Recent obits taken from the Clay County Courier, Corning, Clay County, Arkansas. LEATHA READ Leatha READ, Reyno, formerly of McDougal was born Oct. 16, 1929 in Hornersville, MO to Willie Porter and Effie Mae HANNERS WILLIAMS. She died in St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center, Jonesboro, Sunday, December 17, 2006. She was 77. A member of Church of Christ in Reyno, she was united in marriage to Charles READ October 24, 1947. He preceded her in death. She is also preceded in death by her parents; three sons, Rudy, Nickey and Barry; one grandson Robert Lynn; two brothers, Willard and Marlin WILLIAMS; and one sister, Roberta WILLIAMS. She is survived by three daughters, Gwen BRADSHAW, Reyno, Jan READ, McDougal and Cindy BOLEN, Reyno; 15 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Freda HARDIN, Marcella SWEETEN, Marie PILAND and Carol GRIDER; two brothers, Buel WILLIAMS and Wink WILLIAMS and many other relatives and friends. Graveside services were conducted Tuesday, December 19, 2006 in Piggott Cemetery with John BRADSHAW and Darrell FEARS officiating. Pallbearers, Jack ROARK, Wayne ALLMAN, John MANSKER, Pistol CONYERS, Richard TIPPITT, Bob HOLLAND. Honorary pallbearer, Dale HURST. Arrangements under the direction of Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home, Piggott. CHRIS LANE Chris LANE, Fayettville, was born in Pocahontas to Eddie D. and Henrietta HEARRING LANE, January 23, 1968. He died in his residence Wednesday, December 13, 2006. He was 38. A truck driver, he enjoyed playing ball and skiing. He was of the Baptist Faith. He was preceded in death by one son Josuah Christopher LANE. Survivors are his parents, Ed and Henrietta LANE, Harrisonville, MO; a daughter, Megan LANE, Springdale; uncles, Junior LANE, Knobel, H.C. HEARRING, Jr., Knobel; aunts, Bonnie PHILLIPS, Poplar Bluff, MO., Betty RICKER, Harrisonville, MO, Sylvia RHODES, West Plains, MO, Arlene PHILLIPS, TN, Fern GARNER, TX and Glenda RICE, Pocahontas; several cousins. Funeral services Sunday, December 17, 2006 in Ermert Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Loy CULVER officiating. Burial in Corning Cemetery under the direction of Ermert Funeral Home. PERRY LEE JOHNSON Perry Lee "Bud" JOHNSON, formerly of Fairdealing, was born in Moark, August 12, 1927 to Harry and Edna MULHOLLEN JOHNSON and died in The Manor in Poplar Bluff, Friday, December 15, 2006. He was 79. He was a retired plant superintendent of Space and Electronic Division of Ermerson Electric, St. Louis, where he was employed for 43 years. He was a Mason and member of Gothic Lodge. May 23, 1988, he married Patricia TYLER and she survives. He was formerly married to Roberta HARTMAN who preceded him in death August 22, 1982. Also preceding him in death were his parents and one brother, Harry "Wes" JOHNSON. Survivors are two daughters, Barbara (Louis) ASHBY", Girard, IL, Brenda JOHNSON, Clarksville; three step-children, Timothy (Mary) TYLER, Huntington Beach, CA, Titus (Kim) TYLER, Corona, CA, Tonica (DeWayne) WINCHESTER, Branson, MO; four sisters, Louise COOPER, Lucille POLITTE, Irma BOUCHILLON, Doris McKINNEY; sister-in-law, Elfrieda JOHNSON; three grandchildren, Perry Lee (Angela) ASHBY, Girard, ILL, Christopher (Brandy) ASHBY, Galensburg, ILL, Sarah ASHBY, Springfield, ILL; four step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; family friends, Dorthea McKINNEY and Dallas MERIDATH. Funeral services Tuesday, December 19, 2006 in Ermert Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Donnie EMMONS officiating. Burial in Williams Cemetery, under the direction of Ermert Funeral Home. Memorials may be considered to The Manor, Poplar Bluff, MO. PEGGY JEAN LAWRENCE Peggy Jean LAWRENCE, Paragould, died Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006 in her residence. Born May 13, 1935 in Clay County to B.B. and Nellie ARNOLD, she retired after teaching school for more than 30 years. She was 71. She was a member of Wood's Chapel United Methodist Church. Survivors include three daughters, Peggy Marie GALYEAN, Gravette, Charis Renee LANGSTON, Jonesboro and Paula Jaye ADKINS, Paragould; two sisters, Thelma RAPERT, Peach Orchard and Audrae CAMERON, Walnut Ridge; 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. J.D. LAWRENCE; her parents and by 3 brothers. Graveside services were held Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006 in Wood's Chapel Cemetery with Rev. Jason SUTFIN officiating. Memorials may be made to Methodist Children's Home. JAMES MEANS James MEANS, Pocahontas, was born in Palatka, Aug. 5, 1924 and died in Randolph county Medical Center, Dec. 28, 2006. He was 82. He was a member of Pyburn Street Church of Christ. Survivors are his wife, Cleva MEANS of the home; one niece, Cindy VINSON, Turrell; three nephews, Glenn VINSON, Corning, John VINSON, N. Carolina and James VINSON, Jacksonville; two brothers-in-law, Stan (Linda) VINSON, Corning and Clevo RUFF, Corning. Services Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006 in the Chapel of Cox-Waymon Funeral Home, Pocahontas with Gerald FEARS officiating. Burial in Corning Cemetery. Pallbearers, Glenn VINSON, John VINSON, James VINSON, Terry LADD, Jerry LADD and David LADD. HELEN DROWNS Helen Lou DROWNS, Paragould formerly of St. Louis, MO, was born Dec. 7, 1946 in Poplar Bluff, MO to Dewey and Florence DROWNS. She died Monday, Jan. 1, 2007 in Sunshine Manor Retirement Home, Paragould. She was 60. Survivors include one son, Randy William DROWNS, St. Louis, MO; one daughter, Sandy (Scott) WAREING, Paragould; two sisters, Ethel ROBERSON, Campbell, MO and Marie HENTSCHEL, South Haven, MI; four brothers, Delmer DROWN, Moark, Bob DROWNS, Dover, FL, Jessie DROWNS, Poplar Bluff and Jimmie Joe DROWNS, Las Vegas, NV; three grandchildren, Rachael, Marc and Bethany. She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Wanda DROWNS. Services in Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel Thursday, Jan . 4, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Carlton JOHNSON officiating. Burial in Kinsey Cemetery near Harviell, MO. JAMES BARTLETT James L. BARTLETT was born in Knob on April 4, 1929 to Ezra L. and Nannie E. BARTLETT. He died Friday, Dec. 29, 2006 in White County Memorial Hospital, Searcy. He was 77. A veteran of the Korean War, he was a retired real estate broker and auto salesman and member of First Baptist Church, Searcy. His hobbies were hunting, fishing and spending time with his family and telling tales of yesteryear. Survivors include his wife, Eulois (Lois), Searcy; three daughters, Sharon BARTLETT, North Little Rock, Leigh Ann BARTLETT, Tulsa, OK and Lisa BARTLETT, Jacksonville; one son, George BARTLETT; two granddaughters, Amanda GOZA and Sarah SMITH; one grandson, Skylar James BARTLETT; two stepdaughters, Sandra (Ed) LOCKETT and Beth GLENN, Conway; two stepsons, Dr. Randy (Sherry) GLENN, Conway and Jon (Elizabeth) GLENN, Booneville; four step grandchildren, Les EAVES, Cameron GLENN, Laura TAYLOR and Rachel GLENN; five great-granddaughters; two sisters, Anna EATON, Batesville and Bernice GEORGE, Corning; the mother of his children, Fern BARTLETT; and a host of nieces and nephews who affectionately called him Uncle Jimmy. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mary Ophelia BARTLETT and Alice Mayzell BELL; and one brother, John J. BARTLETT, Sr. Funeral services Monday, Jan. 1, 2007 in First Baptist Church, Searcy with burial in Crestlawn Memorial Park, Conway. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Chruch Building Fund, 105 South Spring St., Searcy, AR. 72143. CARRIE LEWALLEN Carrie Leola LEWALLEN died Friday, December 29, 2006 in Randolph Nursing Center, Pocahontas. Formerly of Hoxie, she was a retired cook and member of Hoxie United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by one son, Wallace LEWALLEN; husband Bill LEWALLEN; sisters Ethel LANCE and Bertha LEWALLEN; brothers, Ernest DOBBS and Frank DOBBS; two grandsons, Kelly LEWALLEN and Dale LEWALLEN, Jr. She is survived by two sons Dennis LEWALLEN, Nelson, IL and Dale LEWALLEN, Pocahontas; 13 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services Tuesday, January 2, 1007 in House-Gregg Funeral Home, Walnut Ridge with Rev. Fred HUNTER officiating. Burial in Strangers Home Cemetery near Alicia. Pallbearers: Gaylon LEWALLEN, Chad CARLSON, Casey CARLSON, Jeremy BERGMAN, Jon JAMES, Justice WEISENBACH, Seth JANSEN, Aaron JANSEN, Marcus PRICE, T. DANIELS and Bryan HAMILTON. Services under direction of House-Gregg Funeral Home, Walnut Ridge. LAURA ESCHENBRENNER Laura ESCHENBRENNER was born in Reyno, Feb. 3, 1930 to Ira and Zelma Lee HARPER LEACH. She died in Blanchette Nursing Home, St. Charles, MO, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006. She was 76 years old. A retired real estate agent and cook on a riverboat, she was of the Baptist faith. Survivors are one son, Larry ESCHENBRENNER, St. Peters, MO; two daughters, Cynthia K. PEPE, St. Charles, MO and Vicki MEYER, High Ridge, MO; five brothers, Bob LEACH, Jack LEACH, Harold LEACH, Ronnie LEACH and Dennis LEACH, all of Corning; six sisters, June DODDS, Doniphan, MO, Louise THAXTON, Hernando, M, Geraldine BERRY, Maynard, Bonnie OGDEN, Corning, Mary DAVIS, Corning and Ann CLARK, Buffalo, NY; five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ira and Zelma LEACH; two brothers, Weldon LEACH and Babe LEACH; and one granddaughter. Graveside services Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006 at Richwoods Cemetery with Rev. Herb ELLIS officiating, under the direction of Ermert Funeral Home. to be continued............................ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/