Obituaries

Katherine Betty Baxter

Katherine Betty Baxter, 89-year-old resident of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, died July 19, 2014, at Willard Walker Hospice Home, Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was born March 29, 1925 in Siloam Springs to Guy Masters and Marinda Stults Masters. Katherine graduated from Siloam Springs High School in 1944 and moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the F.B.I. While there, she married David Louis Baxter, Sr. on November 6, 1947. She lived in Takoma Park, Maryland, until 1968, when she moved back to Siloam Springs. Katherine spent many more years working for Franklin Electric, until her retirement.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Siloam Springs and the Beta Sigma Phi sorority. Katherine volunteered at the Manna Center, the Dogwood Literacy Council and the Hope Kitchen. She enjoyed traveling, spending time with her grandkids, and baking homemade bread, peanut butter fudge and pecan tarts. Katherine was an avid quilt maker and gardener, who was well known for her azalea garden.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Dave in 1967; her parents; two sisters, Charlotte Masters and Thelma Howard; and four brothers, Delmer Masters, Raymond Masters, Calvin Masters and Johnny Masters.

She is survived by four children: David Louis Baxter, Jr. and wife Concha of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Karen Baxter-Rhoades and husband James "Dusty" Rhoades of Little Rock, Arkansas, Charles Baxter and wife Marianne of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Dr. Linda Baxter and husband Bill Richardson of Carrollton, Georgia; ten grandchildren: Christopher, Patrick, Timothy, Nicholas, Tonya, Aaron, James, Marinda, Deidre and Bryan; three great-grandchildren: Jack, Katie and Charlotte; one sister, Marjorie Martin of Edmond, Oklahoma; her walking buddy for 34 years, Doris Childers; and her best friend, Judy Omo.

A funeral mass will be held 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 23, 2014, at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Les Farley officiating. A rosary service will be held 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 22, 2014, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs with a visitation service immediately following from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to National MS Society, P.O. Box 4527, New York, NY 10163 or to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.

PAID OBITUARY

Lucille Grisham

Lucille Grisham passed from this life to her heavenly home on July 20, 2014, at the age of 90 years, 6 months, and 4 days. She had lived at the edge of Mosley Prairie near Watts, Oklahoma, for sixty-six years.

Lucille was born Lula Lucille Robertson near Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma, on January 16, 1924, to Clarence Robertson and Eva Estella Gould. She married Carl Edward Grisham on September 23, 1940, in Pryor, Oklahoma. They enjoyed sixty-eight years of marriage until his passing in 2008. Lucille, for many years, cared for her home and family full time. She later worked at Allen Canning Company, Blacky's Army-Navy Surplus Store, Ben Franklin Store, and True Value Hardware, all in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

Even with all the hard work, Lucille enjoyed an adventure. She liked visiting friends and family, playing or listening to music, and traveling. She especially enjoyed reading and studying the Word of God, the Holy Bible. In recent years she was blessed with being a part of a women's weekly Bible study, studying the Word, rightly divided. In October of 2013, she combined her love of adventure with Bible study, traveling with her daughters to Springfield, Illinois, to attend the Berean Bible Fellowship fall conference.

Lucille is survived by two daughters, Clara Swank of Watts, Oklahoma, Wilma Baldridge and husband Orvel of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; one son, Tommy Grisham and wife Julie of Fayetteville, North Carolina; one sister, Lorena Homestead and husband Gaylon of Yuma, Arizona; brother-in-law, Donald Grisham and wife Rea of Sumner, Washington; four grandchildren, DeWayne Leggett and Shawn Porter of Watts, Shane Grisham and wife Jessica of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and Melissa Grisham of Fayetteville, North Carolina; eight great-grandchildren, Bobby Leggett and wife Kendra of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Raelyn Goodman of West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma, Jesse Leggett, Ryan and Christopher Porter of Watts, and Jakkson, Peyton, Emily and Logan Grisham of Prairie Grove; two great-great-grandchildren, Jet Tucker Leggett of Siloam Springs and Annabel June Goodman of West Siloam Springs; and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her baby daughter, Marva Lea, and six siblings, Dennis Robertson, Laree Donell, Juanita Boyer, Ines Surber, Marvin Robertson, Reva Willburn, and Retha Swift.

Visitation with the family will be 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Thursday, July 24, 2014, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 25, 2014, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs. Burial will follow at Johnson Cemetery, West Siloam Springs. Officiating will be Pastor Ken Lawson of Grace Memorial Church in Edinburg, Illinois. Pallbearers for the service are Vaylen McGlothlin, Tuffy Phillips, Jared Swank, Ryan Swank, Curtis Shelley, and Jeremy Shelley. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.

PAID OBITUARY

Clessa Faye Myrick

Clessa Faye Myrick, 90, of Siloam Springs, Ark., died July 21, 2014, at Siloam Springs Regional Hospital. He was born Nov. 28, 1923, in Siloam Springs to Walter Faye and Josie Myrick. He married Norma Cundiff.

He retired from the City of Siloam Springs, where he worked in various departments, after more than 30 years of service. He enjoyed bluegrass music, dirt track racing, watching Gunsmoke, fishing and spending time with his family and friends. In his later years he enjoyed the bond between him and his granddaughter Tonya Roberts who was his caregiver. He was a member of the Weddington Missionary Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife; a great-grandson, Kolton Butler; two brothers, Lenza Myrick and Albert Myrick; and a sister, Thelma Hall.

He is survived by one daughter, Tami Meeker and husband Donnie, Siloam Springs; three sons, Larry Myrick and wife Evelynas of Westville, Okla., Daryl Myrick Sr. and wife Alma of Siloam Springs, and Allen Myrick and Reba Robinson of Colcord, Okla.; 16 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home in Siloam Springs from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 23, 2014.

A graveside service will be held at Martin Cemetery in Siloam Springs at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 24, 2014, with Pastor Elvin Still officiating.

Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home in Siloam Springs is in charge of arrangements.