Bucky Morse

Bucky Morse, age 87, of Farmington, Arkansas passed away April 22, 2021, in Farmington. He was born April 27, 1933, in Dacoma, Oklahoma, to Ivan and Violet Morse.

The eldest of three ch i ldren , he grew up helping his family eke a living out of the sandy Oklahoma soil. While attending college, he met Martha Louise McCully, and they married in 1953. In 1956, he enlisted in the U.S. Army with the rank of Sergeant, due to his service in the National Guard. During his enlistment he served as a drill sergeant, staff sergeant, and chaplain’s assistant. His last posting was in Alaska and, when he left the Army, he remained there and returned to teaching. In 1965, due to his father’s declining health, he brought his young family back to Oklahoma. Louise obtained her teaching certificate, and in 1968 they moved to Arkansas, settling in the Cove Creek area near Prairie Grove. Over the next 30 years, he and Louise taught multiple generations of elementary students in Prairie Grove and Farmington. He retired from Farmington as an assistant principal in 1996. In 1999, Louise died of cancer soon after retiring. In 2000, he married Nancy Darlene Leslie. Bucky was a member of Prairie Grove Christian Church.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Morse; sons, Wayne Morse of Farmington, Kevin Morse of Conway, Leslie Morse and wife Margee of Fayetteville, Allen Leslie of Farmington, Tony Leslie and wife Rhonda of Springdale and Mike Leslie and wife Tina of Goshen; daughters, Debra Roberts of Springdale and Debbie Rictor and husband Loren of Springdale; sister, Bonnie Harris of Tacoma, Wash.; grandchildren, Patrick Morse, Elandra Morse, Eric Totten, Mindy Totten, Aaron Leslie, Tyra Leslie, Steve Leslie, Rocky Leslie, Shawn Gautier, Randy Leslie, Rick Leslie, Andrea Poplin and David Poplin; and numerous great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was held April 29, 2021, at Moore’s Chapel, with burial following in Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville.

To place an online tribute, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com.

Morse