Obituaries

Samuel 'Bo' Elison

Photo of Samuel  'Bo'  Elison
Samuel "Bo" Elison, 70, of Fayetteville, Ark., died Aug. 30, 2012, at Washington Regional Medical Center of heart complications. Bo was born June 16, 1942, in Elko, Nev., to Samuel F. Elison, a gold miner, and Lorene Stu Elison, a homemaker. He grew up in Oakley, Idaho, helping the family with ranch chores, riding his horse named Sunday, and learning to play baseball and basketball. The family moved to Burley, Idaho, where he played ball and completed high school. After attending Snow College in Utah he was a left-handed pitcher in the minor leagues in the Cub Organization as well as the Houston Colt 45's. He rode bulls and exercised race horses in the off-season. Due to a rotator cuff injury he left baseball and made a career selling sporting goods equipment and assisting companies in developing and marketing their products. He made many friends in the sports field and in business. He was known for telling a good joke and extending his hand in friendship. He rose from salesman to vice president of sales and marketing. He formed Elison Sales and Marketing Company. While calling on Walmart he liked Northwest Arkansas enough to make it his permanent home. He was an avid golfer, bowler, and fisherman. He retired in 2002 after a heart attack and stroke. He traveled the length and depth of the United States and Europe on business. The last 10 years he RV'd across the United States and Canada, seeing the beautiful and interesting sites missed while working. He has spent time at the hobby of tooling leather and making wooden buildings and frames as a hobby. He was preceded in death by his mother and father and his daughter, Lori Lee. He is survived by his son, Shane Elison Atkinson of New Hall, Calif., and Shane's two sons, Cole and Trevor; his son, Cory Elison of Little Rock, Ark.; Cory's son, Torrey Elison, of Bull Shoals, Ark.; Cory's daughter, Lindsay Leach. His brother is Jeffrey B. Elison of Santo, Texas, and his two half brothers are Vernon Elison and Tad Elison of Idaho. Bo also leaves his loving companion of 18 years, Nadine Chesnault, who has been by his side to the end. Thanks are extended to family from the Washington Regional Center for Exercise and Sam and Elizabeth Weathers who helped during his last illness. After cremation by Epting Funeral Home of Fayetteville, the urn will be buried in his mother's family plot at Antelope Valley Cemetery in Oshkosh, Neb. A committal prayer for the family will be held at that time. Condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com.

Published September 2, 2012

Upcoming Events