Obituary for Dennis Davis

Dennis M. Davis died February 1, 1982, at a Fayetteville hospital. He was born March 31, 1958, in LaHabra, California, the son of Thomas M. “Buster” and Mary Ann Still Davis.

He was a 1976 graduate of the West Campus of Fayetteville High School, formerly employed by Shakespeare and a member of the College Avenue Baptist Church.

He was survived by his parents of Plano, Texas; his brother Rex of Fayetteville; three sisters, Teresa Davis, Donna Morland and Barbara Norman, all of Fayetteville; his paternal grandmother, Lula Davis of Fayetteville; his maternal grandmother, Bessie Pickens of Fayetteville; and his paternal grandfather, Virgil Still of Grants Pass, Oregon.

Funeral services were held at College Avenue Baptist Church with burial at Tharp Cemetery in Fayetteville, under the direction of Nelson’s Funeral Home.

Obituary for Mike Garner

Michael D. Garner, 49, died Friday, December 28, 2007. He was born May 7, 1958, at Fayetteville, the son of Bob Garner and Lou Colclasure.

Mike was a 1976 graduate of Fayetteville High School and then played football for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. He moved to Wichita, Kansas, in 1979 and began working for Cessna Aircraft, holding a variety of positions over the next 28 years.

He and his wife, Lynette, married Aug. 2, 1990. In 2001, he completed his Bachelor of Science and Manufacturing Engineering degree at Southwestern College and became director of quality at Cessna Aircraft in 2007.

He was survived by his wife, Lynette; daughter Tiffany; son, Tyler; granddaughter, Kendyll, all of Wichita; mother and step-father, Lou and Dave Colclasure, of Conway; father & step-mother, Bob and Peggy Garner, of Farmington; sisters and brothers-in-law, Debbie and Don Ranz of Farmington, and Cheryl and Kevin Mills of Lincoln; four nieces; two great-nieces.

A visitation with the family was held Tuesday, January 1, 2008, and funeral service was January 2, 2008, at Central Community Church, with burial at Resthaven Cemetery, under the direction of Downing & Lahey Mortuary West. In lieu of flowers, a memorial was established as the Michael D. Garner Scholarship Fund, c/o Goddard High School Marching Band, 2500 S. 199th Street West, Goddard, Kansas, 67052.

Obituary for Nick Gyles

Nick R. Gyles II died Sunday, August 8, 2010, after suffering brain cancer. He was born at Fayetteville on November 25, 1957, the son of Nicholas R. and Yvonne Gyles.

Nick graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1976 and from the University of Arkansas in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He continued his education by attending the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, earning a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1984.

After graduation, Nick went to St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City for residency in general surgery. He completed a fellowship in trauma surgery and surgical critical care at St. Louis University School of Medicine. Nick loved that medicine gave him the opportunity to help others because he was such a caring and compassionate person and physician. He was a general surgeon at White River Medical Center in Batesville, Arkansas, and Stone County Medical Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. He was affiliated with Grace Church NWA in Fayetteville.

Nick was a very loving man and had a heart of gold. He dedicated his life to helping others, including his family, as well as his patients.

Survivors included his wife, Joy; children Zachary, Noah, and Heather; his father; and his sister, Judy Gyles Johnson.

Memorial services were held Saturday, August 14, at Grace Church NWA at 2828 Crossover Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to White River Health System Foundation, 1710 Harrison Street, Batesville, AR 72501 or Grace Church NWA, 2828 Crossover Street in Fayetteville, AR.

Obituary for Gary J. Harris

Photo of Gary Harris
Gary Harris

Gary James Harris, 52, died Sept. 21, 2010 at Fayetteville Health and Rehab. He was born April 30, 1958, at St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Bennie Harris and Thelma Oxford Harris.

He was a member of the Fayetteville High School class of 1976. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Danielle Nicole Harris.

Survivors included his parents, Bennie and Thelma Harris of Fayetteville; a sister, Sherry Carroll of Springdale; two nieces, Stephanie Mounce and Katy Carroll, both of Springdale; and a great-nephew, Cooper Allen Mounce of Springdale.

A funeral service was held Sept. 27, 2010, at Beard’s Chapel with Pastor Don Warford officiating. Harris was buried at Fairview Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Obituary for Patricia Gay (Coston) Sommer

gaye-coston-patricia-sommerPatricia Gay (Coston) Sommer, age 58, of Fayetteville died Monday, February 1, 2016, in Fayetteville. She was born May 5, 1958, at Fayetteville, the daughter of Hamilton and Virginia Robertson Coston. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Emma Jean Phillips.

She was an employee of Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. She liked to sew, work with arts and crafts and liked flea markets and shopping for antiques. She enjoyed traveling and was a great cook and baker.

She was survived by her husband, Louis Sommer; her daughter, Cassie Sommer of Fayetteville; her son, Michael Sommer of Fayetteville; a brother, Ray Coston of Springdale; a sister, Charlotte Smith of Fayetteville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation was by Moore’s Chapel. A memorial service was held February 5 at Moore’s Chapel.

Obituary for Diane Davis Thielemier

Diane Leslie (Davis) Thielemier, 52, died Wednesday, April 7, 2010, at her home in Fayetteville. She was born Sept. 10, 1957, in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of D. Robert and Jeanne White Davis.

She was a member of Sequoyah United Methodist Church and a homemaker throughout her life.

Survivors included her husband, John E. Thielemier; her son, David Robert Thielemier; and her parents, all of Fayetteville; and one sister.

Services were April 10 at Heritage Funeral Home Chapel in Springdale with Pastor Craig Russell officiating.

Obituary for ‘Weeda’ Gooding Shuey

Paulita A. “Weeda” (Gooding) Shuey, 50, of Fayetteville died Tuesday, August 19, 2008. She was born June 19, 1958, in Fayetteville, the daughter of Sidney and Dorothy Southern Gooding.

Survivors included her mother, Dorothy Gooding; a brother, Jerry Gooding of Fayetteville; and a sister, Linda Simpson of Springdale.

Visitation with family was held May 22 at 515 S. College Avenue in Fayetteville. Cremation was by Moore’s Funeral Chapel.

Obituary for ‘Dwaine’ Spears

Kenneth “Dwaine” Spears, 43, of Springdale died Wednesday, July 31, 2002, in Fayetteville. He was born Aug. 1, 1958, the son of Charlotte Woodward and Kenneth Charles Spears.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1980 to 1984. He was a service writer for BMW of Northwest Arkansas and Jim Jard Volkswagen of Rogers. He was an avid racecar and Razorback fan, he liked darts and thoroughly enjoyed coaching his son’s baseball team.

Survivors included his son, Spencer L. Spears of Fayetteville; his mother, Charlotte Woodward of Springdale; his father, Kenneth Charles Spears of Goshen; his paternal grandmother, Pearlie Spears of Prairie Grove; and his mathernal grandmother, Virginia Lybarger of Springdale.

Graveside services were held August 3 at the Mount Comfort Cemetery in Fayetteville with Buel Curtis officiating. Arrangements were by Nelson-Berna Funeral Home and Crematory.

Obituary for Donna Moore Gardner

Donna Jean (Moore) Gardner, 46, of Fayetteville died Tuesday, August 3, 2004, in Fayetteville. She was born March 18, 1958,to Dr. Arthur F. Moore and Theresa Hardesty Moore.

She moved with her family to Fayetteville in 1959 and attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Ramay Junior High and Fayetteville High School. She worked 20 years for the University of Arkansas as a computer technician in the department of computing services.

She was preceded in death by her father.

Survivors included her husband, Lynn Gardner of the home; two brothers, Dr. Dwight Mooore of Emporia, Kansas, and Douglas Moore of Fayetteville; two sisters, Debbie Daily of Fayetteville and Dr. Deedee Moore of Washburn, Missouri; and her mother, Theresa Moore.

Graveside services were held at Son’s Chapel Cemetery with Rev. Paul Worm officiating under the direction of Beard’s Funeral Chapel and Crematory.