Betty Gookin

Betty Gookin, age 73, passed away Saturday, March 14, 2015 in Springdale. She was born Jan. 25, 1942 in Alpine, Ark., the daughter of Lonard H and Wilma J Langston Sims. She was preceded in death by both of her parents, her husband, Jerry Howard Gookin, and her brother, Herbert E. Sims. She worked for Baldor Electric for 14 years; she also worked for Fort Smith Exterminating for 16 years and was a member of Denver Street Missionary Baptist Church in Greenwood. She is survived by two children-a son, Todd Gookin and his wife, Kim of Springdale, Ark.; a daughter, Tonya Wilhelms and her husband, Greg of Farmington, Ark.; three sisters: Shirley Hall and her husband Tommy of Malvern, Ark., Diane Robey and her husband Guss of Benton, Ark., and Sandie Litton and husband Dennis of Tulsa, Okla.; one brother, John Sims and his wife Phyllis of Benton; three grandchildren: Nick and Anna Gookin and Brent Slater; two honorary grandchildren Callee and Caleb Koon. Visitation will be 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home with burial to follow at the Fayetteville National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Washington Regional Hospice. The family would like to give a special thank you to Westwood Health and Rehab and Washington Regional Hospice. To sign the online guest book visit www.nelsonberna.com.