Passages: Spring 2016

Irma Neal Pyles Emde (’42), 96, of Judsonia, Arkansas, died Jan. 17. She was a teacher in Plain- view, Judsonia and Kensett, Arkansas. She and her late husband, Hilton, operated the Emde Motel in Judsonia. She was a volunteer at Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute and a member of Judsonia First Baptist Church.

Helen Bernita Summit Kirk (’47), 90, of Evansville, Indiana, died Dec. 1, 2015. She was a homemaker; substitute teacher with Evansville, Vanderburgh School Corp; and a member of Washington Avenue Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Wilson. She is survived by her three children, Jane Laibe, Susan Hainsworth and Shelley Fischer; two siblings, Amy Lambert and Nathan Summit; and six grandchildren.

Vernon Oakley Alexander (’48), 91, of Amarillo, Texas, died Dec. 7, 2015. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He earned his master’s from Peabody College in 1951, spent 36 years in education, and was principal for many years in Santa Clara, California. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Bobbie; two daughters, Donnette Alexander (’77) and Teri Morgan (’78); two siblings, Sam and Beth Roaseau; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Mary Jo O’Neal Bagnetto (’48), 88, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, died Feb. 28. She taught at Harding from 1948-50. She volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, worked as a designer at Bartlesville Florist, taught ladies’ Bible classes for more than 50 years, and was a member of Adams Boulevard Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lucien (’46). She is survived by her daughters, Rebecca Parks (’73) and Susan Wright; six grand- children; and nine great-grandchildren.

Chuck Shaffer (’48), 89, of Montgomery, Alabama, died Dec. 31, 2015. Chuck served in the Army during World War II as a staff sergeant. He retired from Chevron Oil as an economic analyst. He was?a member of University Church of Christ, and StaGoners and Blue & Grey camping clubs. He is survived by his wife, Coriene Beare (’49); two children, Karla Boling and Terry; three siblings, Opal Fae Gordon (’48), Eleanor Buxton and Rowena Reed; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Faye Paxson Hager (’56), 80, of Monroe, Oklahoma, died Feb. 1. She taught English for many years and was an executive at Boeing Co. for more than 20 years. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Claude Lewis Hager (’59); a sister, Sue Paxson Davis (’58); and two daughters, Kelly Otten and Jennifer Bray.

Hollis Carlton Miller (’58), 84, of Murray, Kentucky, died Jan. 21. He served with distinction in the Korean War. He preached for churches of Christ for six decades in Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. He also served as adjunct professor of religion at Mur- ray State University as well as a vice president at Pepperdine University. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lita Jean Co man; four sons, Bruce, Phillip (’84), Lee and Timothy (’84); nine grand- children; and six great-grandchildren.

Luther Daniel “Bo” Coward (’58), 80, of Searcy, died Dec. 7, 2015. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and retired from Sperry Vickers in 1993 where he served as associate buyer. After retirement, he worked as a bus driver for Searcy Public Schools. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Doris McIntur (’58); two daughters,

Cherri Hogue (’79) and Denise Winter (’83); five grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Robert Dean Qualls (’61), 76, of Lakeland, Florida, died Dec. 28, 2015. He was the former minister?at Holmes Road Church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee, and a missionary to Cameroon. He is survived by his children, Stephanie Day (’85) and Scott (’88).

David Marshall Huddleston (’63), 72, of Missoula, Montana, died April 22, 2014. After Harding, he enlisted in the Navy where he served four years on the USS Enterprise and in Vietnam. After his military service, he graduated from University of Tennessee with a degree in American civilization and later attended the Goethe Institute in Germany. He was a member of Garden City Church.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; three children, Jonathan, Regina Renfroe (’96) and Alecia Go ; three siblings, Julie Ashton (’66), Elaine Mustain (’68) and Mark; and six grandchildren.

Wilburn “Gary” Coberly (’65), 72, of Springdale, Arkansas, died March 5. He worked as an industrial mechanic at Jim Bridger Power Plant and was a member of the Latter Day Saints Church. He is survived by four children, Robin Mahaffey, Sabra Coberley, Leah Kenison and Mike; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Nina Lorene Moore Hayes (’65), 72, of Abilene, Texas, died Feb. 21. She earned her master’s degree from Arkansas State University. While living in New York, she taught home economics, was a caterer, and spent summers as head cook at Camp Shiloh in the Catskill Mountains. She later operated a bed and breakfast from her home and worked for Eden Park Nursing Home. Moving to Abilene, Texas, in retirement, she was a member of Minter Lane Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband, James; two daughters, Melissa and Sybil; and a granddaughter.

Nancy Ables Johnson (’65), 72, of Searcy, died Jan. 5. She was retired from the business office at Harding. She is survived by her husband, “Red” Johnson; two children, Je (’89) and Vicky Mashburn (’90); two sisters, Catherine Arnold and Gail Albritton; and four grandchildren.

James Glen Mayfield (M.Div., ’65), 88, of Columbia, Tennessee, died Dec. 2, 2015. He served as a minister for 54 years in Kentucky and Tennessee. He was a member of Graymere Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sammie Dot Grimes; three children, Jana Robson, Brian and Jill; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

David Lee Johnson (’67), 70, of Searcy, died Feb. 18. David is survived by his wife, Alice; two children, Nicolas and Nicole; and two siblings, James and Martha Anderson.

Gerald Wayne Stanley (’69), 78, of Monroe, Louisiana, died Jan. 5. He earned his master’s at University of Louisiana at Monroe, was a Navy veteran, and retired as a superintendent from East Carroll Parish Schools. He was a member of Swartz Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sherry Hu stutter (’66); three sons, Mark, Jerry and Gary; three siblings, Anne Jones, Judy Hattaway and Richard; eight grand- children; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Richard Glenn Calhoun (’75), 62, of Mansfield, Texas, died Dec. 4, 2015. He was president of Jamieson Manufacturing Co. and a member of Lake- side Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Loe (’79); three children, Devin, Whitney and Haleigh; his father, Delton; his stepmother, Gerri; and three siblings, Steve, Dan and Alesheia.

Randy Brooks Scaife (’75), 63, of Helena, Arkansas, died Feb. 16. He was a retired manager of Helena Chemical Co. He is survived by two sons and four grandchildren.

Ann Karen Tabor Baur (’77), 60, of Round Rock, Texas, died Feb. 16. She lived in Texas, Oklahoma and Minnesota; led mission and volunteer e orts; and taught classes at school and church. She was passionate about her faith and was a member of Georgetown Church of Christ. She is survived

by her husband, Timothy (’77); four children, Michael (’03), Karen Gosnell (’04), Matthew (’10) and Markus (’11); two siblings, Ruth Merritt (’79) and Thomas (’82); and five grandchildren.

Hoyt “Chip” Parks Jr. (’79), 58, of Franklin, Tennessee, and Little Rock, Arkansas, died Dec. 24, 2015. He was the middle school head at Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock since fall 2008 and held the same position at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin for 18 years prior. He is survived by his wife, Debbie Montague; three children, Jered, Blake and Rebecca; and two sisters, Cheryl Slaughter and Donna Colon.

Chuck Bryant (’80), 60, of Miami, died in January. From 1985-94 he was a trust counselor for Miami-Dade Public Schools. He then worked for the Peace Education Foundation as a trainer and taught others conflict resolution throughout the United States and internationally. He completed 59 marathons and was the first amputee to complete a marathon in all 50 states and District of Columbia. He sang in the choir at Coral Gables Congregational Church. He is survived by his wife, Jan Roelofs; two stepsons, Julian and Benjamin DelRio; his mother, Edith; and three siblings, Keith, Kim and Marilyn Adkins.

Rick Cook (’86), 55, of El Dorado, Arkansas, died Feb. 27. He served in the U.S. Navy, was instrumental in developing a successful youth addiction treatment program for adolescents, and served as a hospital administrator for more than 20 years. He was CEO in hospitals in Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. He was a deacon and teacher at College Avenue Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Massey (’86); two children, Taylon Steele (’10) and Jared; two siblings, David and Marla Layne; and three grandchildren.

John Alan Dickson (’92), 46, of Beebe, Arkansas, died Feb. 22. He was a member of Downtown Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife,? Tara Buss (’91); four children, Abby, Nate, Jake and Emma; three sisters, Natalee Howe (’93), Elizabeth Ross (’01) and Carli Anderson (’02); and a granddaughter.

Paul Newton Hillier (’93), 44, of Lu in, Louisiana, died Jan. 3. He was minister at Angelina Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Katrina; four children, Brianne (’14), Hannah, Kylie and Samuel; his parents, George and Mary Hillier; his grand- mother, Lila Smith; and a sister, Holly Page.

Alicia Lindsey Roberson Smith (’04), 33, of Huntsville, Alabama, died Jan. 15, after a two- year battle with brain cancer. She was a licensed ASID interior designer, having worked for Ethan Allen in Arkansas, Colorado and Georgia. She was a member of Mayfair Church of Christ, taught Bible classes, and hosted home Bible studies. She is survived by her husband, Sean (’03); a son, Tate Elijah; her mother, Donna Jo Leonard Miller; her stepfather, Robin Miller (’77); her grandfather, Bert J. Leonard; and a sister, Chelsea Tuttle (’07).

Johnnie Belle Corder Cooper , 96, of Griffithville, Arkansas, died Dec. 13, 2015. She was a member?of the church of Christ, former teacher’s aide at Griffithville School, and Kendall Residence Hall director from 1978-91. She was preceded in death by her husband, C.W.; and a daughter, Kay Hopper. She is survived by three daughters, Phyllis Van Winkle, Marilyn Neal (’70) and Terri Parsons (’78); a foster daughter, Edna Gunn; 12 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.

Bill Verkler

Bill Verkler , 86, of Searcy, died Feb. 8. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951-53. He was a professor of sociology at Harding from 1957-98, served as chairman of the department, and retired as professor emeritus. He was preceded in death by his wife, Billie Ruth Krummel. He is survived by two daughters, Melinda Lafevers (’80) and Wenoka Young (’82); and five grandchildren.

John Boustead

John “Jack” Boustead , 83, of Searcy, died March 13. He was a professor and aquatics coach for Harding and a member of College Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Billie; four children, Pam Dorsey (’81), Cyndi Denney (’82), Michael (’87) and Sarah Oats (’92); a brother, Gordon; and eight grandchildren.

Fred Alexander , 80, of Corpus Christi, Texas, died Jan. 25. He was director of admissions at Harding from 1968-80, He was preceded in death by his first wife, Claudette Harris (’57). He is survived by his wife, Jan; three children, Joe (’81), Beverly Burcham (’84) and Denise Runk (’87); eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Laveta Landreth Burkett , 79, of Searcy, died Oct. 4, 2015. She was a data entry clerk in the registrar’s office from 1990-2001. She is survived by her husband, Ronnie; three children, Mike (’83), Michelle Wallis (’86) and Marsha Duncan (’97); two brothers, Gale Landreth and Ernie Landreth; and six grandchildren.

Ruth Anne Newton Lacy , 72, of Kensett, Arkansas, died March 20. She worked in the store room and post office at Harding from 1983-89 and was a member of Judsonia Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband, Raymond (’85); three children, Chris (’88), Scott (’94) and Avriel Lacy- Blackwell (’98); and eight grandchildren.

Sharon Kay Williams , 67, of Searcy, died Jan. 22. She worked in Harding’s post office from 1994- 2005. She is survived by her husband, Kirk; two children, Justin (’00) and Sarah Lumas; three sib- lings, Joyce Christopher, Mary Jackson and James Webb; and a grandson.