Beatrice Marie Aldridge

Beatrice Marie Aldridge, of Salem, Ark., daughter of the late James Henry Johnson and Ruth Spybuck Johnson, was born April 25, 1922, in Ottawa, Kan. She died April 22, 2009, at Gassville Nursing Center in Gassville, at the age of 86.

She was united in marriage to Glenn Aldridge on Sept. 13, 1953, in Salem. She was a nurse, and the first nurse to be employed by Fulton County Hospital when it opened it's doors in 1963. She was a member of Henderson Baptist Church.

She is survived by: her son, Jim Matthews and wife Pearl of Midway; her daughter, Anne Marie Roper and husband J.C. of Viola; her grandchildren, Cindy McCasland, Kim Bilyeu, Amy Cotter, Laura Gwatney, and Danny and Debbie Matthews; 12 great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by: her husband; two brothers, Roy and Frank Johnson; two sisters, Stella Johnson and Rosie Kay; and her parents.

Graveside services were held April 25 at Gum Springs Cemetery with arrangements under the direction of Cox-Blevins Funeral Home of Salem.