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Georgia Mae McKnight Sears
Georgia Mae McKnight Sears, age 80, of Little Rock, died on December 7, 2003 She was born on January 1, 1923 to the Late George and Lena McKnight. She was a member of The Geyer Springs Church of Christ and also attended Sandstone Church of Christ.
She is survived by three children, Mary Angela Sears of Little Rock, Sonny Sears and his wife Doris of Bryant, and George Sears and his wife Cheryl of Parker, CO, six grand -children, Christy Tarkington, Jeremy Sears, Ginny Sears, Joseph Sears, Kristian Strange, and Benjamin Sears. She is also survived by 4 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Arthur Sears.
Funeral Services will be Thursday at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Ruebel Funeral Home with burial following at Forest Hills Memorial Park. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home.
Lt. Col. Elbert E. Self
Lt. Col. Elbert E. Self, retired, 84, of Little Rock, died Tuesday, July 1, 2003. He was born August 5, 1918 in La Plata, MO to James and Laura Ferrell Self. Mr. Self was a resident of Little Rock since 1972. He was a decorated veteran of World War II and Vietnam, and was employed by Sylvania Security.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife Virginia Self, mother of their five surviving children, Gary Self of Faulkner Co., Steve Self and his wife Phyllis of Redding, CA, Ron Self and his wife Sheryl of Elizabethton, TN, Mike Self of Little Rock, and daughter Roxanne Proffer and husband Kirk of Jacksonville, AR. Mr. Self had 7 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. A sister Iola Wilson of Newton, NC, and 3 sister-in-laws, Wanda Self of Tulsa, OK, Stella Cothran and Kathleen Cothran both of North Little Rock.
Mr. Self will lay in state Monday, July 7, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Graveside funeral service with full military honors will be on Tuesday, July 8 at 10:00 a.m. at Little Rock National cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
The family requests, if desired, memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 2200 Ft. Roots Drive, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114.
Sally A. Taylor Serrett
Sally A. Taylor Serrett, 89, of Little Rock died Wednesday, February 19, 2003. She was born and raised in Hamburg, AR where she graduated from high school. She then attended Draughn School of Business. In 1935 she married
Joseph Serrett and he predeceased her in 1989. Mrs. Serrett was a member of Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church, Woman’s City Club since 1962 and the Departmental Club. She loved to play bridge with friends. Survivors include her son, Fred Serrett of Hot Springs, two grandchildren, Fred Serrett and Dianne Serrett and four great-grandchildren, Chris and Lauren Stacy, Monica Cruz and Amber Serrett. She was also predeceased by a sister, Mary Leverette and a granddaughter, Robin Phillipe. A visitation will be held from 1-4:00 p.m. Monday at the Ruebel Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Ruebel Chapel. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Hamburg cemetery, Hamburg, AR
Edna Earl Brewster Shepherd
Edna Earl Brewster Shepherd, 97, of Mabelvale, widow of William Martin Shepherd and daughter of Oscar F. and Nannie Edna Austin Brewster, died Saturday, January 11, 2003. She was born in Pine Bluff and graduated from Pine Bluff High School. She attended the University of Arkansas, where she pledged Chi Omega, and taught in Pine Bluff public schools.
Mrs. Shepherd is survived by her daughter Katherine Sue Phillips of Santa Maria, California, son Bill Shepherd of Little Rock, grandsons John Martin (Marty) Kennedy of Livermore, California, and Thomas Lynn (Tom) Kennedy of Little Rock, plus five step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and several step great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. Tuesday at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 West Markham, Little Rock. Funeral will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Mabelvale United Methodist Church, 10500 Woodman, Mabelvale, by the Rev. Steve Brizzi, with burial following in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Mrs. Shepherd’s family greatly appreciates the special care given by the personnel of Otter Creek Clinic, Chenal Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center and Southwest Regional Medical Center.
Joseph Y. Smreker
Joe Smreker passed away suddenly on Monday, June 9, 2003. Born on November 26, 1943, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, he received his B.A. and M.B.A degrees from the University of Arkansas and earned the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst in 1989. Joe has been a resident of Austin since 1989. His career in investments spanned 36 years and, at the time of his death, he was a partner in ContraVest, Inc. He was a member of the Austin Chapter of the Association of Investment Management & Research (AIMR) and the former president of the. Tulsa Society of Financial Analysts, the Austin Pond Society, and the Texas Koi and Fancy Goldfish Society. He has served on the Boards of Directors of the Walter and Vera Morris Foundation, the Elizabeth Mitchell Children's Center, and the Little Rock Chamber Music Society.
Joe was a much loved husband, father, brother, son, investment advisor, and friend whose caring, thoughtful, generous support will be greatly missed. Joe's highest priorities were his family, his friends, and his clients.
Joe is survived by Embry, his wife of 36 years, a daughter, Stacey, and her husband, Jesse Beardshear, of Austin; a son, Joe Jr., and his wife, Array, of San Antonio; his mother, Mrs. Joe N. smreker of Fort Smith, Arkansas; two sisters, Stevie Locke and her husband, George, of Fort Smith, Nancy Speer of Little Rock; two brothers, Charles of Austin and William of Fort Smith.
On Monday, June 16, 2003, at 10 a.m., there will be a memorial service held at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock with burial following at Roselawn Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be: John Carl, John F. Conway, Jr., William Cooper, Charles Fagerberg, Robert Fagerberg, Lou Fernandez, Don Jack, and William Mooney.
A memorial service may be held in Austin at a later date; an announcement will be published.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either the Austin Public Library or the Little Rock Public Library for the purchase of books for children.
Local arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Vada Cook Ott Stegall
Vada Cook Ott Stegall, 101, of Little Rock, a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died on Thursday, January 16, 2003. She was born on January 18, 1901 in Higginson (White County) Arkansas to Robert Allen Cook and Ethel Johnson. Mrs. Stegall was a homemaker and a member of Winfield United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her sons, Frank Ott and wife Sara of Wintergreen, Virginia and Elwood Ott and wife Betty of Farmington Hills, Michigan. A stepson, C.W. Stegall Jr. and wife Betty of Little Rock and stepdaughters, Margaret Whitehead of Little Rock and Alice Halter and husband Milton of North Little Rock. Four grandchildren and Eight great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Monday, January 20, 2003 at Ruebel Funeral Home from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a Graveside service following at 3:00 p.m. at Roselawn Memorial Park officiated by the Reverend David Bentley. Memorials may be made to Winfield United Methodist Church, 20100 Cantrell Road. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Reverend William A. Stewart, Jr.
Reverend William A. Stewart, Jr. 87, of Little Rock went to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 13, 2003. He was born March 22, 1916 in Marshall, TX, the son of William A. Stewart, Sr., and Lena P. Rogers. He received his early education at Little Rock High School, now Central High and his formal education at Hendrix college where he received his B.A. degree. He also attended Vanderbilt and Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology, where he received a masters in Divinity. Reverend Stewart, became an ordained minister in the Methodist church in 1933 and served as a minister for 70 years. During his tenure as a Methodist pastor, he served in 21 churches in 12 counties throughout Arkansas. He also served on numerous boards and committees of the Little Rock and North Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was a veteran and served in the Navy during WWII.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Ava Jean Cunningham Stewart, and his son, Ronald Allen Stewart. He is survived by his daughter Sue Russell of Fayetteville, AR, his son Drew Stewart, and daughter-in-law Rita Stewart, who he called his "guardian angel", of Little Rock, a daughter-in-law, Debbie Stewart, of Bryant. Eight grandchildren, Enid Stewart, Sam Stewart, Scott Stewart, Amy Cate, Drew Thompson, Brittany Smith, Mandy Stewart, Jeff Stewart and seven great-grandchildren whom he cherished and adored.
He will be remembered for the countless people he served while serving the Lord as a minister. His love for his family and lives he impacted will be his legacy.
He was a member at First United Methodist Church in Little Rock. A Celebration of Life service will be held 1:30 Friday, Dec. 19th at First United Methodist Church in Little Rock.
Memorials may be made in his name to the Endowment Foundation c/o First United Methodist Church, 723 Center Street, Little Rock, AR 72201.
Cremation arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Astrid Stavenas Stoakes
Astrid Stavenas Stoakes, age 89, of Little Rock, formally longtime residence of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, died July 29th, 2003. She was born July 9th, 1914, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was married
to Homer Stoakes May 30th, 1936 and he died in 1992. She taught school before her marriage at Hardwick, Minnesota. She also taught at Lincoln, Franklin, and Laura Anderson grade schools in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mrs. Stoakes was resident of Woodland Heights.
She is survived by 2 daughters, Diane Mackey of Little Rock, Sharron Tatham of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, 5 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
There will be a memorial service Saturday morning at 11 AM at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral officiated by The Very Reverend Henry Hudson. The family will receive friends in the church courtyard following services. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials in lieu of flowers should be made to Arkansas Hospice, 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock 72114.
Louise West Alston
Louise West Alston, age 96, of Little Rock, widow of Clifford Alston died March 29, 2004. She was a native of Tuscumbia, Alabama and was a graduate of Auburn University. She attended graduate school at Cornell University and Auburn University. She taught in the Little Rock and Alachua County (Florida) school systems and was retired from the latter. She was a member of the Arkansas Arts Center; Little Rock Chapter of the Book Fellows, First United Methodist Church of Little Rock and United Methodist Women. She served as a member of the board of Stewards of First United Methodist Church for eight years and former president of the United Methodist Women of Monticello First United Methodist Church.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
There will a funeral service Thursday at 10am at the Ruebel Funeral Home Chapel officiated by Reverend Jeannie Burton. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.
Memorials in lieu of flowers should be made to First United Methodist church, Little Rock.
Billy Sunday Clark
Billy Sunday Clark, age 82 years, of Little Rock, who had a long and distinguished career as a principal in one of Arkansas' most prestigious law firms, Friday, Eldridge and Clark, died Wednesday, March 3, 2004, at his home. Born in Guntersville, Alabama. He grew up in Dallas, Texas and graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1943, where he was valedictorian of his class. He was named to the Associated Press All American Football Team in 1943. Upon graduating from VMI he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in Field Artillery of the United States Army, serving in World War II in India and Japan. After the war he entered the University of Arkansas Law School and graduated in 1950. He opened a law office in Searcy and during his first year of practice he was called back into the military service in the Korean War. At the conclusion of the war in 1953 he joined the Little Rock law firm of Mehaffey, Smith and Williams, which evolved into Friday, Eldridge, and Clark. He started his practice as a defense trial lawyer representing numerous companies in Arkansas and around the country. He later specialized in labor law and established a national reputation as an expert in that field. He was a member of the Arkansas and American Bar associations. He played a major role in the development of the textbook Developing Labor Law, presently in its third edition and still considered an essential reference for labor laws today. In 1985 the University of Arkansas School of Law named him an "Outstanding Alumnus".
Active in numerous civic affairs, he was a past president of the Downtown Kiwanis Club and served on the Board of Directors of the State Chamber of Commerce. He was President of Pleasant Valley Country Club, member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity, served as Chairman of the Pathfinder Parent Advisory Board, and a member of the Foundation. He was also a Pillar of St. Paul United Methodist Church. He was named for an evangelist of the early 1900s who was famous for a thunderous delivery from the pulpit. Billy Sunday Clark was by contrast a more subtle speaker except when on stage, where he was "on". Known for his precise portrayal of Governor Orval E. Faubus in the Pulaski County Bar Association's Gridiron Show, he used the role to let loose his acting, singing and oratorical talent. It became his trademark role and even Faubus himself called Clark, "Governor". "He was a real ham. He could have been an actor, " Gridiron pianist Betty Fowler said. Another of Clark's passions was quail hunting with his best friend and partner, the late Hershel Friday. He was a devout reader of English poetry and a fan of the work of Rudyard Kipling. He was always ready with a joke or story.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Nita Williams Clark of Little Rock, one son Andrew Clark and wife Mindy of Little Rock, daughters, Pamela Banks of Fayetteville and Beth Bowie and husband Mike of Roland, one sister Kathleen Whiteman of Little Rock, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a visitation Friday from 5 to 7pm at the Ruebel Funeral Home. A private graveside ceremony will follow the next day officiated by Reverend John Fleming. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church of Little Rock, The Hope Lodge of Little Rock, St. Jude's Children's Hospital of Memphis, Tennessee, or Arkansas Hospice.
Charles S. Copeland
Charles S. Copeland, 86, of Little Rock, died Monday, March 22, 2004 Mr. Copeland was a former resident of Good Shepherd Retirement Center. He was born to Harry and Lula Thomas Copeland, January 27, 1918, in Barlow, KY.
Mr. Copeland was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Julia M. Copeland, a son Richard Copeland, a brother, Rev. Harry T. Copeland, a sister, Ruby Cook and step-brother, Marvin Bumgarner. He is survived by a son James Copeland of Louisville, KY, a daughter, Carol Freebairn of Little Rock, and grandchildren, John Freebairn of Dallas, TX, Amy Skinner of Little Rock and one great-grandchild.
Following service in the United States Army during World War II, Mr. Copeland was in the retail furniture business for more than 40 years in Mayfield and Paducah, KY. He was a member of the First Baptist church of Paducah for over 54 years.
A visitation will be held at 9:00 a.m. Friday at the Milner & Orr Funeral Home in Lone Oak, KY followed by a funeral service at 9:30 a.m. in their chapel. Burial will follow in Maplewood cemetery in Mayfield, KY. Local arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Ecumenical Retirement Center, 2701 Aldersgate Rd. Little Rock, AR 72205.
