NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Terry Ellis, Sr.
Terry Lee Ellis, Sr., 65, died June 21, in Tulsa, Okla., with his family at his side.
He was born April 27, 1947, in Blackwell, Okla., to Elmer and Verna Lee (Wheeler) Ellis. He was raised in Gravette and Blackwell. He attended Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, Okla., and later joined the U.S. Army, being honorably discharged in 1971. On May 27, 1971, he married Sharon Cobb, and they moved from Blackwell to Fort Gibson, Okla., in 1986. He was a multi-award winning General Motors parts manager for more than 40 years and was a Dale Earnhardt racing fan. He was a member of Fort Gibson Christian Church for more than 20 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Ellis; his parents; sisters, Virginia Lee Ellis, Willa Mae Koehn, Jewel Jordan and Naomi Petosa; and brothers, Virgil Ellis and Leon Ellis.
He is survived by his children, Rob and Lori Ellis of Spring Branch, Texas, Randy and April Ellis of Fort Gibson, Becky and Darin Parks of Fort Gibson, T.J. and Stacy Ellis of Fort Gibson, and Nancy and Ray Contreras of Fort Gibson; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one sister, Twila Pursley of Fort Gibson; and three brothers, Chuck Ellis of Paragould, Eddie Ellis of Blackwell, and Jerry Ellis of Tonkawa.
Funeral services were June 25 at the Fort Gibson Church of Christ with Brian Hill officiating. Interment followed at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery. Arrangements were by Bradley Funeral Service of Fort Gibson.
Crystal Haley
Crystal Rae Haley, 85, died June 24, 2012, at Siloam Springs Nursing Center.
She was born Nov. 18, 1926, near Gentry, in Cherokee Township, to Albert and Beulah Florer. She married George Haley on Oct. 5, 1942, in Siloam Springs, and they farmed together near Maysville before moving to Gravette. She was a member of the Maysville Bible Church and a student of the Bible. She was known for her homemaking skills as an accomplished seamstress and cook.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Otto, Aldo, Loyd and Herbert Florer; and one sister, Theda Mae Loux.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 70 years, George Haley of Gravette; one son, Ross Haley, Sr., and his wife Belva of Siloam Springs; one daughter, Wilma Barnes and her husband Marty of Cave Springs; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one brother, John Florer of Boulder, Colo.; and one sister, Alberta Walls of Santa Maria, Calif.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 27, at Maysville Cemetery, Maysville, with Dan Crenshaw and Preston Haley officiating. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs.
‘Billie’ Louella Keith
“Billie” Louella Irene Douglas Keith, 90, died June 24, 2012, at Highlands Health Care in Bella Vista.
She was born Nov. 1, 1921, in Centerton to Paul Oliver Douglas and Ella Matt Callis Douglas. She lived most of her life in Benton County (other than brief stays inJacksonville, Fla., and San Deigo Calif.). She married Hurshel L. Keith on Dec. 9, 1941, in Bentonville. They farmed south of Hiwasse, where she lived until her recent illness. She was a member of the Hiwasse Church of Christ.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father; one sister, Eveline Curtis; her husband of 69 years, Hurshel Keith; and one son-in-law, Gary Hutcheson.
Billie is survived by five children, Larry and wife Regina Keith of Hiwasse, Paula Hutcheson of Bentonville, Sally and husband Carl Bennett of Rogers, Alan Keith of the home, and Betsy and husband Mike Meek of Bella Vista; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Gene Douglas of Centerton and CalvinDouglas of Bentonville.
Funeral service will be held at the Hiwasse Church of Christ on Wednesday, June 27, at 10 a.m., with Gene Roberts officiating. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, west of Hiwasse. Arrangements are by Callison-Lough Funeral Home in Bentonville.
Monta Rae Teel
Monta Rae Teel, 83, of Colcord, Okla., died June 24, 2012, at Siloam Springs Nursing and Rehab in Siloam Springs.
She was born Aug. 12, 1928, in Lavaca, to JohnE. Jones and Ora Belle Campbell Jones. She was a homemaker and attended Crossroads Revival Church, Siloam Springs. She married George Teel on June 8, 1959, in Stilwell, Okla.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two daughters; two granddaughters; three brothers; and one sister.
Survivors include her husband George of the home; two sons, Russell Thomas and wife Marge of Wyandotte, Okla., and Johnnie Thomas and wife Peggy of Chelsea, Okla.; six daughters, Ruby Carter of Chelsea, Deborah Peschka and husband Terry of Broken Arrow, Okla., Cindy Mitchell and husband Bill of Colcord; Georgianna Smythe and husband Charlie, and Tina Teel, all of Siloam Springs, and Ruth Thomas of Gravette; 27grandchildren; 62 greatgrandchildren; four greatgreat-grandchildren; one brother Curtis Jones; three sisters, Wilma Bradley of Tulsa, Okla., Mildred Keck of Pocola, Okla., and Dorothy James of Bishop, Calif.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, June 29, at Wasson Memorial Chapel, Siloam Springs, with Larry Ellis officiating. Burial will follow at Row Cemetery in Colcord. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, June 28, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home.
News, Pages 4 on 06/27/2012