Jerry Thomas Beggs

Jerry Thomas Beggs, 67, of Bryant lost his long, courageous battle with pulmonary disease on Friday, Feb. 8, 2008. He was surrounded by his loving family at the Arkansas Heart Hospital. He was born Jan. 17, 1941, in Clarksville, Texas. His father, V. B. Beggs, preceded him in death. Mr. Beggs was a Baptist, a Mason, and a past member of AAEA, AASA and AOPA.

Graduating from New Deal High School in Texas, Jerry attended North Texas State on a football scholarship. He earned his B.S.E. at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, his M.S.E. at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia and his Education Specialist at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. Prior to retiring in 1991, Jerry was an educator who served as principal and superintendent in Florida, Nevada, and multiple Arkansas school districts.

He is survived by his loving wife, Wanda Humphries Beggs of Bryant; mother, Sarah Elizabeth Beggs of Hope; daughter, Anna Elizabeth "Missy" Bell of Arkadelphia; son, Tommy Beggs of Austin, Texas; brother, Charles R. Beggs and wife, Melinda, of Sherwood; sister, Karen Massey of Hope; three grandchildren, Christopher and Kayla Beggs of Lee's Summit, Mo., and Anna Lee Bell of Arkadelphia, Ark. Jerry was loved and cherished by many other family members and friends.

Jerry, an aviator, owned and piloted his own planes, including his favorite Beechcraft Duke. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling worldwide with his children and grandchildren to such destinations as Hawaii, Jamaica, Alaska, Mexico, Europe and the Caribbean.

Funeral services were Monday, Feb. 11, 2008, at Ashby Funeral Home with burial at Pinecrest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in his name to the Arkansas Lung Association, 211 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205.