Obituaries

James Ralph Moreland

James "Ralph" Moreland, 80, of Rogers, died peacefully at his home on March 9, 2016, after a brief battle with cancer. He was born on April 21, 1935, in Claiborne Parish, La., to James B. and Lucile W. Moreland. He grew up in Northern Louisiana as the fourth of seven children. He graduated as valedictorian from Harris High School and graduated with honors in Accounting from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La. He married Martha Lue Kelly, his wife of 61 years, when he was just 19 years old. He then worked for seven years as an accountant for Texas Eastern Transmission Corp. in Houston, Texas, and spent the next 16 years in the pharmaceutical industry in various cities across the country. He settled in Arkansas in 1976 and later co-founded Du-More, Inc., a dental manufacturing company based in Rogers, in 1981 where he worked until his retirement in March 2007. Moreland was a volunteer with Junior Achievement and was an ordained deacon, a Gideon, and a Baptist. An avid Razorback fan, he spent much of his free time supporting University of Arkansas athletics. Moreland is survived by his wife, Martha K. Moreland; one son, Kelly W. Moreland (Paige) of Rogers; two daughters, Kay Lewis of Tyler, Texas, and June M. Hendren (Scott) of Little Rock; nine grandchildren, Wade Waters, Dru Blakeley, Christopher Lewis, Nicholas Lewis, Malorie Moreland, Thomas Moreland, Ryan Moreland, Hayley Hendren and Kyle Hendren; and three great-grandchildren, Ella Waters, Hudsen Waters and Makayla Blakeley. He is also survived by two sisters, Nita McAdoo of Riverside, Calif., and Marlene Gill of Houston, Tex.; and two brothers, Joe Moreland of Ruston, La., and Edd Moreland of Martin, Tenn. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Jack Moreland and Lloyd Moreland, a daughter, Joan M. Waters, and an infant son. The family will hold a private memorial and celebration of life under the direction of Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 1201 NE Legacy Pkwy, Bentonville, Ark., 72712. Online condolences may be made at www.rollinsfuneral.com.

Published March 15, 2016

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