BILLIE JEAN WADDLE,

92, went to be with her Heavenly Father on December 7, 2020. She was born on April 15, 1928, in Chambersville, Ark., to the late Bill and Zula Thomason Watson. Jean loved people and greeted everyone with a smile. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. She was an active member of Little Rock First Church of the Nazarene for over forty years, serving as a preschool Sunday school teacher and choir member for many years. She worked with her husband of seventy-three years in their family business, Waddle Piano Company. Her sweetness and loving ways will be greatly missed by all.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Waddle; sons, Jimmy and Gary Waddle; grandson, Timothy Hoffman; brothers, Norman, Lamar and Kenneth Watson. Survivors include her daughter, Debbie (Dr. Steve) Bates; grandchildren, Lauren (Jonathan) Joyner, William Bates, Andrew Bates, Justin Waddle; and great-grandsons, Jesse Waddle and Timothy Hoffman Jr.; along with a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m., Saturday, December 12, 2020, at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home with Reverend Ken Stallings officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Hills Memorial Park. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, beginning at 12 p.m., at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Phil and Flo Jones Hospice House, 1148 East Matthews Avenue, Jonesboro, Ark., 72401.

Arrangements by Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, Ark., 72205. (501) 224-2200. Sign Billie Jean’s online guestbook at www.smithfamilycares.com