Offa Epperson

Offa Philpott Schell Epperson, 96, of Rogers, died Dec. 12, 2013, in Rogers.

She was born Sept. 13, 1917, near Decatur, to Eli Commodore and Minnie A. Scroggins Philpott. She was a homemaker and a member of the Methodist church.

She is preceded in death by her husbands, Lester Schell, and Ray Epperson; and six grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, Will Schell and wife Lavonna of Berryville, Dalene Toovey and husband Charles of Staplehurst, Neb., and Patsy Graves of Rogers; one brother, Orley Philpott of San Bernardino, Calif.; four sisters, Amy Brewer of Guymon, Okla., Edna Brandon of Decatur, Ilda McCullough of Siloam Springs, and Leta Warren of Grove, Okla.; 13 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and 17 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Dec. 16 at Benton County Funeral Home in Rogers, with her grandson, Brad Graves, officiating. Interment followed in the Springtown Cemetery.

L. Jeanne Jensen

Linda Jeanne (Setser) Jensen was born in Neosho, Mo., in 1946, to Opal and Orba Setser. She died Dec. 13, 2013, at the Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale.

She moved to Decatur in 1957 when her parents purchased the grocery store there and set up business. Because there were five Lindas in her fifth grade class, her teacher suggested they all go by their middle names to save confusion, and she was known as Jeanne after that. In 1964, she graduated from Decatur High School, where she was active in Future Homemakers of America, serving as state president one year. She also helped to establish the girls' basketball program there. She graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1968. She worked for the Arkansas state animal laboratory in Little Rock, the lab at Peterson Farms, and at J.B. Hunt Company in Lowell. She married Jim Jensen of Gentry in 1972. In recent years, she helped her husband manage Jim's Auto Service and Sales in Gentry.

She is pre-deceased by her father, Orba Setser; and her step-father, Forrest Moomey.

She is survived by her husband; son Mark, of Valdosta, Ga.; daughter and son-in-law, Sara and Kelly Dale of Seattle, Wash.; one grandson; mother, Opal Moomey of Rogers; brother and sister-in-law, Ron and Patsy Setser of Tulsa, Okla.

No memorial service is planned at this time. Friends and family will gather to celebrate Jeanne's life at a later date. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

Marcy Kay Speer

Marcy Kay Speer, 50, of Gentry, died Dec. 13, 2013, at the Circle of Life in Bentonville, following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was born Feb. 24, 1963, in Albuquerque, N.M., to James and Wanda Kinkead. She owned Marcy's Dog Grooming in Gentry and groomed and cared for animals for many years. She was also a big supporter of the local 4-H and community. She married Kenneth Speer on April 14, 1984, in Grove, Okla.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth, of the home; two daughters, Amy Speer and Kendra Romig; and one granddaughter.

Funeral services were Dec. 17 at First Baptist Church in Gentry. Burial was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Afton, Okla. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

Davis Tate

Davis Eugene Tate, 90, of Rogers, died Friday, Dec. 13, 2013.

He was born to Matthew and Maudine Tate on July 18, 1923, in Arbuckle Island. He was the seventh of 13 children. He was married to Shirley Tate and they lived in Noel, Mo. He was a United States Marine Corp veteran and served in World War II in the Pacific Theater. He played on a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, Calif., in the 1930s. He retired from Sam Tanksley Trucking with more 20 years of service and more than 3 million accident-free miles. He was a farmer and rode the rodeo circuit.

He is survived by five children, David Lee Tate, Sr., of Gravette, Leann Klider of Star City, Lora Tate of Anderson, Mo., Tammie Tate of Grapevine, and Mary Leal of Noel, Mo.; 25 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

Funeral was Dec. 17 at Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers.

Vernon Witcher

Vernon C. Witcher, 81, died Nov. 25, 2013, at the VA Hospital in Roseburg, Ore.

He was born June 29, 1932, in Decatur, to Frank and Mabel (Parker) Witcher. He attended school in Arkansas and California. He was in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, was wounded and, upon returning home, moved to California to work. He eventually went to work for the Robert Mondavi Winery, retiring after 22 years. He then moved to Roseburg, Ore., where he and his wife, Carlene, enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Betty Lee Hubbard; brothers, George Witcher, J.D. Witcher, Burlin Dean Witcher, Sr., and Larry Dean Witcher.

He is survived by his wife, Carlene, of the home; two daughters, Cathleen Lombardi, and Roxanna Lawrence; four grandsons; three great-grandsons; one great- granddaughter; brothers, Eli Witcher of Gravette, and Loren Witcher of Bentonville.

There will be a veteran's memorial service at noon. Jan. 16, 2014, in Roseburg, Ore.