Individual Details

Death

Dana (Furr) Hampton, age 25, of Hot Springs, AR, died June 17, 1997. Born September 18, 1971, she was preceded in death by her mother, Hester Furr. Among her survivors is her father, James "Rassie" Furr, of Ola, AR. Funeral service was held last week for Dana Furr Hampton, of Hot Springs, AR, age 25, at the First Assembly of God Church in Hot Springs. Born September 18, 1971, she died June 17, 1997. She was preceded in death by her mother, Hester Furr. Survivors include one son, Brian David (B.J.) Ballentine, Jr. one daughter, Kristeen King both of Hot Springs; her father, James Furr (Rassie) of Ola; five brothers, David Furr of Mountain Pine, Maxie Don Furr of Oregon, Randy Furr of Ola, Jimmy Smoke of Hot Springs and Rickey Smoke of Bismarck; six sisters, Nancy Via of Ola, Susan Alvey of London, Tommie Reed of Ferndale, Susie Hoffman of Bonnerdale, Carolyn Ellison and Joyce Hearn both of Hot Springs. Pallbearers were Zach Alvey, Michael Smoke, Matt Howard, Jonathan Smoke, Danny Cottrell, Brent Cottrell and Jim Cooper.
Yell County Record, Danville, Arkansas, June 25, 1997

Dana died in a car crash. It was raining when she got off work and she was living with her sister, Susan Smoke, in Bonnerdale along with her two children: Kristeen Louise King & BJ (Bryan Ballentine Jr). Someone at her work had told her that they had a dog that they were going to have put to sleep and Dana, being the animal lover that she was, said she would take it. She drove home to get her children and the babysitter. About a mile down the highway, she started hydroplaning, the car did three spins when an oncoming car hit the drivers side door. BJ was sitting behind Dana and Kristeen was behind the passenger seat. It took the ambulance about 1/2 hour to arrive since this is all the way out 70W Hwy in Bonnerdale, Ar. Dana and BJ were trapped but people that stopped got Kristeen out. They told us later that they thought BJ was dead. As they stood and tried to keep Dana calm, who kept wanting them to get her out so she could check her kids, they saw a pulse in BJs neck. They attached a chain to the door and pulled it open with their vehicle. In the meantime, Dana crawled across the console and got out thru the passenger door and kept yelling, “Are my kids okay?” Suddenly, she collapsed. A woman bent over her and prayed with her. The ambulance arrived and pronounced her deceased at the scene. Dana was short and she sat close to the steering wheel. She would say, “I have to be able to reach the steering wheel”. When the air bags opened, they crushed her chest and ruptured her heart. At the hospital, we learned that Kristeen had a broken leg, but BJ had many broken bones in his little 4 yr old body and brain injuries. They would have to medi vac him to children’s hospital in Little Rock and we elected to have 8 yr old Kristeen to go there also. As soon as the helicopter lifted, we all headed that way. They told us that they did not expect BJ to make the ride. Kristeen had her upper leg set with metal rods sticking out that looked like a large cabinet handle. She was able to attend her Moms funeral which was heartbreaking. Little did we know, 3 weeks later, we would be attending Kristeens funeral. She was at her grandmother’s eating a bowl of cereal, burped up blood, and fell dead from a ruptured aorta. It seems they didn’t check that area since all she complained of was her leg. BJ was in a coma for quite some time and was just about in a whole body cast. He turned 5 years old in a coma. The day came when he started coming awake. It was pretty scary, if you’ve ever watched anyone with a brain injury. But he survived! He is our miracle. Today, as a 29 yr old man, he has his own miracle. His 3 yr old son, Bryson, was diagnosed a year ago with brain cancer and some in his spine. The prognosis was not good. With a great medical team, his Dad at his side every minute, and prayers going up all over the Nation and beyond, Bryson is cancer free and thriving. To God be the glory.
Joyce Shelor, March 7, 2021