Gregory Brian Standridge

The Honorable Gregory B. Standridge, 50, of Russellville, an Arkansas State Senator, loving husband and father, passed peacefully and surrounded by his family and loved ones on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, at the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 26 years, Karen Standridge and their children, Hunter, Lakin, Cameron and Breonna Standridge, all of Russellville; his mother, Jewel Simcox (Harry) of Russellville; a sister, Jeania Evans (Jerry) of Russellville; a step-sister, Angie Anderson (Ronald) of Springdale, and her children, Whitney Bullington (Jonathan) of Springdale, and Laura Beth Brogdon (Jeremy) of Greenbrier; and numerous other family members and friends. The son of the late Marvin J. Standridge and Jewel Simcox, Greg was born May 6, 1967, in Russellville, and was a 1985 graduate of Russellville High School and attended Arkansas Tech University. He and Karen Flegal were married on July 6, 1991, at Altus. He was a long time member of First Baptist Church in Russellville, where he served as head of the security team. He was an avid lover of the game of golf, and enjoyed spelunking, camping, cooking, water sports, scuba diving, traveling and spending time with many family & friends. Greg was a licensed insurance agent and was a co-owner of CSI Insurance Agency in Russellville, founded in 2010. He was a past-president of both the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas (2012-13) and the Professional Insurance Agents of Arkansas (1998-99); the Pope County 911 Board, and the Russellville Football Booster Club. He had also served on the Workforce Investment Board, the Pope County Fair Board, the Arkansas Teen Challenge Women's Ministry Board, and as a constable in Pope County. Greg was active with the Pope County Emergency Services Rescue Unit and he became a volunteer fire fighter in September of 1989 with the Crow Mountain Fire Department and served as Chief of the Fire District from January 2012 until February 2015. Greg was elected to the Arkansas State Senate after winning a special election in 2015. He served as co-chairman of the Arkansas Rural Fire Departments Study Commission and during the 90th General Assembly, was a member of the Arkansas Senate Transportation, Technology and Legislative Affairs Committee. Additionally, he served on the Arkansas Senate City, County and Local Affairs Committee, Senate Children and Youth Committee, Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission Oversight Committee, Intermodal Transportation and Commerce Task Force, and the Economic and Tax Policy and Boys State Committees. Senator Standridge also recognized the importance of working with other legislators across the United States and served in the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the Council of State Governments (CSG) and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). He was a member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee (SLC), the Labor and Economic Development Standing Committee (NCSL), the Energy and Environmental Public Policy Task Force (CSG) and the Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force of ALEC. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m., on Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, at First Baptist Church, 200 South Denver in Russellville. Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, at the church. Reverend Greg Sykes will officiate, and will be assisted by Dr. Stephen Davis and Dr. Ronnie Morris. A special Citation from the Arkansas State Senate and a Governor's Proclamation will be presented. Burial will be at Rest Haven Memorial Park by Humphrey Funeral Service. The family would like memorial donations made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 42040, Oklahoma City, Okla., 73123. Internet obituary and on-line guest book are available at www.humphreyfuneral.com.