Pansy Gastineau

Pansy Pearl Gastineau, Springdale, Arkansas, was born on April 18, 1935 in Bear Hollow, Missouri to Johnnie Wesley and Edna Jewel (Petty) Bolain. She died on June 12, 2020 at NWMC Bentonville, Arkansas at the age of 85 from COVID-19. Celebration of life memorial services will be held at a later date under direction of Sisco Funeral Home of Pea Ridge, Arkansas. The Bolains operated a grocery and station near the Arkansas/Missouri line until they moved to Wichita, Kansas. Pansy married Allan Franklin Gastineau in March 1953 and they had a daughter Brenda Kaye in December 1953. Later they moved to Tulsa and were blessed with another daughter Glenda Faye (Gwen) in September 1955. After moving to Pea Ridge, Arkansas the union produced a son Jimmie Wayne in December 1969. In Wichita Pansy was a meat wrapper at Teaton's IGA. When they moved to Pea Ridge, Arkansas in 1963, Pansy opened and operated the old Taylor's Café down town. A few years later she went to work as a press operator at Daisy Manufacturing in Rogers. Through the years she worked two or three jobs at the same time to make ends meet, working as a waitress at the Elks Lodge and Rogers Truck Stop. Pansy enjoyed doing seasonal work at the Pea Ridge canning factory. She and Allan also operated a hog farm and ran cattle. They participated in the activities of the Pea Ridge Riding Club. August 6, 1973 Allan died at the age of 40 leaving Pansy a widow at the age of 38. In December that same year she met William E. (Bill) Meuser and they were together for almost 47 years, until he died on June 9, 2020. Pansy eventually stopped working at Daisy Manufacturing and she and Bill worked together in the bulldozer parts business Meuser Material and Equipment in Springdale, Arkansas. Pansy was the organizer and founder of Beta Alpha Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority in Pea Ridge. She was a Life Active Member of E.S.A., having held all chapter offices and Arkansas State Offices within the organization. She was a certified Bob Ross and Dorothy Dent oil painting instructor and taught out of her studio in Springdale. She also served several years as Chairman of the Salvation Army Doll Project and hosted the annual Doll Tea in Fayetteville. She gathered food and clothing for those less fortunate her entire life. She took pride in helping other people improve their lives. At the age of 83 Pansy embroidered a wall hanging for her new Great Grandson Benny's room. Pansy enjoyed playing slot machines and rarely passed up a chance to go to the casino. Pansy is survived by daughters Brenda Williams and husband Dennis of Weatherford, Oklahoma; Glenda (Gwen) Edmundson and husband Robert of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; son Jimmie Wayne Gastineau and wife Joanna of Rogers, Arkansas; Bill's daughter Cinda Freitas of Fayetteville, Arkansas and her daughter by choice, Pat Clayton of Anderson, Missouri. Also surviving are grandchildren Erick Wilkerson and wife Vanessa of Canon City, Colorado; Kennda Miller of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Blake Allan Gastineau and wife Becca of Rogers, Arkansas; Hayley Gastineau of Rogers, Arkansas; Kelly Pyle and husband Chad of Van Buren, Arkansas; Jason Edmundson of Fort Smith, Arkansas; Chris Zander and Laurin Dragomire both of San Diego, California. Great-grandchildren, Emma and Benicio Gastineau of Rogers, Arkansas; Olivia Wilkerson of Canon City, Colorado; Ethan Pyle of Fort Smith, Arkansas; Daniel Wilkerson of Tomball, Texas; Jonathon Ray Wilkerson of Oklahoma; Chase, Austin and Blake Sizemore of Canon City, Colorado. Great-great-grandchildren, Ava Pride Wilkerson of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; Shawn Xavier and Paizlee Rae Wilkerson of Claremore, Oklahoma; Wyatt Lonestar and Teegan Wildflower Wilkerson of Tomball, Texas. She is survived by sisters-in-law Eleanor Bolain and Diane Bolain of Wichita, Kansas; Beaulah Prophet and Robbie Gastineau of Pea Ridge, Arkansas and Bill's sister Deloris Magers of Paxton, Illinois. Pansy was preceded in death by William E. (Bill) Meuser of the home, her parents Johnnie and Edna Bolain, husband Allan Franklin Gastineau, brothers Jim Bolain, Ralph Bolain, Herb Bolain, Eddie Bolain, Donnie Bolain and sister Sharon Kay Bolain Evans. Brothers in law Wayne Laughlin, Avaon Gastineau, Jim Meuser, Elmer Magers; sisters-in-laws Nedra Bolain, Florence Ella Bolain, Francene Belcher; son-in-law Christopher Freitas and Bill's daughter Linda Elderton. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Food Bank at The Ridge Church, 836 N Curtis Ave, Pea Ridge, Ark. 72751.