INDEPENDENCE, Mo.
Harriett Jo Stokenbury of Independence, Mo., passed away on Feb. 20, 2011, at the Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence.
Jo was born Feb. 12, 1931, at Sharples, W.Va., the daughter of Hubert and Ina (Drake) Stuckey. A Methodist, she joined the order of Eastern Star (Chapter 60) in Logan, W.Va., at age 18 and remained a lifetime member.
Jo married her husband, Jack, in Bakersfield, Calif., and they celebrated their 57th anniversary last December 31st.
Jo was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Max and Fred.
Jo is survived by her husband, Jack Stokenbury of Independence, Mo.; her son, John, of Dublin, Calif.; her daughter, Susan, and two grandsons of Blue Springs, Mo.; her sister, Ann Collins of Winston Salem, N.C.; and her sister Judy Bunch of Lakeland, Fla.
Funeral service will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at Beards Chapel with burial to follow in Stokenbury Cemetery in Elkins, Ark., under the direction of Beards Chapel.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Beards Chapel.
Memorial donations may be made to the Arthritis Association in Jo’s name.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.
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FAYETTEVILLE
William R. Larson, 79, of Fayetteville died Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale. He was born April 4, 1931, in Omaha, Neb., the son of Lloyd and Nellie L. Ball Larson.
He was employed by Dash Goff Enterprise. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Ann Larson; and one son, Patrick Larson.
He is survived by three sons, William R. Larson of Springdale, Jon Larson of Greenland and Dan Larson of Fayetteville; two daughters, Tami Easley of Dallas, Texas, and Tara Lerz of Fayetteville; one sister, Bell Miller of Winfield, Iowa; one brother, Jim Larson of Clear Lake, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
An informal gathering to celebrate his life will be Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, at the Fayetteville Days Inn from 5 to 7 p.m.
Cremation arrangements were by Beard’s Funeral Chapel and Crematory of Fayetteville.
On-line condolences at www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.
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FAYETTEVILLE
Mary E. (Woody) Howard, 65, of Fayetteville, Ark., died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, after a long lung illness due to a car wreck 33 years ago, at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla.
She was the daughter of Elwood (Woody) and Mary Lee Ward Bossert and a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband, Gary Howard, of the home; three daughters, Lee Thompson Morris of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Mary Thompson Bridgforth of Fayetteville and Stephanie Thompson Davis of Cocoa Beach, Fla.; two sons, Adam Howard and Jonathon Howard, both of Fayetteville; her brother, Phillip Farrell of Little Rock, Ark.; and seven grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at 2 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with burial in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Father Chuck Walling will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Beard's Funeral Chapel in Fayetteville.
Memorials may be made to Bank of Fayetteville, Medical Fund in Mary Howard's name.
Online condolences at www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.
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TYLER, Texas
Ralph E. Martin was born in Kenna, N.M., on June 28, 1931. His family moved to Eureka Springs, Ark., in 1941, where he attended Eureka Springs High School until his graduation in 1947. Upon graduation, Ralph joined the Army and proudly served two and a half years in Japan during the Korean War.
After his discharge from the Army, he enrolled in the University of Arkansas through the GI Bill, earning a bachelor of science in chemical engineering in 1958. He was awarded an academic scholarship allowing him to complete a master of science in chemical engineering in 1960. Though not a perfect student, his score cards were marked with “excellent” potential for success.
Following graduation, Ralph moved his family to Tyler, Texas, where he went to work for Howe Baker Engineers. Shortly after, he worked with fellow engineer Jack Scott to form the company, Marsco, in 1969.
In February 1981, Ralph and several former Marsco employees formed PetroFac, Inc., a full-service engineering, fabrication, and construction contractor specializing in the design of hydrocarbon processing plants. The small company that Ralph began in Tyler, Texas, now employs several thousand professional staff worldwide. PetroFac has offices in London, England; Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Mumbai, India; and many other countries, and has designed and built plants in over a dozen foreign countries.
Ralph served as the CEO of PetroFac from 1981 until 2004. After 2004, he continued to serve on the board of directors.
Ralph served on several committees including the University of Arkansas College of Engineering Advisory Council, the University of Arkansas Chancellor's Advisory Board, the University of Texas at Tyler Engineering Advisory Board, and the UTHSCT Development Board and Executive Committee.
He was inducted into the University of Arkansas Engineering Hall of Fame in 2003. He was also an inaugural inductee in the Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers in 2005. Ralph was also the founder of Eagles Bluff Country Club in Bullard, Texas.
Ralph’s success was coupled with his unselfish and humble nature. Ralph made many charitable donations to the community. Of note, he established the Ralph Martin/PetroFac Engineering Fund and Ralph Martin Engineering Scholarship at UT Tyler, and the Martin Academic Enrichment Fund Endowment at the University of Arkansas. In honor of his generous gift, the department was named the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering.
Ralph left us with many wise suggestions. He summarized his principles for effective business practice stating: “Always tell the truth; understate, rather than overstate your abilities; prioritize, because all things are not equally important; and don’t forget that you can’t make a good contract with a bad person.”
Ralph is survived by his wife, Kathryn Martin; sister, Myrah Newby; daughter, Luci Martin; son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Gina Martin; daughters, Lori Martin, Kimberly Martin, Meredith Sieber, and their sister, Missy Martin; stepchildren, Mark, Michael Pool and wife, Jazz; grandchildren, Alisha and Andrew Martin, Mandy Owens, Chris Summerville, Tyler and Harley Sieber; great-grandchildren, Sloan and Slater Rodberg and Sophia Baker; as well as many friends and loved ones.
Pallbearers include son Ron Martin, stepsons Michael and Mark Pool, Arnold Wharton, Randal Brooks, Fred Nichols, Ken Threlkeld, David Bush, Steve King, Mike Breedlove, Greg Hendrickson, Louis Owen and Ty Beard. Honorary pallbearers include grandsons Andrew Martin, Chris Summerville and Tyler Sieber, great-grandsons Slater and Sloan Rodberg, Ross “Buddy” Bozeman, Maroun Semaan, Ayman Asfari, Wilburn Gray, Boyd Hamilton, David Moore, Bill Fisher, Archie Ryan, and all of his friends of the S.P.S.
Ralph passed away on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, in the presence of his family. The visitation will be held today, Feb. 23, 2011, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lanes Chapel with services on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011, at 10 a.m. with Pastor Lou Thomas officiating under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Ralph would prefer donations be made to the following charities: Boys & Girls Clubs of East Texas, 504 W. 32nd Street, Tyler, TX 75702; East Texas Crisis Center, 2026 Republic Drive, Tyler, TX 75701; Ralph E. Martin Endowment Fund for Lighthouse for Christ Mission, P.O. Box 8318, Tyler, TX 75701; or the Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701.
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OJAI, Calif.
Longtime southern California resident Dewey Oliver Logue, 76, passed away Feb. 17, 2011, at home in Ojai surrounded by loved ones.
Born March 29, 1934, in Drake’s Creek, Ark., to Rosa Ann and Elliot Oliver Logue, he married Betty Jewell Claypool Dec. 24, 1952.
He joined the Army in 1954 and served his country while stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. After leaving service in 1957, he owned and operated service stations until 1964 when he moved his family to California.
In 1966 he founded Point Dume Wholesale Nursery. He was a highly regarded nurseryman and landscape designer in Malibu with a clientele that included everyone from the next-door neighbor to former President Ronald Reagan. Through integrity and hard work, he achieved the American dream.
Retiring at 51, he was soon sought out by one of his former celebrity clients, Larry Hagman. With a nearly unlimited budget, he created a sprawling 26-acre garden paradise in the hills above Ojai that became known as “Heaven.” His work was featured in a 1994 edition of “In Style” magazine.
He was a former member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Malibu Chamber of Commerce, California Nurseryman’s Association, American Legion, California Shuffleboard Association and the “Ojai Liars Club,” his daily donut and coffee buddies.
He is survived by Betty, his wife of 58 years; his children, Paul and Erlinda Logue, Kathy and Leo Miller, Debra Warnacutt, Robin Logue, Christopher and Janice Logue and Jennifer and Bradley Nail; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Kenneth Logue; and a sister, Ruth Beard; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
His greatest passion was spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed travel, fishing and TV westerns. An avid collector of “useful stuff,” he was a garage sale enthusiast.
Viewing will be Friday, Feb. 25, at Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, 757 E. Main St., Ventura, Calif.; 805-643-8623. Services will be held Saturday, Feb. 26, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with burial following at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura. A “Celebration of Life” will follow at Mira Valle Mobile Home Park Clubhouse, 1202 Lorna Drive, Ojai.
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PRAIRIE GROVE
Verdie Lee Ward, 63, of Prairie Grove died Feb. 17, 2011, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. He was born Jan. 20, 1948, in Brinkley to Harry and Ethel Simpson Ward.
He worked as a welder in the Wheatley and Conway areas and enjoyed spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn, of Prairie Grove; two sons, Blaine Ward and wife Mary and Carter Ward and wife Courtney, all of Prairie Grove; three daughters, Shannon Wyatt, Shea Riggin and husband Heath, all of Prairie Grove, and Amy Roberts and husband Bobbi of Conway; seven brothers; three sisters; 22 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at New Life Covenant Church in Prairie Grove.
Arrangements are by Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home and Crematory of Rogers.
NEWPORT, Ore.
Mary Sayle Beckenholdt, 87, of Newport, Ore., died Jan. 31, 2011. She was born April 20, 1923, in Little Rock to Edwin and Ada Sayle.
She spent many years in Fayetteville as an administrative staff member of the University of Arkansas and was active in the Christian Science church.
Survivors include her husband of 49 years, David; two sons, Charles S. Ford of Portland, Ore., and Richard A. Ford of Urbana, Ill.; and one sister.
Arrangements were by Bateman Funeral Home of Newport, Ore.