Benton County Obituaries

John Monroe Sears

ROGERS — John Monroe Sears, 98, of Rogers, died Dec. 21, 2009, in Rogers.

He was born Oct. 17, 1911, in Scott City, Kan., to the late Rosie Belle Manners and Henry William Wilson Sears.

John retired from Cessna Aircraft where he was a cost estimator. He enjoyed working on cars and will be remembered by his family and friends as a patient and kind man.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Ruth Gay Purvis Sears; two daughters, Linda Matthews and husband, Mike, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Ramona Foth and husband, Cliff, of Rogers; eight grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; thirty-three great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Rollins Funeral Home.

Cremation arrangements were under the direction of Rollins Funeral Home. Condolences may be offered at rollinsfuneral.com.

— Paid

Joey Arnold Vantine

ROGERS — Joey Arnold Vantine, 60, of Rogers, passed away from this life on Dec. 22, 2009. He attended Southside Church of Christ of Rogers and had previously attended First Baptist Church of Rogers.

He was born on July 1, 1949, at Fort Bragg, N.C. In 1961, after living in a variety of places throughout the U.S., his family called Lowell home when his father retired from the U.S. Army.

He married Donna Carole Miller on Feb. 28, 1968, and moved to Rogers then later Little Flock, where they’ve lived for the past 30 plus years.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jack K. Vantine; and a brother, Kenneth “Konrad” Vantine.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Carole Miller Vantine of the home; a son, Gregory Miller and wife Stephanie Vantine of Bentonville; a daughter, Joey Denise and husband Joey Gall of Rogers; his mother, Melva Jo Tidwell Vantine of Rogers; two brothers, N.R. “Rocky” Vantine of Rogers and Bruce Anthony and wife Julie Vantine of Kansas City, Mo.; a sister, Jacqueline “Kay” and husband Darrell Roller of Pea Ridge; nine grandchildren: Cole Donaven, Kennedy Makenna and Landon Gage Vantine; Douglas “Joe” Blake and Brooke Ashlee Huston; Ryan Joseph, Zachary Thomas, Katherine Anne, and Tyler James Gall; many extended family members and countless friends.

Joey enjoyed being outdoors, whether it was hunting or fishing with family and friends, working in the yard and garden with his wife, building things in his shop with his grandchildren, plumbing alongside his son, or working on the river house property with his brother. He appreciated the beauty of nature and enjoyed the simplest things in life. He could create a masterpiece out of nothing, fix anything that was broken, or design a plan from scratch.

All who had the privilege of knowing him loved and respected him and only had kind words to say. Joey was a hard worker and put 100 percent into anything he did. He spent 26 years as a volunteer with the RFD where he served alongside his father-in-law, Fate Miller; his son, Greg Vantine; and many lifelong friends. He started Vantine Plumbing in 1978 where the phrase, “In this business, a flush beats a full house” quickly caught on. He was fair, honest, and well respected. He always had a smile on his face and a story to tell. His customers soon became friends he kept throughout the years.

He passed away doing what he loved the most … working with his hands. He will be greatly missed.

A memorial service to honor his life will be held at the Southside Church of Christ in Rogers at 2 p.m. Saturday with Jackie Chesnutt and Rev. Ben Rowell officiating.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to the Arkansas Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. Condolences may be offered at rollinsfuneral.com.

— Paid

Jean Ann Pogue

BENTONVILLE — Jean Ann Pogue, 75, of Bentonville, died Dec. 22, 2009, at Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville,. She was born July 11, 1934, in Chicago to Fred Max Sparrer and Mable A. Jeffers Sparrer.

She was raised and educated in Chicago and attended college at the University of Arkansas. Jean married William R. Pogue on Sept. 1, 1979, in Fayetteville. She helped her husband writing books. She learned to fly at age 60. Jean also had a great love of arts and crafts. She was a member of the Bella Vista Community Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and one sister, Joan.

She is survived by her husband, William R. Pogue of Bentonville; four sons, Bruce E. Baird of Bella Vista, Steven F. Baird of Bella Vista, Douglas H. Baird and wife, Judy, of Springdale, Grant H. Baird and wife, Janice, of Bella Vista; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Bella Vista Community Church, 75 E. Lancashire Blvd. with Dr. Thad Moore officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Benton County Women’s Shelter, P.O. Box 1059, Rogers, AR 72757.

Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.

— Paid

Walter Lee Kreeger

ROGERS — Walter Lee Kreeger, 65, of Rogers, died Dec. 23, 2009, at his home.

He was born June 8, 1944, in Radom, Poland, to the late Margaret and Oscar Kreeger.

He retired from the U.S. military, serving in Vietnam. He was a German language professor at the University of Arkansas for many years and also taught horseshoeing at Northwest Technical Institute. He was a member of the Beaver Lake Power Squadron and the Beaver Lake Sailing Club.

He is survived by his wife, Karen Kreeger of the home; one son, Kevin Kreeger of Allentown, Pa.; two daughters, Carrie Rodriguez of Stockton, Calif., and Kimberly Kreeger of Rogers; two brothers, Wit Kreeger of Huntington Beach, Calif., and John Kreeger of Cambridge, Mass.; one sister, Heidi Rousey of Acampo, Calif. He is also survived by six grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held.

Arrangements by Rollins Funeral Home. Condolences may be offered at rollinsfuneral.com.

— Paid

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