Loetta Bratcher

W. Loetta (Marchant) Bratcher, 83, of Viola, Arkansas, passed away Monday, October 16, 2023, in Mountain Home.

She was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 17, 1940, to Heaber Marchant and Eunice (Haynes) Marchant. Loetta married Bob Bratcher on October 27, 1978. In her early years, she worked at the Glass Factory and also as a server at one time while living in California. After settling in Arkansas, she worked at the Shirt Factory and Baxter Laboratories. When she and Bob married, she became a full-time home maker. Loetta had many hobbies that complemented her vast artistic abilities. Just to name a few – quilting, macrame, crochet, knitting, oil painting and creating “fancy” birthday cards online to share with her family and friends on Facebook. She also won ribbons for some of the beautiful scrap book pages she entered in the county fair. Loetta LOVED her family to the utmost, and it was especially important to keep all extended relatives connected. She helped organize family reunions over the years…..and was the “go to” person in later years to answer all the questions – “who was related to who…and how…” One of her favorite hobbies was shopping and finding all the bargains and her stamina when in a store was unmatched! To say she will be missed is not nearly enough of a sentiment to express the loss we will all feel.

Loetta was preceded in death by her brother, Travis Dean Marchant; grandson, Jason Lee Stroud; stepson, Charles Bratcher; husband, Bob Bratcher and her mother and father.

She is survived by her daughter, JuDene (Junior) Stroud of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; her son, Chuck (Debbie) Downum of Viola, Arkansas; and her stepdaughters: Vicki (Don) Ghormley of Watts, Oklahoma; Pam (Doug) Phillips of Westville, Oklahoma; Denise Farley of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; eight grandchildren: Jayme (Brent) Little; Justin (Annalee) Hodges; Holly (Jordan) Ash; Jeremy (Megan) Stroud; Melisa (Geoff) Soule; Lacie (Matthew) Conner; Cody (Brad) Nabors; Dustin (Maria) Gray; sixteen great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be Thursday, October 19, 2023, beginning at 2:00 PM at Doty Family Funeral Service Chapel in Salem, Arkansas, with Bro. Donald Montgomery officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 1:00 PM. Burial will follow in the Viola Cemetery in Viola, Arkansas.