Obituaries

02-26-1934 William Gray Barbee III, known as W.G. Barbee, was born in Jonesboro, Ark.

02-26-1934 - 09-13-2022 William Gray Barbee III, known as W.G. Barbee, was born in Jonesboro, Ark. to Billy and Sara (Martha) Jane (Pope) Barbee on Feb. 26, 1934, and he departed this life on Sept. 13, 2022, at his home in Thayer, Mo., 88 years, 6 months, and 18 days.

06-27-1933 - 09-12-2022 James Travis Grissom, 89, of Saddle, Ark., passed from this life on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, in Batesville, Ark. Travis was born June 27, 1933, in Saddle, Ark. to Obie Will Grissom and Goldie Pearl (Robison) Grissom.

01-31-1945 - 08-31-22 James Wiles Best, 77, of Cherokee Village, Ark., passed away Aug. 31, 2022, after a courageous year-long battle with cancer. Jim was born on Jan. 31, 1945, in St. Louis, Mo., to John William (JW) and Hazle (Higginbotham) Best, who ran the Higginbotham Funeral Home in Hardy. Jim attended Hardy High and was active in Boy Scouts, several clubs and sports teams, graduating in 1963 as an Eagle Scout and class valedictorian. He initially attended the University of Arkansas but completed his undergraduate schooling at Arkansas State. He enjoyed a very successful 33-year career in sales and management at RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, making scores of good friends throughout the Southeast US. Jim retired to Vonore, Tennessee, where he enjoyed golfing, boating with friends and taking the grandkids waterskiing, wake boarding and fishing. He was an avid motorcycle rider and loved telling stories about rides he’d taken along the Cherohala Skyway, his cross-country trip on Route 66 with his best buddy, and international trips to Italy, Spain and Canada. He was especially proud of his 10- years of experience teaching motorcycle safety courses, helping to develop good safety practices in novice riders. He enjoyed volunteering in the community throughout his life, and most recently he served as a commissioner of the Cherokee Village SID from 2020-2022. He and his wife, Patsy Church, were among the founding members of the Hardy Historical Association, and they were instrumental in locating, cataloguing and displaying many of the historical items currently located in the organization’s museum.

06-12-1959 - 09-14-2022 Sidney Harlan Shankle, 72, of Ash Flat, Ark., passed from this life on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Ash Flat, Ark. Sidney was born June 12, 1950, in Tyronza, Ark. to Cecil Orville Shankle and Mary Isabell (Rains) Shankle.

Ruth Eugene (Jeanie) Croney 11-09-1920 – 09-01-2022 Wanda Roe passed peacefully at her home in Pea Ridge on Sept. 1, 2022, having maintained her independence and mental acuity until the end.