Silent Key

Paula Louise Cooke Stephens, 67, of North Little Rock passed away June 18, 2014. She was retired from the North Little Rock Police Department. She is survived by her daughter, Angelique Stephens, United States Army; sister, Kathy Tucker, Monticello; niece, Traci Matthews of Maumelle; adopted granddaughter, Johanna Maxwell of Vilonia; and four-legged friends, Ziva, Sip and Coal. She was preceded in death by her parents, Louise and Paul Cooke; daughter, Cristina Suzanne Cooke Stephens; and sister, Suzanne Cooke.

Memorials may be made to Pulaski County Humane Society, 1 Championship Drive, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72118 or any animal shelter.

A Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m., Friday, June 27th, 2014 at Park Hill Christian Church. Arrangements by North Little Rock Funeral Home. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com

Major Johnny Barrett Floyd, USAF retired, made his final flight April 30, 2014. Born September 30, 1940, near Tyronza, Arkansas, he and his mother moved to Miami, Florida, after World War II started and his father enlisted in the Army. He graduated from Miami Edison High School and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After being accepted in the Aviation Cadets, he was sent to navigator school in Harlingen, Texas. After several years flying KC-97 and KC-135 tankers, Capt. Floyd applied for pilot training at Moody, AFB in Georgia, and then requested combat duty in Vietnam. He was assigned to a C-130A unit in Okinawa, Japan.

Major Floyd received two Distinguished Flying Crosses during his career.  The first DFC was awarded for flying an unarmed C-130A recon flareship (Blind Bat) over Laos in 1969. The second DFC was for bringing emergency jet fuel to an airfield through hostile ground fire and adverse weather conditions. Other awards include a Bronze Star, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation, Meritorious Service, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and PACAF Order of the Able Aeronaut. Major Floyd’s final assignment was with the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing at Little Rock AFB as an airlift control officer. He retired from the Air Force in 1984 after more than 25 years. He later served as an emergency dispatcher for North Little Rock.

Survivors include his wife of more than 52 years, Lianne Lay Floyd; four children, Elizabeth Jones, Christopher Floyd, Jennifer Gordon and Donna Ernster; grandchildren Robbin Gordon, Adrian Jones, Noah Jones, Denny Ernster, Erin Saben and Kevin Ernster; and several great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the veterans’ program of your choice.
A memorial service will be held at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery located at 1501 West Maryland Ave. N.L.R. Ark, 72120 Friday May 9, 2014 at 10:00 A.M.

As some of you are aware, Our Jennifer (Buckner) and her husband Tommy have suffered an unimaginable loss with the tragic and unexpected death of their only child Corrin.

We know that all of you are keeping Jennifer and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
Jennifer asked we convey to you that words cannot express how grateful she is for her extended family here. Jennifer and her family are staying at the Wyndham in North Little Rock at this time, they are in room 1011.

Arrangements are still pending but as soon as we can we will forward the details.

Donations are being sought to assist the family with expenses and funeral costs.
We will go or do whatever is needed to pick up funds or they can be dropped at the Communications Center.

An account “Corrin Buckner Fund” has also been set up with Regions Bank. You can go into any branch and they will be able to access the account with her name.

If you need help with getting a donation to us please contact:

Shelly Barnes @ 501-269-6450  – Mary Denton @ 501-749-6273 or Tanya Ward @ 501-612-4016

Though her 13 years on this earth were far too short, Corrin exemplified true beauty and selfless grace. Her soft, gentle soul will be sorely missed….and greatly treasured with the other Angels in Heaven.

DeDee Massey passed away December 13.  See the attached Obituary and the following information from Bud Gray reference this lady who did do much for our state and for public safety.

DeDee was a former Dispatcher here at NLR.  She worked for us beginning in 1984 working until approx 1989.  (I am unable to find her letter or resignation) She was a Dispatcher at the AR State Health Dept 1983-1984 Co-Owner of Central Ambulance here in NLR 1982-1983 Worked as an EMT-A with Cabot Ambulance Service 1982 Worked as an EMT-A with NLR EMS 1980-1982

She briefly returned to NLR temporarily in 1991 to assist with a shortage of trained Dispatchers.

I’m sure not many people will remember working with DeDee, but she should be honored for her commitment to public service.