Passages: Winter 2017

Don Carlos Bentley (’41), 98, of Cypress, Texas, died Sept. 17, 2016. Don served as a minister in Marshall and Spring, Texas, and at the Highway 249 Church of Christ in Houston where he also served as an elder. He preached his last sermon at age 93. He was an accountant at Rice University for more than 10 years and then at W.S. Farish & Co. for 30 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Melba Rogers. He is survived by three children, Don, Alan and Judith Williams; a sister, Kearby Eudaley (’46); and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Donice Hawes Kelly Pruitt (’44), 94, of Lubbock, Texas, died July 7, 2016. She earned her Ph.D. in home economics, sociology and higher education from The Ohio State University. She served as chair of the home economics and family studies department at Abilene Christian University, serving on faculty for 23 years until her retirement in 1987. She also had an interest in history and genealogy. She received numerous recognitions and professional achievements for her expertise in home economics and family disciplines. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Alvin Kelly, and her second husband, Walter Pruitt. She is survived by four stepchildren, Kathy Feuerhelm, Mike Kelly, Celeste Thompson and Allen Pruitt; 15 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Keith Dwight Swim Sr. (’44), 93, of Corning, Arkansas, died Sept. 2, 2015. He was the owner-operator of Clay Ark Enterprises, served as superintendent of schools in Bernie, Missouri, and Big Spring, Texas, for 22 years, worked in the federal programs division at Texas Tech University for three years, and farmed. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Corning. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Yonna Jean Woods (’44); two children, Sharon Lane and Keith Jr.; six granddaughters; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Vera Mae Kiihnl Pipkin (’48), 95, of Little Rock, Arkansas, died Sept. 5, 2016. She was a school teacher for many years. Her husband of 62 years, Henry (’55), was a preacher, and they served churches in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Arkansas. They also spent three years in the mission field in Tehran, Iran. She is survived by her children, James (’90), Esther (’90) and Jason (’01); two siblings, Edith Chaffin (’48) and Dewitt Kiihnl (’54); and two granddaughters.

Richard Elwood Smith (’50), 88, of Cecil, Arkansas, died June 19, 2016. He earned his master’s degree from University of Texas in 1966. He lived in Arkansas, Texas, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Germany and France. He was ordained to the ministry in 1946 and loved teaching the Bible. He enjoyed teaching elementary school and taught in the U.S., France and Germany. While in Germany, he learned the language and used it to teach Dale Carnegie courses there and also taught this course in the U.S. He retired as dean of instruction at Mountain View Community College in Dallas in 1995. He is survived by his wife, Nell (’49); four children, Susan Kurth, Shannon, Robert and Reed; a sister, Georgia Murray; and a granddaughter.

Percy Andrew Francis (’53), 88, of Belton, Texas, died Aug. 20, 2016. An Army veteran, he served two and a half years as part of the occupation army in Japan and also served three years in the Army Reserves. He was one of the founders of Lubbock Christian College in 1957, serving as financial and business officer for more than 13 years. He then moved to Temple College where he served as vice president of business services for 20 years. He is survived by his wife, Anne Carter (’50); a son, John; two siblings, Leonard and Norma Stafford (’60); three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

2016. Vernon Boyd (’55), 84, of Southfield, Michigan, died Oct. 3, 2016. He ministered in the Chicago area for 12 years before moving to the Detroit area in September 1971. He served as minister of the Strathmoor congregation until 1984 when the church merged with the Southfield congregation to become Oakland Church of Christ. He retired from Oakland on Dec. 31, 2001, continuing to serve as elder until 2013. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Alice Walker; six children, Christopher, Elizabeth Lynn, Timothy (’80), Thomas, Mary Dunn and Julia McLean; 16 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Phyllis J. Robertson Ritchie (’57), 81, of Searcy, died Oct. 10, 2016. She was a member of West Side Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Elizabeth Roach (’80). She is survived by her husband, Andy T. (’56); three children, Tom (’80), Alice Ramsey (’81) and Bob (’85); four siblings, Peggy Massey (’59), Lois Schwartz (’60), Barbara Branscome (’67) and Marvin Robertson (’69); 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Milton Harvey Peebles Jr. (’58), 80, of Texarkana, Texas, died April 19, 2015. He was retired from Henderson State University as an educator and also was a minister. He was a member of Westside Church of Christ. He is survived by two children, Milton H. III (’83) and Sammie Kay Johns (’91); three brothers, Larry (’60), David (’66) and Samuel (’70); and three grandsons.

Richard B. Berry (’59), 83, of Russellville, Arkansas, died Aug. 24, 2016. He was a member of the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans and was a Methodist. He was a lawyer with his own firm and served as Beebe city attorney and Beebe city judge. He is survived by his wife, Elaine Underhill.

Jewell Lovena Woodward Ferren (’59), 85, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, died July 1, 2016. She was an elementary school teacher, teaching in Plainview, Kensett, Trumann and Bradford, Arkansas. She was a member of Levy Church of Christ. She is survived by her sons, Cliff (’77) and Louis (’83); and eight grandchildren.

Mary Louise Thomas Morris (’66), 72, of Searcy, died Aug. 22, 2016. She was a substitute teacher and Girl Scout leader. She is survived by two daughters, Rebecca Ingle (’94) and Kristi Thurman; two sisters, Pat Rollins and Barbara Martin (’63); and three grandchildren.

John Clayton Jr. (’70), 68, of Midlothian, Virginia, died Aug. 5, 2016. He was a CPA and retired from American Portfolios Financial Services as managing director in 2015. He was a member of the Virginia Society of CPAs and of AICPA. He is survived by his wife, Regina; two sons, John and Jason; two stepchildren, Adrienne Boissy and Alan Boissy; three grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.

Jerry Wayne Flowers (’70), 68, of Franklin, Tennessee, died Nov. 7, 2016. He retired from Gaylord Entertainment and had 30 years of service in Nashville’s music industry. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; two children, Tyler and Megan Tull (’00); his father, Pernell; and two sisters, Donna Barnett (’74) and Teresa Burnette.

Janice Marie McIntosh Houtz (’70), 69, of Kenai, Alaska, died Aug. 31, 2016. She moved to Alaska in 1972 where she lived in Fairbanks two years working for KIAK. She then worked for KSRM from 1974-76 in Kenai. After leaving KSRM, she taught English at Kenai Peninsula College 52 semesters. She taught Sunday school and sang on the worship team at Kenai Fellowship, a church of Christ. She is survived by her husband, Allen; a son, Micah; four brothers, Larry, Gordon, Don and Bill McIntosh; and three grandchildren.

Linda Kathryn Campbell Garvey (’77), 61, of Searcy, died Oct. 24, 2016. After receiving her master’s in English from the University of Mississippi at Oxford, she taught at various institutions, including Pace University. She was a National Merit Scholar and sang in The Collegiate Chorale of New York City. She was a longtime creative coordinator and developer at The Walt Disney Co. and other entertainment brands in New York City. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis; and her mother, Kathryn (’54). She is survived by her father, Eddie (’53); and three siblings, David (’75), Daniel (’83) and Julie Young (’88).

Elizabeth Jolene “Jo” Spurlock Ward (’80), 79, of Winnsboro, Texas, died with her husband, Gene , Oct. 1, 2016, from injuries sustained in a traffic accident. Jo was a homemaker, providing a loving home across the globe during Gene’s service in the Air Force. She was a member of Winnsboro Church of Christ. She is survived by four children, Kim Black (’80), Kay (’81), Karen (’86) and David (’90); and seven grandchildren.

Vernon Dale Beach (’81), 56, died May 29, 2016. He proudly served his country for 25 years in the U.S. Navy as a commander. Burial was at Arlington National Cemetery on Nov. 3, 2016, with full honors. He is survived by his wife, Gail; four children, Chris (’11), Phillip (’12), Sam and Sara Simon; parents, Venton (’86) and LaVerne Crowson Beach (’55); four siblings, Diane Wood (’77), Alan (’78), Kenneth (’80) and Jon (’88); and a grandson.

Robert Mark Story (’87), 52, of Searcy, died Nov. 10, 2016. He was chief financial officer for the Arkansas Department of Human Services and was working on his doctoral degree at University of Arkansas at Little Rock at the time of his passing. He was a member of the President’s Council and was a Titans men’s social club sponsor at Harding. He coached softball for the Searcy Youth Softball League in which his daughters played. He was a member of College Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Rayanne; three daughters, Sarah, Rachel and Emily; and his parents, Ken and Patsy Story.

Kelly Wayne Dixon (’93), 45, of Greenville, Texas, died Aug. 5, 2016. He worked for many years for Omnisys in Greenville as a business systems analyst. He is survived by his son, Blake; his father, Floyd and stepmother, Lee Dixon-Helm; and his mother, Onnie Dixon.

Thomas B. Austin (’13), 32, of Searcy, died April 1, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Jennyfer Deister (’09); and his parents, Thomas and Kathryne Potter Austin (’77).

Otha Eugene “Gene” Ward , 84, of Winnsboro, Texas, died with his wife, Jo , Oct. 1, 2016, from injuries sustained in a traffic accident. Gene served in the U.S. Air Force for 23 years as a communications expert. At the end of his service, he joined Harding University as computer technician and served for 21 years. He was a member of Winnsboro Church of Christ. He is survived by four children, Kim Black (’80), Kay (’81), Karen (’86) and David (’90); and seven grandchildren.