James Michael Bush, age 79, of Bryant, passed away Saturday, July 9, 2022. He was born January 12, 1943 in Kansas City, Missouri. James was a printer and of the Catholic Faith.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Maxine Bush; two daughters, Carmen Glenn and Theresa Bush; brother, Donald Bush; and a sister, Cindy Bush.
James is survived by one sister, Susie Bush and one granddaughter, Hillary Bell.
Private memorial services will be held at a later date.
Paul Weslie Tucker, age 75, of Mabelvale, passed away Sunday, July 10, 2022. He was born May 4, 1947 in Haskell, Arkansas. Paul was a U. S. Army Veteran and a heavy equipment operator.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Dorothy Brown Tucker; wife, LaDonna Tucker; and four sisters, Opal Dixon, Margaret Dixon, Susie Buck, and Shirley Rookard.
Paul is survived by his son, Jason Johnson; daughter, Amanda Knight; brother, Jackie Tucker; sister, Betty Dixon; three grandchildren, Alisha Knight, Destiny Jolly, & Randall Knight Jr.; and his special family, Charlene Mercer and children Devyn Jolly, Cheyanne Wood, & Rowdy Gentry.
Visitation will be 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 14 at Ashby Funeral Home with services beginning at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Mt. Harmony Cemetery.
Leassie Carolet Isom, 64, of Benton, received her wings July 11, 2022. She was born Aug. 12th, 1958 in Benton, Arkansas to Rogie and Pat Garrett.
Leassie was a 1976 graduate from Paron High School. She married her one and only love, Eddie, of 45 years.
Leassie worked at Coors Tech for 19 years. Her most favorite job was working hand in hand with her dad on the farm tending to the cows and helping in the garden. Leassie was her dad’s right-hand girl and she cherished that with all her heart.
Leassie loved her whole family so so much. Her and her mother had a Special bond. Always there for one another. Leassie also had a special kind of love for her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. She spent endless days with them. They had her heart like no other.
Leassie is preceded in death by her grandparents, Virgil and Edna Taylor, Dewey and Susie Garrett. Her dad and stepmother, Rogie and Lou Garrett, Sister, Patricia Garrett and Brothers, Rogie Dale (Ducky) and Gerald Garrett.
Leassie left behind her husband, Eddie, children, Chris and Natasha Isom of Benton. Grandkids, Garrett (Cory), Deven Sikes, Ann Isom and Heather Isom, Great Grandkids, Ariat Lane and Bohannon Isom and Blake Berg. Sister, Angela Pritchard (Dwayne) of Perry.
The world has lost a selfless soul, a joyful spirit, a compassionate animal-lover, a loving mom, wife, daughter, sister, and friend. Leassie will be forever missed by many.
Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 14 at Ashby Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 15 at Ashby Funeral Home.
On-line guest book at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.
Betty Jo Boone Adams, a lifelong resident of Bryant, Arkansas, passed away Monday, July 11, 2022, at the age of 91. She was born August 18, 1930 in Bryant, Arkansas. Betty worked her earlier years at Sterling Department Store in Benton, was a licensed beautician, and later retired from Teletype in Little Rock. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bryant, Arkansas.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Maudie Boone; her husband of 60 years, James E. “Cap” Adams; sister, Imogene Miller; and brothers, Bill Boone, Coyce Boone, and Curtis Boone.
She is survived by her daughter, Amanda Haley and husband Tom of Benton; son, Brian Adams and wife Kathy of Bryant; three grandchildren, Nathan Hopkins and wife Stephanie, Jessica Bursk and husband Eric, and John Haley; four great-grandchildren, Bliss Deylami and husband Amir, Jax Hopkins, Paisley Hopkins, and Avery Bursk; two great-great-grandchildren, Alexandria and Zamira Deylami; and many nieces & nephews.
Pallbearers will be Rick Carmichael, Jimmy Parson, Mark Boone, Wade Boone, Ward Boone, and Aaron Boone.
Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 15 at Ashby Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 16 at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Rev. Susan Ledbetter will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Breast Cancer, Leukemia Society, or Hospice Homecare of Arkansas.
Owen Dale Summerville, 70 of Benton, passed away on July 11, 2022. He was born on June 21, 1952 in Benton to the late Robert and Anna Childress Summerville.
Owen was a member of Temple Baptist Church in Haskell where he loved greeting people at the Church doors and handing out bulletins. He loved his Sunday school class and attending church services. Owen always had a smile for everyone he met.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Patti Ferguson Summerville of Haskell, sons, Tim Summerville and Jerod Summerville, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A Memorial service will be held on July 20th, Wednesday, at 2:00 p.m. at Ashby Funeral Home in Benton with Bro. Ivy Ellis officiating.
Online guestbook at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com
Amanda Jean Gray, 81, of Benton was called home to be with the Lord on Monday, July 11, 2022 after a three year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family.
She was preceded in death by her son, Matthew Brian Gray; her brothers, Doyle, Dorman, Neil, Dwight and Roger Meeks; her sister Jerry Davis; and her parents Luther and Leona Meeks.
Amanda is survived by her husband of 63 years, Phillip Don Gray; her son, Brett Gray; her two daughters, Kimberly Gray Lewis and Ashley Gray; her six grandchildren, Gray Lewis, Logan Lewis, Blakelee Martin (Sam), Baylor, Baker, and Blair Jane Gray, as well as many nieces and nephews whom she adored.
Amanda was born in Camden, Arkansas on July 19, 1940, becoming the youngest of 7 children. She graduated from Camden High School in 1958 and at age 19, joyfully married the love of her life, Phillip Don Gray. She and Don quickly began their family having their first two children, Brett and Kim, in Camden. They later moved to Little Rock where, 12 years later, their loving family grew again when Brian and Ashley were welcomed into the world.
Amanda enjoyed a lengthy career in the insurance business while raising her children and cherishing her life with Don.
Her favorite activities included camping trips with her family on Lake Ouachita as well as golf outings at the Ouachita Valley golf tournaments at the Camden Country Club. She relished the large family gatherings with the Meeks family in Camden. Amanda also enjoyed many years with her beloved bridge group starting when she was in her 20’s and continuing until her illness prevented her from doing so.
Amanda and Don were also blessed with a very close group of friends at Indian Springs Baptist Church where they enjoyed years of church activities and weekly dinners.
Amanda will be remembered by all as a beautiful, sweet, loving, sensitive wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. Many friends describe her as bringing such joy to everyone that knew her. She lived her daily life walking with Christ in everything she did.
She will be deeply missed for her natural beauty inside and out and her constant offering of a kind word to all that knew her.
Her family is most thankful for all the friends and family who have offered continual support during her lifetime and especially during her illness. A special thanks to Arkansas Hospice, staff and Kelle Mills, for their loving support and care throughout her illness.
Visitation will be held on July 18 th from 10-11 at Ashby’s Funeral Home followed by the Funeral service from 11-12.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Indian Springs Baptist Church.
Online guestbook at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com
Benson Ellison, 76, of Benton, Arkansas passed away July 12, 2022. Benson was born February 2, 1946 to the late Haskell Ellison and Louise (Smith) Ellison.
Benson joined the Air Force after high school and served four years. After he was discharged, he went to work with Entergy, where he worked for around 30 years. Benson enjoyed woodworking. He was a man of many self-taught skills, including working on Accutron watches.
Benson is preceded by his parents, Haskell and Louise Ellison; and sister, Bernice Hill.
Benson is survived by his wife of 35 years, Judy Ellison; son, Michael (Michelle) Ellison; grandchildren: Hope, Christopher, Regina, and Taylor; great-grandchildren, McKenzie and Braxton; brothers, Chuck (Marilyn) Ellison and Sidney Sumers (Kay); beloved fur-baby, Sami; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends that will all miss him dearly.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 19, 2022 from 12:00 – 12:45 PM with Rosary beginning at 12:45 PM, followed by the funeral service at 1:00 PM at Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Interment will be at New Rosemont Cemetery.
Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
Dennis Warren Pratt was born February 16,1947, in a log cabin in Doniphan, Missouri. He grew up in St Charles, Missouri. At the age of 19, he was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War in 1966. He served two years and was honorably discharged in 1968, receiving the good conduct medal and the National Defense Service medal. He met the love of his life, Brenda Nelson, in November of 1968 at the age of 21 and married just over 4 months later on April 4, 1969. In 1972, his life changed when he committed his life to Christ. On August 8, 1975, he became an ordained minister. He went on to achieve his bachelor’s degree while pastoring a church. He pastored two different churches before taking a break from the ministry to achieve his Master of Divinity, graduating in 1985. He then pastored his third church until 1988. Soon after, he attended Victory Fellowship and served as an Elder for 23 years. While serving Christ, he also worked as an independent insurance claims adjuster for a total of 28 years. He officially retired in 2018. Through the years Dennis and Brenda had 3 children, Clay, Leah, and Adam. After raising those 3, they raised a granddaughter, Victoria. He lived the rest of his life making and selling salsa (which he loved to do!) and loving his family. He LOVED his wife and family!!! Dennis and Brenda were married for 53 years.
Dennis is preceded by his parents, Lexie O. Pratt and Mildred Wilkerson Pratt and his brother, Donald W. Pratt.
He is survived by his loving wife, Brenda Pratt; two sons, Clayton and Adam Pratt; daughter, Leah Baldridge; eleven grandchildren, Zachary Pratt, Victoria Pratt, Jacob Pratt, Katheryn Baldridge, Sarah Pratt, Elizabeth Baldridge, Gavin Pratt, Hadley Pratt, Addison Nichols, Emily Baldridge, and Kingston Pratt; sister, Carolyn (Lee) Barger; along with a host of great grandchildren and friends who all love and will miss him dearly.
Celebration of life will be held on Thursday, August 11, 2022, at 6:00 P.M. at Dial and Dudley Funeral Home and the graveside service will be held on Friday, August 12, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.
Services provided by Dial and Dudley Funeral Home.