OBITUARIES

OBITUARIES

Melanie Ruth Carlson departed this life unexpectedly on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017.

She was born on Dec. 12, 1960, in Memphis, Tennessee and was raised in Crawfordsville. She attended high school at St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis where she was a star athlete in basketball, volleyball, and softball. Melanie attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and then the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a major in history. She was a proud member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority and loyally attended an annual reunion with her “Fab 5” sisters since graduation. She attended law school at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where she was a member of the law review.

Melanie was admitted to the bar in 1987, and she began her career as a judicial clerk for Judge Judith Rogers. She served as Judge Roger’s clerk at the Arkansas Court of Appeals starting in 1989, and then went on to clerk for Judge John Jennings, Judge Terry Crabtree, and Judge Sarah Heffley. In 2009, Melanie began clerking for Justice Courtney Goodson, first at the Court of Appeals and then at the Arkansas Supreme Court, where she was employed at the time of her death. She was a dedicated and devoted law clerk, whose contributions to the court and to the pursuit of justice will be sorely missed.

In her honor, the offices of the state Supreme Court will be closed for a period of one week.

Melanie was an avid tennis player participating in the United States Tennis Association where she performed as a 4.0 player. She also enjoyed gardening, bird watching and hiking. She was a gentle soul whose brilliant intellect made her an engaging person to be around. So many hearts are wounded by her sudden passing and she will be fondly remembered by them all. She is survived by her parents, Ralph and Dixie Carlson; her sister, Christie (Keith); her brothers Bubba (Rhonda) and Mark (Kathy); her nieces and nephews who she loved dearly, Adam (Abbie) Carlson, Gibby Lou Carlson, Becca (Douglas) Luetjen, Stuart Carlson, Gavin Carlson, Lindsay (Joey) Schafer, Rose Schafer, Dixie Schafer, Erik Carlson (Kelli), Emma Carlson, Maddie Lynn Carlson, and Zac Carlson; her beloved friend, Kathy Phillips; and her four dogs, Jack, Lili, Toby and Andy.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Febr. 2 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Trinity In The Fields Anglican Church, 100 East Military, Marion. The funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. followed by the Internment at Crittenden Memorial Park.

Memorial gifts can be designated to the Delta Delta Delta Chapter House project at the University of Arkansas, 300 University House, One University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 or to the Pulaski County Humane Society, warmhearts.org.

Anita Fay Crews

Anita Fay Crews, 66, of Port St. Joe, Florida, was born on June 9, 1950, in Dyess, the youngest of three children. She was called home by our Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin (Mutt) Catt and Audrey Lindley Catt. She is survived by her husband of almost 40 years, Walter Taylor Crews, Jr.; her daughter Amy Crews Ouellette and her husband Robert Donald Ouellette, Jr.

of Hollywood, Florida; her daughter, Emily Hope Crews of Emeryville, California; her son, Walter Taylor Crews, III of Berkeley, California; her grandson, Isaiah Placey of Hayfork, California; her grandson, Joey Germana of North Olmsted, Ohio; her sister, Glenda Frisbee of Dyess; her sister, Shirley Shortnacy; and her husband, G.C.

Shortnacy of Lepanto; and many other family members and friends.

Fay was a graduate of West Memphis High School, in West Memphis, and attended the University of Alabama.

She was past president of the West Memphis Jaycee Women, past vice-president of the Arkansas Jaycees, and was honored as a Jaycee International Senator. She was also a tireless fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Fay was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Port St. Joe, Florida. Graveside services will be held on Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, at 2 p.m. at the Holly Hill Cemetery in Port St. Joe, Florida. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Port St. Joe at 3 p.m. with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Port St.

Joe Building Fund or to St.

Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Mable O. Davis

Mable O. Davis, 91, West Memphis, was born June 2, 1925 in Vandale the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs.

Rufus O’Neal. She entered into eternal rest on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017. Ms. Davis was a homemaker and was well known for her love of helping others. Mable was a Christian and spent much of her ministry with others by sending cards and letters of encouragement. She spent nearly six decades as a Sunday school teacher both at Ingram and First Baptist Churches in West Memphis. Ms. Davis is survived by her son, Charles (Sheila Faye) of Marion; also surviving are two granddaughters, Hailey and Lauren. Mable is preceded in death by her parents along with her husband, Charles E. Davis.

The family received their friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday Jan. 31, 2017, with funeral services at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, at Roller-Citizens Funeral Home of West Memphis. Interment followed in Crittenden Memorial Park. Memorial Contributions may be made in her honor to Gideon’s International to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Online condolences may be left at www.rollerfuneralhomes. com/westmemphis.

Melanie Ruth Carlson