Dorothy Dell Ray
SPRINGDALE — Dorothy Dell Ray, 77, passed peacefully at the Circle of Life in Springdale on Nov. 22, 2009. She was born March 18, 1932, in El Paso, Texas, to Arch and Della Watkins.
Survivors include daughter Brenda (Cordes) Mars of Rogers, Ark., son Carl Cordes of Orlando, Fla., sister Hazel Gragg of Prairie Grove, Ark., sister Lois Morgan of Shreveport, La., two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
No services are planned and cremation arrangements are by Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale. Donations may be sent in her memory to Circle of Life, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, 72762.
To sign the guestbook online, please visit www.siscofuneral.com.
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E. Walter LeFevre
SPRINGDALE — Dr. E. Walter LeFevre, 77, of Springdale died Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, at Northwest Arkansas Medical Center.
He was born July 29, 1932, in Eden, Texas, to E.W. Sr. and Hazie D. LeFevre. Dr. LeFevre graduated from Eden High School in Eden, Texas. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University. He served in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant in Field Artillery during the Korean Conflict.
Walt LeFevre set the standard for all engineers to emulate in his lifelong service to the engineering profession. He was the Past National President of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), Past National Vice President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), former Dean and Civil Engineering Department Head as well as a faculty member for more than 40 years at the University of Arkansas, member of the National Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), a delegate to the World Federation of Engineering Organizations and U.S. member of many other delegations to various foreign countries. Additionally he is a member of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), and is a Past President of the Arkansas State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. He has presented engineering papers worldwide and been a consultant to a number of countries. He also found time to serve his community as a Past President of Rotary, Past District Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America and many other organizations. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Member, their most prestigious award, of ASCE for his lifetime of hard work for the engineering profession. Walt also served for more than 35 years as Senior Vice President of ESI, an engineering firm, in Springdale.
In 1981, Walt founded the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering (AACE), which has provided hundreds of scholarships for Civil Engineering students and support to the department. Through this example, other engineering departments within the College of Engineering have followed the formation of engineering academies.
In 1992, Walt, with the assistance of Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt, established the Mack Blackwell National Rural Transportation Study Center (MBTC) and served as its Director for several years. MBTC, which is still going strong, has completed over 150 studies on transportation issues benefitting rural America.
As a professor for over 45 years, he molded the lives of thousands of superb practicing engineers. He is held in the highest esteem by all who have benefited from his professorship. Walt LeFevre is regarded by the national engineering community as the backbone of engineering ethics. He helped produce two films and ethics courses, which are used nationally by businesses as well as universities. Additionally he wrote over 200 refereed publications for the engineering industry. His national awards are too numerous to mention, but include Distinguished Service Awards from the American Society of Engineering Education, ASCE, NSPE, NCEES, AAES, Boy Scouts of America and a number of other engineering societies. He was recognized for his service at the University of Arkansas in 1971 by its highest distinction, “University Professor.”
Among all of his accomplishments he was also a kind, gentle-hearted, compassionate gentleman, a very dear friend and will be missed very much by his colleagues and friends. The engineering profession has lost a great leader who has given his entire life to the advancement of the profession.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Joyce LeFevre; two daughters, Terry Watson and her husband, Tom, of Denver, Charmaine Stuteville and her husband, Eric, of Durant, Okla.; two sons, George LeFevre and his wife, Young Soon, of Clarksville, Tenn., and John LeFevre and his wife, Angie, of Houston; nine grandchildren and spouses: Sarah and Mike Hayward, John and Kara Watson, Michelle Pierce, Robert and Tiffany Pierce, Jackson Stuteville, Amanda LeFevre, Chris LeFevre, Austin LeFevre and Zach LeFevre; and one great-grandson, Will Hayward.
The Memorial Service will be Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Springdale with the Rev. Judy VanHoose officiating.
Visitation will be Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Sisco Funeral Chapel in Springdale.
Honorary pallbearers will be the University of Arkansas Civil Engineering Department, the Rotary Club of Springdale and the Springdale Planning Commission.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund, American Diabetes Association, First United Methodist Church of Springdale, 206 W. Johnson Ave., Springdale, 72764 or any library.
To sign the guestbook online, please visit www.siscofuneral.com.
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Dale H. Jefferson
BENTONVILLE — Lifelong Bentonville resident, Dale H. Jefferson, died Nov. 16th, 2009. He was 94. Born Oct. 28th, 1915, to James Harvey and Vivian Davis Jefferson.
He is survived by a brother, Ray Jefferson of Bentonville, a sister, Ruth Ann Back of Springville, Tenn. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Bonnie Lawson Jefferson in 2005, by a brother, Joe Jefferson, and sisters Nannie Mae Williamson and Emma Lou Corrale.
Dale’s three priorities were his church, his family, and his country. Although Dale and Bonnie had no children of their own, they “adopted” literally hundreds of other children by financially supporting more than 25 charities and helping family members with their education.
Dale was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, where he served in Burma with the 51st Fighter Group, home to the famous “Flying Tigers” of the 26th Fighter Squadron, flying supplies over the “Hump” to solders in the field. When he left the Army, he continued his love and support for fellow soldiers through the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. For many years, on Memorial Day he delivered flags to graves of veterans all over Benton County.
Dale and Bonnie loved to spend time with family and friends at their cabin on Beaver Lake. Dale’s fried fish and BBQ ribs were excellent, as were his charcoaled steaks. Food was surpassed only by his legendary pulling up to seven skiers at a time; using an outboard motor he jokingly labeled 35 horsepower! He and Bonnie traveled extensively, to all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico. In the ’40s and ’50s, fishing on White River for catfish was a great pastime.
From 1949-1956, Dale served as Benton County Circuit Clerk, an elective office. Then, for almost 30 years, he was a field auditor for the State of Arkansas. He even served as a volunteer deputy sheriff for Benton County.
Funeral services were held Nov. 19th, 2009, at the First Christian Church of Bentonville, with the Rev. Don Morrow and the Rev. Loy Hoskins officiating. Burial was next to Bonnie in Benton County Memorial Park.
Memorials in Dale’s honor may be sent to the First Christian Church of Bentonville, 807 S.E. 14th St., Bentonville, 72712. Please designate for the Summer Youth Camps, one of his favorite children’s ministries.
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Eva Marie Fox
BENTONVILLE — Eva Marie Fox, 45, of Bentonville, Ark., died Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, at her home in Bentonville. She was born on Aug. 24, 1964, in Phoenix, Ariz., to Joseph Fabits and Marilyn Christian Fabits.
She was raised and educated in Arizona and Michigan. Eva married Philip Fox on Jan. 20, 1984, in Michigan. They moved to Bentonville, Ark., in 2003. She enjoyed bowling, golf and making jewelry. She was a Licensed Anger Management Counselor.
She is survived by her husband, Philip Fox of Bentonville, Ark.; her parents, Joseph and Marilyn Fabits of Bentonville, Ark.; one son, Philip Ryan Fox of Bentonville, Ark.; two brothers, Timothy Fabits and Melissa of Phoenix, Ariz., and Steven Fabits of Brighton, Mich.
No services are planned. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Ark.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Joan Dahl, 1 Burghead Lane, Bella Vista, 72714, or to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 6350 N. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309.
Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.
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Billy ‘Bill’ Clark Woolford
BELLA VISTA — Billy “Bill” Clark Woolford, age 82, of Bella Vista, Ark., passed away on Nov. 21 in Bella Vista. He was born Aug. 7, 1927, in Koshkonong, Mo., and graduated from high school there.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WW II. Later he graduated from Chicago Industrial Institute. He went to Springfield, Mo., as a draftsman in an engineering office.
While working there, he met his future wife, Barbara Jenkins. They were married Aug. 8, 1951. In Feb. 1951 he joined the Railway Mail Service out of Kansas City, Mo., and in 1968 transferred to the Raytown, Mo., Post Office. He retired from there in 1982 and moved to Bella Vista, Ark., in 1983.
While in Bella Vista, he was a member of the Community Church, and member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He volunteered at various places in the area including Helping Hands store, Pea Ridge National Military Park, Recycling Center, the Peel Mansion and drove Crime Watch for twelve years. He was employed part time for 19 years at Don’s Stateline Store.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara; two daughters Terrie (Barry) Sanders of Blue Springs, Mo., Karen (Murphy) Givens of Corpus Christi, Texas; a sister Dorothy Ellis of Thayer, Mo.; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and six nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 24th, at 2 p.m. at The Community Church in Bella Vista, Ark. Services will also be held on Wednesday, Nov. 25th, at 2 p.m. at Floral Hills Chapel in Kansas City, Mo. Interment will follow in Floral Hills Cemetery. A visitation will be held prior to the funeral services from 1 until 2 p.m. Memorials may be made to The American Cancer Society. Local arrangements are under the directions of Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Bentonville.
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John Onie Smith
SILOAM SPRINGS — John “Buck” Onie Smith, 77, of Siloam Springs died Nov. 20, 2009, at his home. He was born Dec. 25, 1931, in Summers to Earl William and Zylpha Augustine Gardisser Smith.
He served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as an air traffic controller for Tulsa International Airport, and owned and operated Smith Service Co.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Ordeania; a son, John Dean Smith of Bartlesville, Okla.; a daughter, Adara Lynn Rich and her husband, Dalton, of Siloam Springs; two sisters, including Jenece Baker of Siloam Springs; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services are 10 a.m. today at Wasson Memorial Chapel in Siloam Springs. Burial will follow in Wedington Cemetery.
Farley Jack Pouland
SILOAM SPRINGS — Farley Jack Pouland, 53, of Bethel Heights died Nov. 21, 2009, at Circle of Life in Springdale. He was born Jan. 28, 1956, in Wichita, Kan., to Jack and Flo Knopik Pouland.
He was a member of Springdale Adventist Fellowship and a musician.
Survivors include his wife, Shelly; his parents; a daughter, Kathy Michelle Overstreet of Memphis, Tenn.; two brothers; and a granddaughter.
Services are 4 p.m. today at Springdale Adventist Fellowship.
Graveside services are at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Resurrection Cemetery in Oklahoma City.
Luney Cleveland Pack
SILOAM SPRINGS — Luney Cleveland Pack, 66, of Siloam Springs died Nov. 21, 2009, at the Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. He was born Jan. 6, 1942, in Pea Vine, Okla., to Sherman Luney and Flora Thomas Cooper.
He was a retired truck driver and of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include three sons, Jody Pack of Westville, Okla., Jerry Pack of Gentry and Mark Pack of Siloam Springs; three daughters, Lee Ann Sawyers of Shattuck, Okla., Ronda Cannon of Watts, Okla., and Sheila Dolen of Perkins, Okla.; two brothers, Oscar Thomas and Jerry Thomas, both of Siloam Springs; two sisters, including Nellie Dozier of Siloam Springs; 21 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Chapel in Siloam Springs.
Services are at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.