WESTSIDE EAGLE OBITUARIES

Melba Birkes

Melba Jean Birkes, 81, of Chouteau, Okla., formerly of Maysville, died Aug. 22, 2010.

She was born Jan. 3, 1929, in Broken Bow, Okla., the daughter of Austin and Rena Tate Goddard. She attended Maysville school and graduated from Southwest City High School. She married B. R. “Pete” Birkes of Maysville. She attended the University of Arkansas and graduated from University of Tulsa. She was a retired teacher.

Survivors include her husband, Pete Birkes; children and stepchildren; a sister, Mary Marsh; and numerous grandchildren, stepgrandchildren, greatgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Aug. 26 at Chouteau United Methodist Church, with graveside services at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens conducted by Floral Haven Funeral Home.

Archie A. Damron

Archie A. Damron, 94, of Sulphur Springs, died Aug. 28, 2010, at his home.

He was born April 5, 1916 in Malvern, Ark., to the late Sidney Sheldon and Bertha Myrtle (Carver) Damron. He moved to the Sulphur Springs area from Arizona in 1973 and started a wheat and soybean farm and later grew green beans for Allen Canning.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Eunice Turpin Damron; three brothers, Matt Damron, Sid Damron and Leonard Damron; and one sister, Pauline Damron.

Survivors include two sons, William Damron of Decatur and John Damron of Sulphur Springs; two daughters, Wanda McPherson of Sulphur Springs and Carol Cluff of Phoenix, Ariz.; one sister, Betty Crouse of Minnesota; 16 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and five great-greatgrandchildren.

Graveside services were Aug. 31at Lee Cemetery northwest of Gravette.

Arrangements were by Callison Lough Funeral Home in Bentonville.

Ronald Foreman

Ronald M. “Ron” Foreman, 55, of Decatur, died Aug. 28, 2010.

He was born April 14, 1955, in Jonesboro, to Roy L. and Frances Spence Foreman. He was an Air Force Veteran and earned a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University.

Survivors include his wife, Delia of the home; two sons, Darrell Beck and wife Terra of Grove, Okla., Allen Beck of Lanagan, Mo.; two daughters, Cindy Bell of Decatur, Teresa Mullin of Roland, Okla.; eight grandchildren; one great-grandson; his parents of Decatur; one brother, Danny Foreman of Decatur; and one sister, Judy Foreman of Decatur.

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 1, at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs.

Alice Nancy Montgomery

Alice Nancy Montgomery, 92, of Noel, Mo., died Aug.26, 2010, at Circle of Life Legacy Village in Bentonville.

She was born Oct. 1, 1917, in Knox, Ind., to the late Benjamin and Jennie (Owens) Montgomery. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting and reading her Bible.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Howard Montgomery; and one sister, Elma Camper.

Survivors include one sister, Edna Shimkus of Harleysville, Penn.

Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, at Liberty Baptist Church in Bentonville, with burial to follow at Bentonville City Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Callison Lough Funeral Home in Bentonville.

Elsie May Powell

Elsie May (Tombaugh) Powell, 72, of Gravette, died on Aug. 23, 2010, in Springdale.

She was born Sept. 4, 1937, in Kearney, Neb. Asa child, her family moved to Wichita, Kan., and later she moved to Northwest Arkansas.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Delphos and Pearl Tombaugh, one sister, Maridell, and one grandson, Christopher.

She is survived by one brother, Marvin Tombaugh of Wichita, Kan.; six children, Elizabeth Teed and husband Lemuel of Rogers, Darrell Powell, Jr., and wife Donna of Gravette, Phillip Powell of Bella Vista, Rachel Lewis and husband Mike of Spavinaw, Okla., Tim Powell of the home, Dallas Powell of Bentonville, 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Aug. 27 at the First Church of the Nazarene in Rogers, with Alan Johnson and Lonnie Witt officiating. Interment was at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Hiwasse.

Arrangements were by Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers.

John H. Ketring

John H. Ketring, 71,of Hartford City, Ind., died at Blackford County Hospital in Hartford City on Aug. 29, 2010.

He was born Feb. 4, 1939, in Huntington County, Ind., to Glen Ketring and Eloise Ketring Long. He graduated from Mississinewa High School in Gas City, Ind. He retired in 2004 from Peterson Industries in Decatur and moved back to Indiana in 2005. He was a member of the American Legion Post 159 and a member of the Amvets Post 23 out of Hartford City. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, shuffleboard, playing cards and spending time with his family and friends. He married Phyllis (Harter) Ketring on May 28, 1960 in Montpelier, Ind. They were married for 50 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents anda granddaughter, Gretchen Crishen.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis (Harter) Ketring of Hartford City; daughters, Risa (Fred) Foreman of Hartford City, Cheryl (James) Griffith of Colcord, Okla., Kristi (Bill) Michael of Hartford City and Traci Ketring (Laura Cottnell) of Muncie, Ind.; son, John (Sherri) Ketring Jr. of Siloam Springs; brothers, Steve Ketring of Upland, Ind., Mike Ketring of Marion, Ind. and Bruce Ketring of Upland; sisters, Betty Jo McKenny and Melinda Mullinex of Marion; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grand children.

Funeral services will be at Walker & Glancy Funeral Home in Montpelier, Ind., at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept, 2, with Ferrell Long officiating. Interment will be at Brookside Memorial Park in Montpelier.

Arrangements are by Walker & Glancy Funeral Home.

For the Record, Pages 9 on 09/01/2010