Obituaries

Arthur L. Cook

Arthur L. Cook, 89, of Grinnell, Iowa and formerly of Bella Vista, Ark., died on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.

He was born on April 22, 1925, in Kansas City, Kan., to Lyle and Aileen Cook. Following graduation from high school, he joined the United States Navy in 1943. He participated in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. He was honorably discharged on April 1, 1945. On March 6, 1948, he was united in marriage to Erma Pierce Cook.

He attended Kansas City Junior College and graduated from Kansas City University in 1950 with a degree in economics. He worked for Richards and Conover Hardware Co., in Kansas City, Mo., operated several restaurants in Enid, Okla. and was employed by KG & E in Wichita, Kan., in the commercial marketing department. He retired in 1986, and moved to Bella Vista. In 2000, he was united in marriage to Frances Bowers Cook and lived in Bella Vista until 2011, when he and Fran moved to Grinnell.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Alan Cook in 1992; and his wife of 48 years, Erma Cook in 1996.

He is survived by his wife, Frances Bowers Cook of Grinnell; a daughter, Pamela (Don Cadden) Cook of Alpine, Texas; a son, Craig (Cynthia) Cook of Houston, Texas; five grandchildren, Job (Laurie) Cook of Nashville, Tenn., Adam Autry of Providence, R.I., Taryn (Michael) Kinney, Taylor Cook, and Carrie Cook, all of Houston, Texas; five great-grandchildren; and many step-children, step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, April 18, 2015, at the Bella Vista Community Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be in the Bella Vista Memorial Garden Cemetery.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.smithfh.com.

Marjorie Esther Hacker

Marjorie Esther (Gould) Hacker, 95, died in her sleep on Jan. 18, 2015, in her home at Fort Wayne, Ind. Born on April 12, 1919, in Detroit, Mich., she was the daughter of Frank Wesley and Christie (DeLeeuw) Gould.

She was raised in Fort Wayne, Ind. She spent five years employed at the Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. and attended Indiana University extension in Fort Wayne. Later she attended Ohio University extension in Cleveland. She was active in Beta Sigma Chi, Grace Dodge Society and Mixer Council of YWCA. She was married in 1942 to Paul T. Hacker in Fort Wayne, Ind., at Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church. They spent World War II at the University of Chicago where he was a U.S. Army Air Corp officer doing meteorological research, and she worked at the Federal Life Insurance Co.

After the war, they moved to the Cleveland, Ohio, area. She volunteered with the Red Cross, the League of Women Voters, the United Methodist Church and as a librarian for 25 years at the local Ohio Veterans Hospital. They built a retirement home in Belle Vista, Ark., and enjoyed traveling the world. They returned to Fort Wayne in 1994 and spent the remaining years close to family and old friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, in 1998.

She is survived by her daughter, the Rev. Christina Kay (James) Fitch; her son, Jonathan Paul (Catherine) Hacker; four grandchildren, Ford Fitch and Katrina Fitch of Bella Vista, and Jenna Tackett of Fort Wayne and Thomas Hacker of Encinitas Calif.

Memorials are suggested to the IPFW scholarship fund.

Funeral services were Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, at the Hockemeyer- Miller Funeral Home, Fort Wayne, Ind. Graveside services were Saturday, Jan. 24, at Hill Dale Cemetery, Martinsville Ind.

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

Mary Francis Haigh

Mary Francis Haigh, 97, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Tuesday morning, Jan. 13, 2015, at the Legacy House in Bentonville, Ark. She was born in Camp Grove, Ill., in 1917 to Ora Mae Lowden (McDonald) and Louie Denver Robison.

She lived in Peoria, Ill., prior to retiring to Bella Vista in 1980 with her husband, Robert, who died Oct. 5, 2014, after 68 years of marriage.

She is survived by two daughters, Marcia Mae of Bella Vista and Robyn Tuck of Dolores, Colo.; three grandchildren, Shad Purcell and wife, Traci, of McKinney, Texas, Jason Werth and wife, Marnie, of Torrance, Calif. and Nichole Berdzar and husband, Colin, of Dolores, Colo.; and four great-grandchildren, Skyler, Trinity and Tristyn Purcell and Breckyn Mary Lynn Berdzar.

She chose to be cremated at Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory. A family memorial service will be held at a later time.

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

Richard Ira

Syverson

Richard Ira Syverson, 78, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, at Concordia Nursing & Rehab in Bella Vista. He was born on March 14, 1936, in Blue Earth, Minn., to Ira and Clara Kosse Syverson.

He is survived by his wife, Gretchen Syverson of Bella Vista; children, Mike Syverson, Sandy Syverson, Dale Syverson and wife, Mary, Kennan Syverson and wife Michele, Tracy Syverson, Kim Syverson and husband Gary; two brothers, Tom Syverson and Jim Syverson; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, with a Rosary at 1:30 p.m. in St. Bernard Catholic Church, 1 St. Bernard Lane, Bella Vista.

Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory of Bella Vista.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association, NWA Regional Office, 210 N. Walton Blvd. Suite 25, Bentonville, AR 72712.

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