NEWPORT — It is with great sadness that the family of David Lee Gregory

announced his passing at the age of 76 on Monday, June 12, 2023.

David was born April 13, 1947, in Jonesboro, Ark., the son of Robert J. and Erna Lee Jones Gregory. David’s family moved to Newport in 1950, where he had a newspaper route and where he learned from his father the trade that would be his life’s work until the Covid Pandemic hit and forced him into retirement.

David graduated from Newport High School, Class of 1965. He loved his class members and enjoyed helping plan class reunions and participating in them. He attended every one of the reunions, and they had a lot!

He attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro after high school. On June 21, 1966, he married Phyllis Jeanne Whitlock of Tuckerman. Together they shared 56 years together as husband and wife, and brought two precious little boys into the world.

Christianity, church membership, and service to others was a theme that ran throughout David’s life.

David was ordained as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Newport, Ark., and served many years as Sunday School Secretary and Children’s Church teacher in Newport as well.

After leaving Newport, David and Phyllis moved to Beebe to be closer to their children. First Baptist Church of Beebe, Ark., became their new church home. David was just as involved in church activities there as he was in Newport. He was part of a wonderful men’s Sunday School class, a weekly prayer group, and was part of the cooking team for church outings and mission events.

David was very active in the Lions Club, both locally and on the state and national levels. He served as District Governor twice, in 1983-84 and again in 1988-89. During these years, he represented Arkansas at the International Lions Club Conventions in Honolulu, Hawaii, and San Francisco, Calif. Locally, he served in all club offices at one time or another during over 40 years of membership. David received many awards and honors during his 40 years, including the Melvin Jones Fellow Award.

Other organizations David enjoyed being a part of were the New Vision Program, Economic Development Commission, Delta Arts Festival, Depot Days, and every other group that supported and worked to improve Newport. He loved Newport!!! He was honored and humbled to receive the Newport Outstanding Citizen of the Year award in 2019.

David loved watching the St. Louis Cardinals, the Arkansas State Red Wolves, the Arkansas Razorbacks, and of course, the Newport Greyhounds.

Until his retirement, David owned and operated his own business, David’s Installations. He followed in his father’s footsteps and ran his floor-covering business for over fifty years.

David was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Robert C. Gregory, and Ernie L. Gregory; a sister, Susan Gregory Dunham; and a precious grandson, Camden Reece Gregory.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Whitlock Gregory; two sons, Chad Gregory and wife, Carmen of England, and Ryan Gregory and wife, Kelli of Beebe; four grandchildren, Conner Gregory and Carson Gregory of England, Gracie Gregory and Owen Gregory of Beebe; two brothers, Thomas and James Gregory of Newport. His daughters-in-law, Carmen and Kelli, were especially precious to him.

He loved the Lord and his two church families, First Baptist Newport and First Baptist Beebe.

Funeral services are 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 14 at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home Chapel, with interment in Walnut Grove Cemetery.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Bobby Whitehead,

Richard Carraway, Tommy Allen, Jim Hardin, Eugene Zuber, David Stewart, and Jon Chadwell.

Honorary pallbearers are members of Bob Wells Sunday School Class, at First Baptist Church of Beebe, Members of the Newport Lions Club, Carmen and Kelli Gregory, and Conner, Carson, Gracie, and Owen Gregory.

Arrangements by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home. www.jacksonsfh.com.