Wesley Amos Dugger

Wesley Amos Dugger, 94, of Benton, Ark., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. He was born Feb. 28, 1921, to Clarence Wesley and Rettalea Deal Dugger in Slick, Okla. He married Elsie Flowers on July 4, 1942, and soon was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving as a combat soldier of WWII in the 6th army, 33rd infantry division, 123rd infantry regiment. He was cited the Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat during the Northern Luzon Campaign. He was, thankfully, returned to his family in Tulsa, Okla., in 1946. He moved the family when Orbit Valve Company relocated to Little Rock in 1964 and retired in 1982 after more than 30 years of employment. He was a member of Fuller Chapel Primitive Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Ark. He was predeceased by his parents; one brother, Weldon Dugger, and three sisters, Clara Saylors, June Chapman, and Wilma Dugger, all of Oklahoma; and his loving wife of 68 years, Elsie. He is survived by his five children: Sherry (Sam) Wood of Broken Arrow, Okla.; Paula (Jim) Cathcart of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; Jenny (Terry) Mercing of Mayflower, Ark.; Leslie (Bill) Coburn of Benton, Ark.; and Sam (Kathy) Dugger of Powder Springs, Ga. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Mark (Ann) Wood and Carrie (Eric) Morris of Oklahoma; Jim (Sonya) Cathcart Jr. of California; Chris East of Tennessee and Cindy (Jayson) Malik of Arkansas; Sara Beth (Kevin) Russell and Nikki (Alden) Heck of Arkansas; and Tonya (Luke) Taylor of Georgia. Survivors also include a brother, Troy (Libby) Dugger of Oklahoma City, Okla., and a sister, Betty Jo (Vernon) Mitchell of Blanchard, Okla. Great-grandchildren surviving him include Spenser Wood, and step-great-grandsons Kyle and Ryan Lawrence of Oklahoma; Jason and Amber Cathcart of California; Aiyla East, step-great-grandchildren Ashleigh (Tyler) Glover, and Alyssa and Evan Malik, of Arkansas; Luke, Rebekah, and Matthew Russell of Arkansas; and one great-granddaughter on the way in Georgia. Step-great, great-grandson, Jaxon Glover, and another step-great, great-grandchild on the way also survive him in Arkansas. A host of other relatives, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ will miss him dearly. Funeral services will be held at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 19, at 11:30 a.m. by Elders James Winston and Mark Green, followed by burial at the Arkansas Veterans’ Cemetery in North Little Rock. Visitation is also at the funeral home on Monday, January 18, from 6-8 p.m. Memorials may be made to Fuller Chapel Primitive Baptist Church, c/o Dale Eaves, 134 Scenic Valley Loop, Maumelle, Ark. 72113. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.