Obituaries

Rex Lanier Grimsley

Photo of Rex Lanier Grimsley
Rex Lanier Grimsley, of Bentonville, Ark., passed away on Aug. 31, 2016 in a plane crash at the Bentonville Municipal Airport. He was a committed husband, loving father and grandfather, and Christian. He will be greatly missed by his devoted family, Carolyn Boling Grimsley, his wife of 49 years; son, James Paul Grimsley of Bentonville and his fiancé, Heather Holland; daughter, Jill Grimsley Drewyor of Bentonville and her husband Pine Drewyor; also by his grandchildren, Harper Grimsley (19), a student at the University of Arkansas, Macy Grimsley (18), a student at Texas Christian University, and Margot Drewyor (10), Beatrix Drewyor (6), and James Truman Drewyor (4) of Bentonville. A cattle broker, avid quail hunter, and pilot, Grimsley was a lifelong resident of Vaughn, just west of Bentonville. He frequently made trips to Texas in his Beechcraft Bonanza to entertain family and friends on bird hunting trips. He spent the evening preceding his death with his family celebrating his grandson's birthday. He died the following morning piloting his aircraft after evading an incoming aircraft at the local airport. The older of two children, Grimsley was born in 1946 and raised in Vaughn. His parents, James Knox Grimsley and Wanda Lou Rodgers Grimsley, preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister, Ruthann Grimsley Strickland, and her husband Steve Strickland, of Little Rock. Grimsley graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Business degree in 1968, following which he taught distributive education classes in Pine Bluff and later at Bentonville High School. He later attended the U of A and obtained a Masters of Business Administration. He was an ardent Razorbacks fan. Grimsley was an entrepreneur at heart and owned several successful businesses throughout his career, including F&G Feed Store, where he was partners first with Bob Fuqua and later with George Huber, and Brookside Seed Company and Bentonville Lube ‘N Go, where he was also partners with Huber, and a prosperous cattle broker business. He was a shareholder and director at Grand Savings Bank. He was a longtime cattleman, he grew up on a dairy farm in Bentonville, and began running his own beef cattle in 1970. He maintained many interests in agriculture, primarily in the cattle market and was a fixture at several area cattle auctions. Grimsley raised commercial cattle, registered Charolais, and registered Brangus in the Bentonville area and also at Arkoma Land and Cattle Company in Delaware County, Okla. He was joined in the cattle operation by his son, Paul, who will continue to carry on the family tradition. Grimsley valued work ethic and was known for his entrepreneurship and love for deal making. He loved finance and greatly enjoyed his participation with First National Bank (formerly Citizens Bank) in Bentonville, and later with Grand Savings Bank. His keen mind, quick wit and love of fun made him good company. He was a well-known prankster. Grimsley was a friend to many and enjoyed entertaining family and friends at his Rooster Ridge hunting lodge and had a great affection for his hunting dogs and household pets. He adored his grandchildren. He was a longstanding church member at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He will be fondly remembered and missed dearly. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Rogers. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7, also at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Life Ranch, 160 New Life Ranch Dr. Colcord, Okla. 74338, www.newliferanch.com. Grimsley was a supporter of the mission of NLR. Arrangements are by Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Bentonville. Online condolences may be made at www.callisonlough.com.

Published September 4, 2016

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