NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Garland Clark

May passed peacefully from this life to the next Aug. 1, 2020, in Springdale, Ark. He was born March 6, 1926, in Okolona, Ark., to Leland and Daisy May.

He lived most of his life in North Little Rock, Ark.

He was a hard worker. He found great joy in providing for his family. He worked most of his life at May Construction Company in Little Rock, Ark. He was tough as nails, so much so, his nickname was “Rock.”

In his early years he worked a lot of jobs out west to make a living. He did everything from cutting lumber in northern California to working in the mines, to loading iceberg lettuce in railroad cars. He told great stories from those days. He loved bullfrog hunting and deer hunting. He had a green thumb and loved growing tomatoes and working in his garden. He was the world’s best PaPa. He gave great wheelbarrow rides.

He had a simple, honest love for his family. He adored his “sugar,” Faye, his bride of 63 years, and he especially loved her cornbread. He would melt when the great-grandchildren were around. He was proud of them all and they brought him great joy, even until the end of his days.

He also served in the Navy and was one of the handful of men who watched the thermonuclear bombs testing from a Navy ship near the Marshall Islands. He appreciated the simple things of life, like family and a good glass of tea or buttermilk and always looked forward to Thanksgiving every year around his table.

He became a serious Jesus follower in the last four years of his life. He understood the word “grace” and talked openly about the Love of God. His favorite hymn was “Precious Memories.”

He was preceded in death by his father Leland May and mother Daisy May.

He is survived by wife Faye; daughter Pam Hall and husband Jim; grandchildren Ben Hall and wife Amy, Jordan Ross and husband Nick, Julie Schwilling and husband Chris; great-grandchildren Aowyn, Simon and Henry Hall, Miles Ross, Ruby Schwilling; and sister Margaret Fewell.

A private family graveside service will be held at Rest Hills Memorial Park, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Ark., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, at noon. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to St. Jude Childrens Hospital in Memphis or New Heights Church in Fayetteville, Ark. To share a memory of Mr. May with his family visit www.griffinleggettresthills.com .