Passages: Spring 2018

Helen M. Young (’39), 99, of Malibu, California, died Nov. 30, 2017. She and her husband, Norvel, ministered 13 years with the Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas. In the 1950s, the couple encouraged the founding of The Children’s Home of Lubbock, a state-of-the-art, cottage-based home for homeless children. She also hosted and participated in many planning sessions that created Lubbock Christian University. She founded the daily devotional guide Power for Today, which she edited until 1972. In 1957 the couple was invited by the Pepperdine University Board of Trustees to serve as the third president and first lady. As Pepperdine’s first lady, she established Associated Women for Pepperdine to use the power of women in support of Christian higher education. Her writing and teaching influenced many generations of women in churches of Christ. She was named by historian Richard Hughes as “perhaps the most visible and influential woman among churches of Christ in the second half of the 20th century.” She traveled around the world speaking for women’s seminars, lectures and retreats. She taught college courses at Pepperdine in sociology and marriage and family as well as the course The Bible and the Modern Woman. Throughout her time at Pepperdine, she was honored with awards and recognitions including the Pepperdine Alumni Service Award, the Graduate School of Education and Psychology Dolores Award for Special Service, and the Pepperdine Medal of Honor. For her impact on Christian education, she received honors from Lubbock Christian, Oklahoma Christian, Harding and Lipscomb Universities. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Norvel; and a daughter, Marilyn Stewart. She is survived by three children, Emily, Sara and Matt; 13 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

[caption id="attachment_960" align="alignleft" width="175"] Esther Marie Clay Yingling[/caption]

Esther Marie Clay Yingling (’42), 97, of Searcy died Feb. 9, 2018. She taught school for 31 years in Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. She especially loved teaching high school history at Harding Academy in Searcy. She enjoyed teaching ladies Bible classes and supporting Bison basketball. She was active in three chapters of Associated Women for Harding with one of her favorite projects being replacing the brick walkways across Harding’s campus. She was a member of College Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Jr. (’42). She is survived by four children, Cassie Meeks (’71), Angie Yeager (’74), Charlotte Bible (’82) and James Yingling (’85); eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Bula Jean Moudy Anderson (’49), 91, of Lubbock, Texas, died Feb. 9, 2018. She earned a master’s degree from Texas Tech University. She taught elementary school in Alabama and Texas. She taught home economics at Harding from 1966-70 and also at Lubbock Christian University. She served as a home extension agent for a short time. Later, she became a small business owner of The Yarn Shop in Lubbock where she attended Broadway Church of Christ. She was always serving or supporting missions whether on the Navajo reservation, overseas, or in the prison system. She is survived by her husband, Gordon (’50); two children, Laura Skains and Scott; and a brother, Alvin Moudy (’50).

Mary “LaVelle” Sewell Smith (’52), 87, of Springhill, Louisiana, died Jan. 7, 2018. She was an expert seamstress and worked at Shurtleff’s Sewing Center until its closing in 1990 when she began providing alteration services from home. She was a member of North Arkansas Street Church of Christ. She is survived by four children, Barry, Conny, Sharon Griffin and Philip; two sisters, Esther Dunn (’45) and Eva Mae Modisette; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Lovera Jackson Baird (’54), 87, of Rolla, Missouri, died Dec. 6, 2017. She was a member of the Rolla Church of Christ where she taught and served in children’s ministries for 50 years. She retired from The Frame Shop in Rolla where she worked 19 years. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Thomas (’53); four children, Thomas Jr., Tim (’79), Jeanie March and James (’86); 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Roberta Ann Rhodes Atkinson (’60), 79, of Montgomery, Alabama, died Dec. 28, 2017. She founded and directed the Carriage Hills Kindergarten. She also served as a classroom teacher, music specialist and elementary principal at Alabama Christian Academy. She was a member of GracePointe Church. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Jerry (’62); two sons, Greg (’88) and Douglas; two sisters, Betty Mowrer (’49) and Evelyn Wheatcroft (’50); and three grandchildren.

Eva Joy Vinson Oliver (’60), 79, of Searcy died March 4, 2018. She served as secretary/receptionist for the behavioral sciences department from 1985-93 and was a member of College Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Blake Hunter (’15). She is survived by her husband of 60 years, George (’57); three children, Debbie Starks (’93), Mike (’82) and Debra Hunter (’86); nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

John William “Bill” Belue (’62), 79, of Searcy died Dec. 24, 2017. He coached football at Gosnell High School. After stepping away from coaching, he served as a high school referee. He worked for American Greetings Corp. for 32 years in Osceola and McCrory, Arkansas. He was an avid sportsman. He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Linda Hall. He is survived by his wife of four years, Linda Staggs; three children, Kerri Berkemeyer, Russ (’96) and Stan; two stepchildren, Dana Troutt and Jay Staggs; seven grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

Ronald Lee Castleman (’66), 72, of Warrensburg, Missouri, died Aug. 18, 2016. He received his master’s degree at the University of Arkansas and pursued his Ph.D. at University of North Texas. He taught accounting at Virginia Commonwealth University, Park University and Central Missouri State University where he was coordinator and chairman of the accounting department. He owned and operated Ron Castleman CPA for many years as well as The Vintage House Restaurant. He was past president of the Warrensburg Lions Club and a member of the Warrensburg Church of Christ where he taught Sunday school, served as secretary/treasurer of the board, head of benevolence and business finance, and director of music. He is survived by two sons, Clifton and Clayton; and four grandchildren.

[caption id="attachment_961" align="alignleft" width="182"] James Simrell “Jim” Woodroof[/caption]

James Simrell “Jim” Woodroof (HST ’67), 85, of Searcy died March 22, 2018. Jim and his wife, Louine, served a number of churches in more than 60 years of ministry. He taught in the College of Bible at Harding from 1989-92. He also wrote eight books over the course of his lifetime. His last book was written and published at age 81. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Louine McGee; five children, Tim (’78), David (’82), Jon (’82), Amy Phillips and Rachel Bossier; two sisters, Jodi Morris and Bettye Alley; 15 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Robert Michael Lawyer (’68), 71, of Forrest City, Arkansas, died Feb. 17, 2018. He worked for State Farm Insurance for 45 years in Pine Bluff, Forrest City and Wynne, Arkansas. He was a former president of Life Underwriters and member of Rotary Club. He was very involved with the Wynne Music Club and was a member of Wynne Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Janessa Moore. He is survived by his wife, Martha Lynn; five children, Robert (’93), Jacob, Lesley Scates, Emma and Mary Catherine; a brother, David (’66); and five grandchildren.

Pattie Sue Sears (’69), 70, of Flower Mound, Texas, died Jan. 26, 2018. She worked for Modern American Mortgage Co., Savers Federal Savings and Loan, Bear Stearns and its successor JP Morgan Chase in New York City and Lewisville, Texas. She enjoyed traveling and visited all 50 states, Canada, many countries in Europe and the Holy Lands. She collected art and was a member of museums in Dallas, Fort Worth and New York City. She is survived by two siblings, James Sears (’69) and Martha Sears Collins (’83).

Lottie Gale Bright Frank (’71), 69, of Brookhaven, Mississippi, died Feb. 7, 2018. She graduated from the nursing program at Southwest Mississippi Community College. She was a retired registered nurse and was a special counselor after Hurricane Katrina in Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Gary (’69); three sons, Jeff, Joseph and Josh; a brother, Michael Bright; and seven grandchildren.

Cathy Olree Harding (’77), 61, of Memphis, Tennessee, died Feb. 26, 2018. After staying home to raise her children, she taught at Harding Academy Cordova and White Station. She is survived by her husband, Jim (’76); four children, Laurie, Julie, Barrett (’12) and Miriam; her parents, Charles (’54) and Miriam Draper (’55) Olree ; a sister, Karen Logan (’75); and nine grandchildren.

Brent Wood Rogers (’80), 58, of Kojima, Japan, died Dec. 18, 2017. He served as a missionary for three years in India, taught English at Augusta (Arkansas) High School, and was a missionary for 22 years in Japan. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Lee Hougey (’80); two children, Tim (’01) and Rachel Patton; three siblings, Helen Brewer, Eddie and Ru Anne (’88); and three grandchildren.

Larry “Steve” Myers (’81), 69, of Piedmont, Oklahoma, died Jan. 2, 2018. He spent 10 years in the U.S. Army where he served with Army intelligence and spent time in Vietnam. He also served as a police officer as well as a missionary in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Rae; two children, Chris and Jodie Pierce; and five grandchildren.

Monda Ruth Underwood Oldham (’89), 83, of Searcy died Jan. 8, 2018. She retired as an art instructor from Harding Academy and was a member of West Side Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her son, Brenton (’83). She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Bill; two sons, Clifford (’79) and Bill Jr. (’92); three siblings, Don, Tincey Gorman and Edna Ann Powell; and eight grandchildren.

Emily Nicole Williams (’12), 27, of Searcy died Dec. 14, 2017. She loved to dance from age 4, and her interest in dance led to competitions and teaching classes. She is survived by her parents, Lindsey and Patti Williams; and a brother, Ryan.

Hunter Mathew Williamson , 21, of Searcy died Nov. 15, 2017. He was a criminal justice major and was employed as a dispatcher in Harding’s department of public safety. He is survived by his wife, Meredith Adair; his parents, John and Misty Williamson; and a brother, Isaak.

[caption id="attachment_962" align="alignleft" width="180"] Walter Melvin Gardner[/caption]

Walter Melvin Gardner , 86, of Fort Worth, Texas, died Jan. 21, 2018. He went to college at North Texas University and North Texas Agricultural College where he studied chemistry. He worked for Fresco Paint Manufacturing Co. and in 1963 started his own business in the paint and coatings industry, which eventually was known as Trinity Coatings Co. He later established Trinity Coatings International, GWI and Melric. In addition to his business activities, he was active in Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club and served on the boards of Central Bank and Trust, Hughley Hospital, Southwestern Christian College and Harding. He served as a deacon and an elder at Southside Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mildred Howeth; four children, Patti Bolton , (’73), Jim (’77), Susan Bailey (’80) and Beverly Smith (’88); 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Correction: In the previous issue, Shirley Birdsall Alexander’s (’54) survivors — her two stepchildren, Lisa (’86) and Mark, and her brother, Graham Birdsall (’58) — were incorrectly listed as preceding her in death. We apologize for the error.