Lewese Wall Ahrens died peacefully in her home on May 27, 2019, in the presence of her daughter and husband. She was born on June 7, 1939, to Wendell H. and Lewese (Moseley) Wall. They lived in Sardis,  where her father owned a Ford dealership.

The family, including her sister Jean, moved to Batesville, when her father became president of the then newly-founded Batesville Security Bank. After retirement, she and her husband moved to the community of Joplin, Ark.

In her years of employment, Lewese held several positions, including secretary to the dean of the School of Law at the University of Mississippi and secretary to the manager of the city of Maumelle, Ark.

Lewese was preceded in death by her mother, father, and son, Stanley Mistilis.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Jon M. Ahrens; her daughter, Lisa M. Brooks; grandson, Jonathan Brooks of Mobile, Ala.; son, Steven Mistilis of Horn Lake; a step-son, Jon Bradley Ahrens; a step-daughter, Samantha Ahrens of Little Rock; and sister, Jean Paslay of Oxford.

The family wishes to thank the people of hospice who cared for Lewese, Jon, and Lisa in the final days at Joplin.

A memorial service will be held at the Joplin United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. Friday, June 7.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 628 Malvern Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901 or to the Montgomery County Food Pantry, P.O. Box 1443, Mt. Ida, AR  71957.

 

Michael Ray Bell, Sr., 65, an owner/operator Bell Sheetrock, passed away May 28, 2019, at Baptist Memorial Hospital Oxford. Visitation was Friday, May 31,  at Riverside Baptist Church in Clarksdale, followed by funeral services. Burial in the Memorial Gardens. Meredith-Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale had charge of arrangements.

Mike loved his family and he enjoyed bow fishing.

Survivors include: his wife of forty-three years Rita Hulsey Bell of Batesville; two sons, Michael Bell, Jr. (Susan) of Batesville, and Jonathan Bell (Ashley) of Batesville; three brothers Marvin Bell of Clarksdale, Mark Bell (Susan) of Arkabutler, and Chris Bell (Sarah) of Bryant, Ark.; two sisters, Judy Gann of Bryant, Ark., and Sheila Smith of Pontotoc; and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Hazel Russell Bell.

 

Angela Teter, 24, died Friday, May 31, 2019, at Panola Medical Center in Batesville from injuries received in an auto accident.

A memorial service was held Monday, June 3, in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home.

She was born Aug. 27, 1994, in Meridian, to Joan Elane Daugherty Zimmer and the late Tracy Pruett.  She was a homemaker and mother.

 

Lola Westerfield, 67, at her home near Batesville May 30, 2019. She was the widow of Nathan Westerfield.

Services were held Sunday, June 2, at Goodway Pentecostal Church in Marks.  Rev. Mike Duton and Rev. Aaron Duton officiated. Burial was at Forrest Memorial Park under the direction of Wells Funeral Home.

She was born Aug. 14, 1951, to the late Zachery Simms and Lou Ella Foy Simms in Canton. She was the president of Westerfield Sonic Drive-In Inc. with locations in Batesville, Sardis, Bruce, and Satillo.

She was the co-owner of Whippersnaps Trampoline Park in Senatobia. She was a member of Goodway Pentecostal Church and The Explorer’s Bible Study Group.