Obituaries

Dick Niswonger
Dick Niswonger

Leanna Ruth Easley

Leanna Ruth Easley, 73, of Gentry, Ark., died March 10, 2018, at the Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville, Ark.

She was born July 27, 1944, in Siloam Springs, Ark., to Willie Lacy and Ruth Ellen Sherrill Lacy. She married Byrl Gene Easley. She worked for more than 30 years at the Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital as an intensive care unit monitor tech and unit secretary. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Siloam Springs. She enjoyed traveling, especially to beaches and Branson to enjoy her love of music. She liked antiques and flea markets, and racing of any kind, especially NASCAR. She excelled at cooking and baking.

She was preceded in death by her husband.

She is survived by a son, Willie "Bill" Easley of Gentry; a daughter, Shawna Shook and husband Brian of Gentry; one sister, Frances Brown of Siloam Springs; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home in Siloam Springs.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 14, 2018, at the First Christian Church of Siloam Springs with Pastor Joel Rutherford officiating. Burial will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to the American Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Association.

An online guest book is available at www.backstrom-pyeatte.com.

Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Dr. Richard "Dick" Leverne Niswonger

Dr. Richard "Dick" Leverne Niswonger was born November 3, 1931, in Rittman, Ohio.

He passed into Christ's presence March 7, 2018. He and Grace, his wife of 51 years, moved to Go Ye Village in Tahlequah, Okla., in 2008. They raised their five children in Siloam Springs, Ark., where Dick was a history professor at John Brown University for over 30 years.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife Grace; his brother, Tom (Barbara) Niswonger, of Rossville, Ga.; his son, Joe Mesko, of Fayetteville, Ark.; and granddaughter, Emily Niswonger of La Mirada, Calif.

He is survived by his son, Rick (Janet) Niswonger of Aliso Viejo, Calif.; daughter, Kathy (Bob) Bandas of McKinney, Texas; son, Allan (Kathy) Mesko of Hot Springs, Ark.; son, John (Sarah) Mesko of Mena, Ark.; sister, Charity (Bob) Westcott of Rossville, Ga.; and sister, Norma (John) Acuff of Chattanooga, Tenn. He had 11 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and a multitude of friends.

Family visitation will be Friday, March 16, 5 to 6 p.m. at Green Country Funeral Home, 203 S. Commercial Road, Tahlequah, Okla. The funeral service will be Saturday, March 17, 2 p.m. in the chapel at Go Ye Village, 1201 W. 4th Street, Tahlequah. The family will be available to greet friends at the Go Ye Village chapel at 1 p.m. prior to the funeral service.

PAID OBITUARY

General News on 03/14/2018