Tommie Frank Gadberry

Tommie Frank Gadberry, born Nov. 12, 1934 in North Little Rock, Ark. was the son of Ansel Gadberry and Reba Hoggard Gadberry, died Nov. 29, 2013. He graduated from El Dorado High School in 1953 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy that same year. He served on the USS Orleck as a sonar mine detector until his honorable discharge in 1957 at which time he enrolled at Louisiana Tech University in Civil Engineering. Upon graduation in 1962 accepted his first job in the Panama Canal Zone where he worked for IAGS surveying all over Central and South America. In 1965, he returned to Louisiana Tech University and received a master's degree in Civil Engineering. After graduation he worked for Central Excavation Company in Lafayette, Louisiana. After a short time there he moved to Falls Church, Va. where he worked for a department of the CIA. From there he moved to Ogden, Utah where he started his career with the U.S. Forest Service. In 1980, he transferred to the Bureau of Land Management which took him to Yuma, Ariz. and Denver, Colo. until 1983. From there he transferred to the National Park Service which gave him the opportunity to work in Boise, Idaho, Mt. Rainier National Park, Wash. and Denali National Park, Alaska. He retired in 1988 after supervising construction of Denali National Park. Since his retirement he stayed active in a commercial fishing venture in Alaska, owning, cooking and running a seafood restaurant in Hot Springs, Ark., owning and running two (2) golf courses, one in Hot Springs, Ark. and one in Greenbrier, Ark. He was most proud of his organizing and establishing the geo-metronics center for the Forest Service in Salt Lake City, Utah which produce quadrangle maps for the western time zone and his work at Denali National Park. Over the years of his travels and experiences he has eaten monkey, snake and piranha while leading a survey team across the jungles of South America; and owned a remote cabin on Horse Island off the coast of Juneau, Alaska. He was an avid golfer, a master at blackjack and could play any string instrument including: guitar, bass guitar, steel guitar, banjo, mandolin and piano. Up until his death he played with a musical group which enlightened audiences in rural Faulkner County. He is survived by his long time "significant other" and companion, Anna Jordan; his two children, Foy B. Gadberry and Terrianne Gadberry Kimmerlin; and four grandchildren. He enjoyed life and meeting people all over North, Central and South America but most of all he enjoyed being with family and friends. He will be missed by all whom had the pleasure of knowing him. Visitation will be 6–8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 2, 2013, at Griffin Leggett Funeral Home. Funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3, in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Conway, 1751 Dave Ward Drive, Conway, Ark. 72034. Burial will follow in Heffington Cemetery at Enola. Please send the family your messages of love, comfort and support to his online guest registry at www.griffinleggettconway.com. Memorials may be made to Marbury Alumni Center, Louisiana Tech University, P.O. Box 3183, Ruston, La. 71272-3183.