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Normally, I would not post this on my what's new page. But I feel
like
the following two items are more than noteworthy for my site. I
don't think
there is anyone, who is researching in Arkansas, who has not
benefited from the following two people. My condolences are extended to the
two families, as the
work put forth from both of these individuals could have
only come from great
people. For several years now, I and many other
people have wondered who
was behind
Ouiser's
Place on the web. You probably are familiar with the site,
she has
posted thousands of obits, marriages, and Arkansas history. Well, to
make a long story short, my friend, Charlotte Ramsey (Pulaski USGENWEB
coordinator, sent me the following obituary, and unfortunately too late, we
now
know Ouiser as Kathleen Floyd.
KATHLEEN LYNN "KATHY" KARCHER FLOYD left her earthly life
behind Tuesday,
March 3, 2004, following lengthy illnesses. Her devoted
husband of 21 years was
at her side. She remained cheerful, loving and
beautiful to the unexpectedly
early end.
Born in
Little Rock Aug. 2, 1955, to Emily Durbin Karcher and
Raymond Andrew "Andy" Karcher Jr., Kathy graduated from Parkview
High School and attended Centenary
College in Shreveport and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Kathy was a
devoted genealogist and enthusiastically maintained an
acclaimed free Web site
related to Arkansas at freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ ~ouisersplace, until
health matters prevented her updating it regularly.
She was a true "Theatre
Person" and considered one of the best lighting
designers and technicians in the
state, having worked in professional, amateur and educational venues, including
movies and Houston Grand Opera, in
several states. She loved to do counted cross
stitch, specializing in
Christmas-related themes. A lifelong reader and
bibliophile, she was
co-founder and owner of Faded Fables Bookshop in Little
Rock. She had
performed, and done missionary work, as a Retreat Singer at
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. She loved animals, especially cats.
She was preceded in
death by her paternal grandparents, Raymond Andrew "Ray" Karcher Sr.
and his wife Ann Elizabeth "Nan" Core Karcher; her father, Raymond Andrew "Andy"
Karcher Jr.; and her brother, Raymond Andrew "Randy" Karcher III.
She is
survived by her adoring husband, Paul; her sister, Elizabeth Rochon "Chon"
Karcher Pugh and her husband Danny of Phoenix, Ariz., and their children, Tally
Pugh Hobson, of Houston, Texas, Traeci Pugh, of Waco, Texas, Daniel Pugh and
Luke Pugh, also of Phoenix; her mother, Emily Durbin Karcher, of Raleigh, N.C.;
her aunt, Ann Karcher Randolph of Little Rock; and numerous cousins.
Kathy’s
family would like to give very special thanks to Dr. James Wellons and his
partners at Renal Associates, Dr. W. Everett Tucker Jr., the staff of the Renal
Unit (6B ) at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, and the staff of the
Peritoneal Department of Little Rock Dialysis, Inc., 10310 West Markham, for so
often cheerfully going "above and beyond" to improve the quality of Kathy’s
life.
Memorials
may be made specifically to the Baptist Health Foundation, 9601 Interstate 630,
Exit 7, the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, at the Main Branch of the
Central Arkansas Library System, 100 Rock Street, and the Humane Society of
Pulaski County, 14600 Colonel Glenn Road. A private memorial service will be
held at a later date.
The other person equally deserving of notation is Edward G. Gerdes who
operated the Edward G. Gerdes
Civil War Home Page. Mr. Gerdes had helped me in the past, and I am
saddened to see that we have lost him, also.
From the Jonesboro Sun - Jonesboro, Arkansas:
Edward "Ed" Grayson Gerdes, 76, of Jonesboro died Friday, March 5, at St.
Bernard's Medical Center.
Born in Greene County, he had resided in Jonesboro since 1951. He was a member
of the Ramers Chapel Methodist Church, the American Legion, the Sons of
Confederate Veterans and the Greene and Craighead County Genealogy Societies.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Catherine Stephens Gerdes of the home; two
sons, Randal Gerdes of Jonesboro and Mark Gerdes of Conway; a brother, Marion
Gerdes of Jonesboro; a sister, Melva Deane O'Neal of Fort Worth, Texas; four
grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis H.C. and Ollie Pearl Brown Gerdes,
and a brother.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Roller-Farmers Union Funeral Home
chapel, with the Rev. Larry Hunt officiating. Burial will follow in Greene
County Memorial Gardens in Paragould.
Active pallbearers will be Douglas O'Neal, Ronnie Tritch, Larry Gatewood, Greg
Gerdes, Orin Tritch and John Sifford.
Honorary pallbearers will include Ted Pylant, Morris Hoffman and the retired
National Guard "Coffee Break" group.
Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Greene County Historical Society or the Craighead
County Genealogy Society. |
