of Searcy, AR
March 9, 1938 - August 8, 2017
Arthur Edward Parsons, 79, passed away August 8, 2017, following a courageous battle with cancer.
He leaves his wife of 58 years, Sonja (Foster) Parsons; his daughters, Tami Eades (Robert), Toni Donovan (Chris), Stephanie Parsons, four grandchildren '''' Megan Donovan, Molly Valentine (Steven), Meredith Brady (Corey), Jared Eades and a beloved great granddaughter, Ava Michele; two brothers, Earl Parsons (Norma), Merle Parsons (Ellie), one sister, Regina Frick (Robert), a host of nieces and nephews he loved dearly and many close friends.
Born in Freedom, Oklahoma, March 9, 1938, the son of Leland and Pauline Parsons, Art was resident of Searcy, Arkansas. He was a lifelong Christian, member of Downtown Church of Christ and member of the Optimist Club.
When he could get Mom to stop watching CSI, Dad loved Saturday mornings watching This Old House and anything on The DIY Channel.
Dad took fashion cues from no one. His signature everyday look was a plain pocketed T-shirt designed by the fashion house, Fruit of the Loom, his Levi blue jeans, a pair of tennis shoes that were always paired with a sweat-stained baseball cap. However, if he was going out dancing with his girl, you could always find him in his finest western shirt, best cowboy boots and favorite cowboy hat.
As a point of pride, he could look at a piece of wood and ascertain its origin and more than likely how old the tree was wherein it came. He had a life-long love affair with hot sauce, any fried fish imaginable, shrimp and gumbo.
It's hard to capture him in just one story. From his many years on the farm growing up, his Air Force career as a radio repairman to his endless hours in the shop creating masterpieces with saws and anything made of wood, we all truly believe that sawdust ran through his veins.
Art definitely was one of a kind. He always found humor in every situation. It was a great way to cope with life. Whatever it was, he managed to get through it by finding a saying that would make you laugh. His favorite saying was, ''I'm in pretty good shape for the shape I'm in.''
His best friend and fishing buddy, Arthur Churchill, was a constant in Dad's life, coming over for morning coffee and making sure he got to go fishing whenever or wherever he wanted. Dad also made many new friends in the last few months, David, Lowell, Tom and Rick offered him a sense of purpose and wonderful memories. Over the last few months, Dad was being wonderfully cared for by Arkansas Hospice, his favorite nurse, Renee, who he truly adored, and Nicole, who kept him at peace until the end.
Visitation from 10 AM until 11 AM on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Roller-Daniel Funeral Home, Searcy. Graveside Services following at 11:30 am at White County Memorial Gardens,
For online guest book, www.rollerfuneralhomes.com
Sign Guestbook
15 Condolence(s)
Jobyna mcAllister Bourassa
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Arthur and I had many memories of great fun times as kids living 3 miles apart & going to country school we both loved horses & spent hours riding them. Arthur was a great guy & will be missed by all. We were cousins
Kelli Weaver
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Sonja, family and friends,
I am so sorry for your loss. Art was a wonderful man and always enjoyed his visits to the WISE office to see Arthur his brother from another mother! He always had a great fishing story to tell!! You are all in my thoughts and prayers!
Belinda LaForce
Saturday, August 12, 2017
My sincere condolences to your precious family. My prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Larry & Jan Wiederhoeft
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Our sympathy to you, Sonja and girls. We treasure our memories of Art and your family. We love you all and miss not being there with you.
John & Sandy Lasater
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Sonya & family- We will miss Art's smiles & humor as well as his compassion for youth. His memories will live on. We were fortunate to have crossed paths on this wonderful journey.
LuAnn Deere
Saturday, August 12, 2017
So said to get the email that Art has passed. Sonya and family, we send prayers to comfort you.
Fly high Art. We were all blessed to be with you and know you will watch over us. We will meet again.
Phil Weaver
Friday, August 11, 2017
I'm very sorry to find out about this. Art was a gentleman and one of the kindest and friendliest person I have ever met. He will be missed by everyone that knew him.
Candie Watts
Friday, August 11, 2017
I have lots of memories of the entire Parsons Family. Probably one of the best kept secret talents of Art was his ability to pierce ears with a potato and needle. While it wasn't a lot of fun, it was certainly memorable! Sonja, Tami, Toni, and Stephanie, please know you're in my thoughts and prayers, Hold tight to your own memories and know he will be missed by so many.
Ann, Dan, Bess and Lainey Cloyd
Friday, August 11, 2017
It was with great sadness that I found this notice in the LR paper this morning. Sonja and family, our most sincere prayers go out for each of you. Art's and your involvement in and commitment to Foresters (still IOF in my mind) has been a delightful, bright experience for so many years. It will be hard to imagine on-going events without Art's dry wit and great smile. Please know that each of us has been blessed by having had this wonderful man be a part of our lives.
Dan, Ann, Bess and Lainey Cloyd
Tressia Ruttman
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Sonja and family, So very sorry to hear about Art. My thoughts and prayers are with you as I Know how painful it is. Tressia
Larry Edwards
Thursday, August 10, 2017
My deep condolences to Sonya, Merle, Earl, Regina and all the other members of the family. We have not seen each other for a very long time but the memories go back to our childhood - I'll never forget the evenings (usually Saturdays) when we came to your folks' house on the farm to watch Texas Rasslin' on your TV - one of the few in the area. And riding those Shetland ponies around the farm. Time waits for no one and speeds by so fast, but the memories - all wonderful ones - remain.
Anita Lowery
Thursday, August 10, 2017
I worked with Art while employed at a local nursing home facility. He always had the same consistent happy attitude with just the right amount of humor thrown in. I knew he was a Christian man before he ever told me. He lived what he believed. We were members at the same congregation, Downtown Church of Christ. I much admired the relationship Art and Sonya had as husband and wife. What love! What an example! I knew Art worked with wood. When we were expecting our first grandchild, I asked him if he could make a cradle? He brought it in to work along with some bedding made to fit inside!!
I am thankful for the privilege of knowing this man and believe I
am the better for it. Sonya and family, I am holding you all close in prayer for comfort, peace and healing that only comes from our Father in heaven. May God Bless!
Anita & Rob Lowery
Elaine Townsley
Thursday, August 10, 2017
What a dear sweet, caring, compassionate and humorous man. There are so many stories about him that need to be told. You will always be special in my heart.
Marti English
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Art was one of the happiest people I have ever met. He always made me feel that I was special and had a purpose. I loved seeing him and Sonja at the ball park doing odd jobs and just loved the fact that they were a team in everything. He will be truly missed. Prayers continued.
Leah (Faith)Brooks
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Toni, Tami, and Stephanie, I am so sorry to hear this. You're all in my thoughts, and have my deepest condolences.