Charles Eugene "C.E." Van Ness, 87, of Rison, AR passed away Thursday, July 5, 2018. He was born April 2, 1931 in Little Rock, AR to the late Charles E. Van Ness, Sr. and the late Susan E. Bennett Van Ness. He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps at the end of World War II. He worked in Crouch Mines in Bauxite, AR and in many other fields of labor. Bro. C.E., as he was known, was ordained to the ministry December 4, 1955 and pastored many churches in the Ark-La-Tex area. He was a lifetime member of the Desha Masonic Lodge F&AM #643 in McGehee, AR where he served as Past Master and he was a former member of the Keystone Chapter #349 Order of the Eastern Star. He was also a former member of the Alumina Lodge #574 at Bryant, AR. He was a prostate cancer survivor. He was an avid out-doorsman and he retired from the Desha County Road Department in 1993. His favorite scripture was 1 Corinthians 9:16.

Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 47 years, Frances Greer Van Ness; sisters, Lois Van Ness, Doris Van Ness, Florene Hanks, Charlene Hornsby and Winnie Nelson; son-in-law Andy Gallion.

Survivors include his wife of 20 years Mary Poplin Van Ness of Rison, AR; sons Charles Van Ness, III of Little Rock, AR and Bo Hudson of Rison, AR; daughters Susan Gallion of McGehee, AR and Diane Morgan of Benton, AR; brother, Jim Van Ness of Shreveport, LA; sisters, Lorene Ramick of Bentonville, AR and Patricia Ann Spann of Little Rock, AR; 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, July 7, 2018 at Pleasant Springs Cemetery in Coleman, AR with Bro. Julius Carter officiating.