WESTSIDE — Velma Linn Chambers

Velma Linn Chambers, 81, of Colcord, Okla., died Dec. 31, 2010, at her home.

She was born March 28, 1929, in Colcord, to Henry January and Vine Potter January. She was a waitress for various restaurants. She married Charles Chambers on Feb. 18, 2000.

Survivors include her husband, Charles of the home; one son, Roger Linn of Watts, Okla.; one daughter, Linda Adams of Houston, Texas; one step-son, Rex Chambers of Colcord; one step-daughter, Carolyn Chambers of Iowa; 12 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, at Row Cemetery, Colcord, with Larry Ellis officiating.

Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

***

Lemuel Fay Cripps

Lemuel Fay Cripps, 70, of Gentry, died Jan. 3, 2011, at his home.

He was born Jan. 23, 1940, in Gentry, to Charlie B. Cripps and Virda May Porter Cripps. He was a lifetime resident of Gentry and was a peacetime veteran of the Air Force. He was a livestock farmer and retired from the Gentry Fire Department after 25 years of service. He married Annis Mae Turner on Nov. 25, 1962, in Gentry. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Gentry.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Herman Cripps and Ervin Cripps.

Survivors include his wife Annis of the home; one son, Vester Cripps and wife Danette of Gentry; two daughters, Araminta Cripps and fiancé Tim Henderson of Gentry, and Annette Lane and husband Steve of Jay, Okla.; five grandsons; one brother, Gregory Cripps and wife Emma of Gentry; and one sister, Velma Hartog and husband Paul of Tulsa, Okla.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 7, at Gentry First Baptist Church, with Mike Walker and Robin Cowan officiating. Burial will follow at Falling Springs Cemetery, near Decatur.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 6, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home.

***

Norma Lee Churchwell

Norma Lee (Harvey) Churchwell, 82, of Bentonville, died Dec. 30, 2010, at the Bentonville Manor in Bentonville.

She was born in Des Arc on July 11, 1928, to Gilbert T. and Mary E. (Moore) Harvey. She married Jay Churchwell in Des Arc on July 12, 1947, and they were married for more than 63 years before her death. She worked as a sales manager for Olan Mills Studios before she retired. She enjoyed spending time with and caring for her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, G.B. Harvey.

She is survived by her husband, of the home; one son, Mike Churchwell and his wife Karen of Gravette; two daughters, Diane Gray and her husband Ed of Bella Vista; Patti Springs and her husband Richard of Little Rock; two brothers, Charles F. Harvey of North Little Rock, and Warren Harvey and his wife Becky of Plano, Texas; three sisters, Jean Martz of Michigan; Shirley Taylor of Benton; Sue Harris and her husband Kennethof Gurdon; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Jan. 3, 2011, at the Oakley Chapel United Methodist Church, Rogers, with Doug Burris officiating. Interment followed at Benton County Memorial Park in Rogers.

Arrangements were by Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home of Rogers.

***

William Duffin, Jr.

William “Bill” James Duffin, Jr., 77, of Gravette, died Dec. 26, 2010, at Circle of Life Hospice House in Springdale.

He was born May 24, 1933, in Chicago, Ill., to Josephine and William Duffin. He retired as a cab driver and loved old movies, especially Westerns.

Survivors include three sons, William Duffin III and wife Romanita, Paul Duffin, and David Duffin and wife Melissa, all of Chicago; a daughter, Sandra Matlow and husband Bill of Hiwasse; a stepdaughter, Elizabeth Dunnagan of Miland, Tenn.; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were under direction of Epting Funeral Home in Bentonville.

Charlotte Ann Harwell

Charlotte Ann Harwell, 64, of Highfill, died Dec. 31, 2010, at her home.

She was born July 22, 1946, in Bentonville, to Ree Clark Holland and Betty Jane Bennett Holland. She was a lifelong resident of Benton County and was a special education teacher and a beautician. She married Jerry Harwell on June 25, 1966, in Highfill. She was a member of the Highfill United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband and her father.

Survivors include two daughters, Pam Harwell, and Stacie Williamson and husband David, all of Highfill; three grandchildren; her mother, Betty Holland of Highfill; one brother, Roger Holland and wife Tammi of North Platte, Neb.; two sisters, Caroline Bramlett and husband Phil of Westville, Okla., and Melba Cockrell and husband Johnny of Fort Smith.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at the United Methodist Church in Highfill, with Russ Hull officiating. Burial will follow at Springtown Cemetery, Springtown. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

***

Harold Dean Murray

Harold Dean Murray, 83, of Siloam Springs, died Dec. 24, 2010, at Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital in Siloam Springs.

He was born Feb. 22, 1927, in Waurika, Okla., to Edgar and Cassie L. Brown Murray. He served in the United States Navy.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Mildred Jordan and Jean Gosnell; one son, Ronald C. Murray; two grandchildren, Daryll Wakefield and Justin Murray.

Survivors include his wife, Maria Murray, of the home; two sons, Harold D. Murray Jr. and James Russell Murray, both of California; one stepson, Reiden K. Tizon of Siloam Springs;one daughter, Janice Matlock of Miami, Okla.; one sister, Faye Jackson of Littlefield, Texas; one brother, Arnold B. Murray of Gravette; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Dec. 31, 2010, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Siloam Springs, with Salvador Marquez-Munoz officiating. Burial was at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Siloam Springs.

Arrangements were by Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove.

***

Melvin Ray Richeson

Melvin Ray Richeson, 78, of Gravette, died Dec. 31, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center, Rogers.

He was born May 23, 1932, in Cushing, Okla., to Roy and Lola Richeson. He graduated from Cushing High School and went on to two years of junior college. He was a paratrooper with the Army 82nd Airborne Division during peacetime. He worked in the oil field and worked maintenance for Bentonville Casting Company. He married Patricia Jane Hoggatt in Cushing, in 1953. He was a member of the Council Valley Baptist Church in Cushing.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Ronald Richeson and Kenneth Richeson; and one grandson, Billy Ray Mullen.

Survivors include his wife Pat of the home; two daughters, Teresa Mullen and husband Bill of Maysville, and Jana Noel and husband Ron of Noel, Mo.; one sister, Thelma Henley of Inola, Okla.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were Jan. 3, 2011, at Maysville Cemetery, Maysville, with Jim Whisenant officiating.

Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

***

Lillie Irene Waddell

Lillie Irene Waddell, 97, of Rogers, died Dec. 28, 2010, at Heritage Park Nursing Home in Rogers.

She was born Aug. 5, 1913, in Gentry, to Marshall Gosney and Delphi Harrington Gosney. She was a World War I widow, and lived in the area all of her life.

Survivors include three sons, Pat Waddell and wife Nellie of Rogers, Stan Waddell and wife Joyce of Rogers, Lon Waddell and wife Connie of Erie, Colo.; and numerous grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Jan. 3 at Sisco Funeral Home Chapel in Pea Ridge. Burial was at Benton County Memorial Park in Rogers.

Community, Pages 4 on 01/05/2011