of Mountain Home, AR

July 20, 1960 - June 30, 2024

Glenda Diane Small, 63, of Mountain Home, Arkansas passed away on June 30th, 2024 after a long, hard battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family at her home.

Glenda, the daughter of Billy Joe Kankey and the late Murrell Killian Kankey, was born on July 20, 1960 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Glenda grew up in Pineville, Arkansas where she attended school and went on to graduate from Calico Rock High School in 1978. After graduating from the University of Arkansas, she began a career in education where she would spend 29 years of her life devoting herself to ''her kids''. Even though she retired professionally, she continued her teaching career through photography by capturing numerous northern Arkansas sporting or special events. She was Mountain Home Educator of the Year in 2014, was inducted as a member of the 2018 Hall of Honor and was set to be inducted into the MHHS Athletic Hall of Fame in Fall 2024. She was a proud member of the First Baptist Church in Mountain Home.

In 1984, Glenda moved to Mountain Home to begin her first year as a teacher. She met a handsome young man through mutual friends and on October 25th, 1986, she married the love of her life, Terry Allen Small. They enjoyed 37 years together. Glenda was a devoted and loving wife, a proud and supportive mother and a great friend to many, but above all things, she was the proudest, most adoring and encouraging Nana on this earth. She always had a sweet smile when you saw her, which was usually followed by a hug with some type of encouraging words. She will be missed more than words can say but will live in our hearts and memories forever.

Glenda is survived by her husband, Terry of the home; one daughter, Julie Gonten (Philip); father, Bill Kankey; brother, Joe Kankey (Fran); her twin sister, Brenda (Wes) Nichols; three brothers-in-law, David Small (Tammy); Doug Small (Jami) and Mike Small; one grandchild, Jade Brooklyn Small and two step-grandchildren, Kennedy Gonten and Lincoln Gonten. She had several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews whom she loved dearly. She is also survived by a host of other relatives and many good friends.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Murrell Kankey; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Melvin and Patsy Small and her niece, Laiken Small.

Visitation will be on Friday, July 5th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Mountain Home.
Funeral services will be on Saturday, July 6th at 2:00 pm, at First Baptist Church in Mountain Home with Pastor Tad Rogers officiating. Burial will be at Hand Cemetery in Jordan, Arkansas.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that a donation be made to the Glenda Small Memorial Fund at Anstaff Bank for the benefit of young people throughout northern Arkansas.
Pallbearers: Ryan Small, Dustin Small, Daxtyn Small, Connor Nichols, Jared Nichols and Coach Bill Hughes

Obituary Provided By:
Roller Funeral Home
Highway 5 North
Mountain Home, AR  72654
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com