Leona Williams

Leona Williams, 73, of West Hartford, Arkansas passed away Sunday, July 3, 2011 in a Fort Smith hospital. She was born December 8, 1937 in a farm house between Midland and Arkoal to Hoyt L. Repass, Sr. and Roy Edna Repass. Leona graduated from Hartford High School in 1955 and on July 3, 1955 married Duane Williams of West Hartford in the home of Harold and Beatrice Williams with Reverend Harold Plunkett officiating.

The union of Duane and Leona produced six children, ten grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Leigh; a son, Michael; and a grandson, Benton Carver Woodral. Survivors include her husband, Duane of West Hartford; three daughters, Judy Angell and husband, Patrick, of Salida, CO, Theresa Nelson and husband, Marty, of Greenwood, AR, Rebecca Woodral and husband, Vernon, of Wister, OK; one son, Alan Williams of Hartford, AR. She was the oldest of a large family with those still living including five sisters, Wanda Hearn of Fort Smith, Rachel Brazil of McKinleyville, CA, Mary Ranz of Fort Smith, Joan Pittman and husband, Milton Ray, of Midland, AR and Vickie Walker of Midland; one brother, Hoyt Repass, Jr. of Huntington, AR; and a small army of nieces and nephews.

Leona was a faithful member of the Hartford First Baptist Church where she occasionally sang a special song with Duane or Vickie, singing exclusively with Vickie in later years. Her whole family was musically talented and, while Leona did not play an instrument, she made up for it with a heavenly sweet voice. She passed this talent on to her daughter, Judy, who is an accomplished vocalist in her own right. Singing was a large part of Leona’s life and because of the family’s love of music there will be a number of selections at the service, which will be concluded by a congregational song, “When We All Get to Heaven” led by the church music director, Jim Gossett.

The funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at the Hartford First Baptist Church with interment at Hartford Memorial Park near her children under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be from 1:00 to 9:00 P.M., Tuesday, July 5th at the funeral home in Greenwood where the family will visit with friends from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M.

Pallbearers will be Carl Hoopengarner, Jim Frye, John Hunt, Bob Patterson, James Wooten, John Harp, Kirk Pennington and Tommy Burns.