Jack Arnold Obituary

Jack Austin Arnold was born on the back side of Old Joe Mountain on Sept. 14, 1941 to Griffin and Thelma Arnold.

He passed from this life on May 18, 2024.

He had two older brothers, Glenn and Dr. Carl (Norene), and two older sisters, Robbie May and Helen Fitzpatrick, as well as a stillborn baby sister Rebecca, all of whom preceded him in death.

On Dec. 26, 1962, he married Mary June Jeffery in Guion, Arkansas. After over 62 years of marriage, she still says he was the kindest, sweetest, and best man that ever lived. They have two sons, Dallas (Jann) and Jeffery (Phillippa). Their five grandchildren are Dr. Sarah Yelenich (Dylan) of Little Rock, Arkansas, Ashley Arnold Gabarina (Nev) of London, United Kingdom, Rachel Arnold of Little Rock, Arkansas, Dr. Leah Swanson (Matt) of Mountain Home, Arkansas, and Dr. Forrest Arnold (fiancé Amy Reed) of Springdale, Arkansas.

The real boss in the family is 2 year old great granddaughter Lilah Swanson who eagerly awaits her baby brother Jack, due in August.

He is survived by his wife and all of his children and grandchildren.

Jack spent 32 years teaching school, all the way from 8th grade science to University level science. After graduating high school from Mt. Pleasant, Arkansas, he earned a Bachelor's and Master's Degree, and worked one year on a PhD.

His greatest joy was in getting to develop a ceramics program at Mountain Home High School. Thus he spent the bulk of his career teaching hand building in clay. He developed a real passion for sculpting and soon started casting some of his works in bronze. He was juried into the country's largest outdoor sculpture show in Loveland, Colorado and also had his work exhibited in a gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His passion for painting matched his love of sculpture.

He was often teased about the many hobbies he worked at through the years, all of which he jumped into passionately. Among his favorites were restoring old cars and flint knapping.

A visitation will be on Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Roller Funeral Home.

A funeral will be on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Roller Funeral Home with Rev. Randy Ludwig officiating.