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Delores Jean Nicklaus (Jean), 93, of Benton, passed away on Monday, February 23, 2026 at Encore Hospital in Bryant surrounded by her family. She was born October 5, 1932 in Benton, Arkansas to the late Charles and Pearl Peeler.  Mrs. Nicklaus was retired from Crank’s grocery and a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Benton congregation.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Russell Nicklaus; brother, Buck Peeler; sister, Edith Reynolds; two sons-in-law, J.W. Mabry and Archie Thomas Sr.; and one great-grandson, Larry Joe Hicks.

Survivors include her two daughters, Donna Mabry and Teresa Thomas; two granddaughters, Stephanie Earnest and husband Scott and Shelley Brown and husband Tom; one grandson, Archie Thomas Jr. and wife Gretel; five great-grandchildren, Tyler Hicks, Tanner Hicks, Tea Davis and husband J.T., Quentin Thomas, and Spencer Thomas; two great-great-grandchildren who were the love of her life, JT3 and Delilah Davis; four nieces, Joyce Ann, Patty, Cheryl, and Cathy; and one nephew, Mike.

Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 2 at Ashby Funeral Home.

Graveside service will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 at Forest Hills Cemetery.

“No one spread more love in one lifetime.”  – Anonymous  

 

Phillis Jane Elliott, a wife, beloved mother, grandmother, and member of First Baptist Church of Benton, peacefully passed away on February 23, 2026, at the age of 82. 

Born on February 7, 1944, in Lonsdale, Phillis was the daughter of W.L. (Wid) Harris and Violet Gentry. She was raised in a home filled with love and the joy of family gatherings. She attended Rual Dale and Benton High School before pursuing her passion for cosmetology, obtaining her license and using her talents to bring beauty to others.

Phillis was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Geneta Nelson, Melba Tyler, and her daughter-in-love Robin Elliott. She is survived by her husband, Thomas Frank, their three children, Jay, Craig (Gina), and Kris (James), as well as her seven beloved grandchildren: Sara, Amber, Anna, Emily (Greg), Mollie (Jackson), Melissa (Zach), and Marilee. Additionally, she leaves behind three great-grandchildren, Brandy Lynn, Carter and John Ryan who brightened her days with laughter and love.

Phillis’s life was a testament of faith. She will be remembered for her love of singing in church choir, working at Mother’s Day Out and the Church Nursery. She enjoyed sending Bible verses to her granddaughters daily. It was important to have a home of hospitality through her life by being a hostess to multiple choir parties, wedding showers, birthday parties and teens when her boys were young along with family reunions.  

As we mourn her passing, let us find comfort in the knowledge that her broken body has been healed and called home to Heaven and reunited with her loved ones who have gone before her. “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord”

Jeremiah 30:17

May her legacy of faith and love continue to inspire us all, and may we take solace in the hope of believers having a joyful reunion in the everlasting embrace of God’s grace. Phillis Jane Elliott will be dearly missed and forever remembered in our hearts. 

Visitation services are at Ashby’s Funeral Home in Benton starting at 10am Saturday, February 28, at Ashby Funeral Home funeral services will be at 11:00 AM burial will be at Owensville Cemetery, Owensville, AR immediately following. Donations to Gideons International Bibles or First Baptist Church Building Fund would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.

 

Richard Steven Jacuzzi, 76, of Bryant, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2026, surrounded by family. He was born on November 6, 1949, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Clydia and Tullio Jacuzzi.

In 1963, Richard moved with his family to Little Rock, where they relocated the international headquarters of Jacuzzi Brothers along Interstate 30. The plant was a longtime fixture and landmark in the community. He graduated from Hall High School in 1967, where he was a standout athlete and set a state shot-put record that stood for more than a decade. He went on to attend the University of Central Arkansas, preparing to begin his career in the family business, where he worked until its sale in 1979.

He, along with other family members, went on to start a new hydrotherapy company, Jason International. The name was an acronym for “JAcuzzi SONs,” representing the next generation. Richard was passionate about carrying on the family legacy and traditions; he and other members of the Jacuzzi family continued to innovate and lead the industry for more than 40 additional years. He later built a successful career in computer-aided manufacturing software sales and consulting, combining his natural mechanical mind with his love of problem-solving.

Even in “retirement,” Richard never truly slowed down. He continued working with a variety of companies, taking pride in teaching younger generations a thing or two. Richard loved working with his hands—golfing, fishing, pouring concrete, yard work, and home improvement projects. If it involved building, fixing, or improving something, he was all in. He never met a tool he didn’t like and never passed up a good excuse to buy a new one. He believed in leaving things better than he found them, a lesson passed down from his father. Last year, he fulfilled a longtime dream by building a custom workshop with his own hands—a testament to his determination and craftsmanship.

Of all the titles he held, “Grandpa” may have been his favorite. He always loved holding babies and playing with children, but when his own grandchildren came along, there was no denying who had his heart. His bear hugs, playful spirit, and patient willingness to teach his grandchildren everything from how to use a tool to how to swing a golf club will live on in them. His legacy is not only in the things he built, but in the family he shaped, taught, and loved so well.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Caver Jacuzzi, and his sisters, Linda Jacuzzi Emery and Nancy Jacuzzi Davenport.

Later in life, Richard was blessed with the joy of reconnecting with his childhood friend from St. Louis, Aleta Patneaud. What began as a renewed friendship grew into a deep and meaningful love. Together, they shared laughter, comfort, and a happiness that brought great joy.

He is survived by his two sons: Richard Steven Jacuzzi Jr. and wife Alisha of Alexander, and their children, Isabella Catherine and Grant Christopher; and Casey Caver Jacuzzi and wife Jillian of Benton, and their children, Clay Perry, Hattie Kate, and Erin Elise. He is also survived by three brothers: James Tullio Jacuzzi and wife Marilyn of Mayflower; Andrew Martin Jacuzzi and partner Shannon Maltby of Memphis, Tennessee; and Robert Casey Jacuzzi and wife Michelle of Mountain Harbor; three sisters: Kathy Jacuzzi Fluharty and husband Larry of North Little Rock; Jane Jacuzzi Gavin and husband John of Cumberland, Rhode Island; and Julie Jacuzzi Housholder and husband Gary of Courtland, Kansas; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.

His life was marked by hard work, steady love, and a determination to build something lasting—whether with wood and concrete or with family. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 6, at First United Methodist Church in Benton with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall. Arrangements are by Ashby Funeral Home.

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Sally Ann (Holiman) McChain, of Benton, Arkansas, woke up in her heavenly home with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 24, 2026. Though our hearts grieve the loss, we rejoice knowing she is fully restored, wrapped in the peace and presence of the One she loved so deeply.

She was born on August 15, 1944, in Long Beach, California, to Earl B. and Pauline Holiman. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Shirley Hanner; her brothers, Bart and Scott Holiman; her daughter, Angelique Johnson; and her son, James. No doubt there was a joyful reunion in Heaven.

To those who knew her best, she answered to many cherished names: Mom, Grandma, Nana, and Grams, and she wore each one with pride. She was the heart of her family: steady, prayerful, creative, and strong. She is survived by her devoted husband of 34 years, Richard McChain of Benton; her daughters, Sandra “Sandie” Kent of Benton, Patricia “Pattie” Johnson of Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Jennifer Montague of Benton; stepsons, Joe McChain, Robert McChain, Jr.; and stepdaughter, Sommer Leet her grandsons, Vaughn “Matthew” (Laura) Kent of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Daniel “Danny” (Abbie) Kent of Alexander, and Jacob Montague (Leslie) of Lonsdale; her great-grandchildren, Caleb, Peyton, Jace and Jude, Jace and Jack; and her great-great-granddaughter, Ella Rae. Her legacy lives on in each of them.

After the business she co-owned with her first husband, Armond Johnson, closed, Sally boldly reinvented herself by choosing a completely different career path and went to school to obtain her nail technician license. She embraced this chapter wholeheartedly, forming meaningful friendships along the way. What may have started as a new profession quickly became a ministry of encouragement and connection.

Her faith was the foundation of her life. She faithfully attended Center Point Church for 37 years and served in many areas, but her favorite was as a greeter, welcoming others with the same warmth she carried everywhere she went. She also found great joy in caring for her family. She loved to cook, especially holiday and special occasion meals that gathered the family around the table. Sally loved to sew and was an excellent seamstress. She lovingly handcrafted clothing and home decor items for herself and her family.

Sally had a sweet tooth and loved a sweet treat after dinner, especially ice cream. In her last few weeks, she was unable to eat by mouth, but in true God fashion, just a few hours before she moved to her new home, He made a way and she got to enjoy one last dish of vanilla ice cream lovingly fed to her by her (and her family’s) favorite nurse.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 12:00–1:00 p.m., with a Celebration of Life immediately following at 1:00 p.m., at Centerpoint Church, 20383 I-30, Benton, Arkansas.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the nursing staff of SICU at Baptist Memorial Hospital and the Baptist Hospice team for their exceptional care, compassion, and support shown to Sally and her family.

Sally was truly one of a kind — deeply loved, fiercely devoted, and forever remembered. Though she now walks by sight and not by faith, her love continues to guide the family she treasured so dearly.

 

Jamie Jean Reinhart, age 44, of Benton, Arkansas, passed away unexpectedly on February 20, 2026.

Jamie was born in Benton on February 15, 1982, to Wiley William Mosley III and Lisa (Foster) Dunning. From an early age, Jamie’s creativity, compassion, and determination set her apart. She lived her life with heart, talent, and an unmistakable spark.

She graduated from Benton High School in 2000 and went on to attend Ouachita Baptist University, where she proudly served as a Tiger Cheerleader during her freshman year. Jamie later graduated from Ouachita Technical College, where she was elected class president. She earned her Licensed Practical Nurse credential and dedicated her professional life to caring for others. Jamie worked in hospital settings as a caregiver and served as a CPR instructor, equipping others with life-saving skills. She also selflessly provided private care for her maternal grandparents during their final years, a reflection of her deep devotion to family.

Jamie’s accomplishments reached beyond her medical career. She served as president of Benton’s first Mayors Youth Board, helping pave the way for youth leadership in her community, a milestone recognized by a commemorative sign across from Tyndall Park. Her creativity and innovation earned her first place in the ”Invent America” competition for her neon insulin syringe invention, created to assist diabetics with limited eyesight. She also earned second place in a national art competition judged by the Carnegie Museum of Art, highlighting her remarkable artistic ability.

Jamie truly loved life. She found joy in fishing, playing the guitar, creating jewelry, and expressing herself through art. More than anything, she treasured her time with her son, William Russell Reinhart. Russell was the light of her life and her proudest accomplishment. Her love for him was boundless and unwavering.

Jamie is survived by her mother, Lisa Dunning; her brother, Marcus Dunning; and her beloved son, Russell. She was preceded in death by her father, Wiley William Mosley III.
A woman of faith, Jamie was a devoted Christian and a member of First Baptist Church in Benton. Though her family is heartbroken by her passing, they find comfort in knowing she is now resting in God’s loving arms.
Jamie’s life, though far too short, was vibrant, meaningful, and full of love. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.

 

In Loving Memory of Tracy Renee Neal March 31, 1972 – February 23, 2026, with broken hearts, we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved wife, mother, Mimi, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, Tracy Renee Neal, who went to be with the Lord on February 23, 2026, at the age of 53 at her home.

 Tracy faithfully served others as a Licensed Practical Nurse for 25 years. Nursing was not just her career—it was her calling. She had a true servant’s heart and cared for her patients with compassion, strength, and honesty, leaving a lasting impact on countless lives. She was married for 21 beautiful years to the love of her life, Shawn. Their love story was one of devotion and determination. Shawn proposed to Tracy while both were in the hospital, bed bound after a horrific head-on collision, but it was a moment that reflected the depth of their commitment and the certainty they felt about one another. They could not wait to become husband and wife. They were married in wheelchairs, but nothing about that day was defined by circumstance, it was defined by love. Their wheelchair wedding was a testament to their resilience, their joy, and the unshakable bond they shared. Together they built a life centered on faith, perseverance, laughter, and family. 

She is survived by her loving husband, Shawn; her three children, Zach Yaw, Sara Kirchner (married to Matthew), Jessica Stephens; and her treasured grandchildren, Jensen Yaw, Walker Yaw, Grayson Hicks and Brantley Hicks, who were the absolute light of her world. Being “Mom” and “Mimi” were her greatest blessings, and she loved her family fiercely and unconditionally. She is also survived by her loving parents, Laverne and Frankie Bennett; her sister, Kim Dodson; her niece, Anna, and nephew, Bennett, who lovingly called her “Aunt T”; her mother-in-law, Sheila Neal and her husband and her childhood friend, Leta Villanueva, along with many extended family members and dear friends who will forever cherish her memory. 

Recently, Tracy rededicated her life to Jesus, and we find comfort knowing she is now celebrating in Heaven. We can imagine her reunited with her faithful dog and best friend, Bucklee, while watching over her cherished fur baby, Bella, whom she leaves behind. She found joy in camping trips, sunny days at the lake riding her jet ski, and thrift shopping adventures with her daughter. She was bold and honest—she would tell you exactly how the world was—but she also had one of the most generous hearts. She would give anything she had to someone in need without hesitation. Though her passing leaves an unimaginable void, her legacy of love, faith, strength, and generosity will live on through her family. She will be deeply missed every single day and forever carried in our hearts until we meet again.

Her celebration of life will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. at Summit Church of Saline County with the visitation the night prior from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. at Dial and Dudley Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest at old Union Cemetery.

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