George Leslie Zies Jr.

George Leslie Zies Jr., 65, of Fayetteville died Wednesday, July 17, 2013, in Fayetteville. He was born July 30, 1947, in Fort Smith, Ark., the son of George Leslie Zies Sr., and Esther Alva Fowler Zies. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam era having received the Purple Heart, National Defense Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in history and anthropology. He was assistant curator of the Old Washington Historic State Park. As an artist and supporter of the arts, he owned the Zies Fine Art Gallery in Fort Smith and served as judge for the VA Hospital Art Contest. Survivors include two sisters, Mary Zies of Little Rock and Jeanette Pearson and her husband, Roy of Farmington; several nieces and nephews; and grand-nieces and -nephews. A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, 2013, at the Chapel of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home. Burial with be in the National Cemetery in Fort Smith at a later date. The family requests that memorials be made to the Fayetteville Public Library, 401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, AR 72701. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.nelsonberna.com.