If you would like to have a full obituary published with pictures, click here to get started: www.mysaline.com/submit-obits
Merriett Bryon “Pete” Coppock
Merriett Bryon “Pete” Coppock, 97 of Tull, passed away on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton. Pete was born on August 29, 1928 in Shaw.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Mary Williams Coppock; son Timothy; siblings, Raymond, Garland, Gyle, Gleason, Conrad, Ruil, and twin sister, Mary Frank Carlisle.
Pete is survived by his wife of 72 years, Shirley Parson Coppock of Tull, his daughter, Miriam Talbert and his son-in-law, Danny; granddaughter, Laura Rawhouser (Patrick) and great-granddaughters, Dani and Addison. Along with many nieces and nephews, Pete also leaves behind a loving church family.
Pete was a veteran of the Korean War. He was a surveyor and plant manager for AP Green Refractories. He was a dedicated member of Saline Missionary Baptist Church for 78 years, where he served over the years as deacon, song leader, Sunday School teacher, treasurer, and handyman.
Pete loved his church and was quick with a handshake and hug for people. He loved gardening and giving the produce to others, fishing, reading and just being outside.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 PM Wednesday, May 27, at Ashby Funeral Home.
Services will be 10:00 AM Thursday, at Saline Missionary Baptist Church. Minister will be Bro. Kim Hammer. Burial will follow at New Friendship Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Saline Missionary Baptist Church.
Martha Jean Lequieu
Martha Jean Lequieu, age 91, of Benton, passed away Monday, May 25, 2026. She was born October 18, 1934 to George and Esther Wright Ramsey in the same community where she spent most of her life. Her parents took her to Sharon Missionary Baptist Church three times a week. Martha Jean was saved and baptized there and spent many years playing the piano, teaching teenagers, working in the office for a favorite pastor, Bro. Glen Tropp. She spent the last few years at Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church.
She was a 1965 Mrs. Arkansas, a former Benton City Clerk, and Director of the Saline County Senior Activity Center.
Martha Jean made many friends, planning and escorting trips to all 50 states. She loved to travel as long as she lived.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her-in-laws, Julian & Anna Lequieu; her husband, Coy; two sons, Bill and Steve Lequieu; five brothers, Jim, George, Billy, Jack, and baby Bobby Joe; four sisters-in-law, Hazel, Claudine, Billye Jean Ramsey, and Darlene Moore; three brothers-in-law, Harold Penn, Bob Lequieu, and Dickey Moore; and a mother of three grandchildren, Judy Kirkpatrick.
Martha Jean is survived by her daughter, Beverly Harlow (Steve) of Rison; son, Brad Lequieu (Missy) of Little Rock; nine grandchildren, Tiffany Wells (John), Laramie Lequieu (Kathy), Britt Lequieu (Crystal), Brandon Lequieu (Ginger), Kelley Clifton (Reid), Kacy Hester (Jarrod), Bradley Lequieu (Brittany), Kaylynn Graber (Matt), and Jessie Cassady (Carson); twenty-seven great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Louise Houpt (Albert), Janie Penn, and Carole Gaiser (Bernie); three sisters-in-law, Mattie Ramsey, Shirley Emond, and Wilma Rogers; and mothers of four grandchildren, Brenda Wells and Vicki Baker.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Laramie, Brit, Brandon, and Bradley Lequieu, Jon Wells, Reid Clifton, Jarrod Hester, Matt Graber, and Carson Cassady. Honorary pallbearers will be Ralph Warren, Terry Crank, Bill McAdoo, and Spurge Mask.
Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 29 at Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 30 at Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church with burial to follow at Sharon Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church Golden Hearts or Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church Children Ministry.
READ MORE OBITUARIES BELOW
Fredia Lane Hollingshead
Fredia Lane Hollingshead, 85, of Benton, formerly of Cabot, was born in Searcy on December 2, 1940, to Alfred and Evelyn Sutterfield. She was the oldest of nine children.
Mom spent over 25 years as an insurance agent with Allstate. She was of the Baptist faith and was a member of First Baptist Church of Cabot. She was a die-hard Arkansas Razorbacks fan, which led to one of her worst business decisions: purchasing HOGWORLD, a Razorback memorabilia store, during a losing football season under Coach Danny Ford’s tenure at the University of Arkansas.
She retired from Allstate to care for her youngest grandson, Maddox. During Mom’s golden years, she took up painting, playing bingo, crocheting blankets for newborns at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, gardening, and sewing. During the last year of her life, she loved going to flea markets and antique shops, searching for bargains on fine crystal.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Evelyn Sutterfield; her husband, Jim Hollingshead; her son, Lonnie Ben Lane; her son-in-law, David Wayne Thomas; her sisters, Mary Cox and Regina Evans; and her brothers, Dusty Sutterfield and Stormy Sutterfield.
She is survived by her daughter, Sherry Lane Thomas; grandsons, Jackson and Maddox Lane; granddaughters, Abigail Lane and Kayla Yount; great-granddaughters, Kynslee, Emery Jo, and Mayli Yount; great-grandson, Cohen Yount; daughter-in-law, Candace Lane; her sisters, Carolyn Gentry, Quannah Fears, Sondra Sutterfield; and her brother, Donnie Sutterfield.
She will be remembered by extended family members of nieces, nephews, and cousins from Oklahoma, Missouri, California, and Arkansas, along with friends from Cabot, Hot Springs, and Benton.
Services are entrusted to Smith Benton Funeral Home, 322 N. Market St., Benton, Arkansas, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 1:00 pm. A private burial will be held at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Cabot, Arkansas.
James “Don” Donald Carman
James “Don” Donald Carman, 83, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2026, just one day after celebrating his birthday. He was born on May 22, 1943, the seventh of eight children.
Don was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a true Christian whose faith guided his life. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. He is survived by his loving wife, Carol Carman; his son, Tony Carman, and daughter-in-law, Debra Carman; his grandchildren, Josee Carman and Braden Carman, and granddaughter-in-law, Abi Carman; and his cherished great-granddaughter, Charlie Jean Carman. He is also survived by his siblings, Winford Carman, Bobbie Lancaster, Ginger Smith, and Janelle Lapaglia.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvester and Arbra Carman; his son, James “Jimmy” Allen Carman; and his siblings, Billy Carman, Jean Speed, and Manuel Carman.
Don was known for his strong work ethic and dedication throughout his life. From a young age, he worked alongside his father on the family farm, where he learned the value of hard work and perseverance. He later proudly served his country in the United States Air Force. After his military service, he worked in maintenance roles before dedicating over 30 years to the Benton Services Center, where he faithfully served until his retirement.
A man of many talents and interests, Don enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting, writing stories, and spending time outdoors. He had a natural gift for working with his hands and a passion for fixing and building. Whether he was gunsmithing, crafting knives, working on CB radios, operating ham radios, or troubleshooting anything that wasn’t working as it should, he took pride in understanding how things worked and making them better. He was someone family and friends could always count on for help, advice, and a steady hand.
Above all, Don will be remembered for his unwavering faith, his hardworking nature, and his deep love for his family and extended family (too numerous to mention). His legacy lives on through the generations he helped raise and the many lives he touched.
Memorials may be made in Don’s honor to the church he worshipped at and loved, Benton First Church of the Nazarene, 1203 W Sevier St, Benton, AR 72015, the Disabled American Veterans, https://help.dav.org/, or your own church.
If you would like to have a full obituary published with pictures, click here to get started: www.mysaline.com/submit-obits
