Eugenia Faye Tumey Geisler

Eugenia Faye Tumey Geisler (Nannie) was born to Isaac and Ethel Tumey on May 7, 1930 in Lake Village, Ark. Faye was the first child, followed by a sister Florence who died at birth, and then her brother, Robert. Her parents divorced when she was a young child and Ethel remarried her late sister's husband, Richard Hardwick. The new family brought in step-sister, Mary Anna and step-brother, Harry. Later, half-sister, Nancy and half-brothers, Dick and Mack would complete the family. The family settled in the country four 1/2 miles southeast of DeValls Bluff. Faye first attended the Idlewild School and later DeValls Bluff School. She worshiped in a one room little church that her step-father helped build in the Peppers Lake community about a mile from their house. Richard was very involved with the church and was the foundation to Faye's love of church and God. Faye was blessed with a large and loving family. She met the love of her life, Carl Geisler, when she was 18. Carl was the brother of her friend, Virginia. At the request of Faye, Virginia set the two up on a date, and there started a love story spanning more than 60 years. Carl and Faye were married on Aug. 27, 1949 at the Methodist Church in DeValls Bluff. They started their life together down on Wingmead Farms in a two story house all alone. They weren't alone for long though. The couple was blessed with seven children over the next seven 1/2 years including two sets of twins. In 1956, with five of the seven kids (Dennie, Bubba, Ronnie, Donnie, and Sissy), the family moved to Brinkley. Linda and Brenda came shortly after the move. Anyone who had the privilege to know Faye, knew that she was an extraordinary women. Her biggest loves were God, family, friends, her church, yard work, and cooking. Faye sought to instill in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren a passion for life, a commitment to family and friends, and most importantly a love for Jesus. She woke up when the sun came up every day to take care of her yard and pool. When asked what her favorite hobby was, she stated "Work. I enjoy myself most when I'm working whether it is house work, yard work, or church work. Work is a lot of my life." She put in countless hours of volunteer work for various community and church organizations including volunteering her time at the voting poles and acting as a substitute teacher with Brinkley Public Schools. She was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church of Brinkley and the United Methodist Women's group. Throughout the years, she has been a Sunday school teacher for all age groups but was currently teaching the adults class. She has served on the church council and has been a lay member to the Annual Conference. She was the president of the local unit of UMW several times. For the last 12 years she has also served the UMW at the Forrest City and Southeast district levels in various capacities including president. For the last eight years she has served at the conference level. Other community organizations she devoted time to included Gli Amica, B & PW, Master Gardeners, and AR Federated Women. She also chaired the local cancer drive for several years. She was a true servant to God and people. Faye also enjoyed sewing. When the children were little, she handmade all of their clothes. When the grand kids and great-grand kids arrived they knew a missing button or pants that needed hemming meant a trip to Nannie's. While the younger generation waited on the clothes to be fixed, they would enjoy listening to all the stories of Nannie's upbringing. Faye loved people. When she took breaks from her "work" she enjoyed sitting around the kitchen table with coffee in hand or around the fire place with Fox News on in the background just visiting with family and friends. Most of the time visits included meals. Faye would rarely let someone leave without fixing them a "quick" bite to eat. Of course, this usually meant a full dinner. She was known all over town for her chicken and dumplings. She could have probably set a world record for how fast she could peel a potato when making fried tatos. No matter who you were, there was always a seat at the table open. Faye's friends and family meant the world to her, and she meant the world to them. God promises us something better than this world though. On July 14, 2017, God called Faye home after a two-week hospital stay following a car accident. She leaves a deep hole in so many hearts, but comfort can be found knowing we can see her again in Heaven. May we remember the kindness, thoughtfulness, helpfulness, and Godliness that was Faye, and may we each strive to be a little more like her each day. Her signature gift of joy, shown through her constant smiling, laughter, and joking around, will never be forgotten. Life brings tears, smiles, and memories. The tears dry. The smiles fade. The memories live on forever. Faye is survived by her children: Dennie Geisler and wife Jacque, Bubba Geisler and wife Terry, Ronnie Geisler, Donnie Geisler and wife Diana, Sissy Fuller, Brenda Lisko, and Linda Rieke and husband Danny; her siblings: Harry Hardwick, Mary Anna Hastings, Dick Hardwick and wife Marilyn, Mack Hardwick and wife Brenda, Nancy Terhune and husband Butch; Carl's sisters, Virginia Byrd and husband Derward, Wanda Fischer and husband Olin, and Shirley Bennett and husband Keith; 15 grandchildren; and 15 ½ great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Isaac Tumey, and Richard and Ethel Hardwick; infant sister, Florence Tumey; brother, Robert Tumey; husband, Carl Geisler; and grandson, Caleb Geisler. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Brinkley United Methodist Church. Beyond financial donations, Faye always lived by the Golden Rule:Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Do a loving act of kindness, make someone laugh, send a card, give a hug, or say "I love you" to your special friend in her memory. The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 16 at the Brinkley First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall from 6-8 p.m. A funeral service celebrating her life will be held at the Brinkley First United Methodist Church on Monday, July 17 at 10 a.m. Graveside Service will be immediately following. Reverend Mike Smith and Reverend Robert Hunt will officiate the service. The family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support. Her life was a living example of Ephesians 4:32, "And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ." Funeral arrangement by Bob Neal & Sons Funeral Home – Brinkley. You can sign the online guestbook at: www.bobnealandsons.com.