Fred B. Hyatt

Fred B. Hyatt, 92, of Pine Bluff died Wednesday, March 23, 2016. Born March 19, 1924 in Heard County, Georgia, the son of the late Henry Bryant and Clara Ethel Eley Hyatt, he grew up a sharecropper's son on a farm. He graduated from Centralhatchee High School in Heard County in 1941, attending West Georgia College (Carrolton, Georgia) from 1941 until being drafted into the US Army in April, 1943. He served in the US Army Medical Corps during WWII until April, 1946. He married Mary Helen Park in San Antonio, Texas on April 12, 1945 with whom, in his own words they "had a wonderful life" until her death April 5, 2006. He attended Trinity University (San Antonio), working days and attending nights and Saturdays, earning a BS in Biology in 1950. Moving to Pine Bluff soon after, he worked as a pharmaceutical representative for Wyeth Laboratories until retiring December 31, 1986. He was proud he never missed a day of work to illness in all his years traveling for Wyeth. Starting work as a volunteer with Boy Scouts of America in September, 1946, he continued his Scouting work until 2011, 64 years and eight months. Working with hundreds of 11 to 18 year old boys, 91 of his troop members became Eagle Scouts. He took scouts to seven National Jamborees and high adventure trips including Philmont Scout Ranch, Florida Sea Base, Minnesota Canoe Base, Colorado Packard High Adventure Base and hundreds of local campouts. He was scoutmaster for Troop 106 in Pine Bluff for 59 years. He hiked hundreds of miles with his troop at Pea Ridge, Shiloh and Philmont, also enjoying some horseback riding. A devoted member of First Baptist Church in Pine Bluff (which sponsored Troop 106) he joined a Baptist Church in Carrolton in 1942. He enjoyed woodworking, making many what he described as "trinkets, displays, bird houses and more". He and his wife enjoyed traveling over 110,000 miles in their motor home after his retirement. Survivors include his daughters, Kathy Pierce (Rick) of Pine Bluff and Cyndi Asher (Jeff) of Russellville, Arkansas; five grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and sister, Irma Shelnutt of Centralhatchee. Services are Saturday, March 26, at 3: p.m. at First Baptist Church with Reverend Ken Thornton and Mr. Jeff Asher officiating. Interment follows at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation is Friday, 5 to 7 p.m. at Ralph Robinson & Son. Memorials are requested to First Baptist Church, 6501 South Hazel, Pine Bluff, Ark. 71603 or Quapaw Area Council-BSA, 3220 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72202. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.