Robert “Bobby” Schwede, 66 of Biscoe passed away Saturday, October 12, 2019 at home.  He was an active member of the Biscoe Fire Dept. for over 40 years.  Bob loved the fire department, helping others, and helping Biscoe.

Bob is survived by his wife, Diane of the home; daughter, Nina (Vince) Holloway of Biscoe; step-daughter, Kelly (Glenn) Williams of Biscoe; step-sons, Tim (Selena) Freet and Jay (Beth) Freet from Mishawaka, Indiana; grandsons, Colton Holloway, Sam (Shelby) Williams, and Jacob Williams; granddaughter, Rebecca (Cody) Anderson; great granddaughter, Lilyanne Anderson; sister, Liz Schwede of Biscoe; three brothers, Tommy (Linda) Schwede of Biscoe, Charles (Peggy) Schwede of Hazen and Ricky (Barbara) Schwede of Ulm.  He is also survived by nieces, nephews, extended family and lots of friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Syble Schwede; two sisters, Sue Schwede and Virginia Ingle and one brother, Jimmy Schwede.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M., Monday, October 14, at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen.  Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at the First Baptist Church in De Valls Bluff.. Burial will be in the Biscoe Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Terry Sauer, David Smith, Kent Smith, Billy White, Tanner White, Bobby Willeford, Jacob Williams, and Sam Williams.  Honorary pallbearers are Caden Schwede, Vince Holloway, and members of the Biscoe Fire Department.

Nell Lorene Bartley, 83, of Hazen, left for heaven at 8:00 P.M., on October 10, 2019.  She was born July 2, 1936 in Cotton Plant, one of five children born to Ben Herbert Lee and Nannie Lou Lamb. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Harold, a daughter, Linda Jo and her first husband, Billy Joe Flanagan.  She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Billy Bartley; two brothers, Charles “Red” Lee of Des Arc and James “Buck” Lee of Waukegan, Illinois; a sister, Imogene Bradley of Ravenden; two daughters, Brenda Joyce Hoover and husband, David and Freida Lou Isbell and husband, Jeff all of Hazen; five grandchildren, Jason Hoover and wife, Karen, Todd Hoover, Brandy Snider and husband, Clay, Ashton Gray and husband, Nicholas and Cole Isbell and fiance’, Mikah and twelve great-grandchildren.

Lorene worked for many years in manufacturing plants in both Illinois and Arkansas, including the Hazen Shirt Factory.  Later, she worked in kitchens across Hazen as a cook.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Hazen.

Visitation is from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M., on Sunday, October 13 at Westbrook Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M., Monday, October 14, 2019 at Calvary Baptist Church in Hazen with burial following the service at Hazen Cemetery.

Samuel “Sammy” Clay Speaks, age 57 of DeValls Bluff entered into the Lord’s Kingdom on October 5, 2019.  He was born October 11, 1961 to Earl Samuel and Clora Mae Sayger Speaks.  Sammy was a Marine veteran, retired from Riceland Foods after 30 years as a instrument and electrical superintendent, and a current employee of Producers Rice Mill Inc.  Sammy was a man of strong faith who encouraged and cared for his family until his last breath, frequently requesting prayers for them. He looked forward to spending time with his “girls”, rejoicing in the gift of family and friends.  Sammy was an avid hunter who enjoyed camping, watching movies, making jokes and reminiscing with old friends. He was also well known for his sense of humor and rough-house ways of showing love.

Sammy was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Roy “Buss” and Clora Sayger, paternal grandparents Dewey and Mildred Owen.  He is survived in death by his wife, Melanie Speaks, of the home; parents, Earl and Clora Mae Speaks of DeValls Bluff; three sisters Kathy (Dennis) Mannon of Bradford, AR; Connie (Rick) Tomaskovic of Conway, AR; and Donnie (Mirl) Stephens of Conway, AR; three daughters, Jennifer Speaks (Lucas White) of Little Rock, AR; Jessica Speaks of Jonesboro, AR; and Leah (Caitie) Miller of the home; honorary grandkids Levi and Ember Fletcher and River Miller, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends to carry his memories.

Visitation will be held Monday, October 7, 2019 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen, AR.  The funeral service will be held Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 11:00am at the First Baptist Church in DeValls Bluff, AR followed by burial at Peppers Lake Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Bruce King, James Williams, Mark Manis, Mike Duke, Hank Howell, Brandon Herring and honorary pallbearer Jesse Tosh.

Blanche Marie Hill, 81, of Stuttgart, passed away September 29, 2019 at Crestpark Nursing Home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Cross Hill; sisters, Clara VanHouten Sandine, Gladys VanHouten Sandine and brothers, Lonnie VanHouten, Jr., Cecil VanHouten, and Von VanHouten. Blanche is survived by her sister, Carolyn VanHouten Foster; sons, Mike Hill (Jackie Hill), Richard Hill, and Harvey Hill; granddaughters, Haley Ligon (Drew), Jenna Testa (Pete) and grandson, Kendall Hill.

Blanche was a homemaker, and she enjoyed singing, fishing, cooking for her loved ones, and spending time outdoors.

Funeral services 10:00 A.M., Thursday at Westbrook Funeral Home Chapel in Hazen.  Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:00 A.M. prior to the service.  Burial is in the Hazen Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Personal Pep Rally – Stuttgart.

Arlie Eual Petty of De Valls Bluff, passed away Saturday morning on September 28, 2019.  Eual was 81 years old and was living in Farmington, Arkansas at the time of his death.  He was born on July 24, 1938, in a railroad boxcar that his family took refuge from the Great White River Flood of 1937.  He graduated from De Valls Bluff High School and married Francis Kathryn Williams who was also from De Valls Bluff.

Eual worked for National Cash Register for 15 years, then worked for an independent oil producer with JPAC Enterprises until he retired at the age of 74,  Eual was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish, hunt, and garden.  He was an author, a great ballroom dancer, quilt maker, and he loved to crotchet blankets while watching TV.

Eual is survived by his two sons, Brian Petty, Jason Petty, and four grandchildren, Brandon, Logan, Celeste, and Warren Petty who reside in Farmington and Rogers, Arkansas.  

A graveside service will be held at the Oakland Cemetery in De Valls Bluff, on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. Eual will be laid to rest next to Kathryn Petty who preceded him in death on April 4, 2012.

Gale Douglass (Festus) Rush, 84 of Hazen, passed away September 28, 2019.  He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 54 years, Mary A. Rush and his parents, Gale R. and Virginia D. Rush.  Gale is survived by his daughters, Ginger Rush, Anita K. Aldrich, husband Jeff, and Lynne Terry and his son, Gale Rush, wife Christina; grandchildren, Kolton Douglass Kyle, Abigale Rush, Jeff Aldrich, Jr., and Joey Aldrich and great-grandchild, Stella Aldrich.

Gale was a Master Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corp during the Korean Conflict.  He worked for the Bale family for many years and retired from Bale Chevrolet as a certified master mechanic.  He loved living life, the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and spinning yarns wherever he was.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen.  A graveside service will be 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at Pine Crest Cemetery, 7401 Hwy. 5 North, Alexander, Arkansas.

Lou Ellen Felts, 90, of Carlisle, our precious Mom, passed away September 19, 2019.  We know that there was a joyous reunion with our Dad (Roland “Babe” Felts), her parents, Edna Harrison and Bernard Holmes, grandson, Bradley Felts, and brother, B.R. Holmes.

She was the mother of Helen Calva (Dennis), Nancy Dunlap (Brent), Linda Taylor (Bob), Brooks Felts (Danea), Bruce Felts, and Lori Nofziger (Steward). She also leaves behind 15 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, as well as one brother, Tommy Holmes.

While our hearts are broken, we know that she is in the loving arms of Jesus and that we will see her again one day.  Our mother loved her family and her cousins immensely.  She would probably want us to add that she was proud that she made it to 90 years of age.

Funeral services will be 2:30 P.M., Sunday, September 22, 2019 at Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Carlisle.  Visitation will be from 1:30 to 2:30 prior to the service.  Burial will be in the Walter’s Chapel Cemetery.  

The family would like to extend a special “thank you” to our mother’s caregivers Bert Putt and Joy Brewer and the Hospice staff who attended to her.

The family requests that memorials be made to Walter’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 310 North Harrison, Carlisle, Arkansas 72024.

John Frederick Zimmerman, 78, of Carlisle, passed away Thursday, September 19, 2019.  He was an Air Force veteran stationed in England, a pilot and member of the E.A.A., and a member of the Hot Rod Association.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John George and Zelma Zimmerman and his son, George Zimmerman. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sandy Zimmerman; son, Johnny (J.O.) Zimmerman; brother, Wayne Marsh; sister, Doris Chandler; one grandson, one granddaughter, and 8 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 12:00 P.M., Saturday, September 21, 2019 at the Westbrook Funeral Home Chapel in Hazen.  Interment will be in the Carlisle Cemetery.

Delma (Del) Stock, age 76, of Hazen, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2019, surrounded by his loved ones.  He retired from construction and masonry work after 50 years.  He was a life time member of the Hazen First United Methodist Church.  Del was preceded in death by his parents, Cleveland and Margaret Stock and one brother, Duke Stock.  He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Kaye Stock; his son, Charles Stock and wife, Wendi; daughter, Janet Boothe and husband, Phillip; granddaughters, Kalyn Tenison and husband, Matthew, Megan Anderson and husband, Zachary and Morgan Stock; grandson, Grant Boothe; brothers, Butch Terhune and wife, Nancy and William Stock; sister, Virginia Vanderpool, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Del was one of a kind.  He had a strong work ethic and loved life.  Del was a prankster and loved to give people a hard time.  He enjoyed sports, hunting, fishing,, riding horses, and playing golf with his buddies.

Growing up, he was a proud Hazen Hornet.  He loved Hazen First United Methodist Church and his church family.  He was always around lending a helping hand with anything that needed to be done at the church and often would do things before he got permission.

Del was proud of his son, Charles and daughter, Janet and loved them dearly.  He loved his grandchildren and enjoyed taking them hunting, rodeoing, and attending sports events every chance he got.  He was always there to support them.

Visitation will be held Wednesday , September 18, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen.  Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M., Thursday, September 19, 2019 at the Hazen First United Methodist Church in Hazen.

Burial will be in the Hazen Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Don Louis Kittler, Brad Love, John Petrus, Keller Kittler, Aaron Petrus, Kevin Rounsavall, Chris Stock, Jeff Rounsavall, and Pat Clayton.

The family request memorials be made to Hazen First United Methodist Church , P.O. Box 712, Hazen, Arkansas 72064

George Dobrovich, 72 of Stuttgart passed away Wednesday, September 11, 2019. He was a member of Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, member of Knights of Columbus, a farmer and an avid hunter and fisherman.

George is survived by three sons, Brian Dobrovich and wife, Rhea of Cabot, Will Dobrovich of Stuttgart, and Adam Ayers and wife, Stacy of Stuttgart; one brother, Frank Dobrovich; grandchildren, Meghan Clabough and husband, Jacob, Kayla Pieters and husband, Austin, Luke Johnson and wife, Tabitha, Jackson McLain, Adalynn Grace Dobrovich, Allie and Ava Ayers; great-grandchildren, Hayden, Sophia and Preston Clabough.

George was preceded in death by his parents, Steve and Marie Dobrovich; his son, David Dobrovich and two sisters, Rose Marie Lipe and Martha Teppen.

There will be a visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Sunday, September 15, 2019 at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church Hall in Slovak.

Rosary will be 10:30 A.M., Monday, September 16, 2019 at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Slovak followed by 11:00 A.M. memorial service at the church.