2. Robert Marion STONE [scrapbook] "Bob" was born ¹ 17 Nov 1893 in Berea, Ashley Co., Arkansas and was baptized ² 22 Sep 1907 in Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Ashley Co., Arkansas. He died 29 May 1982 in Hamburg, Ashley Co., Arkansas and was buried 30 May 1982 in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Ashley Co., Arkansas. Bob married ³ Ruth Mason DOUGLASS on 13 Mar 1915 in Berea, Ashley Co., Arkansas. [Parents]

  Robert or Bob to some was born 17 November 1893 in Berea, Ashley Co., Arkansas.  He was the first of fourteen children born to Jackson and Anna.  Robert was named after his uncle, Jackson's younger brother, who had died five years before at the early age of 18.  This continues an honoring of a previous generation "Robert" who met an untimely death.  (Robert Marion Stone's uncle was in fact named after HIS uncle--Robert, son of Rauley and Tabitha Stone, who in 1863 was killed while serving in the Confederate Army with the 18th Alabama Infantry, Company G).
  Robert would grow up and spend much of his life in Bearhouse Township where he is noted as living with his parents in the 1900 and 1910 census.  He attended Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Berea, where he likely met Ruth Mason Douglass.   
   Robert and Ruth were married in Berea, Ashley Co., Arkansas on 15 March 1915 by R. L. Griswould, J. P.; this was the first wedding performed by Griswould.  They were married "sitting in a buggy in Rube Griswould's yard" [65th wedding anniversary announcement].  At the time of their marraige they were allegedly living in only a "tent" [Anna Ruth Stone Kelley].  For the first two and a half years after their marriage, Robert worked at the Gates Camp saw mill in Midway, Drew Co., Arkansas, just across the county border [50th Anniversary Announcement, Anna Ruth Stone Kelley].  They resided in Midway during this time, as indicated from Robert's 1917 WW I Registration Card.  From the card, Robert's physical description is given as "tall and slender" with "blue eyes and brown hair."  
   Robert and Ruth had their first child in 1916 (Blanche), followed by an infant who died at birth in 1918.  Sometime during 1918 Robert and Ruth moved back to Bearhouse Township, Ashley County, near Robert's parents.  The 1920 census indicates a female boarder, age 47, by the name of Arrington, was also living with them.  In 1920 Robert and Ruth's third child, Robbie, was born, followed in 1925 by their fourth child Douglass.  Robert and Ruth had their last child, Anna Ruth, in 1935.
  About 1931 Robert began driving a school bus, busing kids from Berea to Hamburg.  He would continue this job for more than 40 years, and all the kids growing up in Berea would come to know him.  In addition to driving the bus, Robert farmed and raised livestock.  
   In 1961 Robert and Ruth moved to 202 West Washington St. in Hamburg [65th anniversary announcement].  At this time they had each been members of Mt. Olive Baptist Church for more than 50 years.  After moving to town, they joined First Baptist Church.
  Robert passed away on 29 May 1982, and is buried at the Mt. Olive Cemetery.

Obituary
  Mr. Robert M. Stone, 88, of Hamburg, died Saturday, May 29, 1982 at Crossett.  Mr. Stone was a native of Ashley County, a retired farmer and a member of Hamburg First Baptist Church.  Mr. Stone was a deacon in the Hamburg First Baptist Church, a member of the Woodman of the World and had drove a school bus for the Hamburg School District for over 40 years.
   He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mrs. Ruth Douglas Stone; a son, Douglas Stone of Monticello; two daughters, Ann Ruth Kelley and Robbie Fleming, both of Hamburg; two brothers, James Stone of Hamburg, and Henry Stone of Pine Bluff; seven sisters, Mrs. Lula McKinney of Crossett, Mr. Gladys Boykin of Malvern, Mrs. Agnes Adair of Snyder, Mrs. Alma Bailey of Monticello, Mrs. Vonnie Bailey of Wilmar, Mrs. Irene Smith of Monticello, Mrs. Anna Rawley of Pine Bluff; eight grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
  Funeral services were on Sunday, May 30, 1982, 3 p.m. at the Hamburg First Baptist Church with the Dr. Tommy Cunningham and Rev. Raymond Carpenter officiating. Pallbearers were Bobby Ferguson, Marion Kelley, Scott Kelley, Curtis White, Robert Stone and Jack Shell. Honorary Pallbearers were Barney Sullivan, Claude Riley, Sr., Charlie Carpenter, Francis Kelley, Luther Ashcraft, Billy Foote, Bennie Franklin, J. W. Hall, Malvin Kelley, Billey Riley, W. Z. Spencer, David Bays and Dr. J. D. Rankin. Interment was in the Mount Olive Cemetery under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Hamburg.

3. Ruth Mason DOUGLASS [scrapbook] was born ^{1, 2} 23 Aug 1896 in Rains Co., Texas and was baptized ³ 14 Jul 1911 in Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Ashley Co., Arkansas. She died ^{2, 4} 17 Sep 1986 in Crossett, Ashley Co., Arkansas and was buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Ashley Co., Arkansas. [Parents]

Obituary from the Sept 24, 1986 edition of the Ashley County Ledger:
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Ruth D. Stone
   Mrs. Ruth Douglass Stone, 90, of Hamburg died at 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, September 17, 1986, at the Ashley Memorial Hospital in Crossett. Mrs. Stone was a native of Kosciusko, Miss., and a member of the First Baptist Church in Hamburg. She was the widow of Robert M. Stone.
   Mrs. Stone was born August 23, 1896, to the late Willie and Mary Douglass and lived in Mississippi until she was two years old. The family then moved to Texas, moving back to Arkansas by covered wagon when she was seven years old.
At age 19, she married Robert Marion Stone of Hamburg. They had been married 67 years when Mr. Stone died 4'/s years ago. They were the parents of four children: Blanche, Robbie, Douglass and Anna Ruth.
   Mrs. Stone is survived by one son, Douglass Stone, and one daughter, Anna Ruth Kelley, both of Hamburg. Other survivors include one sister, Elsie Riviere of Hot Springs; eight grandchildren, Kathryn Shell, Bobby Ferguson, Robert Stone and Marion Kelley of Hamburg, Joyce Hussey of Berryville, Curtis White of Benton, Scott Kelley of Fort Worth, Texas, and Harolyn Ann Stevenson of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and 14 greatgrandchildren, Carrie and Robert White; Sonny, Holley and Joseph Stevenson; Robert Douglass and Robinan Stone, Kendrah and Kassey Ferguson; Kayla, Farrah Lynn and Jim Bob Shell, and Angela and Marion Kelley. She is also survived by three sons-inlaw, Rev. Harold White, Hurshel Kelley and Woody Fleming, and one daughter-in-law, Grace Stone.
   Funeral services were Thursday, September 18, 1986 at 2 p. m. in the first Baptist Church in Hamburg with the Revs. Bobby Pennington, Harold White and James Hickman officiating.  Pallbearers were Curtis White, Robert Stone, Bobby Ferguson, Marion Kelley, Scott Kelley and Jack Shell. Honorary pallbearers were Joe Mack Sullivan, Billy Riley, Malvin Kelley, Fred LaGrone, Dr. J. D. Rankin, Dr. Charles Hicks, Jack Carpenter, Jr., I.G. Riley, Luther Ashcraft, Raymond Bright, H.C. Moyers, Buddy Atkins, Arthur Riley, Freeman Shell, Harry Noble, Bennie Franklin, Charles Berryman, Buddy Barnes, Claude Barnes, Nap Murphy, Eugene White, Odis Lawrence, Leon Tubbs and Charlie Carpenter.
   Interment was in the Mount Olive Cemetery under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Hamburg.
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