Julia Frances Fain Dalton, 87, of Piggott died Friday, March 5, 2004, in Kennett.

She was born Oct. 30, 1916, in Walnut Ridge, the daughter of the late Rev. Charles R. and Etta Jane "Nain" Hurn Fain.

She was a small child when her mother died in 1920. In 1924 she moved to Boynton Beach, Fla., to live with her sister and brother-in-law, Truly and Dr. Nathaniel Weems. She lived with them from 1924 until 1933. Before her junior year in high school, she moved to St. Francis, where her father (who was a long time Methodist minister in Northeast Arkansas) and step-mother lived. She graduated from high school in Campbell in 1935.

On Aug. 31, 1935, she married Burness O. Dalton in Piggott, to this union three sons were born.

Her husband served several years in the 1940's as Clay County Clerk and Sheriff and Collector; and he was a United States Marshal in the 1950's. While he was sheriff she served as his assistant. In 1951 they built the Dalton Motel on the east side of Piggott, which they operated until 1997.

She was a life-long Methodist and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Piggott for over 65 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, B.O. Dalton on Dec. 5, 2000; three brothers, John Fain, Dr. Roger Fain and Russell Fain; and one sister, Truly Weems.

She is survived by three sons and their wives, B.W. Dalton and wife, Robin, of Calhoun, Ga., Corky Dalton and wife, Eleanor, of Kennett and Gary and wife, Helene, of Germantown, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Steve Dalton, Fain Dalton and Charles Dalton, all of North Carolina, and their mother, Amanda Dalton Lane of Cherokee Village, Dr. Kyle Dalton of Conway, Beth Dalton Craig of Kennett and Jennifer Dalton of Tennessee; 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Anna Holder of Southgate, Mich.; two sisters-in-law, Mary Dalton Palmer of Piggott and Edythe Fain of Lake Worth, Fla.; several nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 8, 2004, at the First United Methodist Church in Piggott with Charles Cooper officiating. Burial followed in the Piggott Cemetery in Piggott.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Piggott or to any charity of the donor's choosing.

Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home of Piggott was in charge of the arrangements.