Johnny A. Gabbard

Johnny A. Gabbard of Springdale, Ark., went to be with his Lord on March 9, 2012. He was born to John and Mamie Lilly Gabbard on March 1, 1933, in Lincoln, Ark. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Nickell Gabbard of the home; and four children, Johnny Gabbard, Brenda Brown, Arnold and his wife, Sherry Gabbard, all of Springdale, Ark., and Jim Gabbard of Corvallis, Ore.; three sisters, Lorraine Hall of Gravette, Ark., Kay Terry of Stillwell, Okla., and Sadie and Joe Lubenow of Vancouver, Wash.; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Haley Gage; and one great-grandson, Samuel Sams. Johnny was a Christian and a member of The Eastside Missionary Baptist Church of Fayetteville. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served as a sergeant and tank commander in the Korean conflict. He worked construction his entire life as a machine operator and retired from the Washington County Road Department. Visitation and viewing will be held at Beard's Chapel in Fayetteville on Thursday, March 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 16, at 10 a.m. at Beard‘s Chapel, and will be officiated by Pastor James Goff. A graveside service will follow at Nickell Memorial Cemetery in Hazel Valley. Pallbearers will be Sonny Hall, Fred Nickell, Alisa Sams, Justin Burley, Josh Gabbard and Eric Burley. Following the graveside service, all family and friends are invited to a potluck lunch at Elkins First Baptist Church on Hwy. 16 in Elkins, for a time to celebrate Johnny's life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in the name of Johnny Gabbard to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR 72762; or to Nickell Memorial Cemetery, c/o Richard Nickell, 1912 Harris Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Online condolences: www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.