Obituaries

Elaine Virginia Burk Berner, a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away Nov. 12, 2012, at the Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. She was 87 years old.

Elaine was lively and engaged in life, often laughing and joking with friends until a stroke several weeks before her death.

She was devoted to her family and her greatest love was for her husband, Edward. He was her partner-in-life for nearly 67 years, until his death in February 2012, just nine months before hers.

Elaine was born July 13, 1925, on her family’s farm in Elm Springs, Ark., the daughter of Andy and Anna Bradley Burk.

She was the youngest of the Burks’ five children, two of whom died in early childhood. Of the children who lived to adulthood, her brother, Chester, and sister, Lois, were 16 and 13 years older, respectively. Elaine sometimes spoke of how the circumstances made her mother protective of her youngest child.

Elaine went to school in Elm Springs until moving on to Springdale High School, which she attended through 11th grade. She graduated from Cave Springs High School in 1943, newly-opened for her senior year.

Shortly after graduation, Elaine traveled to California by train to live with her sister and brother-in-law near Los Angeles. While in California, like other young women during World War II, she helped with the war effort by working in a defense factory.

Meanwhile, a young Navy man, also from Elm Springs, heard Elaine was living in Southern California and called her for a date. Edward Berner — who in his teens had worked for Elaine’s father on the farm — had long had a crush on lovely, red-headed Elaine. Ed had just returned from Guadalcanal and was completing his military service at the naval base in San Diego.

The two Arkansans were engaged just a few months later and they were married in San Diego City Hall on May 4, 1945.

Later that year, the newlyweds returned to Arkansas to start a family. While Ed farmed, drove a truck and eventually started his own carpet cleaning business, Elaine supported their family at home in Springdale. She was the main caregiver for the couple’s two boys, Ken and Richard, who fondly remember the hot breakfasts she prepared every morning before school. When Elaine became a grandmother, she cared for her granddaughter on a daily basis until she began kindergarten.

In 1971, Elaine went back to work outside the home, selling women’s clothing at The Boston Store in Fayetteville. A few years later she moved on to Dillard’s, where she worked for 13 years.

Throughout her life, Elaine enjoyed sewing, crocheting, quilting and other needlework. Until she started working in retail, she sewed many of her own clothes, as well as for her sons and granddaughters.

After retiring, the Berners lived in Fort Meyers, Fla., during the winter months. There Elaine loved taking a picnic to the beach and playing cards with friends. She also increased her production of quilts, afghans and other craft projects. The Berners enjoyed entertaining their friends in the retirement community, and relished visits to their Florida home by their sons and granddaughters.

At home in Springdale, Elaine and several childhood friends gathered for weekly card games. She also looked forward to the weekly ladies’ quilting group at Elm Springs United Methodist Church.

Elaine is survived by two sons, Ken Berner and his partner, Kim Neyman, of Fayetteville, and Richard Berner of Winder, Ga.; one granddaughter, Kristi Berner and her husband, Geoffrey Gloak, of Kinderhook, N.Y.; one great-granddaughter, Gemma Gloak; one niece, Janice Burk Mounger of Siloam Springs; four sisters-in-law, Pauline Wilson of Mesa, Ariz., Elsie Westerfield and Lois Berner of Little Rock, and Brenda Berner of Colorado; and one brother-in-law, Chester Berner and his wife, Jewel, of Rogers.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edward; one brother, Chester Burk of Siloam Springs; one sister, Lois Burk Moore of Gentry; and one granddaughter, Jenny Berner of Oakwood, Ga.

Family visitation will be Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Funeral home in Springdale.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale or the Elm Springs United Methodist Church Building Fund.

Atlee ‘Butch’ Daily

FAYETTEVILLE — Atlee “Butch” Daily, 91, of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, in Fayetteville. He was born March 25, 1921, in Pettigrew, Ark., to John Daily and Elva (Wall) Daily.

Mr. Daily was a retired crane operator working for Ozark Steel for 60 years, retiring at the age of 89. He was a generous man who loved his church, family and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Verna Daily.

He is survived by two sons, Boyd Daily and his wife, Leslie, of Fayetteville, Ark., and Gerald Daily and wife, Debbie, of Joplin, Mo.; one daughter, Lynn Daily Hill of Broken Arrow, Okla.; six grandchildren, Dana Hiatt, Joey Daily, Jason Daily, Marisa Forth, Derek Hill and Erika Carver; and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held 4 to 6 p.m., today, Nov. 13, at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14, at Trinity Fellowship Assembly of God Church with Pastor Darren Rogers officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Fellowship Assembly of God Church, 1100 Rolling Hills Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72703.

To sign the online guest book, please visit www.nelsonberna.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home and Crematory of Fayetteville.

Norman William Ferguson

FAYETTEVILLE — Norman William Ferguson, 84, of Fayetteville passed away Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, in Fayetteville. He was born March 22, 1928, in Whittier, Calif., the son of Cisero and Laura Pearl Tresner Ferguson.

He was a carpenter/home builder and member of Baldwin Church of Christ.

Preceded in death by daughter, Linda Wade; and one grandchild.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Ferguson of the home; one son, Jack Ferguson and wife, Jane, of Rogers; one daughter, Norma Engelberger and husband, Don, of Little Rock; three brothers, Preston Ferguson of Fayetteville, Francis Ferguson of Fayetteville and Melvin Ferguson of Houston, Texas; four grandchildren.

Cremation arrangements are Beard’s Funeral Chapel.

Christine L. Goodall

FAYETTEVILLE — Christine L. Goodall, R.N., 56, of Fayetteville passed away Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 in Fayetteville. She was born Dec. 18, 1955, in Stoke Mandelville Aylesbury, Great Britain, the daughter of James Albert and Irene May Curtis Munden.

She was a member of Prairie Grove Christian Church and former member of Wiggins United Methodist Church in Fayetteville; received her nursing degree from Missouri Southern State College in Joplin, Mo.

She worked for several years in nursing and her last place of employment before her illness was Washington Regional Medical Center.

Her father preceded her in death.

Survivors include her mother of Great Britain; her husband, Larry Goodall of the home; one stepson, Christopher Goodall of Garland, Texas; her sister, Sue White of Great Britain; her brother, Jim Munden of Great Britain.

Funeral Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, at Prairie Grove Christian Church with Pastor Vance Eubanks officiating.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. before the service.

Cremation will follow the funeral service.

Memorials may be made to The ALS Association Arkansas Chapter (Director of Patient Care Services), 1200 W. Walnut, Suite 2309, Rogers, AR 72758.

Online condolences: www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.

James Thomas Raley Sr.

SPRINGDALE — James Thomas Raley Sr. of Springdale, Ark., died Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. He was born Oct. 25, 1965, in Meridian, Miss., to Jack and Donna Sue Toler Raley.

James was a salesman for Coca-Cola. He enjoyed football, watching movies and spending time with his family.

James is survived by two sons, Justin Raley and James Raley and wife, Whitney, both of Springdale; one daughter, Charity Raley of Centeron; his mother, Sue Allen and husband, Charles, of Springdale; one brother, Robert Raley of Springdale; two grandchildren, Hunter Lee Raley and Ayden Raley.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale, with the Rev. Paul Payne officiating. Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral home.

To sign the guest book online, please visit www.siscofuneral.com.

Carter Lee Ward

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Carter Lee Ward, age 28, of North Little Rock, passed away Nov. 8, 2012 in Fayetteville, Ark. Carter was born Sept. 1, 1984, in Jacksonville, Ark., to parents Verdie Lee Ward and Evelyn Ward.

He was united in marriage to Courtney Shockley on June 26, 2010, in Prairie Grove, Ark. Carter enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, the Arkansas Razorbacks and spending time with children.

Carter was preceded in death by his father, Verdie Ward; grandparents, Harry and Ethel Ward, W.T. “Dub” Carter, Cecile Anne and B.J. Faulkner and Bob Shockley.

He is survived by his wife, Courtney, of North Little Rock; children, Jayde Lynlee Ward, Jaxon Carter Ward, Clayton Tyler and Hunter Jordan; mother, Evelyn Ward, of Prairie Grove; brother, Blaine Ward and wife, Mary, of Conway; sisters, Shannon Wyatt of Prairie Grove, Amy Roberts and husband, Bobbi, of Conway, Brook Alexander and husband, Caleb, of Valdez, Ala., and Shea Riggin and husband, Heath, of Farmington, Ark.; mother-in-law, Diana Shockley of Benton, Ark.; father-in-law, Robert Stuart Shockley of Hot Springs; brother-in-law, Shawn Shockley of Hot Springs, Ark.; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Memorial Services are set for 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, at the Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel, 3800 W. Walnut, Rogers, Ark.

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