Joseph C. "Buddy" Fratesi

Joseph C. "Buddy" Fratesi, age 89, of Pine Bluff, died Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Mr. Fratesi was born November 15, 1926, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a son of the late Julius and Irma Reginelli Fratesi. Mr. Fratesi was reared and received his early education in Pine Bluff at Annunciation Academy and transferred to Pine Bluff High School where he played as a grid-iron lineman and graduated in 1945. He was a lifelong resident of Pine Bluff. Mr. Fratesi was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and had worked for Planters Cotton Seed Oil Mill for 40 years, the last fifteen of which, it was owned by Terra International. Mr. Fratesi married his high school sweetheart Secelia Annette "Tillie" Young-Martin on February 2, 1946, and she preceded him in death in 1983. He was also preceded by an infant daughter, Shirley Annette Fratesi; three sisters, Teresa Smith, Lena Mae Stewart and Mary Ann Herman. Survivors include two sons, Joseph C. "Charlie" Fratesi, Jr. and Martin Scott Fratesi (Vanessa), both of White Hall; three daughters, Jackie Harrison (Ray) of Longview, Washington, Brenda Fratesi of North Little Rock and Tina Fratesi Smith of White Hall; one brother, Robert J. Fratesi of Mountain Home; four sisters, Florence Jean "Jeannie" Culpepper of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, Lorraine Burns and Betsy Wooley, both of Mountain Home, Judy Bennett of Heber Springs; ten grandchildren, Rance Harrison, Rachel Blockhus, Ryan Harrison, Joseph Brooks Harrison, Jennifer Fratesi, Tiffany Crow, Heidi Jeffery, Sunni Fratesi, Jules Schweiger, Anna Reynolds and 13 great-grandchildren, Allie and Elizabeth Blockhus, Jaycee and Rylee Harrison, Madison, Creig, Brodee and Brylee Crow, Dazzlyn and Tommy Jeffery, Vincent Schweiger, Ruby and River Reynolds. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said Friday, April 1, 2016, at 10 a.m/ at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Siprianus Ola Rotok, S.V.D. and Deacon Noel F. "Bud" Bryant officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery by Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors. A Vigil service will be said by Deacon Bryant Thursday evening at 6 p.m. in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors. The family would like to extend a very special "Thank You" to Irene Jordan, the caregiver, Dr. Dale Terrell, Dr. David Jacks, Dr. Ayman Alshami, Dr. Jackie Frigon, Dr. Gerald Ware and Dr. Christopher McDaniel. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.