Epting Funeral Home of Fayetteville

08/28/2025

07/21/2025

Alice Spears, age 78, of Winslow died Friday, July 18, 2025, at Katherine's Place in Fayetteville. She was born December 7, 1946, in Denver, Colorado the daughter of Bessie Olive Rice and Glen Norman Dotson.

Preceded in death by her Parents, Brother Glen N. Dotson and Husband Lane Spears.

Alice is survived by her Brother-in-law and sister-in-law George and Geri Spears, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

She was an ER nurse with the VA Hospital for over 20 years.

Alice was a collector of porcelain dolls. She raised cats most of her life and helped many stray cats find forever homes. At Katherine's Place you could always find her playing bingo with her friends. She enjoyed painting and many residents have her paintings on their walls.

Graveside service will be Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 9am at Sunset Cemetery in Winslow with Pastor Matt Dennis officiating.

06/12/2025

John W. Lewandowski, 93, of Farmington, AR went to be with the Lord on Monday, June 2, 2025 at Willard Walker Hospice Home surrounded by his family. He was born on October 17, 1931, in Chicago, IL, to Agnes (Sczepkowski) and Ludwig Lewandowski.

He graduated from Chicago Vocational School and joined the army soon after. He was a veteran of the United States Army during the Korean War, serving as a construction engineer. John raised his family in Diamond Bar, CA, working as a piping design engineer for C.F. Braun in Alhambra, CA.

During his life, he had a passion for bowling, polka dancing, and yard landscaping, and he never passed up the opportunity to be a gracious host. His deep Catholic faith guided him throughout his life.

John is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary Mroczkowski Lewandowski, two daughters, Carrie Hubert (Don) of Chino Hills, CA, Gwenn Neal (Drake) of Cary, NC, and son Bill Lewandowski (Linda) of Winslow, AR. Dziazdzi will be missed by everyone, including his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be remembered most for his sense of humor and his love for his family.

A funeral mass for John will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, June 21st, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Fayetteville, AR. Inurnment will be held at Fayetteville National Cemetery at 11:30 am on Monday, June 23rd. The family invites all who knew John to join in honoring a life well lived.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a cause close to John’s heart.

05/18/2025

Coins placed on military headstones are a traditional way for individuals to express respect and remembrance for fallen service members, with each coin denomination often carrying a specific meaning.

A penny indicates a visit to the grave, a nickel signifies training together at boot camp, a dime means serving together in some capacity, and a quarter suggests the visitor was present at the service member's death.

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05/05/2025

Jo Anne Brown a.k.a. “Grandma”, “Mawmo”, “Grummy”, “Emmaw” of Fayetteville, Arkansas left us on May 2nd after a brief illness. Born February 6, 1930 in Kansas City, Missouri, she was a graduate of Central Missouri State Teachers College in Warrensburg. She immediately began her teaching career in a large downtown school in Kansas City with a morning class and an afternoon class numbering 50 kindergarten students each.

Jo Anne married Charles Brown in 1951. They first met in kindergarten where they shook the cream jar to make butter for crackers and pretended to be the wind for story telling time. In third grade they moved across the street from each other and shared many childhood, teenage and college times together including the time Charles pulled her out of a puddle, puddle wading being one of her favorite recreations. That puddle was eight feet deep.

They moved to Louisville, Kentucky. While Charles worked on his Bachelors of Theology at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Jo Anne became a revolutionary member of “The Divinity Dames”, a group of pastors’ wives, determined to carve out a unique and very different role as a “Preacher’s Wife”.

She was often called to teach Sunday School Classes, lead Women’s Circle, play the piano when needed and maintain order in the pew where she worshiped and corralled their four children who were not always as interested in their father’s sermon as the rest of the congregation.

She continued her teaching career in several cities as she moved with her husband to pastor churches. In Louisville, Kentucky Jo Anne taught inner city students, many of whom had not experienced grass until Mrs. Brown took them to a city park. Their daughter, Carolyn was born there. One year later they accepted a call in Troy, Missouri. Jo Anne was active in community organizations there too. Son, Steve was born there. One year later they moved to College of the Ozarks at Point Lookout near Branson, Missouri. Their sons, Tim and Marty were born there. Jo Anne and Charles provided spiritual guidance at the school.

Additionally, Jo Anne supervised the training of college students in practical arts, sponsored the Student Council and accompanied the School Choir. Jo Anne and Charles’ next call was a ten-year partnership with Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Missouri. Jo Anne taught kindergarten for Springfield Public Schools. She had a heart for children that struggled with school due to learning disabilities. She studied in Syracuse, New York under fellow pioneers. She returned to begin the first program that provided services to children diagnosed as learning disabled in Springfield and in Missouri and in the Midwest. The year 1970 included a move to El Dorado, Arkansas. During her twenty-three years there she implemented the first learning disability resource room of El Dorado Public Schools and later directed a Title VI Learning Disabilities Project, the largest such federally funded project in the United States. She received national recognition and attention as a speaker and writer for her ground breaking work.
She also established the first programs in Smackover and Norphlet. Summer tutoring turned into a Summer Camp for Children with Learning Disabilities. Hundreds of children have benefited from her gifts.

She received the first YWCA Woman of the Year Award and served on the United Way Board, the Hospice Board and provided training for hospice volunteers. She was active in Presbytery of the Pines where she served as Moderator of Pastoral Care, and served on the Division of Vocations and the Division of Nominations.

Upon retirement, she and Charles moved to Fayetteville where she continued her community involvement. She served as President of Single Parent Scholarship Fund for two terms and Cooperative Emergency Outreach. She renewed her interest in AAUW and devoted time to their many good causes and programs including volunteering at Jefferson School. She enjoyed book clubs, gardening, Newcomers Club, Diamond Ladies Investment Club and travel for education and recreation. She recently joined Central United Methodist Church where one could find her in her wheelchair, front row. When asked to do most anything, her impulsive response was to say, “Okay. Let’s do it!”

Her husband of 57 years, Charles (Charlie) Brown, preceded her in death on January 3 rd , 2008. She was also preceded in death by her grandson, James Powell, sister, Mary Alice Sturges Spencer of San Antonio, Texas and brother, Sidney James Sturges of Kansas City, Missouri. Jo Anne is survived by her four children, fifteen grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren ages 11 months to 20 years.

Those in the immediate family who continue their journey here while Jo Anne travels to join the Lord and those that went before her are daughter Carolyn Powell and her husband Jamie and their children Valerie, Russell and his wife Rachel and daughter Raeghan; Richard and his wife Jessica and children Cambree and Kellen; son Steve and his wife Karen and their children Cameron, Matt and his daughters, Avery, Nora and Luci, Grayson and his wife Lindsey and their children Lula, Dean and Lachlan; son Tim and his wife Donna and their children Miles and wife Carlee and their sons, Beckham and Palmer; Adam and wife Michelle and their children Millie and Walker; Kathrine Petty and husband Jamie and their daughters Charli and Quinn; and Madeline Liles and husband Travis and their children Emmy Jo, Harrison and Owen; son Marty and wife Stephanie and their children Jon and wife Autumn, Andrew and wife Stephanie and daughter Ellis, son Brad and his wife Cat and sons Oliver and Jamison and daughters Kinsley, Riley and Callie; daughter Chelsea Smith and husband Ty and their daughters Kennedy and Tenley and son Rhett.

A celebration of Jo Anne's life is Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 2pm at Butterfield Trail Village located in Fayetteville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Central United Methodist Music Fund, Single Parent Scholarship Fund, the local Salvation Army or local Special Olympics.

04/28/2025

Kenneth Eugene Kolls flourished from August 28, 1941 until his passing in Fayetteville, AR on April 27, 2025. Born to Reuben and Erma in Harvard, Illinois, he grew up on the family farm with older brothers, Robert and Ron. On November 8, 1959 he married his life-long friend, Karen Elizabeth Kooistra. Father of three; Heidi, Kelly, and Kent, he and Karen were honored to raise two of their children, mourning Kelly who passed away in infancy. He was a devoted and much loved grandfather to Karen and Jacqueline. His fatherly love extended to his son-in-law Bart, Rotary exchange daughter, Benedict, and longtime caregiver to his mother, Luba.

His work life was one of service. As a young father he helped out on the family farm, pumped gas at the local Shell station and became a tool and die maker at Starline, Inc. He worked his way up to become the night supervisor of the factory for many years. Eventually, his entrepreneurial desires took hold. Ken, along with his son, Kent, and cousin, Al Yates started NAPA stores in Richmond, IL and Twin Lakes, WI. Together, he and Kent ran the business for almost 30 years.

He gave back to his community in many ways. As a young man, he became a volunteer member of the Harvard Rescue Squad. While serving in the squad, he trained in the first EMT class of McHenry County, Illinois. His service continued as a member of the Alden-Hebron School Board, president and Paul Harris Award recipient of the Richmond Rotary Club, and was Man of the Year for the Harvard Jaycees.

In retirement, he became a big rig driver, driving his wife around the country in their various RV’s. They loved spending days on the open road from Alaska to Florida; from California to New Jersey.

As he and Karen prepared for their later years, they moved to Fayetteville, AR creating a new family “farm” when they purchased a home next-door to their daughter. Ken was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2020. He valiantly faced the changes to his body, enjoying the simple things like daily walks to the mailbox, keeping a vigilant eye on the neighborhood from his living room chair, and dropping tasty food scraps to his eager grand dog, Scout.

Ken lived a beautiful life, left this place much better than he found it, and is deeply missed.

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04/16/2025

Diane Jeanne Owens, age 83, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2025, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, surrounded by the love of her family.

Diane was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend whose kindness, grace, and warmth touched everyone who knew her. She shared 62 wonderful years of marriage with her beloved husband, Gerald “Jerry” Owens. Together, they built a beautiful life, raising two children: Greg Owens (Becky) and Geneen Buech (Scott).

She was a proud and loving grandmother to Courtney, Ryan (Belle), Dylan (Kesha), Garrett (De’Lanie), and Cody (Iuaiyou), and a cherished great-grandmother to Harper and Magnolia. Her family was the center of her world, and she never missed an opportunity to celebrate their milestones or offer her unconditional love and support.

Diane's gentle spirit, steady presence, and joyful laugh will be deeply missed but forever remembered by all who were fortunate to know her.

A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, April 24th at 2:22 p.m. at Fellowship Fayetteville, 3447 N Hwy 112, Fayetteville, AR 72704. Samaritan Community Center is a place Jerry and Diane loved and served for many years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan Community Center (https://www.samcc.org/) in Diane’s memory.

03/30/2025

Rick Dean Martin, 67, of Lowell passed away March 28, 2025 at Mercy Hospital in Rogers. He was born April 12, 1957 in Harrison to Clarence and Essie (Smith) Martin.

Rick had lived in Northwest Arkansas for 20 years after moving from Harrison. He married Melody Forsee on May 27, 1977. Rick owned Landscapes Etc. in Harrison, and loved camping and gardening. He is also remembered as an avid collector of many things.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents and 2 sisters: Betty Edmonson and Linda Baker.

Survivors include his wife, Melody Martin of Lowell; 2 daughters: Katia Martin (Christian) of Joplin, MO and Tiffany Laughlin (Bryan) of Bella Vista; 6 siblings: Bonnie Bright of Harrison, Wanda Shook of Harrison, Gary Martin of Marshfield, MO, Dorothy Snow (Jack) of Nixa, MO, Debbie Troglin (Jerry) of Valley Springs, and Donna Crow of Harrison; 7 grandchildren; 25 nieces and nephews; and many other family members and friends.

A memorial service will be planned for a later date.

To send a condolence to the family, please fill out the online form provided at the bottom of this page. We will ensure the family receives your sympathies. To see all obituaries submitted to the local newspaper, use the following links. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

03/28/2025

Nancy Ellen Talburt, Professor of English and former Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, passed from this life on March 22, 2025, at Willard Walker Hospice in Fayetteville. She was 87 years old. She was born in Orange, California, to parents William Curtis Brown and Marguerite Rhodes Brown on January 14, 1938. Nancy Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved nephew Jeffrey Martin James, and special cousin James Robert Rhodes III, aka “Jimmy.” She is survived by her beloved sister and brother-in-law Susan Carole James and John Edward James of Little Rock, special cousins Jennifer Rhodes (Gus Costantino), and many other family members and friends, including longtime friend Juana Young.

Nancy Ellen was an extraordinary person, an unwavering friend, a gifted teacher, an able administrator, a total supporter of the University of Arkansas, and a devoted sports fan, among many other things. Her legacy is considerable and her accomplishments impressive.

Nancy Ellen was a lifelong learner whose academic career began as a biology major with mathematics minor at Arkansas State University and continued through an MA and PhD in English at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and postdoctoral studies in Linguistics and English Literature at Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was also, thanks to a course at ASU, an expert marksman.

Teaching was a calling for Nancy Ellen, and she practiced it with dedication and creativity throughout her long career, fostering the learning and progress of her students and developing new courses in mystery and detective fiction to add to the richness of the English Department curriculum. Over the years Nancy Ellen taught 20 different courses, including mystery and detective fiction, popular literature, linguistics, the novel, and world literature.

Nancy Ellen moved easily into administration, and served the UA in several capacities over the years, from Associate Director of Libraries, to Director of Records, to Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and finally as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. Nancy Ellen also was Director of Summer School for many years. In addition, she served on Campus Council, and on numerous panels, advisory councils, boards, and many standing and ad hoc committees in her long career. Her service to the University of Arkansas extended beyond the campus as well. She regularly was tapped as a consultant in evaluation, assessment, and related areas in higher education. Nancy Ellen chaired 25 North Central Association accreditation teams and served on 15 others including those in Beijing, Bangalore, Bangkok, Singapore, London, Geneva, and Leiden, and in seven states in this country. She made invited presentations at NCA workshops across the country and served as consultant or keynote speaker at many institutions’ conferences. Nancy Ellen also chaired three self-study initiatives for the UA. She served in elected positions that included president of Phi Beta Kappa and of American Association of University Professors chapters. Nancy Ellen’s career at the University began in 1969. She retired in 2010.

Nancy Ellen was a prolific contributor to professional journals and a frequent and sought-after presenter at national Popular Culture Association meetings and other groups. She made invited presentations to the Barbara Pym Society in Oxford, the North American Barbara Pym Society, Crime and Mystery Fiction conferences at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford, at an annual meeting of the world convention of mystery fiction (Bouchercon), and many other venues. Her writings can be found in the Dictionary of Literary Biography, the Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery Writing, the Guide to Great Women Mystery Writers, and others. She was co-editor along with Lyna Lee Montgomery of stories collected in A Mystery Reader. She served as president and executive council member for the National Popular Culture Association and as national program chair for crime and mystery fiction. Nancy Ellen received the George N. Dove award from the Mystery and Detective Fiction Caucus of the Popular Culture Association in 2009.

Nancy Ellen’s service contributions extended beyond the academic world. She was the Governor’s appointee to the Arkansas Commission on Community-Based Rehabilitation for 16 years; served on the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Pardon, Parole, and Sentencing; chaired that Commission and served ex-officio on the Arkansas Board of Corrections for five years and during that time codified into official form the Board’s handbook. She retired after two decades of service to the state.

Her family moved to Jonesboro in 1946 when she was 8 years old and she grew up listening with her cousin Joe, Jr., to St. Louis Cardinals baseball games on the radio. It was then that Nancy Ellen became a legendary Cards fan whose devotion to her team lasted a lifetime. In addition to her beloved Cards, she followed all of her UA sports teams with great enthusiasm and she could call the Hogs with the best of us.

Nancy Ellen’s love of travel took her literally around the world, but her favorite place was London. Her knowledge of London rivaled that of most London cabbies; in fact, she knew more about that city than did most Londoners, and she had many occasions to share her knowledge of England in general and London in particular as she traveled several times a year to “Merry Olde” often with family members and different sets of friends.

Near to Nancy Ellen’s heart was the Modern Literature Club of Fayetteville (established in 1926), a group of 35 women who met regularly in members’ homes to review and critique readings in contemporary literature. She took great pride in her decades-long membership.

Nancy Ellen’s strength and determined positivity enabled her to thrive even in difficult circumstances. After she suffered a debilitating stroke in 2015, Nancy Ellen’s life changed dramatically, but she met even that challenge with resilience and good humor. Reading, always vital to her life, became even more important. She wore out several Kindles and iPads devouring works that reflect her broadly inclusive taste in literature.

Nancy Ellen Talburt was by all accounts a force of nature, that rare person who emerges instantly as a brilliant problem solver, a positive force for good whose dedication to the people and things she held dear was inspirational. She will be missed.

Nancy Ellen felt a deep sense of gratitude to her special caregivers who made her life comfortable in recent years, and she was especially grateful for the gently persistent efforts of her physical therapist.

Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. At Nancy Ellen’s request, no public service is planned.

To send a condolence to the family, please fill out the online form provided at the bottom of this page. We will ensure the family receives your sympathies. To see all obituaries submitted to the local newspaper, use the following links. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

03/25/2025

Drew Ellen (lamberth) Newman passed on March 21, 2025 in Waldron, Arkansas she was born July 14,1951 in Opelika, Alabama to Charlie Drew Lamberth and Myrtice Irene (Bailey) Lamberth.

She married the love of her life Larry David Newman June 4, 1967. They had four children; Chynthia (Cindy) Ann James of Terlton Oklahoma, Penelope Paulette Newman of Van Buren, Arkansas, Denise Michelle Newman of Haskell, Oklahoma, and Larry David Newman Jr (Mary) of Waldron Arkansas. She had 16 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father Charlie Drew Lamberth, her mother Myrtice Irene (Bailey) Lamberth; her brothers, Charles David Lamberth, Willie frank Lamberth, Hershal Vester Lamberth, Johnny Fletcher Lamberth, and grandchildren; Chase Dewayne Newman, Casey Wayne Newman, Kyle Donovan Bryant.