Gloria Jane Porter Perdue 92 of El Dorado passed away peacefully on Monday, March 31, 2025, in El Dorado, AR.

Gloria was born on October 8, 1932, in Arnaudville, LA to Joseph Latiolais and Noelie Latiolais.

She was preceded in death by parents, her husbands, Gene W. Porter, Sr. and Earl Perdue, her daughter, Debra Kelly,  her grandson, Jake Porter, and a great granddaughter, Everly June Keene.

She faithfully attended Parkview Baptist Church as a longtime member.  She was a devoted wife, and loving mother to her five children.  Gloria and husband Gene W. Porter, Sr. were previous owners of Medic Pharmacy in El Dorado.  Gloria was also the owner of a children’s shoe Store, Hop Scotch Corner in El Dorado.

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Survivors include her children, Susan Porter Pages and husband Hector, Gene W. Porter, Jr., Stacey Porter and wife Terri, and Stuart Porter and wife Melissa. She was blessed with twelve grandchildren, and fourteen great grandchildren.  She will be forever loved and missed.

Visitation will be held Friday, April 4, 2025, 10:00 a.m. until funeral services at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Bailey Funeral Home with Rev. Mark Sandy officiating.  Interment will be in the Arlington Memorial Park under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home of El Dorado, AR

Wanda Johnson Wood, age 97 of Junction City, AR, passed away Saturday, March 29, 2025 at her son’s residence in Junction City.  Wanda was born on October 16, 1927 in El Dorado, to the late Lillie Angel DeNoon and Emery DeNoon Sr.  She was a longtime member of Scotland Presbyterian Church and was the former owner and operator of Caldwell’s Grocery in Junction City form many years.  She later went to nursing school and obtained her RN license.  She went on to work at Warner Brown Hospital and Union Medical Center for the next twenty years before her retirement.  She enjoyed reading and writing articles, and actually started the Junction City Times Newspaper.  She enjoyed gardening, tending her many flowers and especially enjoyed fishing.  She was a loving mother, grandmother and was like a Godmother to numerous people over the years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Thomas Johnson and Sammy Wood; two brothers, Jack DeNoon and Emery DeNoon Jr.;  and by one sister, Marie Brantley.

Survivors include; four sons, Albert Caldwell III and wife Cathy, Johnny Caldwell and wife Linda, Curtis Caldwell and wife Juanita, and Jamie Caldwell, all of Junction City; her Wood children, Larry, Freddy, Todd, Sherrie and Barbara, whom she loved dearly; seven grandchildren, along with numerous great grandkids, great- great grandkids, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Monday, March 31, 2025 at Scotland Presbyterian Church.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at Scotland Presbyterian Church, with Bro. Bruce Rux officiating.  Interment will follow at Scotland Cemetery, under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home.

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Marvin Glenn Cole was born at home in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, on November 18, 1926, the youngest of Sutton and Glennie Stewart Cole’s nine children. His family owned a farm and a cane syrup mill and traveled by wagon until he was seven years old. The first time he left Bienville Parish was in high school when he took the train to Baton Rouge to attend Louisiana Boy’s State.

He graduated from Gibsland High School at the top of his class. At the urging of his sisters, he moved with them to Shreveport and began working for Kansas City Southern Railway in 1943.

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In the waning years of WWII Marvin enlisted in the US Navy and was assigned to the newly formed Data Processing department in California. When he returned to Shreveport 1946, he became the IBM supervisor at Kansas City Southern. He married Shirley Kay Lott Singley on January 31, 1951, and they had their first daughter, Gay.

He answered an advertisement in the Shreveport Times, was hired by Murphy Oil Corporation, and moved the family to El Dorado, Arkansas, where his second daughter, Sheen, was born.

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At Murphy he was instrumental in the integration of computer technology for business operations management. In 1970 he established Professional Data Service which provided information technology services to small and mid-sized businesses. He also initiated remote work for his employees needing flexible hours. As a result of his innovation and work in data processing, he received state recognition.

He retired from Murphy Oil in 1988 and joined New York Life for several years as an agent in El Dorado.

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When they moved to El Dorado, he and Shirley became members of the First Baptist Church. He was a devoted member for 70 years and served as a Deacon starting in 1980.

Both Marvin and his wife loved travel. They would load the family into the car and drive across Texas and New Mexico to Arizona, the Dakotas, Montana, and ski trips at Christmas. After the girls left home, they attended over twenty Elder Hostels. These travels included Europe, Africa, and the Galapagos.

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Though Shirley was the more devoted player, she and Marvin played tennis. He enjoyed woodworking and always stayed active. He took pride in keeping up an average of 3000 steps a day, even at 98. Everyone who knew Marvin described him as a kind, sincere, and endearing person, perhaps his greatest achievement.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Shirley; his parents; his eight siblings; and his grandson Cole Bechtelheimer.

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He is survived by his daughters Gay Bechtelheimer (Russ) and Sheen Watkins (Dave), his grandson Trey Bechtelheimer (Lisa) and his great grandchildren Sloane and Rob, many nieces and nephews, and his dear friends Morgan and Paula Huffman. The family is grateful for the loving care given by Ms. Shirley Gray.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 5, 2025 at the First Baptist Church. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Young’s Funeral Directors.

Memorials may be made to the Cole Logan Bechtelheimer Scholarship at UCCF, 101 West Main Street, Suite 506, El Dorado, or the First Baptist Church.

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Condolences can be expressed online at www.youngsfuneralhome.com for the Cole family.

He was a 2014 graduate of Junction City High School. Parker was an outdoorsman and enjoyed camping, cooking and traveling. He also enjoyed growing green plants and gardening. He was named to All-State and was the MVP of the State Championship game of 2014. His favorite recipe was salsa and loved cooking and eating it. Parker was a member of Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church.

He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Preston and Clair Jo Hammett; and maternal grandparents, Danny Dowdy and Elaine Williams.

Those left to cherish his memory are his parents, Joe Paul and Connie Hammett of Junction City; brother, Jordan Hammett (Allie) and their children, Braylie, Kenzlie, and Dawson of Junction City; sister, Kalan Moss (Brenton) and their daughter, Magnolia of Addis, LA; special aunt, Nancy “NaNa” Dodson of Junction City; his dog, Fargo, his cat, Bender; and his lizard, Lola.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2025 at Olive Branch Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.

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Memorials may be made to the Gideons International, Arkansas State Association, Union County Camp, P.O. Box 10562, El Dorado, AR 71731, Union County Animal Protection Society, P.O. Box 204, El Dorado, AR 71730, or to Southern Paws Animal Rescue, 379 Henderson Rd., Spearsville, LA 71277.

Condolences can be expressed online at www.youngsfuneralhome.com for the Hammett family.

Paydon Wyatt Fairris, aged 19, passed away tragically on March 13, 2025, following a motorcycle accident in his hometown of El Dorado, AR. Born on November 18, 2005, in El Dorado. Paydon’s education included El Dorado High School and South Arkansas College. Paydon’s passion for mechanics and his remarkable work ethic led him to a fulfilling career as a Service Technician at Karl Malone Ford, where his colleagues respected and admired his dedication and expertise.

He is survived by his mother, Miranda Jerry, his sister, Kaylyn Fairris, and his grandparents, Teresa McDonald and Mike Shelton. He also leaves behind a loving family, including his aunts and uncles, Tammy Waller, Judy and Heath Agerton, Stacey and Jamie Fairris, and Liz and Jason Shirey, as well as a long list of cousins who will miss him dearly. Paydon was preceded in death by his father, Curt Fairris, and grandparents, James Henry and Dianne Fairris. The Fairris family takes comfort in knowing that Paydon is reunited with his beloved family members and that his spirit will continue to watch over them, just as it did in life.

The family asks that “a life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. Please join us in celebrating Paydon’s life and the joy he brought to us all.” A visitation will be held Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at Young’s Chapel from 5:00-7:00 PM. The Funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at Young’s Chapel at 3:30 PM with burial following at New London Cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed online at youngsfuneralhome.com for Paydon’s family.

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