OBITUARIES

Esther M. Burwell

Esther M. Burwell, 67, died Nov. 24, 2013, in Bentonville. She was born on May 16, 1946, in Miami, Okla., to the late Archie and Arkie (Cowan) St. John.

She was the loving wife of Kenneth Burwell.

Esther was a night supervisor at Walmart Store #1 in Rogers for almost 20 years and drove a school bus for Bentonville schools for 21 years. She was a Pentecostal minister and loved church. She also taught Sunday school for many years. She enjoyed cooking for her family, who knew her as Granny and G.G.

She is survived by her husband of the home; son, Ray Burwell and wife, Michelle, of Pea Ridge;

daughters, Robin Saunders and husband, Steven, of Newport, Ark., Linn Cass-Burwell of Albuquerque, N.M., and foster daughter, Sanwanya Moser and husband, Phil, of Bentonville;

brother, David St. John and wife, Nadine, of Oklahoma;

sister, Ardith Burki and husband, David, of Oklahoma; 14 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A visitation was from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013, at Catalyst Church in Bentonville.

The funeral service was at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 29, at Catalyst Church, Bentonville.

Burial followed at Glen Abbey Memorial Gardens in Miami, Okla.

Online condolences can be made at www.rollinsfuneral.com.

Dr. Jesse M. Coker

Dr. Jesse M. Coker, 92, died Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013, at his home in Rogers. He was born June 12, 1921, in Drew County to Lurie M.

and Lois Harper Coker.

Dr. Coker was a retired college professor, having taught at the University of Arkansas-Monticellofor many years.

Besides teaching at UAM, he had been a teacher, principal and superintendent in the Tiller public schools.

He was a decorated U.S.

Army veteran of the New Guinea and Philippines Campaigns in World War II. He earned the Purple Heart, a battlefi eld commission, and a Bronze Star for his gallantry and outstanding service. He wrote about his experiences in “My Unforgettable Experiences of WW II” and used the proceeds to o◊er scholarships to college students at UAM.

Dr. Coker retired to Rogers in 1999. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church, the American Legion Post and the Rogers Optimist Club. For his great generosity, boundless dedication, and hard work for the Rogers Optimist Club, the club honored him, forevermore, by naming its “Optimist of the Year” award in his honor. He enjoyed speaking to students about his WW II experiences while wearing his WW II uniform. He was interested in young people in the area, always stressing wise choices and attaining higher education.

Dr. Coker was preceded in death by his wife Ernestine Wills Coker; his parents; and a brother, Mack Coker.

Survivors include one daughter, Sandra Yingst and husband Len of Rogers; two granddaughters, Whitney Bailey and husband Greg of Bella Vista; and Kara Reeves and husband Je◊of Bentonville; and three great-grandchildren, Hudson and Bennett Reeves of Bentonville; and Maggie Bailey of Bella Vista.

In addition, the family wishes to thank Martha Becker of Pea Ridge for her faithful service as Dad’s caregiver for the past seven years.

A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Dec. 23, 2013, at First United Methodist Church, 307 W. Elm St., Rogers, AR, with the Rev. David Bentley o◊ciating.

Billy Wayne Henson

Billy Wayne Henson, 55, of Pea Ridge, died Friday, Nov. 29, at Mercy Hospitalin Rogers.

He was born Sept.

22, 1958, to Gene Henson and Sue Reed Henson in Rogers.

He was a lifelong resident of Pea Ridge and graduated from Pea Ridge High School. He worked at Daisy Manufacturing of Rogers for 18 years and was owner and operator of Auto Center in Pea Ridge for 10 years.

He was a dirt-track driver on “Old 12” for six years, enjoyed watching NASCAR on TV, loved to tell stories, work in the garden, and take his grandsons riding in the golf cart.

He loved to be with his friends and family, his nieces and nephews all called him “Uncle Bull.” He was a member of downtown Church of Christ in Rogers.

He was preceded in death by his father, Gene Henson; one son, Matt Henson; and one sister, Brenda Schooley.

Survivors include his wife Vickie Day Henson whom he married Dec. 29, 1980; a daughter, Heather Wade, husband Mark, and grandsons Khale and Kolby all of Pea Ridge; two brothers, Gary Henson and wife Lisa of Bentonville, and David Henson and wife Toni of Pea Ridge; one sister, Donna DeWitt of Pea Ridge; brother-in-law, Bruce Schooley of Seligman, Mo.; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation was 6-8 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 2, at First Baptist Church in Pea Ridge.

Service was 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, at First BaptistChurch.

Burial was at Pea Ridge Cemetery.

In lieu of fl owers the family requests donations be made to Ronald McDonald House Charities; 1009 Wolfe St., Little Rock, AR.

72202.

Online condolences may be made at siscofuneral home.net.

Gene Douglas ‘Doug’ Robinson

Gene Douglas “Doug” Robinson, 60, of Gravette, Ark., died Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, at the Ozarks Community Hospital, Gravette, Ark. He was born Sept. 12, 1953, in Killeen, Texas, to Herbert E. and Jessie Mae (Crisp) Robinson.

He was a United States Army veteran. He spent many years working as a car salesman in the northwest Arkansas area. He will be remembered for his humor and the love he had for his family. He loved to spend time with his family fishing, hunting and camping.

He was preceded in death by his father, Herbert E. Robinson.

Survivors include his mother, Jessie Mae Robinson of Rogers, Ark.; his wife, Cindy Robinson of Gravette, Ark.; six children, Jessica Cates (Jon) of Fort Campbell, Ky., Joshua Robinson of Rogers, Ark., Jake Robinson of Rocky Comfort, Mo., Nikki Taylor (Shane) of Gravette, Ark., James Garland of Fayetteville, Ark., and Ryan Garland of Gravette, Ark,; two brothers, Lonnie Robinson of Rogers, Ark., and Stanton Hendrickson (Melanie) of Bentonville, Ark.; stepmother, Donna Robinson of Garfield, Ark.; and one grandson, Korbin Cates.

Visitation was 6 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013, at the Bella Vista Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec.

4, 2013, at the Bella Vista Funeral Home chapel.

Burial will follow at the Bethel Cemetery, Gravette, Ark.

Arrangements are by theBella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd, Bella Vista, Ark.

Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.

Leslie C. Somerville

Leslie C. Somerville, 71, of Rogers, died Nov.

28, 2013, at Circle of LifeHospice in Bentonville.

He was born Dec.

3, 1941, to Stanley and Ivus (Roles) Somerville.

He was a lifelong resident of Rogers and attended Rogers schools through his senior year, which he spent with his sister in Valiant, Okla., where he graduated high school.

During high school, he was a lifeguard at the Lake Atalanta pool.

For more than 30 years, he was an operator/dispatcher at SWEPCO, from which he retired. After SWEPCO, he worked at Rainbow Cycle and Marine (where he spent all his checks on motorcycles), and later for Tyson Distribution.

He was a member of Oakley Chapel United Methodist Church, where he was a past chairman of the Administrative Council, and was the “Chairman” of the Holy Grounds co◊ee group.

He coached and umpired for Rogers Little League in both the T-ball and Babe Ruth Leagues. He was known to call a “strike” a “strike” - even if his own mother was at bat. He was also a Rogers volunteer fireman, a member of the Rogers Jaycees and a past member of the Elks Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Dorothy Somerville, Donna Robinson.

Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Linda (Bland) Somerville, whom he married on Oct. 7, 1967;

his son, Kip Somerville and wife, Ceree, of Garfi eld;

a sister, Peggy McCartyof Rattan, Okla.; and two grandchildren, Corbin Somerville and Kaylin Brouhard.

Visitation was 5 to 7 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 2, 2013, at Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers.

Funeral services were at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Oakley Chapel United Methodist Church.

Burial followed in Benton County Memorial Park.

Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, or to the Oakley Chapel Building Fund.

Arrangements were by Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers. Online condolences may be made at www.

rollinsfuneral.com.

Johnnie Eugene Wesson

Johnnie Eugene Wesson, 67, of Garfield, died Nov.

22, 2013, at the VA Medical Center in Oklahoma City.

He was born in Bakersfi eld, Calif., on March 31, 1946, to John and Nettie Cordelia (Callahan) Wesson.

He served in the U.S.

Navy during Vietnam, and later enlisted in the U.S.

Army. Following honorable discharge, he entered the Army Reserve and retired with the rank of sergeant.

He was a member of the Mercy and Grace Cathedral in Springdale.

He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings.

Survivors include his children, Natalie Toole and husband, David, of Rogers, Bradley Wesson of Deer Lodge, Mont., Dawn Wesson and Je◊ery Wesson, both of Fresno, Calif.; siblings, Leveta Martin, Billie Martin, Ken Wesson, Debbie Lunn, all of California and Rick Wesson of Garfield; 15 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2, 2013, at Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers.

Burial was at 1 p.m. in Fayetteville National Cemetery.

Arrangements were by Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers (www.rollinsfuneral. com).

On the Record, Pages 3 on 12/04/2013