MCGEE
Claire Marie Center Claire Marie Center, 95, of Bella Vista, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers. She was born Jan. 30, 1913, in Detroit Lakes, Minn., to Fred Borcher and Mildred Bartlett Borcher.
She moved to Arkansas from Goodhue, Minn., in 1964. She worked as a checker for Ben Franklin, then a Wal-M art store, from 1965 until 2002. She enjoyed china painting, cooking, reading and gardening.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Dewey Center, in 1967; a brother; and two sisters.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Jane Hobson and Danny Hobson of Bella Vista; two sons and daughters-in-law, William Kerssen and Debbie Kerssen of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Michael Center and Sue Center of Phillipsburg, N. J.; a brother, Morty Borcher of Wadena, Minn.; three sisters, Shirley Gedde and Dorothy Johnson, both of Wadena, Minn., and Nita Mittleider of Portland, Ore.; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Aug. 26, at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville.
Arrangements were by the Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home of Rogers, Ark.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Concordia Library Fund, 1 Concordia Drive, Bella Vista, Ark. 72714. Craig L. Chamness Craig L. Chamness, 43, of Rogers, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008, at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville. He was born Dec. 26, 1964, in Benton, Ill., to Lyndell Chamness and Mary Ann Eskew Chamness.
He graduated in 1983 from Escondido High School in Escondido, Calif. He was a member of the NAIA All American Baseball Team while at the University of Denver. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1992 from Southern Illinois University. He was a school teacher and a member of the National Education Association. He had lived in the Rogers area for a year, moving from Florida. He enjoyed fishing and boating.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia Chamness; a sister, Susan Ann Shaw; and his grandparents.
Survivors include his father and stepmother, Lyndell Chamness and Shirley Chamness of Benton, Ill.; his mother and stepfather, Mary Ann Novak and Kent Novak of Rogers; a son, Christopher Chamness of Pass Christian, Miss.; a daughter, Faith Chamness of Pass Christian; three brothers and a sister-in-law, Michael Chamness and Anne Chamness of Denver, and Kevin Chamness and Keith Chamness, both of Benton, Ill.; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Susan Elizabeth Riecke and John Riecke of Denver and Tina Harpool and Kevin Harpool of West Frankfort, Ill.; and his paternal step-grandparents, Bob and Willadean Loyd of Bella Vista. A memorial service was held Aug. 23, at the family home in Rogers. Arrangements were by Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer society, to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or to the Hope Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www. mem. com. Paul Fredrick Giebelhaus Paul Fredrick Giebelhaus, 84, of Bella Vista, died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, at his home. He was born Nov. 26, 1923 to Conrad and Minnie (Kleinschmidt ) Giebelhaus at Lincoln, Neb. He was baptized and confirmed at Evangelical Calvary United Brethren Church in Lincoln.
He served in the Army Air Corps from December 1942 to November 1945.
Paul married June Stock on Sept. 12, 1947, at Murdock, Neb., and she preceded him in death on August 21, 1984. Paul married Velda Magdanz on March 6, 1993.
Paul retired from the Postal Department as manager of station operations in January 1981. He was a member of the Lincoln Center Kiwanis, where he was president from 1992 to 1993. He was also a member of the Bella Vista and Bentonville Kiwanis.
They moved to Bella Vista in November 2000, where he was member of the United Lutheran Church, the Men's Golf, the Men's Club and the 9 hole Men's Golf Association. He was also a member of the Bella Vista Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Velda; a daughter and husband, Diane and Con Reha; a son and wife, Roger and Laurie Giebelhaus; three grandsons; one sister; step daughter and husband, Bev and Jerry Bolen; three step grandchildren; and three step great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, June; son, Gary; and brother, Dale.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a. m., Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the United Lutheran Church of Bella Vista, with Pastor Fred Nelson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the United Lutheran Church, Music Department, 100 Cooper Road, Bella Vista, Ark. 72715.
On-line condolences may be made at www. funeralmation. com. w / pic Ernest Arthur Hand Ernest Arthur Hand, 78, of Bella Vista, formerly of Frederick, Md., died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, at Highland Healthcare and Rehab Center in Bella Vista. He was born on March 18, 1930, in Kansas City, Mo., to Clarence Arthur Hand and Goldie Irene Sherman Hand.
He retired in 1986, from the Montgomery County, Maryland, Sheriffs Department, with 25 years service. He served 35 years as a volunteer with the Gaithersburg, Md., Fire Department. He was a member of the Frederick Moose Lodge No. 371.
He was of the Methodist Faith.
He married Nancy Lula Pickett Gosnell on June 8, 1976. After retiring, he moved to Bella Vista in 1996, where he loved the green rolling grassy mountains. He enjoyed woodworking, bluegrass festivals, friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and two sisters.
Mr. Hand is survived by his wife, Nancy Lula Hand of Bella Vista; one son, Gregory Ernest Hand and wife, Kay of Damascus, Md.; one daughter, Margaret Marie Reese and husband, Roger of Jefferson, Md.; stepdaughter, Debra A. Gosnell – Sabroso; four grandchildren, Patty, Brian, Molly, Ryan; four step-grandchildren, Jason, Tiffany, Angelina, Lukas, and two greatgrandchildren.
No services are planned. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Ernest Hand's name to the Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, Ark. 72764.
On-line condolence may be made at www. funeralmation. com Donald E. Hlavaty Donald E. Hlavaty, 77, of Bella Vista, died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, at the Highlands Health Care, Bella Vista. He was born Aug. 8, 1931, in Olmitz, Kan., to Ervin Hlavaty and Clara (Reidel ) Hlavaty.
He was raised and educated in the Olmitz area. Donald married Jo Ann Barland on Oct. 14, 1966, at Great Bend, Kan. Donald farmed in the Olmitz area, retiring and moving to Bella Vista in 1982. He was an active member of St. Bernard Catholic Church and was a 4 th Degree Knight of Columbus. He was preceded in death by his parents. Donald is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Hlavaty, of Bella Vista; and one brother, Joseph Hlavaty and his wife, Justina of Olmitz. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 10: 30 a. m., Thursday, Aug. 28, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, with Father Andy Smith officiating. Visitation will be from 9: 30 a.m. until service time at the church. Burial will be at the St. Ann Cemetery in Olmitz. On-line condolences may be made at www. funeralmation. com.
Ross Dee Maxwell Ross Dee Maxwell, age 61, of Merldlan, Texas, passed away Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008, in the Merldlan Manor. A memorial service was held Aug. 22 in the conference room of the Merldlan Manor in Merldlan. His cremated remains will be buried in the Bella Vista Cemetery in Bella Vista at a later date. Ross was born in Amarillo, Texas, on March 3, 1947. He graduated from high school in 1968 and was a graduate of West Texas State University in 1972 with a degree in business management. Ross worked in various positions in management and was last employed with Wal-M art in Rogers and Bentonville, from 1982 to 2006, before his health forced him to retire. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Wayne Dee Maxwell in 1985. Survivors include his mother, Dorothy Elizabeth Maxwell of Clifton, Texas, his sister Marilyn Sue Maxwell also of Clifton, a brother Dr. Jon Thomas Maxwell of Idabelle, Okla., and a number of other relatives and friends. John James Mc Gee John James Mc Gee, 78, of Monett, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 13, at Monett Health Care Center, following a long battle with Parkinson's disease.
He was born Oct. 24, 1929, in Stuart, Okla., to John Nelson Mc Gee and Geneva Jasmine Wakely Mc Gee.
He was the son of a construction superintendent and attended a number of schools in Oklahoma before graduating from Excelsior High School in 1947. He married Wanda Ruth Wesley on Oct. 23, 1949, in Cromwell, Okla. He was the father of Pea Ridge Elementary School teacher John W. Mc Gee.
He began his career working with his father building bridges for Thompson Construction Co. in Oklahoma and also served in the Oklahoma National Guard. He later worked as a driver, a mechanic and a heavyequipment operator with the M. E. Gilloiz Construction Co. He was transferred to Monett and worked for the company until it closed in the mid-1960 s. He subsequently had a long career with Gus Schallert Construction of Monett, then worked with the Hutchens Asphalt Co. of Cassville, Mo., for many years until his retirement at the age of 71.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Lee Mc Gee.
Survivors include his wife, Wanda Mc Gee; a son and daughter-in-law, John W. Mc Gee and Debbie Almand Mc Gee of Bella Vista; three daughters and a son-in-law, Valarie Jean Dixon and George Dixon of Okemah, Okla., Virginia Ruth Williams of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Vivian Lee Kennedy of Monett; nine grandchildren, Lora Mc Gee Little of Bella Vista, John Wesley Mc Gee of Edmond, Okla., Kerry Williams and Erin Williams of Colorado Springs, James Dixon of Oklahoma City, Sarah Hall of Kailua, Hawaii, Kristen Dixon of Edmond, Tiffany Jacox of Omaha, Neb., and Dale Roy Kennedy of Monett; and 12 great-grandchildren. Graveside memorial services were held Aug. 16 at the I. O. O. F. Cemetery in Monett, with the Rev. Dale Graham officiating. Arrangements were by Buchanan Funeral Home of Monett. Memorials may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. Marshall "Dea."
Mc Kinney Marshall "Dean "Mc Kinney, 70, of Lowell, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008 at the Circle of Life Hospice Home in Sp r ingdale. He was born on Sept. 5, 1937, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Harold S. M c K i n n e y and Gladys Chapman Mc Kinney.
He was raised and educated in Iowa. He was employed as the manager of the University of Northern Iowa Credit Union. He retired and moved to Arkansas in 2004. He enjoyed golf and driving cars.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother," Bud "Knoll.
He is survived by one son, Devin Mc Kinney and wife, Kathy Berenson of Brooklyn, New York; one daughter, Dawn Mc Kinney and husband, Mike Christensen of Bettendorf, Iowa; two grandchildren, Hope Christensen and Mya Christensen; two sisters, Maralee D'A lbertis and husband Pierre of Minnesota, Miriam Canfield and husband Chuck of Blairstown, Iowa; special friend, Diane Wagner of Bella Vista, and significant other, Julie Davis of Lowell.
A local service is pending at the Circle of Life Hospice, Springdale. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory. On-line condolences may be made at www. funeralmation. com Charlotte Elizabeth Titus Charlotte Elizabeth Titus, age 84 of Omaha, Neb., formerly of Bella Vista, passed away Aug. 15, 2008 in Omaha. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, John Christenson; sisters, Lorraine Davis and Velore Benson; niece, Lynnette Wickhman She is survived by brother and sister-in-law, Ludwig and Helen Christenson; nephews and nieces: Charles Christenson, Judy Hansen, Curt Benson, Paul Davis, Sharon Davis, Deanna Giesselmann, Daniel Benson Funeral Services were held Tuesday, Aug. 19 at Westlawn Hillcrest Funeral Home in Omaha.
Interment was in Westlawn Hillcrest Memorial Park in Omaha.
Memorials may be made to First Covenant Church, 201 North 90 th St., Omaha, Neb. 68114 Erma M. Slankard Erma M. Slankard, 84, of Springfield, Mo., formerly of Bella Vista, passed away at 7: 20 p. m., Monday, Aug. 18, 2008, in Springfield Rehabilitation Health Care Center. She was born Aug. 8, 1924, in Columbus, Ga., the daughter of Charles and Erma Robertson Mc Callister. She graduated from Columbia Hickman High School and Stevens College. She was united in marriage to John P. Slankard, Jr. in March 1960.
Erma is survived by her loving husband of 48 years, John; three daughters, Linda Ketchum and her husband, Keith, Mason City, Iowa; Nancy Greene, Springfield; and Cindy Otts and her husband, James, Springfield; seven grandchildren, Molly, Kristen, Jason, Sally, Steve, Karridy and Chelsea; and nine greatgrandchildren.
Big Erm's family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Springfield Rehabilitation Health Care Center and Seasons Hospice for all their wonderful care and concern.
Graveside services were held Aug. 22 in Missouri Veterans Cemetery, with Chaplain Harold Williams officiating, under the care of Gorman-S charpf Brentwood Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Seasons Hospice, 1831 East Melville Road, Springfield, Mo. 65803 or the Alzheimer's Association, 1500 South Glenstone, Springfield, Mo. 65804.
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