O.J. Sharp
Rev. O.J. Sharp, 87, of Hot Springs, Ark., left this world to be welcomed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sept. 28, 2021. He was born Nov. 30, 1933, in Garland County, Ark., at Possum Kingdom.
O.J. was an active member of Harvey’s Chapel Baptist Church, where he worked in the food pantry sharing God’s love. O.J. lived and loved life hard. He was a dedicated, furiously loyal and loving Christian husband to Betty Mearline. Always sweet and thoughtful. He held her hand, opened doors, waited on her and reached for anything taller than her.
O.J. was a devoted man of God, serving many churches in the Hot Springs area, including Memorial, Vista Heights, Mountain Pine, and Refuge Baptist at Story from 1974-1996.
He started his teaching career at Cutter Morning Star (two years) and transferred to Mountain Pine Elementary (25 years).
O.J. combined his love of the outdoors as a Corps of Engineers Blakely Dam Ranger (14 years). He was a skilled people person and never met a stranger.
O.J. (Papaw) loved his children and grandchildren with a great capacity of pride, taught them to rely on God not man, and taught by example a great work ethic to provide for his family. He grew a beautiful garden that was enjoyed by family and friends.
O.J. would have absolutely loved to live outdoors. He loved God’s world. He was a skilled sportsman, hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed camping and riding his tractor. O.J. was a skilled horseman and farrier, having worked at a dude ranch with his brother O’dell. He loved his cows, pigs, geese, and the turkey in the barn to practice his turkey calls. He especially loved his horses. They would follow him around the field and nudge him to be petted.
He was preceded into Heaven by his father and mother, Andrew and Eva Murders Sharp; the love of his life, his wife of 62 years, Betty M. (Kemp) Sharp; grandson, Jamie Allen Sharp; brother and sister-in-law, William O’dell and Mattie Stillwell Sharp; sister, Ruby Sharp; brother-in-law, Charles; and sister, Martha Vernice Hartoon.
Survivors include his children and spouses, Charles Wayne and Sharon (Moscona) Sharp, of Camden, Andrea and Eddie Williams, of Fayetteville, and Brian D. and Lisa Scott Sharp, of Hot Springs; grandchildren and their spouses, Sonya and J.J. Plyler, of Bearden, Jessica and Jacob Blevins, of Spokane, Wash., Lucas and Candice Simmons, of Fayetteville, Priscilla and Hugh Lumpkin, of Rogers, Rebekah and Mark Jacinto, of Tampa, Fla., Jared Cano, of Springdale, Colt and Lauren Sharp, of Buckville, and Cheyenna and Joey Herd, of Branson, Mo.; fourteen great-grandchildren, Joshalynne Walters, Landon, Addyson, Kinley, and Gage Plyler, Lillian Blevins, Jack and Leighton Simmons, Dallas, Lily and Tyler Hoffman, Ellie and Emma Sharp, and Caden Herd; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers include Lucas Simmons, Jared Cano, Colt Sharp, Roger Sharp, Ronnie Kemp and Larry Vincent.
Honorary pallbearers are Wes Mcconnel, Virdell Buttrum, Roger Tolleson, Dale Kemp, Allen Kemp and Jim Kemp.
The family would like to thank Trinity Home Health Nurses, Delly Edds and Patsy Lewis, Lake Hamilton Nursing Home Nurse, Paulina, the CHI ER Nurses, Randy and Mike, and Dr. Bethany Ruby for the exceptional way they took time and care of Dad, treating him as a person.
Special thanks to Arkansas Hospice Nurse, Jessica, for loving your job to make others’ lives easier during the worst moments of life, losing a loved one.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Harvey’s Chapel Food Pantry.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, at Caruth-hale Funeral Home.
A celebration of his life will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Harvey’s Chapel Baptist Church with Brother Jimmie Scott and Brother Buddy Leamons officiating.
Burial will follow at Rock Springs Cemetery in Jessieville.
Online condolences at https:// www.caruth-hale.com.