HOW WE SEE IT: Our Fondest Farewells And Deepest Respects

The year’s ending gives us all a chance to take stock of the changes in our lives during the last 12 months. Of course, it would be great to say they were all good changes, but that’s not the way life works.

As our region wraps up another year for which we are grateful, there is much to be thankful for, including the lives of those for whom 2012 was their final year on this earth.

We mourn their loss whether they were old or young. For those who lived full lives, we understand that death comes to all and appreciate their positive contributions while they were here.

For the young, well, our hearts simply break every time we think about their passing and the lost potential. Some gained notoriety by committing illegal acts. We pray they got their lives together before the end came.

Whether it was a longtime educator like Fayetteville’s Feriba McNair dying at 90 or a 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman, who met a heartrending violent death, we mark the value of their lives today and express our deepest condolences to their loved ones and all who knew them.

As with any attempt to list, we are certain there will be someone not listed who others believe should be. We pay our respects to all and mean no harm. But we want to pay homage to a few and encourage remembrance of all those who have left us in 2012. Among them were:

Bill Conrow, a longtime Woodland Junior High School teacher, coach, volunteer (Jan. 4)

Grace Fields Hill, 96, a longtime Rogers educator and literacy advocate (Jan. 30)

Charlie Spoonhour, 72, Rogers High graduate and successful NCAA basketball coach (Feb. 1)

Lloyd Reid George, 85, longtime state legislator from Yell County (Feb. 25)

Jack Moser, 80, former Walmart executive and a founder of Champions Golf & Country Club (March 3)

Charles Sanders, 92, former owner of Springdale News (March 10)

Feriba McNair, 90, teacher, first woman elected to Fayetteville School Board, namesake of McNair Middle School (March 15)

Jane Krutz, 86, “the first lady of public television” (March 25)

Tom Glaze, 74, former Arkansas Supreme Court justice (March 30)

Levon Helm, 71, member of The Band (April 19)

Barbara Roberts, a Rogers businesswoman known for her involvement in the community (April 25)

Larry Daniel, 58, Rogers alderman for more than 10 years (April 30)

Joe Landers, longtime Lowell police chief (May 4)

H.G. “Jack” Frost Sr., 80, trusted adviser and friend to Harvey and Bernice Jones of Springdale, whose fraudulent dealings with the Jones Charitable Trust led to his 1999 conviction on 69 fraud charges. He was released from federal prison in 2007.

Oren Paris II, 76, founder of Ecclesia College in Springdale (June 21)

George DeGroot, 79, longtime Bella Vista Property Owners Association member (July 17)

George Robert Cole Jr., 76, longtime Northwest Arkansas doctor who delivered thousands of babies (July 19)

Gary Combs, 59, Northwest Arkansas real estate developer (Aug. 11)

Helen Gurley Brown, 90, Cosmopolitan magazine chief and Arkansas native (Aug. 13)

Harry Vandergriff, 93, a teacher, FHS football coach and Fayetteville school superintendent, namesake of Vandergriff Elementary School (Aug.

29)

Matt Turner, 32, former KNWA anchor (Oct. 6)

Bill Simmons, 71, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette political editor (Oct. 29)

Jersey Bridgeman, 6, Bentonville girl (Nov. 20)

Godspeed to all.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 12/31/2012

Upcoming Events