Ethel Allen

Ethel Juanita Allen, 91, of Colcord, Okla., died June 5, 2013, at Quail Ridge Living Center, West Siloam Springs, Okla.

She was born Dec. 14, 1921, in Ketchum, Okla., to John Ashley Scott and Lula Mae Wilhite. She was a homemaker and a member of the Colcord Church of Christ. She married Albert “Houston” Allen in April, 1937.

She was preceded in death by her first husband in 1979, her second husband, Hiram Kenney, in 1994; two daughters, Diana Jane Duncan and Phyllis Gale Glass; and one grandson, Marty Jay Glass.

Survivors include two sons, Frankie Dwayne Allen and wife Pam of Jay, Okla., David Houston Allen and wife Linda of Siloam Springs; one daughter, Eleanor Jeanne Sullivan and husband Dale of Gentry; and one sister, Norma Taylor of Siloam Springs; one brother, John Scott of Tulsa, Okla.; 10 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and one great-greatgrandchild.

Funeral services were held June 7 at Colcord Church of Christ, with Larry Ellis officiating. Burial was at Dickson Cemetery, near Cherokee City. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs.

Jerry Burks

Jerry Dale Burks, 64, of Gig Harbor, Wash., died May 17, 2013, at Hospice House in University Place, Wash.

He was born Feb. 11, 1949, in Lancaster, Calif., to Jim and Arzola Burks.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Jay Wade and sister Jean Lea.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Peggy (Phillips) of the home; son Bill of Gig Harbor, Wash.; daughter Melissa of Tacoma, Wash.; two grandsons; and two sisters, Janell Skillman of Gig Harbor and Jo Pruitt of Grove, Okla.

He was a Gravette High School graduate and lived in Gravette from 1963 to 1972. He was a retired longshoreman, a member of the International Longshore Warehouse Union and loved the brotherhood within the union. He enjoyed golfing, gambling and traveling, wanting to see as much as he could along the way.

At his request, no services will be held. He will be cremated and ashes will be spread in Zion National Park at a later date.

Arrangements are by Edwards Memorial Center in Washington.

Lena Burrow

Lena Mae Burrow, 92, of Gravette, died May 24, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers.

She was born Oct. 25, 1920, in Beaty, to Dwight Franklin Harris and Dixie Ann Pierce Harris.

She is survived by one son, Larry Burrow and wife Brenda of Grove, Okla.; three daughters, Marilyn Rankin and husband Bob of Greenwood, Anita Reneau of Gravette and Patty Burrow of Southwest City, Mo.; seven grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

A memorial will be held at the Heritage Baptist Church in Gravette on Saturday, June 15, at 1:30 p.m. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, Bella Vista.

Edward ‘Dwayne’ Jech

Edward “Dwayne” Jech, 63, of Springdale, died June 3, 2013, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.

He was born July 25, 1949, in Siloam Springs to Leslie and Naomi Jenkins Jech. He attended Fellowship Bible Church in Lowell and served in the United States Air Force as a pilot. He loved golf and spending time with his “Podnas” from the Air Force and family.

He is survived by his wife, Saleta Jech, of the home; one son, James Jech and wife Lisa of Springdale; one daughter, Carmen Burasco and husband Shannon of Springdale; one brother, Michael Don Jech of Gentry; one sister, Marilyn Denise Barnes and husband Billy of Miami, Fla.; his adopted parents, Otto and Helen Jech of Springdale; Gary and Vicki Jech of Springdale, and Cheryl and Steve Smith of Gentry, and Karen Jech of Springdale; three grandchildren, Miya and Kenji Jech and Sophia Burasco.

A private memorial service will be held. Arrangements are by Sisco Funeral Chapel in Springdale.

John Smith

John Henry Smith, 77, of Decatur, died June 6, 2013, at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville.

He was born Dec. 16, 1935, in Decatur, to Albert Smith and Zelma Payne Smith. He was a lifetime resident of Decatur and was a farmer and rancher, raising chickens for Peterson Industries/Simmons since 1967. He served during peacetime in Germany in the U.S. Army as an M16 specialist. On Dec. 22, 1956, he married Alberta Effie Haggard in Decatur at the First Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a baby sister, Anita Bell Smith; a brother, Albert Val Smith; a sister, Carol Wilson; and grandson, Kyle Smith.

Survivors include his wife, Alberta, of the home; three sons, Terry Smith and wife Sherry, and Joey Smith and wife Normona, all of Decatur, and Russell Smith and wife Becky of Siloam Springs; five grandsons, one granddaughter; two stepgrandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four stepgreat-grandchildren; brother, Charles Smith of Bella Vista; sister, Rowena Meek of Gravette; and sister-in-law Martha Smith of Decatur.

Funeral services were June 11, 2013, at First Baptist Church, Decatur, with the David Graham and Dennis Taylor officiating. Burial was at Decatur Cemetery. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs.