Gordon Small's Family & Genealogy
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Carole married Martin BERCHER Jr. (Martin BERCHER Jr. was born on February 23, 1944 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas, USA, died on December 7, 2005 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas - District 125 1 and was buried on December 12, 2005 in Fort Smith, Arkansas - Holy Cross Cemetery.) |
Sources
- Obituary, Monday, December 12, 2005 9:28 AM CST Martine Bercher Jr., 61, of Fort Smith passed away Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005. He was born Feb. 23, 1944, in Fort Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Martine and Elizabeth Bercher; and an infant brother, Richard. He was the youngest of four children born to Martine and Elizabeth Bercher. He attended St. Boniface Catholic School from kindergarten to eighth grade, graduating in 1958. He attended high school at St. Ann's Academy, graduating in 1962, where he excelled in football, baseball and basketball. Martine then went on to the University of Arkansas in the fall of 1962 and became a member of the Arkansas Razorback football team. In his sophomore year, he was a member of the 1964 National Championship team. In 1966, he was awarded All Southwest Conference and All-American honors. After his college career, he was drafted in the sixth round by the Atlanta Falcons, where he spent one season. He then spent one year in the Minnesota Vikings organization. After his pro football career, he returned to Arkansas, where he was an assistant coach and teacher at Catholic High School in Little Rock. In 1972, Martine's father-in-law, Arthur Sharum, became ill and he returned to Fort Smith to operate Pete's Place restaurant with his mother-in-law, Julia Sharum. In 1985, he opened Re-Pete's Place Restaurant in Fort Smith and continued to own and operate it until his death. Martine also opened and operated 3-Pete's Place restaurant from 1995 until May 2005. In his 33 years in the restaurant business, he always took tremendous pride in trying to please all of his customers and cherished all of the friendships and relationships that evolved. In 1994, he was selected by Razorback fans to be a member of the University of Arkansas All Century Team. In 2002, he was honored by being inducted into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor. Throughout his illness, he derived great strength from the support of the Arkansas Razorback family. Rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Fentress Mortuary in Fort Smith. He is survived by his wife, Carole; two sons, Jon Bercher and wife Leslie of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Chris Bercher and wife Christy of Fort Smith; two sisters, Bettye Franz and husband Edward, and Jean Ann Roddy and husband Bill, both of Fort Smith; three grandchildren, Logan, Julia and Austin Bercher. Pallbearers are Kevin, Tim, Pat and Michael Franz, Brian Roddy and Marshall Brooks. Memorial contributions may be made to Fort Smith Boys Club, 4905 N. O St., Fort Smith, AR 72904; or Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 22 N. 13th St., Fort Smith, AR 72901.