Passages: Fall 2018

Joe Delton Betts (’52), 95, of Abilene, Texas, died March 31, 2018. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, spending his time in the Pacific Theater. He and his wife spent 50 years as missionaries in post-war Japan. He taught at Ibaraki Christian College where he became chairman of the board, preached for surrounding churches, directed the Old Peoples home, and helped run Hitachi Christian Camp. He was instrumental in establishing several congregations in the area. He preached his last sermon only 27 days before his death. He was preceded in death by a son, Robert; and his wife, Ruth Majors (’52). He is survived by three children; Donna Hanson, Becky Tribble (’77) and Thomas (’81); five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Wilma Ruth Majors Betts (’52), 86, of Abilene, Texas, died March 20, 2018. She always wanted to be a missionary and in 1956, she and her husband settled in Ibaraki, Japan. While her husband taught and preached, she learned to navigate the language and culture. She grew as much of the family’s food as possible and canned everything she could. She also prepared her own textbook on teaching western-style home economics to Asian students for Ibaraki Christian College. She orchestrated quilt giveaways to the less fortunate, clothes-mending parties for children in the children’s home, and was recognized by the governor of Ibaraki for her community good works. She was preceded in death by a son, Robert. She was survived by her husband, Joe (’52), who died 11 days after her death. She is survived by three children, Donna Hanson, Becky Tribble (’77) and Thomas (’81); five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Betty Jo Harmon Todd (’56), 84, of Harrison, Arkansas, died July 5, 2018. She was a homemaker, artist, crafter and seamstress as she made clothes for her children. She was a Bible class teacher and member of Bergman Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Stephen (’53); four children, Mark (’79), Michael, Jolene Nutt (’83), and Sandra Johnson (’85); nine grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

Margaret Ann Hardy-Haugland (’58), 81, of Marietta, Oklahoma, died Jan. 6, 2018. While attending Harding, she spent her summers working at Blue Haven Christian Camp in Las Vegas, New Mexico. After graduation, she returned to New Mexico where she met her husband. She taught school in Houston, Dallas and Indianapolis. After retirement, she and her husband traveled full time in their RV as part of Sojourners. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Gary; three children, Mark Haugland, Kerri Savage and Kay Shumate (’85); and five grandchildren.

Homer Daulton Picklesimer Jr. (’58), 85, of Volga, Kentucky, died April 3, 2018. He was a minister for 65 years, serving the longest at Stambaugh (Kentucky) Church of Christ. He also was an educator with the Johnson County Public Schools for 33 years. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Linda; four children, George, Jonathan (’93), Jeanette Maxey (’94) and Laura Kretzer (’98); two siblings, Everett and Betty Gorey; and eight grandchildren.

James David Hobby (’62), 78, of Arlington, Texas, died March 9, 2018, following an almost 40-year battle with tongue cancer. He graduated from then Harding Graduate School of Religion in Memphis, Tennessee, with M.R.E. and M.Th. degrees. He served more than 20 years as a campus minister beginning at Southeastern State College in Durant, Oklahoma, where he began the campus ministry work and later at University of Texas at Arlington. He then taught science in the Birdville Independent School District for almost 15 years. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Karen Hershey (’64); two children, Kim Wagner and Jim (’92); two siblings, Anita Mitchell (’66) and Kenneth (’69); and six grandchildren.

Suzanne Stanford Gunter (’63), 77, of Johnson City, Tennessee, died May 30, 2018. She received a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee. She taught home economics at Freed-Hardeman one year and was chairman of the department. She licensed day cares for Knox County, Tennessee, from 1965-66. She taught at University School for five years in Johnson City. She was a member of the Central Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband, Charles; two children, David and Ramonda Scott; a sister, Nina Hausmann (’67); and three grandchildren.

Era Glenave Eubanks Curtis (’67), 87, of Searcy died June 30, 2018. She taught home economics at Harding Academy from 1971-93. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean (’51). She is survived by four children, Donna Root (’74), Kathy Haugh (’77), Randy (’81) and Carol Jones (’95); a brother, Jerry Eubanks (’59); 14 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren.

Joyce Anita Reaves Richey (’70), 75, of Batesville, Arkansas, died Oct. 5, 2017. She taught in Marion, Arkansas, for six years and then spent the remainder of her 55 years as an educator in Batesville as a teacher, principal and LEP/migrant coordinator. She is survived by her husband, John Richey Jr.; one daughter, Rachel Lewis (’97); and two grandchildren.

John Patrick “Pat” Hogan (HST ’72), 68, of Sikeston, Missouri, died May 4, 2018. He served as minister at Green Forest Church of Christ in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and Kemp Church of Christ in Arcola, Illinois. He had been associate minister at Shady Acres Church of Christ in Sikeston since 1985. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Teresa Tatum (’76); two children, Ryan and Emily Redding; and three brothers, Lee, Len and Tom.

Kathy Lynne Barton Long (’72), 68, of Ooltewah, Tennessee, died May 7, 2018. She received two master’s degrees in history and geography from Florida State University. She taught at Central High School and Vashti Industrial School for Girls in Thomasville, Georgia, and retired from Chattanooga State Community College after 27 years. She was a member of East Brainerd Church of Christ. She is survived by her daughter, Kelli McCormick.

Paul Samuel Fredin (’73), 70, of Edmond, Oklahoma, died March 13, 2018. Paul served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966-68. Due to military service connected disabilities, he retired from heavy equipment sales management in 1999. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and astronomy. He attended Quail Springs Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Donna Allen (’67); two children, Jennifer Theisen and Matt; and six grandchildren.

Greg Marr (’76), 67, of Tallahassee, Florida, died July 25, 2018, from injuries sustained in a fall along the Appalachian Trail. He graduated from the University of Miami School of Law. He worked as a surveyor for the U.S. Forest Service, as an auditor for the state Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, and as an inspector general for the Department of State. A former Republican Party state committeeman for Wakulla County, he also was a member of the Boy Scout’s Order of the Arrow. He served as a former deputy bureau chief for the Florida Department of Revenue, an inspector with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and a prosecutor with the Department of Financial Services. He is survived by his wife, Denise; a son, Greg Marr Jr.; two siblings, Jeff and Donah Hamlin; and two grandchildren.

Phillip Hayes Jameson (’77), 63, of Richmond, Virginia, died April 27, 2018. He received his master’s degree in speech and theatre at West Texas State University in 1984. When his wife was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps, he became a military spouse calling many places home throughout her 26 years of service. He studied art in Florence, Italy, in recent years. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lt. Col. Paula Myers (’75); his mother, Mary Evelyn Henry Jameson; and two siblings, Ruth Ellen Dixon and Mark Henry Jameson.

Karen Gail McFann Rickman (’78), 62, of Bono, Arkansas, died April 12, 2018. She received her master’s degree in school counseling from Arkansas State University in 1980. She taught school and was an elementary school counselor from 1985-2018 and also was a member of Valley View Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband of 33 years, David; three children, Daniel, Kari and Katelin; one brother, Keith McFann; and one granddaughter .

Robert Wood “Woody” Turnbow Jr., (’78), 61, of Mobile, Alabama, died April 7, 2018. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Tammy Nettles; two daughters, Michele Phillips and Alaina; his parents, Robert (’53) and Peggy (’53); two siblings, Donald and Tracey Love; and two grandchildren.

Deborah Kay Black (’79), 61, of Milan, Missouri, died May 29, 2018. She was a homemaker and of the Christian faith. She is survived by two daughters, Stephanie Woolfolk and Stacy Kay Cumings; one sister, Lynn Jackson; and six grandchildren.

Charles “Chuck” Leslie Weeks Jr. (’82), 59, of Little Rock, Arkansas, died Aug. 7, 2018. He worked as a construction contractor and was a member of Pleasant Valley Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Lesa Davis (’83); four children, Leslie Rowland (’10), Davis (’13), Payton (’14), and Patrick; his parents, Charlie (’57) and Bea; and three grandchildren.

Jeffrey Allen Treusdell (’84), 58, of Nacogdoches, Texas, died April 11, 2018, from cancer. During his trips to MD Anderson, he used every opportunity to share Christ with patients, nurses and doctors alike. He was a member of North St reet Church of Christ, and his business was Lasergraphics Color Printing and Copies. He is survived by his parents, Herbert and Rose Ann Treusdell; his wife, Judy; two daughters, Kelsey Pelham and Laney; two brothers, Brian (’84) and Todd; and one granddaughter.

Larry Allen Daughety Jr. (’87), 55, of Searcy died March 27, 2018. He spent many years of his career teaching Bible and music at Goodpasture Christian School, Midland Christian School, Ezell-Harding Christian School, Ouachita Christian School, Central Arkansas Christian and Alabama Christian Academy. He pursued a Master of Arts in music at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. For the last 10 years, he worked for Arkansas Wholesale Lumber of Little Rock, where he was assistant manager. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Julie Clark (’85); five children, Benjamin (’06), Michael (’09), Maria Lange (’12), Brian and Rebecca (’12); his mother, Mary Lou Daughety (’78); and four siblings, John Mark (’88), Edward (’93), Debra Nesbitt (’97) and David (’99).

Michael Kelly (’87), 53, of Searcy died Aug. 5, 2018. He taught English at Arkansas State University Beebe for more than 20 years. He loved Texas Rangers baseball, backpacking the Ouachita Trail and the challenges of major home projects. He is survived by his parents, Robert (’63) and Jean Kelly; and one brother, Steve (’85).

Sarah-Jane Shields Bedwell (’05), 36, of Nashville, Tennessee, died June 21, 2018. She completed her dietetic internship with an emphasis on medical nutrition therapy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She served as a consultant for the food and beverage industry. She also served as a media spokesperson for the Tennessee Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and was the recipient of the 2013 Media Excellence Award. She authored the book Schedule Me Skinny: Plan to Lose Weight and Keep it off in Just 30 Minutes a Week . She taught Sunday school and was active in the Friendspeak program at Hillsboro Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband, Joe (’04); her parents, Doug Shields Jr. , (’75) and Rebecca B. Shields; her grandparents, Dr. Doug and Cora Beal Shields Sr.; and two siblings, Laura (’04) and Bradley.

Katherine Anne Villines Thomas (’09), 37, of Benton, Arkansas, died April 14, 2018. She is survived by her husband, Jared; one son, Luke; her mother, Dana Villines; and one sister, Amanda Cowger.

Botham Shem Jean , (’16), 26, of Dallas was tragically killed Sept. 6, 2 018. He came to Harding from St. Lucia and participated in student government, was a member of Sub T-16 social club, sang in Good News Singers, and was involved in numerous service and outreach events in the community. He was a risk assurance experienced associate with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He was a member of the church of Christ and was most known for his charismatic and powerful worship leading. He is survived by his parents, Bertrum and Allison Jean; three siblings, Brandt, Allisa Findley and Valdez Franklin; and his grandparents, Gloria Charles, Errol Gill, and Eulalie and Evans Jean.

Joyce Marie Curry Gilpin , 78, of Searcy died May 13, 2018. She worked at Harding University for more than 27 years in the dining rooms of Pattie Cobb, Charles White and Harding Place. She was a member of Cloverdale Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Joseph Manly (’88); four children, James (’88), Milton (’85), Janice Ibarra and Michael (’96); five siblings, Ralph, Wayne, Sybil Walker, Eunice Robertson and Gladys Williams; and nine grandchildren.