James Lee Sanders, 89, of Benton, Arkansas, passed away on March 3, 2022. He was born April 1, 1932, in Ardmore, OK, to James Wesley and Martha Parelee Sanders.
He is survived by his daughters, Esther Bates, Mildred Honeysuckle (Ken), and Lora Levisee (Walt), six grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, fifteen great great-grandchildren, three siblings, Adam Sanders (Alice), Mary Smith (Wayne), and Alma Johnson.
James was preceded in death by his wife, Bettie Fay Sanders, sons, James Louis Sanders and John Carl Sanders, one grandchild, one great-grandchild, one great-great-grandchild, eight siblings and his parents.
Visitation (Sunday, March 6, 2-4 p.m.) and Funeral Services (Monday March 7, 1 p.m.) will be at Ashby’s Funeral Home in Benton.
Charles Orland Newton, age 84, of Haskell, passed away Thursday, March 3, 2022. He was born August 4, 1937 in Missouri. Charles was a truck driver.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Evelyn Newton; daughter, Angie Thomas; and five sisters.
Charles is survived by his two sons, Jeff and Jeremy Newton; two daughters, Debbie Jacobson and Diana Ezelle; sister, Toni Newton; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 7 at Ashby Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 8 at Ashby Funeral Home with burial at Mt. Harmony Cemetery.
John Ray Masingale, 80 of Benton, passed away on March 2, 2022. He was born on October 17, 1941 in Paris, Arkansas to the late Boyd and Zenia Henson Masingale. John was the owner of M & S Body Shop for over 30 years. He was a master of building and fixing anything and champion of Skeet and Trap Shooting.
John was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Patricia Masingale, whom he was devoted to and cared for over 49 years, son, David Masingale, brother, Charles Lee Masingale and grandson, Aaron Masingale.
He is survived by his daughter, Debra K. (Steve Seamon) Cunningham of Benton, sister, Wanda Whitson of Paris, Arkansas, grandchildren, Dustin John Cunningham, Michelle Alise Cunningham and Kyle David Masingale, great granddaughter, Bella Grace Cunningham; a host of nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 8th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Ashby Funeral Home.
A memorial service will be held at Ashby Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 9th at 2:00 p.m. with Bro. Jason Tallent officiating.
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Elijah’s Place at Mt. Carmel in Benton for their wonderful care and compassion for over three years and special thanks to Ray and Barbara Youngman for their endless help.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Elijah’s Place, Mt Carmel, Benton, Arkansas.
Online guestbook at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com
Pamela Jean Bengtson, 62, of Bryant, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 5, 2022 after a courageous fight with cancer.
She was born on December 26, 1959 to Billy Don and Pauline Owens in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was the youngest and she would jokingly tell you, the tallest, of three very close sisters.
Pam was preceded in death by her parents as well as her father-in-law, Virgil Bengtson. There is no doubt she was elated to be with her loved ones again.
She is survived by her loving husband of many years, Greg Bengtson of Bryant; son, Adrian Bengtson (Sheri) of Haskell; daughter, Amber McNeil (Wade) of Haskell; sisters, Brenda Russenberger (Mark) of Hot Springs and Becky Scarborough (Alan) of Lake Village; grandchildren, Lexie Bengtson of Cherokee Village, Justin and Austin Francis of Haskell, Raine Bengtson of Haskell, Laynie Bengtson of Haskell, Rhett McNeil of Haskell, and Rebecca and Sydney Burnett of Little Rock; niece, Vanessa Henjum (Jim) of Austin, Arkansas; nephew, Keith Scarborough of Lake Village; great-niece, Georgianna Pieroni of Jonesboro; great-nephews, Dakota Pieroni of Jonesboro and Ezra Scarborough of Lake Village; and a very special mother-in-law and friend, Peggy Bengtson. Pam leaves behind many friends and extended family members to cherish her memory. Once you met her, you had a forever friend.
Pam was the office manager for Hugh Burnett, DDS for over 20 years. She and “Doc” had a special bond. She loved his family like her own and was known as “Momma” to everyone in the office. Her hugs and cheerful “Hey baby, what you doing?” will forever be missed by anyone who passes her office. Her family would like to thank Dr. Hugh and Dr. Suzanne Burnett for their kindness & generosity and the continued love & support her work family has shown to them.
She loved reading her Bible, listening to music, her family, her friends (who were treated as family), a good glass of Pinot, Italian food, and riding horses. Her favorite place to visit was Destin, Florida, where she visited nearly every summer for the past 25 years. Pam will most likely be found in Heaven on a beach riding a horse or talking to the Apostle Paul. He’s the person she was most interested to have a conversation with once she reached her Heavenly home.
To know her was to love her, and she never let you leave without a hug and telling you she loved you. She was fiercely loyal, sassy, and had a heart of gold. There will truly never be another like her.
Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 10 at Ashby Funeral Home.
Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 11 at Ashby Funeral Home.
Fredi Brown, 81, of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas passed away March 2, 2022. She was born June 9, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York to the late Sam and Doris (Treason) Goldman.
Fredi loved her family with all her heart. She enjoyed cooking and was a wonderful baker. Fredi made the best banana bread ever! Vacations at the beach were her favorite.
Preceding Fredi in death are her husband, Bennie Brown; son, Steve Kauffman; parents, Sam and Doris Goldman; brother, Alan Goldman; and cousin, Donna Neville.
Fredi leaves behind to cherish her memory three daughters: Kat Mock and husband Steve of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, Stephanie Wright and husband Bob of Corpus Christie, Texas, and Andee Kauffman of Memphis, Tennessee; three granddaughters: Heather Blackledge, Jessica Poe and husband Justin, and Kendall Risinger; three great-grandchildren: Savanah, Aviana, and Kylin; best friend, Marilyn Blumbeks of Memphis, Tennessee; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who love Fredi and will miss her always.
Memorials may be made to the Arkansas Alzheimer’s Foundation.
Arrangements are entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
Iris C. Simonis, 77, of Bryant, Arkansas passed away March 2, 2022. She was born July 14, 1944 in Bloomington, Indiana to the late Carol and Jackie Bastine.
Iris received her Master’s Degree in Nursing. She served as the CEO at several hospitals including Houston Medical Center. She may have been small in statue, but she was a “pistol”! She was a very special lady who adored her family and serving others. Iris was loved by all her family, coworkers, and friends.
Celebration of Iris’ life will be held in Texas by her family.
Arrangements entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
Dannie Rae Johnson, 79, of Mabelvale, Arkansas passed away on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. He was born to the late, Archie and Alene Johnson, on Monday, June 22, 1942, in Clarksville, Arkansas. Dan loved staying at home being a big couch potato and messing with the computer, but he loved his family and his dog, Lucky, so much more! He was so accomplished in life. In his earlier years, he proudly served in the U.S Air Force and later on worked for Arkla Gas. He also flew model airplanes for a while. Dan loved motorcycles, antique cars, the Arkansas Razorbacks, and fishing. Dan created a wonderful life with his loving wife of 48 years, Wanda Johnson.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda Johnson; three loving children, Danise Johnson, Joseph Johnson, and Charla Bland; five grandchildren, Jeremy Johnson, Casey Monroe, Jennifer Monroe, Annika Johnson, and Daniel Bland; six great grandchildren; one brother, Ronnie Johnson; along with numerous other family and friends who all love him and will miss him greatly.
Dan’s visitation will be held on Monday, March 7, 2022, from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Dial and Dudley Funeral Home. His graveside service will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at 12:00 P.M. at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery 1501 W Maryland Ave, North Little Rock, AR 72120.
Online guestbook: www.dialanddudleyfuneralhome.com.