Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Jane Bemis

Mrs. Jane Simpson Bemis, 88, of Prescott, died Sunday, December 18, 2005, at her home.

She was born on February 13, 1917, in Indianapolis, Indiana to Harold Taylor and Marita Gale Simpson. She was a homemaker. She was a graduate of Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, with her Business Administration Degree, and came to Arkansas in 1947, as the bride of J.R. Bemis where she became an integral part of the civic and philanthropic life. A few of her numerous contributions were serving as a Trustee of Lyon College; member of the Tri-Service Club; member, elder and delegate to the general assembly for the First Presbyterian Church of Prescott. Mrs. Bemis, a lifelong advocate for literacy, passionately supported many libraries, being especially dedicated to the new Nevada County Library in Prescott and the expansion of the library of Lyon College in Batesville.

She was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband, James Rosborough Bemis and by one brother, Frank H. Simpson.

Her survivors include: three sons, Ted Bemis and Linda of Derby, Kan., Harold S. Bemis of Fayetteville, and Andy Bemis of Rome, Ga.; two daughters, Marita Bemis Parrish and Angelo of Houston, Texas, and Kay Bemis Piper of St. Louis, Mo.; 13 grandchildren, Kathy McGuire and John, Lisa Holley and David, Chip Piper, Ginnie Grand, Jim Bemis and Erin, Nancy Bemis Pennington and Jerry, Andy Bemis and Cheryl, Lara Bemis Killgore and John, Chip Bemis and Amy, Mandy Bemis, Betsy Bemis, Collis Parrish and Katie Parrish; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2005, at First Presbyterian Church in Prescott with Rev. Jerry G. Westmoreland officiating. Burial followed in DeAnn Cemetery in Prescott. Arrangements by Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Friends of the Library, Nevada County, P.O. Box 599, Prescott, Ark. 71857 or Nevada County ARC, Inc., P.O. Box 480, Prescott, Ark. 71857.