GENTRY — Mary Lou Koeller
Mary Lou Koeller, 81, of Siloam Springs, Ark., died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009, in Van Buren, Ark.
She was born June 27, 1928, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Rembrandt Mechtly and Lucy Sanders Mechtly. She moved to this area in 1964 from Muskogee, Okla. She was a teacher for the Gentry School District in Gentry, Ark. She married Norman Koeller in 1972 in Russellville, Ark. She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Siloam Springs.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Paul Altland; and a son, Wesley Altland.
Survivors include her husband, Norman Koeller; three sons and daughters-in-law, Bill Altland and Sarah Altland of Craig, Alaska, John Altland and Sherry Altland of Fayetteville, Ark., and Mike Altland and Vicki Altland of Conway, Ark.; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Patterson and Phillip Patterson of Alma, Ark.; and a brother, Bud Mechtly of Rockwood, Tenn.
Burial services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 29, at Grace Episcopal Church in Siloam Springs with the Rev. Stan McKinnon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Episcopal Church in Siloam Springs or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs.
David Van Parker
David Van Parker died Aug. 25, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas.
He was born Feb. 1, 1939, in Gentry, Ark., to Henry and Ruby Faye Glenn Parker. He was a graduate of Gentry High School, president of the student body, a representative to Arkansas Boy’s State, and served as a page in the Arkansas State Senate.
He attended Arlington State College (the University of Texas at Arlington) and was a member of ROTC and the Sam Houston Rifles. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1961 in the first four-year graduating class. He earned a master’s degree in economics at Texas Christian University in 1968 and a doctorate in higher education administration at the University of North Texas in 1979.
He was a current member of Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth, and previously a member of Travis Avenue Baptist Church. He was a deacon at East Meadows Baptist Church, serving two years as president of the Baptist Men's Association. He and his family were former members of Polytechnic Baptist Church where he taught Sunday school, served on the board of the Polytechnic Baptist Church Child Care Center and drove a church van for senior members.
After graduating from Arlington State College, he was promoted to buyer in the catalog division of Montgomery Ward & Co. at the regional headquarters on West Seventh Street in Fort Worth. In 1965, he changed careers and established the distributive education program at Brewer High School in White Settlement. In 1968, he was employed by Tarrant County College, Northeast Campus in Hurst, Texas, as a member of the founding faculty, teaching and assisting with developing new curriculum in the Mid Management department. In 1969, he led in establishing the college’s new food marketing program. He served as vice president of the Northeast Campus Faculty Association and was a member of the NE Campus faculty senate. In 1970, he became an administrator, establishing the Northeast Campus career employment services office and becoming its first director. He held various titles and positions at TCC, including instructor of mid-management and economics, director of Career Employment Services, assistant dean of instruction, and associate dean of instruction and student development services. While associate dean, he served several years as the interim director of counseling. He retired from TCC in 2008 as the vice president for student development services with 40 years of service. One of his favorite responsibilities was speaking to new students in group advising sessions. He estimated he had met with over 20,000 new students.
His professional memberships included the Texas Community College Teachers Association, Junior/Community College Student Personnel Association of Texas, Texas Association of Community College Chief Student Personnel Administrators and for many years the Texas Association of Community College Instructional Administrators. He was a former president of TACCIA and received its professional achievement award in 2002. He was an honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa student honor society, Omicron Delta Honorary Economics Society at TCU, and published several articles in professional publications, including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Dr. Parker was a former president of the Mid-Cities Kiwanis Club and the Rotary Club of Hurst-Euless-Bedford. He had been a Rotary Reader, Adopt-a-School volunteer for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD and a mentor at West Hurst Junior High School.
He and wife Bettie traveled extensively overseas. He enjoyed photography, reading, yard work, fishing with grandsons, genealogy and golf, having made one hole-in-one. He was particularly pleased to have played the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland. He enjoyed the opportunity to attend major tournaments, including the Ryder Cup, British Open, U.S. Open and the Masters.
He was preceded in death by his father, Henry Howard Parker. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Bettie of Fort Worth; son, David Parker and wife, Ashley, of Plano, Texas; grandsons, Blake and Reid Parker; mother, Ruby Faye Glenn Parker; brother, Rick Parker and wife Teresa; niece, Rhiannon Parker, of Gentry; mother-in-law, Madgelyn Adams of Fayetteville, Ark.; and sister-in-law, Phyllis Fist of Tulsa, Okla.
A burial and memorial service was held Aug. 28 at Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tarrant County College Foundation scholarship fund or the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements were under the direction of Greenwood Funeral Home in Ft. Worth.
Nellie E.Twiggs
Nellie E. Twiggs, 96, of Gentry, Arkansas, died August 25, 2009, at her home. Born August 26, 1912, in Eugene, Missouri, she was the daughter of Virgil Buster and Anna Miller Buster. She was co-owner of Twiggs IGA in Gentry and lived most of her life in Gentry. Nellie was a member of the Gentry Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and the First Baptist Church, Gentry, Arkansas.
She was preceded in death by her husband Fay Glen Twiggs in 1984, and one daughter, Carolyn Twiggs.
Survivors include two sons, James Twiggs of Gentry, Arkansas, and Joe Twiggs of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; two grandsons, James Twiggs, Jr., of Springdale, Arkansas and Michael Phillips of Locust Grove, Virginia; two granddaughters, Pam Price of Springdale, Arkansas, and Margie Twiggs of Fayetteville, Arkansas; five great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 28, 2009, at Wasson Memorial Chapel, Siloam Springs, Arkansas, with Dr. Robin Cowan and James Twiggs, Jr., officiating. Burial will follow at Gentry Cemetery, Gentry, Arkansas. To sign the online guest book visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
For The Record, Pages 4 on 10/07/2009