Chester Rankin, age 86, of Hot Springs passed away Sunday, March 7, 2010 at home. He was a beloved widower of three wives; Betty Jo Rankin, June Rankin and Katie Rankin. He was predeceased by his parents; Harry B. & Ida Cleo Nelson Rankin; his brothers, Glen, Bill & Morris Rankin; his niece and great nephew, Becky & Shane Wood.

Chester was a veteran of World War II and served in the Army Corps of Engineers. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Chester was past vice president of the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce; past president of South Hot Springs Lions Club; past chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board; past secretary of the Hot Springs Planning Commission and past president of South Hot Springs Merchants Association. He was the manager of Otasco for 37 years.

He was survived by his daughter, Cathy Rankin; his sister, Jean Rankin Griffith; his brother, Leo “Sonny” Rankin; nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Visitation will be 6:30 – 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at Hot Springs Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 AM Thursday, March 11, 2010 at Hot Springs Funeral Home with Dr. William O. (Bud) Reeves officiating.

Pallbearers are Jimmy Burris, Jim Hodge, Paul McLeod Jr., Ted Nobles, Randall Robles and Gene Beckwith.

Chester loved children and always gave to children that were in need at Christmas.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hillcrest Children’s Home or at Christmas please give to a child in need.

Audrey Lucille Burns, 84, of Hot Springs died Sunday, March 7, 2010 at her home. She was born December 7, 1925 in Baytown, Texas. She was a homemaker.

Predeceased by her parents Clyde Hardesty and Ruth Bartosh.

Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Cline of Hot Springs and one son & daughter-in-law, Daniel & Patricia Burns of Texas City, Texas; one brother & sister-in-law, Alex & Judy Hardesty of Willis, Texas; five grandchildren; ten great grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.

A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at Hot Springs Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain David Kenser officiating.

Luther Peoples, 85, of Hot Springs died Sunday, March 7, 2010 at his home. He was born September 14, 1924 to Hardy Peoples & Lizzie Wright Peoples in Eros, Louisiana. He was retired from Reynolds Metal and a member of Nazarene Baptist Church.

He was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, Fallace Peoples & Eotis Peoples; one sister, Naomia McClain and one son, Larry Peoples.

Survivors include his wife, Corline Peoples of Hot Springs; three daughters & one son-in-law, Mary Peoples of Detroit, Michigan, Debra Anderson of Hot Springs and Amanda & Antonius Daly of Atlanta, Georgia; eight sons & daughters-in-law, Luther Peoples Jr. of Hot Springs, Eddie Peoples of Detroit, Michigan, Luster Peoples of Detroit, Michigan, Sylvester & Lillie Peoples of Greensborough, South Carolina; Hardie Peoples of Detroit, Michigan, John Peoples of Denver, Colorado, Anthony Peoples of Hot Springs and Eugene Peoples of California; two brothers & sister-in-laws, Eddie J. & Dorothy Peoples of Louisiana, Willie J. & Rose Peoples of Dallas, Texas; four sisters, Karetha Curlee of Louisiana, Maretha Mitchell of Little Rock, Hattie Lee Peoples of Louisiana and Rether M. Mason of Detroit, Michigan; and several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Services will be Friday, March 12, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at Hot Springs Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor James Roberts officiating.

Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M Thursday, March 11, 2010 at Hot Springs Funeral Home.

Pallbearers are Lawrence Webb, Ryan Amie, Robert Davis, Chibuzo Chinwah, Louis Witherspoon and Sherell Harly.

Honorary pallbearers are Anthony Peoples and Willie Peoples.

Burial at Crestview Memorial Park with Military Honors by VFW Post #2278

Johnny Earl Edwards, 62, of Hot Springs died at his home on Monday, March 1, 2010. He was born on April 8, 1947 to the late Paul and Bertha Ayers Edwards in Hot Springs, AR.

He was a member of the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #380 and was the owner and manager of the Edwards Super Stop and was the former editor of the Hope Star newspaper.

He was predeceased by his parents and one brother, Alford Edwards.

Survivors include two sons, Tony Edwards of Denver, CO and Mikey Edwards of Pearcy, AR, two daughters and one son-in-law, Shannon Wynn of Hot Springs and Gavin Edwards and Eric Mondloch of Denver, CO, one brother and sister-in-law, David and Sonja Edwards of Fort Smith, AR, one sister and brother-in-law, Darla and Bill Ridgeway of Hot Springs, and two grandchildren, Andie and Kevin Preston.

Memorial services will be Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. at the Elks Logde, 132 Abbott Place, Hot Springs, AR.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Muldoon, Buddy Longinotti, James Ray Kinsey, Jack Irwin, Bill Ridgeway, Marc Ridgeway, Matt Ridgeway, Jeff Lynch, Drew McCurry, Zack McCurry, Randy McCaslin, Steven McCaslin, Floyd Emerson, Robert and Peggy Phillips, John James, David Paul Edwards, Jr., John David Edwards, Richard Brown, Gary Sexton and the staff of Hot Springs Hospice.