of Batesville, AR

August 28, 1929 - April 7, 2016

R. L. Sheffield, 86, of Batesville, Arkansas passed away peacefully Thursday, April 7, 2016, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro.

He was born August 28, 1929, to Harvey Thomas and Vada McGee Sheffield in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

On June 12, 1948, he married Dorothea Wyatt in Batesville. He worked many years as a dental lab technician with Dr. Norman Grammer and Dr. Bill Beller.

Brother Sheffield was a member of Central Avenue United Methodist Church of Batesville, Arkansas, where he served as Chairman of the Board, President of Methodist Men, Superintendent of Sunday School, and Lay Leader. He was an avid horseman having served as President of the Ozark Gaited Saddle Club and was a member of the Missouri Fox Trotters Association. His hobby was showing and raising registered Fox Trotters. He served as Grand Master of Masons in Arkansas in 2007.

Brother Sheffield's Masonic career began at Mt. Zion Lodge #10 in Batesville, Arkansas, where he was raised a Master Mason in March 1956. He served as Worshipful Master in the years 1959 and 1961, was District Deputy Grand Master in 1962, and received the Pillars of Solomon Award. He was certified in all the adopted work and conducted numerous Masonic Funeral Rites throughout the state of Arkansas. He served seven years on the Board of Custodians and in 1985 Brother Sheffield was elected Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas where he served for eighteen years. Brother Sheffield was a member of The York Rite Masons Fraternity consisting of Batesville Royal Arch Chapter #9, Giblem Counsel #61, and Saint Elmo Commandry #13 of Batesville, Arkansas. He was past Commander of Saint Elmo #13. He was also a member of Bendemeer Grotto and Scimitar Shrine Temple and a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Little Rock, where he held a perpetual membership. He was honored as Knight Commander Court of Honor and coronated a 33° Sovereign Grand Inspector General Honorary. Brother Sheffield received the Scottish Rite Mason of the Year Award in 1992, 1999, 2001 and 2003. In 2004 Brother Sheffield was elected Grand Junior Deacon of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Arkansas. He was regularly advanced and installed Grand Master of Masons in Arkansas on February 2, 2007.

Preceding him in death were his parents and his brothers H. T. Sheffield and Dale Sheffield.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Dorothea Wyatt Sheffield, of Batesville; his daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Richard Painter of Madison, Mississippi; his sister, Bernice Sheffield Woods, of Santa Monica, California; and niece Nancy Baxter of Batesville; grandchildren, Brandie (Brad) Lieblong of Jonesboro, Elizabeth (Russell) Atkinson of Daphne, Alabama; and great-grandchildren, Emma Atkinson, Tyson Lieblong and Ally Atkinson.

Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 11, 2016, at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home in Batesville.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at Central Avenue United Methodist Church in Batesville with Pastor Paul Seay officiating. Burial will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery with Masonic Rites.

Honored to serve as pallbearers will be Russell Atkinson, Ken Jones, Brad Lieblong, Larry Meyer, Richard Painter, Rocky Willmuth, and Mark Wyatt.

Honorary pallbearers are Boyce Hill Sheffield, Jimmie Lynn Sheffield, Stephen Baxter, Bobby Wyatt, David Wyatt, Jackie Wyatt, Sam Wyatt, Dan Wyatt, Ben Owens, Sr., Dr. Ben E. Owens, Jr., Dr. Jim Lytle, Dr. Bill Beller, Spares and Pairs Sunday School Class of Central Avenue United Methodist Church, Donald Hedden, James Street, John Dobins, Hairl Anderson, Fairl Anderson, Leroy Anderson and Brothers of the Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arkansas.

Memorials may be made to the Central Avenue United Methodist Church, 1205 N. Central Avenue, Batesville, Arkansas and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, 904 Autumn Road, Suite 500, Little Rock, AR 72211.

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