The following obits appeared in the SW Times today: HAZEL PRESSON Hazel Presson, longtime Fort Smith journalism teacher, historian and novelist, died Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2000, in Starkville, Miss. Miss Presson, 89, authored the Arkansas history textbook that was used by hundreds of thousands of public school children for many years. She also wrote a high school journalism text that was updated repeatedly in new editions and used throughout the United States. The veteran educator was mentor and inspiration to dozens of young people at Northside High School, where she encouraged many of her students to pursue careers in journalism. Many graduates of her classes worked at this newspaper over a span of 50 years. A lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church of Fort Smith, she authored several novels after retiring from teaching. She also purchased and donated open prairie land near Charleston to the Nature Conservancy. Miss Presson's body was cremated. Her ashes will be returned to Fort Smith in the spring, and a local memorial service will be conducted. AZALEE DEES SPIRO - Azalee Dees, 73, of Spiro died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2000, in Fort Smith. She was a cook at Spiro Nursing Home.Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at New Hope Cemetery in Spiro under the direction of Mallory Funeral Home of Spiro. She is survived by her husband, Benjamin; two daughters, Anita Graham of Fort Smith and Marsha Dees of Spiro; two sons, Ardis F. Dees Sr. and Michael Dees, both of Spiro; one sister, Elba Rogers of Poteau; 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Jeremy and Kevin Brown, James Lindsey and Kelly Self. BESSIE MICHAEL Bessie Michael, 85, of Van Buren died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2000, in a local hospital. She was a teacher for Head Start in Danville for many years. She was a member of Pleasant Valley Church of Christ and the widow of William Herman Michael.Funeral will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Pleasant Valley Church of Christ with burial at 2 p.m. at Earle Ladd Cemetery in Danville under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren. She is survived by two sons, Joe Michael of Bentonville and Herman L. "Pete" Michael of Van Buren; four grandchildren, Lisa Minix and Todd, Phil and Justin Michael; and five great-grandchildren.Pallbearers will be Ronnie Matthews, Calvin Billingsley, Gary Morton, Delmer Lewis, Lonnie Myers, James Walton and Jim Price. KARALYN HANEY ROGERS - Karalyn Rose Haney, infant daughter of Dr. R. Kevin Haney and Dr. Karen Ludwig Haney of Rogers, died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, in Rogers.Funeral was held Monday at Fellowship Bible Church of Northwest Arkansas. Graveside service will be 2 p.m. today at Nixon Cemetery in Charleston under the direction of Stockdale Funeral Services of Bentonville. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her maternal grandfather, Dr. Frank Ludwig of Maumelle; her paternal grandparents, Carl and Ann Haney of Charleston; paternal great-grandparents, Manford and Wanda Robertson of Charleston; one sister, Kathryn Ann Haney of the home; and one brother, Kevin Karlton Haney of the home. DOYLE OWENS KEOTA - Doyle Owens, 50, of Keota died Monday, Dec. 4, 2000, in Stigler. He attended the Pentecostal Church.Graveside service will be 2:30 p.m. today at Iron Bridge Cemetery in Keota under the direction of Mallory Funeral Home of Stigler. He is survived by his wife, Martha; three sons, Ricky, Michael and Mark; his mother, Lucille Owens; two sisters, Lorine Bond and Carolyn Wise; and eight grandchildren. JERRY WILLIAMS THELMA, Ky. - Jerry Williams, 42, of Thelma, Ky., formerly of Van Buren, died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, in Lexington, Ky.Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren. He is survived by his mother, Juanita E. Williams of Fayetteville; his grandmother, Juanita D. Williams of Fayetteville; two brothers, Ken of Malvern and Harry of Fayetteville. IVA KING Iva J. King, 71, of Fort Smith died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, in Fort Smith. She was a homemaker and retired from Superior Federal Bank. She was a member and retired secretary at Windsor Park Fellowship Church.Funeral will be 1 p.m. today at Windsor Park Fellowship Church with burial at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith. She is survived by her husband, Orville; one daughter, Nancy Vandergriff of Soddy Daisy, Tenn.; two sons, Jim of Fort Smith and Kenneth of Mulberry; three sisters, Vera Trisler of Paris and Lorene Nelke and Sybel Mills, both of Barling; one brother, Charles Butler of Fort Smith; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.Pallbearers will be her grandsons. THELMA SIMMONS Thelma P. Simmons, 82, of Fort Smith died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, in Tulsa. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church.Mass will be 10 a.m. today at St. Boniface Catholic Church with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith. She is survived by two daughters, Alice Babcock of Owasso, Okla., and Jo Ella Newbury of Tulsa; four sons, Donald W. Simmons of Duvall, Wash., George E. Simmons of Sallisaw, Jimmy D. Simmons of Fresno, Calif., and Mike Simmons of Van Buren; one sister, Lona McClain of Jenny Lind; 16 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.Pallbearers will be Raymond and Russell Babcock, David and Dan Newbury and Josh and Michael Simmons. CARRIE FLUTE BUNCH - Carrie Flute, 65, of Bunch died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2000, in Fort Smith. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Marble City Gymnasium with burial at Flute Springs Cemetery in Marble City under the direction of Mallory Funeral Home of Sallisaw. She is survived by one daughter, Viola Noisey of Flute Springs, Okla.,; one son, George of Flute Springs; one sister, Leona Flute of Flute Springs; and seven grandchildren, Stephanie, Koda and Shawna Noisey, Warren, Lavonna and George "Boogie" Flute and Preston Hooper. . RUTH KYLE SALLISAW - Lagena Ruth Kyle, 78, of Sallisaw died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2000, in Sallisaw. She was a homemaker, a graduate of Sallisaw High School, a charter member of Blunt Baptist Church and the widow of V. Kyle.Funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Blunt Baptist Church, north of Sallisaw, with burial at Sallisaw City Cemetery under the direction of Agent Funeral Home of Sallisaw. She is survived by three daughters, Ruth Anne Wampach, Shirley Jean Crawford and Mary Eileen Poindexter, all of Sallisaw; two sisters, Mary Jane Lowe and Esther Bottoms, both of Lincoln; two brothers, David and Junior Cheatham, both of Lincoln; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.Pallbearers will be Daryn, Nathanael and Kendahl Crawford, Paul Gene and Clinton Poindexter, Eddie Martin, Robert Hall and Victor Kostka. . CORA VAUGHAN AMARILLO, Texas - Cora Vaughan, 97, of Amarillo, Texas, formerly of Alma, died Monday, Dec. 4, 2000, in Amarillo. She was a homemaker and a member of Maple Shade Church of the Nazarene in Alma. She was the widow of Archie Vaughan.Funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Maple Shade Church of the Nazarene with burial at Newberry Cemetery in Alma under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren. She is survived by two daughters, Faye Simpson of Amarillo and Patricia Miller of Van Buren; one stepdaughter, Wanda of Las Vegas; two sons, Billy and Kenneth Kirkland, both of Idaho; and two stepsons, Donald and Ronny Vaughan, both of Burbank, Calif. REX SPENCER HARTFORD - Rex Leon Spencer, 43, of Hartford died Saturday, Dec. 2, 2000, in his home. He was a retired maintenance worker with the Texas State Fair Association. The body was cremated. He is survived by one son, Stephen A. Spencer of Huntington; three sisters, Billie Munday of Gun Barrel City, Texas, Bernice Spencer of Hartford and Linda Spencer of Muldrow; two brothers, Richard Anthony Spencer of Hartford and David Spencer of Kentucky; and one grandchild. ELVA STITES CEDARVILLE - Elva Elmore Stites, 87, of Cedarville, formerly of Huntington, died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2000, in a local nursing home. She was a homemaker and was of the Pentecostal faith.Funeral will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood with burial at Dawson Cemetery in Milltown. She is survived by five daughters, Faye Drewry of Cedarville, Betty Edison of Muldrow, Louise Hale of Waldron, Mary Sue Hawks of Greenwood and Shirley Mahan of Van Buren; one sister, Dicy Hays of Fort Smith; 21 grandchildren; 68 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Carolyn (Parsons) Smedley angelears@alltel.net ================================= Volunteer for Rootsweb for Obituary, & ODT ======================================== SURNAMES: Brummitt, Clark, DeHart, Eslinger, Heryford, Mincher, Parsons, Smedley ========================================