When someone passes away in a small town like De Queen, Arkansas, the local funeral home becomes more than just a business. It’s the record-keeper of the community. Honestly, if you are looking for wilkerson funeral home obituaries dequeen ar, you aren't just looking for a name and a date. You are likely trying to find service times, a place to send flowers, or maybe a way to leave a note for a grieving family.
Wilkerson Funeral Home has been around since 1929. That is nearly a century of history sitting in one building on West Stillwell Avenue. Because they handle such a huge portion of the services in Sevier County, their obituary page is basically the definitive archive for the area.
Where to Find the Most Recent Listings
The fastest way to see who has passed is to go straight to the source. The official website for Wilkerson Funeral Home maintains a rolling list of recent services. They usually categorize these by name and date of death, often including a photo and a full biography.
Why does this matter? Well, sometimes national sites like Legacy or even local newspapers take a day or two to sync up. If you need to know if there is a visitation tonight, the funeral home's own "Obituary Listings" page is the only place that's guaranteed to be up-to-the-minute.
Basically, you’ll see entries like Alfredo Vega Calderon or Paul Ray Walker—real people from our community—with detailed instructions on where the service is being held. Sometimes it’s at their chapel in De Queen, other times it’s at a local church or a graveside service at a place like Redmen Cemetery or Millwee.
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Using Local News Sources
Don’t overlook KDQN. The Southwest Arkansas Daily (KDQN) is a staple for folks around here. They run an obituary section that mirrors what Wilkerson and other local homes like Chandler provide. It’s often formatted as a quick-read list, which is great if you’re just scrolling to see if you missed anyone.
Another option is the De Queen Bee. If you are doing genealogy or looking for someone who passed away decades ago, the Bee archives are your best friend. Newspaper obits from the 50s or 70s often have way more "color" than modern digital ones. They mention who visited from out of town and what songs were sung. Kinda fascinating, actually.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Obituaries
A common mistake is thinking that if an obituary isn't "online," the person hasn't passed or a service isn't happening. That’s not always true. Sometimes families choose a private service. In those cases, Wilkerson might not post a public obituary at all, or they might only post a "Book of Memories" without specific times.
Also, people often get confused between the De Queen and Dierks locations. Wilkerson operates in both. If you don't see the name you're looking for under the De Queen tab, check the Dierks listings. It’s the same family running both, but the digital "folders" are sometimes separate.
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How to Interact with a Digital Memorial
When you find the wilkerson funeral home obituaries dequeen ar page for your friend or loved one, you’ll notice a few features that weren't around ten years ago.
- The Tribute Wall: This is basically a public guestbook. You can post a story or just say "praying for you guys." It stays there forever.
- Plant a Tree: This has become a huge trend. Instead of flowers that wilt in three days, you can pay to have a tree planted in a national forest in honor of the deceased.
- Photo Slideshows: If the family has uploaded them, you can watch a video of the person's life right there on the obituary page.
It’s worth noting that Wilkerson is the oldest continuously operated family business in De Queen. Sarah and Doug, the current owners, represent the fourth generation. This matters because when you call them at (870) 642-2218 to ask about a notice, you’re usually talking to someone who actually knew the families involved.
Real-World Examples of Recent Notices
Looking at the start of 2026, the listings show a diverse cross-section of Sevier County. You see names like Gary Lynn Revels of Lockesburg or Jimmie Ann Shelton from over in Haworth, Oklahoma. The reach of this funeral home is wide. It’s not just De Queen proper; it’s the whole corner of the state and even across the border into Oklahoma.
Planning and Costs: The Practical Side
If you are looking at these obituaries because you are the one who has to plan a service, things get a bit more serious. A typical funeral at Wilkerson—including the casket, the director's fees, and the service—can run anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000 depending on the bells and whistles. Cremation is usually more affordable, often starting around $1,600.
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They are pretty transparent about this stuff. They offer a "365 Days of Healing" email subscription too. It sounds a bit much, but for someone who just lost a spouse after 50 years, getting a little note of encouragement every morning actually helps.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are searching for a specific obituary right now, here is what you should do:
- Check the Official Site: Go to the Wilkerson Funeral Homes "Obituary Listings" page first. Filter by "Last 30 Days" and "De Queen, AR" location to narrow it down.
- Verify the Location: Ensure the service isn't actually at the Dierks chapel, which is located at 110 East 4th Street.
- Sign Up for Alerts: Legacy.com has a feature where you can follow "Wilkerson Funeral Home - De Queen" to get an email the second a new notice is posted.
- Contact Directly: If you can't find the info you need and the service is imminent, call (870) 642-2218. They are staffed 24/7 for a reason.
- Check KDQN: If the website seems down or slow, the KDQN obituaries page is the most reliable secondary source for the De Queen area.
Whether you're looking for a long-lost relative or a neighbor who just passed, these records are the heartbeat of the community. They tell the story of who we are and where we came from.