Dr. Curtis Jones, Jr. 98 of Benton, passed away on August 7, 2022 peacefully in his home. He was born on December 3, 1923 in Little Rock to Dr. Curtis Jones, Sr. and Rosina Jones. Dr. Jones graduated from Tulane Medical School in 1949 and came back to Benton to practice medicine with his father and brother, Dr. Robert Jones. He was on the committee that started Saline Memorial Hospital. Dr. Jones retired in 1988 after 39 years and just enjoyed living at his farm in Alexander with his wife until she passed away four years ago.
Dr. Jones was preceded in death by the love of his life, Anita Sanders Jones, son, Whitney Jones, grandson, Todd Jones and his two younger brothers, Dr. Robert Jones and Dr. William Jones.
He is survived by his daughter, Emilia (Fred) Chastain, son, Kurt Jones, granddaughter, Michelle (Brian) Ettehad, grandson, Fulmer Jones, granddaughter, Amy (Tommy) Allen, great grandchildren, Charlotte Ettehad, Jackson Ettehad, William Ettehad, Erin Allen, Conner Allen, Ayden Jones, daughter in law, Mary Jones and two great great grandchildren.
A special thank you to Rosy, Curly, Gary, and Sandra for all you did for my parents over the years.
Online guestbook at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com
Hazel Thomas, 79 of Benton, passed away on August 15, 2022. She was born on November 19, 1942 in Osceola, Arkansas to the late Elton S. and Myrtle Mae Oatsvall Fox.
Hazel loved working with flowers, gardening, feeding the birds and just all around animal lover and being outdoors. She had a big heart and would give the shirt off her back for all of her girls. Hazel loved going to flea markets and out to lunch with her twin sister, Helen and just being together.
Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Elber Joe Thomas and sister, Margie M. Leet.
She is survived by her daughters, Lana Jo (Rickey) Smith, Patricia Diane (Bruce) Moseley, Debra Kay Veuleman and Janet Leigh (Mark) Crockett, twin sister, Helen Turner and five grandchildren; eight great grandchildren, one great great grandchild.
Chapel services by Ashby Funeral Home will be 1:30 p.m. on August 19th with Bro. Kim Hammer officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery.
Visitation will be at Ashbys, Thursday, 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Online guestbook at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com
Judith Ann Brisby, age 79 of Benton passed away on Tuesday August 16, 2022. She was born May 9, 1943 in Bauxite. Judith was a member of First United Methodist Church in Benton. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Marian Aiken Brisby.
Survivors include her best friend and caregiver Gina Dial Foree and husband Don, Benton.
Graveside services will be 1:00 PM Monday, August 22, 2022 at Rosemont Cemetery in Benton.
Jay Patrick Henson II, 35 of Little Rock, passed away on August 14, 2022. He was born on December 15, 1986 in Charleston, South Carolina to Jay Henson and Kimberly Smith Henson.
Jay leaves to cherish his memory, daughter, Harley Evolette Henson and his fiance’, Suzette Marie Foraker, mother, Kimberly Smith Henson (George, Jr.) Donaldson of Clearwater, Florida and sister, Kari Rene’ Henson of Florida; father, Jay Patrick Henson of Little Rock.
A drop in celebration of life will take place on Saturday, August 20th at his Uncle Jon’s house for family and friends.
Jay will always be in our hearts and loved by all that knew him
Cynthia Jean (Cindy) McLaughlin, 73, of the Sardis Community in Saline County, shed her earthly body and went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 12, 2022, at Baptist Health in Little Rock. Cindy was born to James and Dorothy Shipe McLaughlin on June 16, 1949, in Little Rock.
Cindy graduated from Central High School in 1967 and went on to be a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) before changing career paths and going to work for H. J. Baker, an international animal nutrition distributer, as a dispatcher where she worked until she retired.
Cindy enjoyed riding horses in her younger days and loved animals of most any kind. There was always a dog in the house and cats could be found going in and out. When Cindy relocated to Little Rock in the last years of her life, she left behind a family of racoons that nightly showed up on her front steps to be fed.
Cindy was very close to her family who she loved so much. The family gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as other times with the aunts and uncles and cousins were always occasions for laughter and teasing. She loved telling one of her favorite cousins to “ SHUT UP!”
She was preceded in death by her parents. Cindy leaves behind a brother, Greg McLaughlin (Cecile Knight) of Sardis, a host of cousins and a very spoiled long-haired dachshund named Maddie.
A special thanks to the staff at Baptist Health Hospice for their love and care and her cousin Pam Kelley whose frequent visits Cindy looked forward to because there was usually a continuous supply of doughnut holes, French fries and chocolate milkshakes involved.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 16, from 4:00- 6:00 PM at Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Graveside service will be Wednesday, August 17 at 10:00 AM at McPherson Cemetery.
Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
Mr. Jack Loyd Melton, age 70, of Alexander, Arkansas passed away on Friday, August 12, 2022. Jack was blessed with a loving family. He married his best friend, Debbie, and loved her faithfully for 47 years. They raised 3 children, Melissa Sutton (Matthew Sutton), James Melton (Lachasita Melton), and Teresa Cole (Chad Cole). He is also survived by two brothers, Scott Melton (Tony Melton), Rod Melton (Angie Cude) and a sister, Lisa Melton (Craig Vulgamore), and his 9 grandchildren, Quinton, Jordan and Teagan Marks, Graham Sutton, Jonas, Braylen and Rafe Melton, and Carson and Adalynn Cole, along with numerous friends and family members.
Jack was born January 20, 1952 in Batesville, AR. He was proceeded in death by his father, Henry Loyd Melton (Virginia Melton), his mother and stepfather, Marilynn and Wilbur Chaney, a brother, Kevin Howard Melton, and a son-in-law, Kenneth Marks. He was a loving husband, father and friend, a devout Christian, and a proud Veteran. He was a retired cross-country truck driver who was proud of his several million miles of safe driving awards. While he enjoyed playing cards, working in his shop, reading, NASCAR, and hunting and fishing, his very favorite thing was being a Papa! He loved talking about baseball and other sports with his grandkids, watching them play and participate in activities, fishing, working in the shop, and teaching them all the things he knew. Above all, he just loved being their best friend.
A celebration of his life will be held Sunday, August 21 from 3-5 p.m. at Smith Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe, AR, followed by a graveside service at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Bauxite, AR.
Arrangements entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook:www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
Jack Bloxom, of Conway, age 90, passed from this life on August 14, 2022 in Benton, Arkansas. Born November 12, 1931 in Normangee, Texas, Jack was the youngest of Monroe and Amy Bloxom’s six children. As a high school student Jack felt called to vocational ministry. After high school he attended Jacksonville (Tx) Baptist College, where he met his best friend for life Jimmy Henry and fell in love and married Mary Jane (Janie) Strong in 1953. Together Jack and Janie raised two sons, Andy and Clay. Jack always said he wanted a house full of kids, he just didn’t know how full two could make a house.
In addition to his parents, Jack is proceeded in death by his wife and all his siblings and their spouses. Jack is survived by his two sons, Andy (Glenda) of Benton and Clay (Cindy) of Merritt Island, Florida; grandchildren, Ashley (Hadyn) Thomas, Bridget Bloxom, Candee Bloxom, Paul (Kristy) Sutherland and Samantha (Juan) Escriva; great grandchildren, Dempsey, Ryker, Elora, Falynn, Ryleah, Xiarah and Noah and a large extended family of both the Bloxom and Strong linage.
Jack served as a pastor of Baptist churches in both Texas and Arkansas for the majority of six decades, including Central Baptist Church in Conway and Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Wooster. He also enjoyed years of service with Dale Carnegie, organizing and teaching classes and later he worked for Citizens Fidelity Insurance associated with Roller Funeral Homes, until he finally retired at the age of 83. He made lifelong friends at every stop during his career. Most importantly he leaves behind a legacy of faith, hope and assurance for his family.
Visitation will be held Friday, August 19th at Roller Alcoa Funeral Home in Benton from 10:00am to 12:00pm. A brief service will be conducted by Rev. Jimmy Henry at the Gazebo at Pinecrest Memorial Park at 1:00pm, followed by interment.
The family would like to thank the kind folks at Mt. Carmel Elijah’s Place and Heartland Nursing for their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial gift to the Maggie Chandler Endowed Scholarship Fund, at Central Baptist College, 1501 College Avenue, Conway AR 72034.
Michael Lynn Creswell, 65, of Mabelvale, Arkansas passed away on Sunday, August 14, 2022. He was born to the late, William and Jenny (Newman) Creswell, on Friday, October 19, 1956, in Denison, Texas. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and really anything outdoors. Michael was very active in his grandson’s baseball games.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his three loving children, Travis Webb (Samantha), Latasha Salyers, and Tiffanie Loetscher (Charles); eight grandchildren, Aaliyah, JR, Peyton, Boone, Tristian, Dylan, Onyxx, and Jax; life partner, Twila Webb; one brother, Scott Creswell; one sister, Debra Creswell; along with a host of other family and friends who all love him and will miss him dearly.
A memorial visitation will be held on Monday, August 22, 2022, from 6:30-7:30 P.M. at Dial and Dudley Funeral Home.
Services provided by Dial and Dudley Funeral Home.