WESTSIDE — William Barnes

William Andrew “Bill” Barnes, 80, of Grove, Okla., died July 9, 2011, at the Grove Nursing Center.

He was born May 28, 1931, in Beaty, to Oler E. and Augusta (Darrow) Barnes. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Korea. He was of the Full Gospel faith. He moved to New Orleans in 1959 and retired after 30 years employed by the city of New Orleans. He returned to Delaware County, Okla., in 1979.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Wilburn and Jack Barnes.

Survivors include one sister, Helen Robertson of Jay, Okla.

Graveside services with military honors were held July 12 at Beaty Cemetery, with Richard Hart officiating. Arrangements were by Ozark Funeral Home of Southwest City, Mo.

Alexis Finley

Alexis Nicole Finley died July 12, 2011, at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital in Johnson.

She was born July 12, 2011, to Jeffrey Finley and Ashlee Davenport of Gentry.

Survivors include her parents; paternal grandparents, Stephen and Sonia Ingle of McAlester, Okla.; maternal grandparents, Jeff and Amy Doyle of Gentry; great-grandparents, Donnie and Sally Lowery of Olla, La.; Jimmie Lee Duncan of Olla; Tom and Patricia Clayton of Ft Worth, Texas; Rick and Christy Doyle of Christy, Okla., Glenda Doyle of Stilwell, Okla., Denver and Sharon Finley of Olla; Lloyd and Shawn Ingle of Denham Springs, La., Mary Lou Etheridge of Olla; Jerry Wells of Jena, La., and Carolyn Wells of Winnsbora, La.; and great-great-grandmother, Aro Blake of Olla.

Graveside services were held July 19 at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Siloam Springs, with Larry Petton officiating. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs.

Maria Garcia

Maria Salud Garcia, 42, of Decatur, died at Siloam Springs Medical Center on July 10, 2011.

She was born Sept. 29, 1968, to Eduardo and Rosalia Salinas in Tarandacuao, Guanajuato, Mexico.

She married Angel Garcia in February of 1989. She was a member of the Decatur Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Preceding her in death was her father.

Survivors include her husband; children, Gose Garcia, Miguel Garcia, and Nomi Garcia of the home; her mother of Mexico; seven brothers; and two sisters.

A service is to be announced at a later date.

Arrangements are by Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Siloam Springs.

Derek Miller

Derek James Miller, 81, of Gentry, died July 11, 2011, at his home.

He was born Sept. 7, 1929, in Moline, Ill., to Harvey Lincoln Miller and Elsie Anderson Miller. He was a graduate of Union College in Lincoln, Neb. He lived in Lincoln, Washington State and California before moving to Gentry in 1972. He was an Army Veteran. He married Frances Miller on Aug. 17, 1958. He retired from Simmons Foods after 28 years of service. He was a member of the Gentry Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Frances of the home; four sons, Billy Miller and wife Rose of Gentry, Danny Miller and wife Paula of McDonald, Tenn., Tommy Miller and wife Aleta of Gentry, and Skipper Miller and wife Shannon of Hixon, Tenn.; one brother, Harvey Miller of Port Orchard, Wash.; one sister, Marilyn Doyle of Fresno, Calif.; nine grandchildren; four greatgrandchildren.

Funeral services were July 16, 2011, at Gentry Seventh-day Adventist Church, with Paul Vunileva, Glenn Hill and Daniel Hoover officiating. Burial followed at Bloomfield Cemetery near Gentry. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

Carl "Buzz" Sawyer

Carl “Buzz” M. Sawyer, 79, of Gravette, died July 16, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers.

He was born Oct. 9, 1931, in Lee Creek, to Claude and Ivy (Funk) Sawyer. He was raised and educated in Gravette. He served in the U.S. Army. He married Mary Burnett on Nov. 6, 1953, in Pineville, Mo. He loved hunting and fishing and enjoyed coffee around the “table of knowledge” at the Austin Drug Store.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two sisters.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years; four sons, Ronnie Sawyer and wife Brenda of Summerville, S.C., Larry Sawyer and wife Debbie of Tulsa, Okla., Steve Sawyer of Rogers, and Randy Sawyer and wife Amelia of Pea Ridge; one daughter, Carla Kara and husband Jerry of Gravette; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were July 19 at the Bella Vista Funeral Home Chapel with Dan Fagala officiating. Burial followed at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Hiwasse. Arrangements were by Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory, Bella Vista.

Ginger Simpson

Ginger Simpson, 47, died July 10, 2011, at the Ozarks Community Hospital in Gravette.

She was born Jan. 31, 1964, at Siloam Springs, to James and Eunice (Mesener) Woolard. She worked as a nurse's aide at the Gravette hospital.

She was preceded in death by one son, Jamie Woolard; and her grandparents.

Survivors include two sons, Derek and Jordan Guthrie, both of Sulphur Springs; her parents of Gravette; one sister, Carla Woolard of Sulphur Springs; three brothers, Ed Woolard, Michael Woolard and wife Monnie, all of Sulphur Springs, and Scott Woolard and wife Britney of Grove, Okla.; one grandson, Jacob.

Services were July 15, 2011, at the First United Pentecostal Church in Gravette, with Freddy Simpson and Kevin Sammons officiating. Interment was at the Bell Cemetery in Watts, Okla. Arrangments were by Nichols Funeral Services in Grove.

Bobby Gene Guthary

was born November 13, 1927 in Gentry, Arkansas. He died July 11, 2011 in Tulsa, OK, at age 83, after a brief battle with cancer. He was the son of Andy McClinton Guthary and Mary Margie Leach Guthary.

Just a small town Arkansas country boy, he graduated from Gentry High School. He then set out to see the world by joining the US Coast Guard and serving from 1946-9 and making lots of good memories. He married Arline Louella Yocham on January 8, 1950. He then went on to earn his social work degree from the University of Arkansas. After graduation, he worked in Child Welfare/Protective Services in Searcy, Arkansas. He then moved to Corpus Christi, Texas where he counseled juveniles. The majority of his career was in Ardmore, OK where he dedicated his service to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Completing his Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma in1968, he continued to give wisdom, care, and support to his Chickasaw, Choctaw, and other Native American friends. Although he officially retired in 1984, he cared deeply about everyone he met.

Bob dedicated his career and personal time to helping others. One of Bob’s pet projects was Crosspoint Methodist Church Camp. He spent many a weekend painting, trimming trees, roofing, falling off ladders, and visiting with his work buddies there. Bob’s pride and joy every year was always his garden. His summer days were full of rototilling, planting, harvesting, and sharing his garden’s bounty. He found his peace fishing on the White River, camping in the Ozarks, or just sitting on Hickory Creek. Bob never met a stranger, meeting new people with familiarity and compassion. If you ever spent any time with Bob, you heard his “Woo Pig Sooey” in support of his Razorbacks. Bob was always available for corny jokes, intelligent conversation, crossword puzzles, hugs, or advice. His favorite times were walks in the neighborhood greeting neighbors and showing his grandchildren the wonders of nature. He touched all he met with his acts of kindness.

Bob was an active member of NARFE (National Active Federal Employees), NASW (National Association of Social Workers, and a long time member of the First United Methodist Church, Ardmore.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Crosspoint Camp, PO Box 1470, Kingston, OK 73439, Attention: Ken Long.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Arline of the home, daughters, Brenda Evans and husband Craig of Sapulpa, Marcia Wheeler and husband Terry of Clinton. Grandchildren: Michelle Myers, Jenny Jarrell, Erin Wheeler, Kristin Long, Sarah Wheeler, and Courtney Evans. Great grandchildren: Kate Myers, Reid Myers and Taylor Jarrell. Sisters: Pat Marts and husband Don of Springdale, Arkansas, Mary Ruth Schomberg and husband David of Marthasville, Missouri, and nephews and families, Andy and Kent Marts and nieces and families, Sheryl Hagen and Suzanne Cox. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter Letitia Ann Guthary.

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