Obituaries

Bob J. Cook

Bob J. Cook, 88, of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 19, 2018. He was born in Raymond, Illinois on September 15, 1929 in his grandma's bedroom. Bob graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School in 1948. He attended Washington University for one year, then in the fall of 1949 went to John Brown University. It was there that the two most important events of his life took place. First, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and second, he met Betty Jean Anderson, the love of his life.

Bob and Betty were married on December 23, 1950. They enjoyed 67 years of marriage. He served in the U.S. Army from March 1953 to March 1955. He was in England for 18 of those months at Stansted Mt. Figit base in Biship Stortfort, England. Bob then went to Hope College in Holland, Michigan and got his teaching certificate. He taught junior and senior high school science and math in Custer, Michigan, and then in Claredon Hills, Illinois. He then taught science for 25 years at O.J. DeJonge Junior High School in Ludington, Michigan. Bob and Betty moved to Colorado Springs in 1989 and lived there for 16 years. In 2005, they moved back to Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Bob was a generous and loving man, filled with integrity. He loved his Savior with all his heart, and always served gladly at his local church. He adored his wife and always put his family first. He loved meeting new people and always seemed to make some connection with them.

He is survived by his wife Betty, daughter Becky Lloret and husband Andrew of Dallas, Texas, daughter Sue Mellema and husband Dan of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and son Dave Cook and wife Stacey of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at Sager Creek Community Church, Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, January 22, 2018, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory can be made to Answers in Genesis or Samaritan's Purse. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.

PAID OBITUARY

Joyce 'Yvonne' Howard

Joyce "Yvonne" Howard, 70, of Gentry, Ark., died Jan. 16, 2018, at her home.

She was born April 16, 1947, in Siloam Springs, Ark., to Ernest Jones and Goldie Riley Jones. She lived all of her life in Northwest Arkansas and was married to Robert Howard. She was a member of Victory Worship Center.

She is survived by her husband; a son, Bert Howard of Grove, Okla.; three daughters, Mary Ann Schaffer of Siloam Springs, Loretta Lynn Jackson of Washington and Gloria Skipper of Westville, Okla.; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Wayne Jones of Highfill, Ark., and Jay Jones of Westville.

Funeral services were Jan. 20, 2018, at Wasson Memorial Chapel in Siloam Springs. Burial was at Highfill Cemetery.

An online guest book is available at www.wassonfuneralhome.com.

Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Evelyn Jacobson

Mary Evelyn Jacobson, 76, of Gentry, Ark., died on Jan. 16, 2018, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Ark.

She was born on Oct. 1, 1941, in Gentry, the daughter of Raymond Thomas Duffel and Mattie Vinona Lyons Duffel. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Gentry. She worked in the medical field for many years. She spent a lot of time living out west in Arizona, Washington, California, and Montana. She married David Lee Jacobson in Missoula, Mont. She was very active in her church and went on several mission trips. She returned to Gentry and spent time working at The Tattered Page and Workforce in Siloam Springs.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David; her parents; and one sister, Carolyn Kauffman.

She is survived by one son, Murray Raymond Cruickshank and wife Gemma Velazquez-Cruickshank of Oakland, Calif.; one daughter, Dyann Marshane Tisdale and husband Trenton of Gentry; four grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and sister, Paula Tilghman of Georgetown, Calif.

Funeral services was 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs, Ark., with Pastor Tim Cypert officiating. Burial will follow at Gentry Cemetery.

To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.

Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs was in charge of arrangements.

James 'Jim' Nichols

Mr. James (Jim) Nichols, age 83 of Siloam Springs, Ark., passed away peacefully from this life and entered into the presence of the Lord on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.

He was born in Rosie, Ark., July 9, 1934, to cotton farmers Albert and Beaulah Nichols. He grew up in Dyers, Ark., one of eleven children. His only surviving sibling is Bill Nichols of Mountain Home, Ark. He was preceded in death by his wife Marjorie Nichols in 2010.

He and Marjorie are survived by a daughter, Patricia Campbell and husband Alvin of Fort Smith, Ark., and son, Tony Nichols and wife Missha of Cave Springs, Ark. They enjoyed seven grandchildren, Benjamin Campbell of Springdale, Ark., Hannah Campbell Meehan of Belgrade, Mont., Josh Nichols of Carlsbad, N.M., Tash Nichols of Seattle, Wash., Stefanie Wrquidez of Frisco, Texas, Brianne Abrenhaltz of Siloam Springs, and Jandi Nichols of Albuquerque, N.M.; and 13 precious great-grandchildren.

A memorial service to honor Jim will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, January 27, 2018 at Church Alive, 5121 SW Runway Drive, Bentonville, Ark. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR or to Church Alive.

Arrangements by Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home, Rogers, Ark. Online guestbook: www.bentoncountymemorialpark.com

PAID OBITUARY

Roosevelt B. Robberson

Roosevelt B. Robberson, 81, of Decatur, Ark., formerly of Paris, Ark., died Jan.14, 2018, at Siloam Springs nursing and rehabilitation center in Siloam Springs, Ark.

He was born Jan. 20, 1936, the youngest of triplet boys born to F.F. Robberson and Lorena Tidwell Robberson. The multiple birth was unexpected, therefore names for the boys had not been planned so the delivery doctor named them after the U.S. president at that time, Franklin, Delano, Roosevelt. He was one of ten boys born in this family.

He graduated from Paris High School in 1954 where he was active in FFA, both local and state. He graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Agriculture in 1958. He was a member of the Arkansas National Guard until 1960.

In June 1960, he purchased the Robberson Family Farm in Greasy Valley, southeast of Paris, and converted it into a registered Holstein dairy operation. He was a member of the Harmony Assembly of God. He also served as Logan County Treasurer.

In 1997, he sold his farm operation and started to work for Simmons Industries in Siloam Springs, and he moved his family to Decatur, Ark.

He was preceded in death by seven brothers, Carl, Roy, Fred, Charles, Franklin, Delano and Truman.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Clara Jean Duvall Robberson; two children, Lisa Cheatwood and husband, James of Decatur, and Steve Martin and wife Sandy of DeBary, Fla.; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two brothers, Clarence Robberson of London, Ark., and Raymond Robberson of Rockwall, Texas.

Funeral services were Jan. 18, 2018, at the Roller Funeral Home Chapel in Paris. Burial was at Moore Cemetery near Paris.

An online guest book is available at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/paris.

Roller Funeral Home of Paris was in charge of arrangements.

Keith Rodell Smith

Keith Rodell Smith, born August 15, 1958 in Shelbyville, Ill., passed away January 18, 2018, in Gentry, Ark.

Keith was a fun-loving, caring and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He had a robust sense of adventure and a varied life path pursuing different vocations and experiences throughout his life. He worked as a truck driver, mechanic shop owner, electrician, and in maintenance. He was strongly beloved by those close to him and is known for his unusual generosity and his open-hearted manner. Over the years, he became what many would call 'a family man,' and spent much time with his children and grandchildren. His family was the thing most precious in the world to him. He often expressed his love for them and spent as much time playing with them, and care-taking for them he could.

Keith had many natural talents that would have taken others years of schooling to acquire. He was an excellent guitarist and even started writing some of his own songs. Some told him he should have pursued it professionally, but he would modestly wave that idea off. He would host sing-alongs with his family at home, playing playlists that he and his wife, Carmen, came up with and enjoyed. He loved to hear his wife and daughter Cheyenne sing as he played their favorite songs.

He was able to enjoy many activities and hobbies including travel, riding motorcycles, music, playing guitar, dancing, John Wayne movies, roller-skating, and working on mechanical things. He would drive for days at a time with his family to arrive at interesting new places with ease. And it allowed him and his family to travel together and see things they otherwise would not have. He had an excellent sense of direction and could remember exact routes of the roads. He could navigate to anywhere in the United States without a map, which may have fed his strong distrust of GPS. Keith would share unique places with his children and wife and express great enthusiasm for things such as, the 'World's Tallest Thermometer' in California.

Keith had a rare generosity and shared it with others. While keeping close ties with family and friends, he often mentioned how other people in trouble deserved 'second chances' and would lend assistance to those in need whenever he was able. Keith was known to lend money to people in need, even those that may not come around to pay it back. But as soon as they needed him again, he would be there.

He loved working with his son Dwaine and 'tinkering' in the shop. He was exceptional at building, and repairing anything mechanical. He worked on cars, bikes, anything he could, for the pure joy of it. As was often said of him, if it was broken, Keith could fix it. And even if there's nothing wrong with it, he might say, "Well, I can make it even better."

Another great love of his life was his motorcycle. He often said it was pure freedom, and the closest thing to flying. He would take drives with friends and by himself to experience the joy of the road. Keith would often participate in charity motorcycle rides, raising funds for veterans and families in distress.

And at this time, knowing what could be possible, it is easy to imagine now that Keith is riding his motorcycle along an expansive, winding road that overlooks the most beautiful sunset ever laid eyes upon, listening to his favorite songs, and feeling the freedom and flight of the road. And he would wave as if to say, 'I'll see you all again soon.'

Keith is survived by his wife Carmen Smith, and his children Dwaine Smith and wife Larissa Smith of Maysville, Jennifer Smith of Rogers, Ark., and Kelly Douglas and husband Brenton of Rogers, Cheyenne Smith and Laramie Smith of the home; his brothers and sisters, Justin Smith and wife Shelly, Belinda Haslett and husband Chad, Cheryl Quaintance and husband Randy of Gentry, Ark., Barbara McGuire of Fayetteville, Ark.; and his 11 grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan 20, 2018, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Jan 21, 2018, at 3 p.m. at the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Chapel. Pastor Donny Garner will officiate the service.

To sign online guest book please visit www.backstrom-pyeatte.com.

PAID OBITUARY