of Omaha, AR

March 8, 1938 - September 19, 2024

J.C. ''Jake'' Arnold, age 86, passed away on Thursday, September 19, 2024. The son of Robert Adali and Edna Agnus (Crosswhite) Arnold, Jake was born on March 8, 1938 in Lowry, Arkansas and was the second youngest son of the couple's 4 boys. Preceding Jake in death were his parents, his beloved wife, Sandra (Mamaw) Arnold and his two older brothers, Adam and Jim Arnold.

Jake graduated from Omaha High School in 1956 and was a heavy equipment operator for the Boone County Road Department for many years. On January 1, 1982, Jake married his better half and equal, Sandra Arnold. Jake was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church of Omaha, AR, was extremely active in the church, and served as a Christian beacon to those around him. Jake also took pride in serving his community and fellow citizens in various civic leadership roles in Boone County, AR.

Since the day he was born, Jake was an avid outdoorsman. As a young man, Jake loved deer hunting and the camaraderie and fellowship of going to deer camp during the fall and winter seasons. He also raised and trained English Setters to take with him to hunt for quail and pheasant in Kansas. He was so proud of those hunting dogs and names like: ''Ole Bob'', ''King'' and ''Lady'' were mentioned with reverence like they were family. Whether hunting deer in the Ozark Mountains or busting up coveys of quail in the Kansas prairie land, Jake reveled in those moments he shared with friends and family.

Later in life, Jake was given the loving moniker of ''Papaw'' by his grandkids and the fitting name stuck like glue. Papaw or Pap would soon trade the trips to deer camp for camping trips to the local lakes here in the Ozarks. He and Sandra would spend weeks at a time camping in the summer and fall with the grandchildren in tow. They would spend their days turning over rocks with the kids, chasing crawdads, or fishing for bass, crappie, and even perch that they could use as trotline bait to catch big catfish. Pap was renowned for his fish frying skills and it became a tradition that at the end of each camping trip, he and Sandra would invite their friends, loved ones, and the entire Arnold clan to a massive fish fry. He so looked forward to these gatherings as his big heart loved nothing more than listening to live music, feeding people, and engaging in fellowship with them.

In his later years, and after Sandra had passed, he was living and being cared for at the Springs of Mt. Vista Health and Rehabilitation Center in Harrison, AR. In true Jake Arnold fashion, he quickly made friends and became a favorite of the nurses for his kind heart and warm disposition. In his final days, the outpouring of love and affection from the nurses and staff, to the number of people who came to see him and say their goodbyes, spoke volumes about the indelible marks that he left in all of our lives.

It is impossible to sum up this man's life when the number of people whose lives he so enriched is almost innumerable. Any accolades or adulation that could be given to him seem woefully insufficient. Papaw still, has yet to ever meet a stranger. If you did not know and love this man, it was only because you had not met him yet.

Surviving Jake is his brother, Clyde Arnold of Ridgedale, Missouri; his daughter, Carolyn Arnold and her husband, Chuck Sheppard of Diamond City, Arkansas; his step-daughter, Dalelyn Gass of Branson, Missouri; his step-son, Ken Arnold of Omaha; his step-daughter, Julie Arroyo and her husband, Chris Arroyo and their two children, Ethan and Garrett Arroyo of Springfield, Missouri; his grandson, Travis Arnold and his wife, Kara Arnold and their two children, Merritt and Lochlan Arnold of Harrison.

The visitation was one hour before the service. The service was Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at New Hope Baptist Church, Omaha, Arkansas with Brother Gary Sloan officiating.

The interment was at Omaha Methodist Cemetery.

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