BENTON COUNTY OBITUARIES

Rawlene Marie Spear

BELLA VISTA — Rawlene Marie Spear, 63, of Bella Vista died Oct. 27, 2010, at her home. She was born June 8, 1947, in Gravette, to Rawl W. and Wanda Pearson Lundy. She was a school teacher, church secretary, office manager, bookkeeper and dorm mom.

Survivors include her husband, Dwight Spear; three sons, Roxton Spear and wife Diane of Shippensburg, Pa., Jeremy Spear and wife Ronda of Goodrich, Mich., and Shawn Spear of West Virginia; a brother, Frank M. Lundy of Gravette; and nine grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Bella Vista Funeral Home, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at First Church of the Nazarene, 4911 W. Pleasant Grove Road, Rogers.

Burial will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Hiwasse.

Betty Jo Kercheval

ROGERS — Betty Jo Kercheval, 82, of Rogers died Oct. 27, 2010, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. She was born Jan. 12, 1928, in Bruni, Texas, to Joseph B. and Edna Prescott Bryant. She loved animals.

Survivors include a son, Terry Williams and wife Rosina of Weatherford, Texas; a daughter, Nancy Nelson Kendrick and husband Mike of Lowell; a sister; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at Earlham Cemetery in Richmond, Ind., at a later date.

Cremation arrangements were by Stockdale Funeral Services of Rogers.

Sherry Marlene Bauser

SILOAM SPRINGS — Sherry Marlene Bauser, 59, of Siloam Springs died Oct. 26, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers. She was born Dec. 28, 1950, in Cleveland, Ohio, to James Wyatt and Katherine Etta Rogers Grimmer. She worked in wholesale sales and was involved in the Gentry Seventh-day Adventist prison ministry and youth group.

Survivors include her husband, Terry; five sons, George “Allen” Pate Jr. and wife Renee, Tommy Joe Bauser and wife Carri, and Terry L. Bauser, all of Oklahoma, James Wyatt Pate and wife Tara of Arkansas and A. John Brakebill and wife Susan of Missouri; two daughters, Kimberly Sue Kippling and husband Dan of Illinois, and Trisha Bauser of Oklahoma; a brother; three sisters; 21 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the Gentry Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs.

Rachel K. Johnson

Aug. 18, 1915-Oct. 25, 2010

BELLA VISTA — Rachel Mateel Knox Johnson, a longtime resident of the Bella Vista area, died Monday, Oct. 25, 2010, at The Pearl at Kruse Way in Lake Oswego, Ore.

She was born on Aug. 18, 1915, in Kansas City, Mo., and attended high school there with her sister, Margaret Knox.

She graduated from Washburn University, earning a bachelor’s degree in math. Rachel taught math in McLouth, Kan., and coached the girls basketball team for a few years. She met William Harrison of Topeka, Kan., and was married to him in 1940. William was an architect, and during their marriage, Rachel worked for Wichita State University in the Comptroller’s Office for 20 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William, in 1983.

Rachel was blessed to find another love, and married James Johnson in 1984, in Bella Vista, Ark. Rachel and Jim resided in Bella Vista for 21 years. She was an active member of the Bella Vista Community Church, a member of several civic and charitable organizations, and a huge supporter of Wichita State University. Rachel and Jim loved to travel the world and they were fortunate to visit many countries. Rachel loved to dance, read, play Scrabble and converse with people.

Rachel was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Johnson, in 2005; and her sister, Margaret Knox Johnson, in 2010.

Rachel was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Ellis of Lake Oswego, Ore.; stepdaughter and husband, Nancy and Joe Leake of Bella Vista, Ark.; grandson and wife, Steve and Donna Ellis of Seattle, Wash.; grandson and wife, Mark and Marcie Ellis of Kansas City, Kan.; great-grandchildren, Jessica, Merritt, Stevie, Addison and Sophia Ellis; her dear friend, Melba Soule of Bella Vista, Ark.; and many, many other friends.

Rachel’s funeral service will be a private gathering for immediate family in Lake Oswego, Ore.

The family suggests that memorial donations can be made in memory of Rachel Johnson to The Salvation Army, one of her favorite charities.

— Paid

Gertrude Petty

ROGERS — Gertrude Petty, 87, of Rogers died Oct. 27, 2010, at Northwest Arkansas Medical Center. She was born Nov. 8, 1921, in Chicago to Al and Mary Sebeczek.

Survivors include her husband, Leroy Petty; and two daughters, Beverly and Dianne Petty.

Private burial services will be held under the direction of Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers.

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