Obituaries

Jeannene R. Peoples

Photo of Jeannene R. Peoples
Graveside services for Jeannene R. Peoples will be Monday, April 2 at 11 a.m. at Fort Smith National Cemetery followed by a celebration of her life in the narthex at First United Methodist Church, 200 North 15th Street in Fort Smith. Jeannene died Monday, March 26 at the age of 78. Arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, Ark. Viewing will be Sunday, April 1, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Edwards Funeral Home. She was born July 18, 1933 in Lincoln, Arkansas. Her parents were Naomi and Paul Rapier. She graduated from Van Buren High School in 1951 and was proud to be a member of the 1951 Arkansas state champion basketball team. She held various full- and part-time jobs throughout her life, including management of the family's dry cleaning business. Far and away, however, her primary occupation was that of loving wife, mother, and homemaker. Jeannene and her husband, Sam, raised four children while traveling throughout the United States and Europe attendant to Sam's military career. After retiring from the military, Sam and Jeannene lived in Springdale for about eight years and then moved to Forrest City where they resided for the last 35 years of their lives. Jeannene was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Forrest City, and also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging. Jeannene is preceded in death by her husband of almost sixty years, Samuel M. Peoples, her parents, Naomi and Paul Rapier, and her sister Nadine Higgins. She is survived by her sister, Paula Williams (Bill) of Van Buren; her brother, Dan Rapier (Joyce) of Van Buren; her Aunts, Peggy Baber (Jim) of Bella Vista and Robbie Toothaker (Jack) of Van Buren; four children, Tonia Jones (David) of Little Rock, Greg Peoples (Georgia) of Springdale, Mark Peoples of Little Rock, and Tim Peoples (Josephine) of Austin, Texas; seven grandsons, Dylan Jones (Laura) of Little Rock, Matt Peoples of Austin, Texas, Tyler Jones of Little Rock, Jake Peoples of Austin, Texas, Luke Peoples of Austin, Texas, Drew Parker (Bethanny) of Conway, and Samuel Peoples II of Sherwood; and one great-granddaughter, Lily Jones of Little Rock. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Forrest City. To place online tributes visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.

Published March 30, 2012

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