Mildred Evelyn Hestir passed away on January 13, 2020.  She was born on November 10, 1935 in Hazen, Arkansas.  Evelyn attended elementary and middle school in Hazen and graduated from high school at Mount St. Mary’s in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Hestir; her mother and father, Mildred and Louis Novak; her sisters, Frances Bower, Dorothy Bogaard and Ruby Sanders.  She is survived by her daughters, Debbie Feagins of Texarkana and Donna Kroskey (James) of Maumelle; her son, Joe Hestir of Beebe; her granddaughters, Sandy Cothran (Coy) of Cabot, Robi Feagins and Julie Johnson (Shane) of Texarkana; her grandson, Nathan Feagins of Texarkana; her sister, Carolyn Brakensiek of Hazen; her brother, Elvin Novak of De Valls Bluff; three great-grandchildren, Katie Fouse, Cayden Johnson, and Abbey Cothran and countless nieces and nephews.

Evelyn was a member of the Beebe Methodist Church.  Her faith in God was strong.  She was happily married for 37 years and was devoted to her family.  She dedicated her life to caring for them.  Her great-grandchildren were her pride and joy.  She loved gardening and had quite the green thumb.  She enjoyed the outdoors and going to the lake with her family.  She was a very talented seamstress and made many dresses for her daughters and granddaughters.  She also made doll clothes for them! After retiring from Remington Arms, Evelyn enjoyed traveling abroad with her sisters.  She later relocated from Beebe to Little Rock to be closer to family and made many new friends at Woodland Heights.

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Friday, January 17, 2020 at the Westbrook Funeral Home Chapel in Hazen.  Family visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M., prior to the service.  Burial will be in the Czech National Cemetery.  The family would like memorials made to the Methodist Children’s Home, 1600 Aldersgate Road, Suite 100, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.

Roy M. Greenwalt, 89, of Hazen, passed away Sunday, January 12, 2020. Roy was a member of the Center Point Missionary Baptist Church, a farmer, and a volunteer member of the Sheriff’s patrol for 33 years.

He was preceded in death by his son, Doug; his parents, Charles and Ruby Greenwalt; two brothers, Morris and Harold Greenwalt and a sister, Velma Holmes.

Roy is survived by his wife of 62 years, Leda Slaughter Greenwalt; two brothers, Dale and Dorris Greenwalt; two sisters, Joyce Taylor and Dorothy Fisher and several nieces and nephews and friends.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at the Center Point Missionary Baptist Church in Hazen. Burial will be in
the Center Point cemetery.

David Lynn Duch of Hazen, Arkansas passed away peacefully on January 7^th, 2020 at the age of 62. He was born in Carlisle, Arkansas on June 26, 1957, the son of the Richard and Charlene Duch. He was proceeded in death by his parents and his brother Ronnie Duch.

He spent his entire life in the Hazen area where he developed his love for agriculture and his community. He was fortunate enough to find a way to serve both all of his life.

His love of flying started at a young age, flying solo for the first time at the age of 16. David became the manager of the Stuttgart airport at the age of 19. He was also a flight instructor, teaching countless members of this community how to fly over his lifetime. In 1978, Jerry Fisher gave David his first opportunity towards his dream of becoming a crop duster and he was forever grateful. Then in 1979, he started flying for Don Whitaker at the Hazen airport. David and his brother in law, Randy Booe bought the business from Don in 1980, and B & D Flying Service was born. Over the next 40 years, David operated a flying service out of the Hazen airport serving Prairie County and the surrounding areas. He was the first ag pilot in the county to have an Air Tractor, which was an airplane that eliminated the need for flaggers, and revolutionized the crop dusting industry. David was a member of the Arkansas Agriculture Aviation Association, serving in every office on the board of directors, including presiding as president for 2 years. He served on the safety council for FAA. Besides being an ag pilot, David was involved in a charter air service, where he served as chief pilot and director of operations. As a charter pilot, one of his most gratifying experiences was transporting transplant organs for Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency. In his flying career, he logged over 25,000 hours.

David loved the Lord and was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church. He served as head of Parish Council at St. Rose Catholic Church in Carlisle, Arkansas.

David served the city of Hazen for 25 years, 4 years as a council member and 21 years as mayor. During his tenure, David oversaw many progressive improvements to the city, for example the utility system, the community center, streets, the senior citizens center, walking trails through the city park and airport runway lights, just to name a few.

David married the love of his life, Jeri Ruth Booe, in July of 1978. They were blessed with 2 daughters, Amber Thomas (Jason) and Cara Hollingshead (Davie). They have 5 grandchildren, Jalynn, Jaycee, Jace, Duke and Savannah who were adored by their Grand-daddy.

David is survived by his brother Dwight Duch (LeaAnn) and his nephew Blake and niece Logan as well as a host of loving family and friends.

David was loved by so many, as was evidenced by the multiple of people who came to visit him over the past week in the hospital. David was a generous man, most of time anonymously. He will be missed terribly by his family, his friends and his community.

The family would like to thank Dr. Shafizadeh, Cara Petrus, Hazen First Responders, and the Hazen Police Department.

Visitation will be at the Hazen Community Center at 906 East Front Street in Hazen on Wednesday, January 8^th, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Rosaries will follow. The funeral service will be Thursday, January 9^th at 10:00 am at St. Syril and Methodius Catholic Church in Slovak, Arkansas. Burial will be at the Hazen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Saint Cyril Methodius Catholic Church 1852 Highway 86 W Stuttgart, AR 72160 or the Hazen Cemetery.

Arrangements by Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen.

Sammy Joe Tipton of Little Rock, formerly of Hazen, passed from this earth January 3, 2020.  Sam was born March 17, 1947 in Cotton Plant.  Sam was raised in Hazen and graduated from Hazen High School and was a retired businessman.

Sam was an avid outdoorsman.  He loved sports, fishing, and hunting.

He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Tipton and step-father, Scotty Aycock.

Sam leaves to cherish his memory his mother, Jerry Aycock of Hazen; wife, Brenda Tipton; son, Kyle Tipton; his sister, Scottye (Gale) White of Louisiana; brother, Billy Max (Cindy) Aycock of Hazen; step-sons, Troupe Bryant and Dane Reed; and grandsons, Cameron and Cooper Tipton.

Larry Lynn Swaim, age 70 of Des Arc passed through the gates of Heaven on January 1, 2020. He was the youngest son of Bill and Bessie Swaim of Hazen. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Emma Nell Berry and Ida Mae Linam; brothers, Clea and Moe. Larry is survived by his wife, Wanda and her son Drew Farrish. Also left to cherish his memory are his son, Chad Swaim and wife, Misty of Hazen and grandchildren, Reagan and fiancé Dillon Cook, Brody, CJ and Kynlee who were the light of his life. He is also survived by his brother, Tommy Swaim and wife, Judy of Jacksonville, and sister, Jessica Scarborough of Fort Worth, Texas, as well as many nieces and nephews. Larry is also survived by a host of good friends and comrades from his military service including, Bob Lenz, who was like a brother.

Larry grew up in the Center Point community near Hazen where he learned at an early age to chop and pick cotton and cut wood. He will be remembered for his love of his community and his country. Larry served his community as a fireman, where he was a captain, an EMT for the Hazen ambulance service where he served as the director before retiring. He also served as an auxiliary deputy for the Prairie County Sheriff Department.

Larry had a great love for all sports, especially high School football and peewee football and little league baseball where he served many years as a coach for his son, Chad’s teams. He had many winning teams and loved the game and his players. Few people knew Larry was a race car driver. His most memorable race was against a famous NASCAR driver, Mark Martin, who was a teenager at the time. Many weeks he and his chief mechanic worked on the dirt track race car in his parent’s yard and even put together a new motor in the front room of their home.

Larry was a Patriot. At the age of nineteen, he served our country honorably in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. The cruelty of war and undeserved treatment of those who survived to return home, left a burden on his heart and a pain in his soul for the rest of his life. While serving in Vietnam, he was wounded twice for which he earned two Purple Hearts. Larry was proud of his service and proud to say he was a Marine.

Funeral services will be Saturday, January 4, 2020 at Calvary Baptist Church in Hazen at 2:00 P.M. Burial will be at Hazen Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will be at Westbrook Funeral Home, Friday, January 3, 2020 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.

Memorials may be made in memory of Larry Swaim to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots.

Larry Joe Strickland, 52, of Little Rock, passed away December 20, 2019 at his home.  He was born on December 13, 1967 in Little Rock, the son of Colleen Denson and Lawrence Strickland.  Larry was a graduate of Carlisle High School.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Colleen Denson.  Larry is survived by his father, Laurence (Barbie) Strickland; daughters, heather Strickland, Holly Pierce, Haley Barry and Jessika Raper; his son, Garrett Strickland; brothers, Troy Denson and Keith Strickland and wife, Tammy; sisters, Leslie Cullum and Cindy Mahoney; ex-wives, Michelle and Desha Strickland and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and friends.

A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 28, 2019 at the Westbrook Funeral Home Chapel in Hazen.

Bertie Boucher Jenkins Norman, 83, died December 23, 2019. She was born December 9, 1936. Bertie’s happiest years were when she lived in Clarendon. She loved the river life. She often referred to it as God’s Country. Many mornings you would find her on her back porch reading her Bible, or watching the humming birds feed and the squirrels scampering across her back yard. She enjoyed a simple life and always found beauty not only in her surroundings, but also in the people she came in contact with. She never met a stranger and always said if you look long enough you can find some good in everybody. That is how she lived her live. She loved unconditionally and would help anyone she could. She enjoyed her Sundays at the Church of Christ in Clarendon.

Bertie was preceded in death by her father, Charley Samuel Boucher, her mother, Irene Walker, her first husband, Alfred “Bo” Jenkins, her second husband, Claude Norman and son, Donald Ray Jenkins. Survivors include her daughters, Margaret and Gary Walker of Shannon Hills, granddaughter, Kelly and Carson Slaughter of England, grandson, Donnie and Cerae Jenkins of Carlisle, Tyre Jenkins of Carlisle, Johnathan Jenkins of Stuttgart, and granddaughter Jessica Jenkins of Stuttgart. A private graveside service will be held at the Crisswell and Jenkins family cemetery in DeWitt.

Joy Faye Holmes, age 88, of Hazen, died December 23, 2019 at Chambers Nursing Home in Carlisle.  She was a homemaker and a member of the Center Point Missionary Baptist Church.

Joe Faye was preceded in death by her husband, John Holmes and a granddaughter, Becky Taylor.  She is survived by one son, Dennis (Teresa) Holmes; three daughters, Beverly (Gene) Kelly, Pam (Allen) Watson and Jacqueline (Don) Campbell; 14 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren, a sister, Naomi Fisher and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Friday, December 27, 2019 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen.  Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Saturday, December 28, 2019 at the Center Point Missionary Baptist Church with interment in Center Point Cemetery.

Steven Anthony Pirani, 66 of Lonoke, Arkansas, passed away suddenly on Saturday, December 14, 2019.  Steve was born on June 29, 1953 in Memphis, Tennessee to Mary and Paul Pirani.  

After graduating from Kemper Military School, Steve joined the Navy and served his country for six years, where he traveled throughout the world.  During this time, he developed his love of flying.  He was a Commercial Certificate holder  with a Multi-Engine Land Rating, Instrument Rated, and Certified Flight Instructor.  Flying was his lifelong hobby.

Upon Steve’s return to Arkansas from the military, he met the love of his life, Regina, and they were married September 6, 1980.  They spent many happy years together.

Steve attended the University of Memphis and University of Arkansas at Little Rock (ULAR).  He had a strong belief in higher education and continued to take classes and learn in different areas of his life.  He held a multi-state Master Electrical License and HVAC/R Mechanical License, along with many other licenses.

Steve was the President of Paragon, Inc., Marion, Arkansas from 1992 – 2010, where he was a multi-state General Contractor, Electrical and Mechanical Contractor.

He was currently employed with General Services Administration (GSA) (PBS), in Region 7, as a Construction Management Advisor stationed at Little Rock, Arkansas.  He managed projects in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas.  In 2019, Steve had the distinguished honor of being named Employee of The Year for all of Region 7.

Steve is survived by his wife, Regina McKenzie Pirani, as well as his beloved rescue dogs.; his mother, Mary Pirani; his sister, Karen Reinbold (Don); his brothers, Phillip Pirani (Jane), Thad Pirani (Carla), and Louis Pirani (Angela), as well as many nieces and nephews that he loved very much.

Steve was preceded in death by his father, Paul Pirani, and his brother, Tracy Pirani.

Steve was a good and decent man who had a kind and gentle soul.  He will be sadly missed by all of his family, his GSA family and all who knew him.

On Wednesday, December 18, 2019, at 9:30 A.M., at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, 617 South Louisiana Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, the praying of the rosary will begin and the Catholic Mass will immediately follow.  The interment will be at Crittenden Memorial Park, 2206 US-64, Marion, Arkansas after the mass.  Marion, Arkansas is approximately a two hour drive from Little Rock, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Steven A. Pirani, to Marion Animal Shelter, 1001 L.H. Polk, Marion, Arkansas 72364 or Subiaco Academy, 405 North Subiaco Avenue, Subiaco, Arkansas 72865.

Marion Monroe Partain of Carlisle, passed away peacefully in his home on his 95^th birthday November 26, 2019. He was born November 26, 1924 South of Carlisle, the son of the late Joseph and Cora Bell Nation Partain. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Edna Partain. He had two daughters, Carolyn (Billy) McCallie, and Maureen Boren, step-daughter, Callie Tidwell (Jeff), step-son, Chance Floerchinger (Billie Sue); grandchildren, Roger McCallie (Brenda), Jennifer Wolfe, Tommy Boren (Jennifer), Shelby Perrow (Travis), Derek Floerchinger (Caitlinn), Drew Florechinger (Talyn), and Colton Tidwell; great-grandchildren, Jessica McCallie, Lana Ball (Tanner), Austin Wolfe, Ty Boren, Leigh Ann Wolfe, West Boren, Mari Russell Boren, Presley Perrow, Delaney Perrow, and Collins Creed Floerchinger.

Marion was loved by many nieces and nephews as well. Marion was preceded in death by his sister, Kaye Henley (Terry), brother, Robert Partain, Bessie Partain, his former wife and mother of his daughters and his great-great granddaughter, Sunni Leigh Ball.

The entire family recognizes and is extremely grateful the love and care shown from Misty Haymaker, Janice Phillips, and Shelia Renner.

Marion grew up in Snake Island. He served in the Navy during World War II. After returning from service, he made Carlisle his permanent home. He sold Farm Equipment for Minneapolis Moline, Massey Ferguson, Case and John Deere. Marion was a member and deacon at the Carlisle First Baptist Church. He served as the Volunteer Carlisle Fire Chief for 40 years and was a member of the American Legion for over 70 years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. Marion was awarded the Carlisle Citizen of the year multiple times and was awarded the Capitol Citation award.

Services will be held at the First Baptist Church, 319 South Court Street, Carlisle, Arkansas on December 1, 2019. Visitation will be held from 1:30 – 2:30 P.M. with the service following. Interment at Carlisle Cemetery.