Jr., of Columbus, Miss.; three sisters, Mrs. A. McLaurin of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Mrs. Ida Gibson of Dumas, Ark.; one brother, Jesse Wallin of Bald Knob, Ark. Ten grandchildren and two great grand-children.

March 31, 1961

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.

May 21, 1954

ROY WATERS SUCCUMBS TO LINGERING ILLNESS

      Services were held at the Methodist Church in Indianola, Miss., Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock for ROY RUSSELL WATERS, a former Earle citizen, who died at the South Sunflower County Hospital Sunday morning after an illness of two years.  The Rev. T. B. Thrower officiated, assisted by the other pastors of Indianola.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park near Marion at 3 Tuesday afternoon with Rev. G. A. McKelvey of Earle conducting the graveside services.

      Roy, who was 55, was born in Sangamon County, Illinois, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Waters and moved to Earle with his family when he was 14.  After graduating from Earle High School, he attended Hendrix College at Conway and in 1924 was married to Miss Berneice Ward of Painton, Mo.  For a number of years he was associated with the Ford Co., at Osceola Wilson, West Memphis and Marked Tree.  Since 1940 he has been a partner in the Indianola Motor Co.  He was a member of the Methodist Church, a Rotarian, a Mason and a Shriner.

      In addition to his wife and his parents he leaves two sisters, Mrs. Boyd Evans of Memphis and Mrs. T. E. Thomason of Earle.

The Earle Enterprise, Earle, Arkansas

THOMAS WATERS

April 18, 1958

SERVICES HELD FOR MR. TOM WATERS (died April 9, 1958)

      Services were held at 10 o’clock Saturday morning at the Earle Methodist Church for Mr. Thomas Waters, a retired farmer of this community.  Mr. Waters, who was 81 years old, died April 9 at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis.  Rites were conducted by Rev. G. A. McKelvey, pastor of the Methodist Church of which Mr. Waters was a member.  He was assisted by Rev. Bob Doom, pastor of the Presbyterian Church here.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park with Citizens Funeral Home in charge.

      Mr. Waters was a native of Berlin, Ill., but had made his home in Earle for the past 47 years.  He leaves his wife of Earl; two sons, Floyd Waters of Littleton, Col., and Lawrence Waters of Alhambra, Cal.,; four brothers, Will Waters of Earle, Charles, John and Harry Waters of St. Joseph, Mo., and two sister, Miss Lena Waters of St. Joseph and Mrs. Lon Gray of Gower, Mo.  Six grand-children and three great-grandchildren.

July 31, 1959

SERVICES FOR DR. H. S. WATSON HELD FRIDAY

(contributed by Mrs. Mamie Girdner Watson)

      Services for DR. HERBERT SHIRLEY WATSON were held Friday morning, July 31^st, at National Funeral Home in Memphis with Rev. Harold Wilson, pastor of the Earle Methodist Church officiating.  He was 67.

      Dr. Watson, veteran and Captain of World War I, died Wednesday, July 29^th at Kennedy Hospital.  He had been ill for several months.  He was born in Choctaw County, Miss., where he spent his early childhood.  He chose the field of medicine for his career and graduated from the University of Tennessee School of Medicine and did intern work at the Baptist Hospital at Memphis.

      He came to Earle in 1916 and opened his office in the rear of the old Crittenden Drug Store, which was owned and operated by Charley Phelps and his brother, the late Wrenn Phelps, Sr.  Some years later he became associated with the late Dr. W. P. Hicks of Earle and they opened a clinic and hospital in the Enterprise building.

      Dr. Watson was a skilled surgeon and physician and the late Dr. Eugene Johnson a prominent surgeon of Memphis said of him, “he was one of the most promising young surgeons of the South.”  After 30 years of practicing medicine he retired to farming and cotton gin interests in which he was engaged at the time of his death.

      Dr. Watson was a member of the Arkansas Medical Society, the Crittenden County Medical Society and the Association of American Railway Surgeons.  He was also a 32^nd degree Mason, and a member of the Baptist Church.  He leaves his wife, Mrs. Mamie Girdner Watson, and two sons, Herbert and George of Earle; his mother, Mrs. G. W. Watson of Weir, Miss.; two brothers, A. B. Watson, of Weir, and B. K. Watson of Marion, La., and a sister, Mrs. T. T. Hinson of Weir.

      Pallbearers were, Hassell McCain, Bob Harris, Percy Magness, Lewis Walker, Tommy Thomason, Joe Wilson, Reg Wallin and Bill Hodge. [Note: Burial in Crittenden Memorial Park, Section 2]

September 1, 1961

SERVICES HELD FOR FORMER RESIDENT

      MRS. W. A. (Margaret E.) WEAVER, a resident of Earle from 1910-1938, died August 22^nd 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 86^th birthday on August 3^rd.  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.

Friday, July 10, 1953

SERVICES HELD HERE FOR I. H. WILSON

      Services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at he Earle Baptist church, for Mr. I. H. WILSON, who died Monday night at the Baptist Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for several weeks.  Dr. C. M. Savage officiated.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Cemetery with Holt Funeral Home in charge.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Mary Grace Wilson of Earle; three daughters, Bonnie Faye Wilson of Earle, Mrs. R. M. Cadwell of Paragould, Ark., and Mrs. James Annis of Memphis; three sons, I. L. Wilson Jr., of Memphis, and Charles Wilson of Flint, Mich.; and Don Wilson with the Air Force stationed in Wyoming.  A brother, Les Wilson of Rutherford, Tenn.; two sisters, Mrs. Mary White and Mrs. Olive Neal both of Dyersburg, Tenn., and three grandchildren.  Pallbearers were, Clarence Hood, Roy Sample, John T. Organ, Kenneth Warner and R. L. Whitlock.

January 18, 1957

H. G. GRADY WOOD

      Services were held last Friday at the First Baptist Church in Parkin for H. G. GRADY WOOD, with the Rev. Ray Langley officiating.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.

      Mr. Wood was the father of Mr. Joe E. Wood, manager of the Earle Motor Company.  He was salesman for Murray Chevrolet Company in Wynne and had been a resident of Parkin for 20 years.  He was 53. Born in Dorsey, Miss., Aug. 29, 1898, Mr. Wood moved to Parkin with his family in 1937 and had been active in the automobile business since that time.

      He leaves his wife, Mrs. Dovie Wood and three daughters, Miss Ginger Wood of Parkin, Mrs. Garland Hudson of Jonesboro and Mrs. Edwin Gaither of Decatur, Ala.; two sons, Joe Wood of Earle and Charles Wood of Parkin, five sisters, five brothers and eight grandchildren.

Friday, February 7, 1958

SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. ROSE WOODARD

      Mrs. ROSE HUDGINS WOODARD, a former resident of Earle, died at 11:22 Wednesday morning at Crittenden Memorial Hospital.  She was 43.  Services were held at 3 Thursday afternoon at Citizens Funeral Home.  The Rev. G. A. McKelvey officiated, assisted by the Rev. Vernon Paysinger.  Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.

      She leaves a daughter, Mrs. Edward Hughes of Trulock [Turlock], Calif.; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Hudgins of Corinth, Miss.; four sisters, Mrs. Floy Crum of Hobart, Ind., Mrs. John Henry of Marked Tree, Ark., Mrs. J. M. Hastings of Rienza [Reinzi], Miss., and Mrs. Norman Wicks of Corinth, and three brothers; Idell Hudgens of Corinth, Leonard of Garey, Ind., and Robert with the US Army in Germany.

 

 

 

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