Esther L. Weatherley Crane, 94, of Beebe, was called home to be with the Lord on August 8, 2020. Ms. Crane was born in Des Arc, Arkansas on July 25, 1926 to the late George A. and Della Weatherley. Ms. Crane worked for many years at Riceland Foods in Stuttgart.

Esther was preceded in death by three brothers, Homer, Calvin and Herbert Weatherley; two sisters, Modean McFarlin and Kathryn Williams; six half-brothers, Jim, Zar (Buster), Ace Weatherly, Walter (Bob) Weatherley, Will and Fred Thompson and one half-sister, Mary Thompson Weatherley.

She is survived by one sister, Lorean Cross of Stuttgart, Arkansas

A graveside service will be held 10:00 A.M., Monday, August 10, 2020 at Lakeside Cemetery in Des Arc.

Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home of Hazen.

Linda K. Castleberry, 73, of De Valls Bluff, Arkansas passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at her home.  She was born July 20, 1947 in Humphrey, Arkansas, the daughter of the late William and Leona Dobbins.  Linda was a Baptist.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph (Pete) Castleberry; one brother and three sisters.

Linda is survived by one son, Joseph Castleberry II of White Hall; five grandchildren, Zack Snow of Almyra, Joseph (Tre) Castleberry and Jillian Castleberry both of De Valls Bluff; Justin and Jaclyn Castleberry both of White Hall and one great-grandchild, Cameron Jordan of De Valls Bluff.

A memorial will be planned at a later date.

Linda Lyons, age 68 of Stuttgart went to be with the Lord on August 1, 2020.

She is survived by one sister, Sarah Hansell of Hazen; two brothers, Ray Lyons of Judsonia and Danny Lyons of El Paso, Arkansas and a host of nieces and nephews. Linda was preceded in death by her mother, Beatrice Lyons; father, Sam Lyons and two brothers, Sammy and Joe Lyons.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at the First Pentecostal Church in Hazen. Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, August 5 at the First Pentecostal Church followed by burial in the Center Point Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home of Hazen.

Helen Louise VanHouten Hunt, age 91 of Des Arc, passed away August 1, 2020. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of God of Prophecy in Des Arc. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Pat and Nell VanHouten; her husband, Troy Hunt, and three sons. She is survived by five grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M., Thursday, August 6 at the Church of God of Prophecy prior to the service at 2:00 P.M. Services will be followed by burial in the McBee Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home of Hazen.

Jason Blake Bullock (J.B.), went home to the Lord on July 21, 2020 at the age of 41.  He survived by one son, Dawson of Plumerville; his parents, Rodney and Sherry Bullock of Hazen; grandmothers, Evelyn Bullock and Rita Weems, both of Hazen; six special aunts and uncles and a host of cousins and friends.  He was loved and will be missed by all

A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 24, 2020 at the Calvary Baptist Church in Hazen.  The service will be live streamed on Calvary Baptist church-Hazen facebook page.

Monty Joe Schaefer

Nov. 9th, 1955 to July 9th, 2020

Monty Joe Schaefer has passed unexpectedly at his home in Biscoe, Arkansas.

He was preceded in death by his wife Kathy Schaefer. Behind him, he leaves two daughters Tina Schaefer of Muncie and Kassandra Schaefer of Chesterfield Indiana. He also leaves behind a son and daughter that he shared with his late wife Kathy, their son Kevin Rouse of Biscoe Arkansas and daughter Jennifer Yomans of Tampa Florida.  As well as several brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews.

Monty had a strong love for travel. Spending most of his life driving Semis for various companies across the country. When Monty wasn’t on the road you could find him in his “Dog House” recording and writing music. Monty had a big heart and a contagious laugh and spread love to all he met. Monty was an animal lover and picked up many strayed and abandoned pets along his travels. Monty was proud to have served in the U.S. Navy. Monty will be missed deeply by those who loved him.

Shirley Marie Stine McMullen, 87, was at home surrounded by family when she went peacefully to her Heavenly Home on June 24, 2020. Grace, beauty, kindness and Godliness were the hallmarks of her life and she will be greatly missed.

Shirley was born in Stuttgart, Arkansas, October 8, 1932, to Clyde and Estella Stine. They moved to Des Arc, Arkansas, in 1940 where she graduated high school. She married the love of her life, William Edward (Bill) McMullen in 1950 and they had five beautiful, dearly-loved (Shirley’s words) children: Eddie (Sarah) McMullen, Stina Brown, Denise (Terry) Langston, Shawn (Paul) Holland and Mark (Robin) McMullen. Survivors also include 18 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren. In addition, there were many precious nephews and nieces who loved their Aunt Shirley, including her newest, dear nephew, Jim Pfeifer.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and siblings Ralph DuBois, Lawrence Stine and Florence Mitchell and her great-granddaughter, Waylin Harris.

A very special thank you goes to our new sisters, Gran’s unselfish, loving caregivers: Sharon Watson, Brenda Jones and Felicia Minor.

For her more than 80 descendants, the highlight of every year was McMullen Thanksgiving with Gran. The traditions she started were followed religiously including making homemade noodles, taking generational pictures in front of her house, hayrides and all the cousins sleeping on the floor together in the den.

Growing up she participated in numerous beauty contests, played basketball and played the piano. For more than 40 years, beginning at the age of 16, Shirley served her church families and other local churches by playing the piano and organ.

Like all farmers’ wives, her life revolved around planting and watering and harvesting. For many years, she took meals to all of the farm workers and served them from the back of her blue Chevrolet station wagon. She also worked on the farm driving tractor trailer trucks. In the 1970’s, her love of children and fashion combined when she opened Little Things from Shirley’s, a children’s store in Hazen.

She always called herself a “Has Been” because she was past Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star, past president of Hazen Band Booster Club and past president of the Twentieth Century Club of Federated Women.

Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, at Calvary Baptist Church, 200 W. South Front, Hazen, AR. The family asks that everyone over age 10 wear a mask. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Calvary Baptist Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

James Monroe Gammons, age 86, of Hazen, passed away Thursday, June 25, 2020.

He was born in Missouri on January 28, 1934, the son of Albert and Lola Gammons.

James worked on the farm and loved to fix lawn mowers.  

He was preceded in death by his wife, Allyene Gammons; his brother, Clarence Gammons; his parents and a son, Tommy Donnell.

James is survived by three sons, Jim Gammons and wife, Nancy of Illinois, Paul Gammons and wife, Debra of Missouri and Rex Pullium and wife, Peggy of Hazen; one daughter, Carol Kacel and husband, Dave of North Pole, Alaska; his ex-wife, Nancy Louise Gammons and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Saturday, June 27, 2020 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen.  Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Sunday, at the Center Point Missionary Baptist Church with burial in the Center Point Cemetery.

Lola Imogene Cunningham “Aunt Jean”, age 96, passed away peacefully June 20, 2020 in Stuttgart, Arkansas. She was born in Hazen, Arkansas on September 11, 1923 to Sterling and Nora Cunningham. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Clarice White, Mozelle Boothe, Edith Boothe and brother, Calvin Cunningham.

Jean loved people crafts and books. She was unfailingly kind and generous with family, friends, and neighbors. She crocheted constantly. Her hands were rarely still. She shared her love of reading with others and was a lifelong patron of the Hazen Public Library.

Jean retired after working for Arkansas Power and Light for over 30 years. It suited her love of people and her desire to help. Her life and work were a living example of one of her favorite Bible verses “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”

Jean is survived by her nieces, Becky Young, Dorothy Holmes, Jeanette Johnson, Pam Sweeden, Sue Leonard, Sandy Williams, and nephews, Dan Boothe, John E. White as well as numerous great nieces and nephews. All of us will be diminished by the loss of her kind and loving presence.

Interment will be at the Hazen Cemetery, Monday, June 22, 2020 at 5:00 P.M. Flowers may be sent to the Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen.

Donna Lee (Burnett) Kelly of Carlisle entered her “Heavenly Home” on June 19, 2020 at the age of 89 at Chambers Nursing Home. Donna was born September 14, 1930 to Coad and Minta (Sparks) Burnett in Highland, Michigan. She married the love of her life, John Kelly on December 15, 1950. They would have celebrated 70 years of marriage this coming December. She was a member of the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Carlisle. Donna was a very faithful member and loved the Lord that she wanted everyone to know also.

Donna is survived by her husband, John Kelly; one son, Johnny (Sandy) Kelly of Des Arc, Arkansas; two very special granddaughters, Kim (Josh) Simmons of Des Arc and Cody (Allen) McElroy of Hazen; four great-grandchildren that she loved dearly, Jase Simmons, Kylee, Cooper, and Sawyer McElroy that were very great in her eyes, and her loving and caring caregiver, Karen Brewer.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Eugene Bryant, Gwendolyn Ingle, and her great-grandson, Kyler Coad McElroy.

Visitation will be from 3:00 to 7:00 P.M., Sunday, June 21, 2020 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen. It is requested that everyone please wear a mask.

A graveside service will be held 2:00 P.M., Monday, June 22, 2020 at the Center Point Cemetery.