of Clarksville, AR

April 19, 1931 - September 24, 2023

Laura Belle Soard died peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, leaving her temporary residence of Clarksville, AR, for a transformed life full of gospel singing in heaven. She was 92.

Laura was born on April 19, 1931 in Clarksville, where she grew up, married, worked, raised her family and served her community. She was a longtime member of East Mount Zion Trinity Baptist Church and later, Second Baptist Church of Clarksville.

In addition to her passion for gospel music, she was known for her sense of humor, her green thumb and her love for crafting. She used her seamstress skills to make porcelain dolls as well as hand puppets that she used in performances for children at various churches.

While raising her three daughters, Laura worked a variety of jobs in the Clarksville area, including as a teller at the savings and loan and as a secretary at the fruit substation of the University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Laura was preceded in death by her husband, Oran (Junior) King Soard; her parents, Albert and Thyra (King) Sexton; two brothers, Lee Jack Sexton and Richard Sexton; a sister, Dorothy Sexton Minor and one grandson, Jimmy Ward.

She is survived by her daughters, Diana Ward of Houston, Judy (and Jim) Minks of Clarksville, AR and Audrey (and Stephen) Caldwell of Fayetteville, AR; her sister, Carolyn (and Roy) Johnson of Maumelle, AR; seven grandchildren, Dustin Hurst of Coal Hill, AR, Tosha Auterson of Coal Hill, AR, Kayln Pugh of Greenwood, AR, Dawn Ward of Houston, Jackie West of Fort Smith, AR, Josh Roy of Malvern, AR and Amanda Horton of Phelan, CA; as well as 17 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Laura spent her last few years at Johnson County Health and Rehab and the family would like to express its thanks for the caregivers there.

Brother Tom Dicus will officiate a funeral service at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28th at the Second Baptist Church of Clarksville. The burial will be at Stillwell Cemetery with Bryce Horton, Josh Roy, Austin Travis, Dustin Hurst, Connor Hurst and Carson Hurst serving as pallbearers.

Services are under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home. Online obituary at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/clarksville

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