Obituaries

Jackie Pendleton Bain Jr.

Photo of Jackie Pendleton Bain Jr.
Jackie Pendleton Bain Jr. entered the Kingdom of God on 8/31/17. Jackie was the firstborn son of Jack P. Bain Sr. and Connie Mathews Bain. Jackie started his earthly journey on 7/19/42. His beloved hometown of England, Ark., nurtured him thru graduation at EHS. It provided a perfect setting for his upbringing and many lifelong friends. He enrolled in Ouachita Baptist University and their ROTC program. That was the prelude to serving 20 years in the National Guard. His heavenly welcoming party included among others his father, Jack P. Bain, paternal grandparents, Rudolph and Jackie (his name sake) Guy Bain, maternal grandparents O.D. and Stella Myrtle Whetstone Mathews and Lochie Mathews. Jackie is survived by his son, Jackie Pendleton Bain III, known from birth as "Todd" and wife Suzanne and Todd's mother, Linda, and his daughter, Devre Shea Bain, and husband Devry Rhodes and Devre's mother, Julie. Also surviving are his delightful grandchildren Brooklyn Kate Bain, Dakota Shea and Daeson James Rhodes. Jackie is also survived by his mother Connie, brother/best friend Robert, sister Beci, and nephew Arrall Whetstone Austin and several wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins and a special family friend, Irene Roark. Jackie was a uniquely gifted person. He was an award winning boy soprano and sang at many venues as well as on TV at Memphis in the 50s. The newspaper stated his voice was "one in a million." He chose to stop singing publicly at age 11 due to shyness. Childhood hobbies included raising rabbits – 150 and counting. He also raised multiple pairs of Tumbler pigeons. Jackie was a prolific letter writer. He could create magic with words. He often included his own poetry in greeting cards he sent. He spent many years coaching Little League baseball teams. He was a walking encyclopedia on myriad subjects. Jackie had a quick, dry wit with a quip ready for any situation, sometimes leaving the audience thinking, "Did he really say that?" Many times the listener laughed till tears rolled. The timid boy grew up to be a world class people person. Jackie worked to live and live he did. He danced weekly for decades with PWP friends and at other places. Some of Jackie's interests included reading. His favorite books were the Western collection of Louis L'Amour (he even visited his North Dakota writers shack museum.) He loved nature, hiking, fishing, and hunting. He, along with his dad and Robert, annually provided our traditional Christmas dinner-a mallard for each person. We had a contest for most shot fragments found. He loved watching sports. He was a Razorback fan. For years he joined friends early each morning for spirited debate. We dubbed this the "Cranford's Breakfast Club." Jackie particularly liked shopping for others. His sister Beci, added many special crosses to her collection courtesy of Jackie. For decades thru last summer, the highlight of every summer was our WOW (Way Out West) vacation during which Jackie, Robert, and Beci took turns reading trivia questions throughout each trip for thousands of miles. Jackie enjoyed antiques/flea markets and the quest for a perfect treasure. Jackie's Crown Jewels were his son, Todd, and daughter, Devre, and grandchildren. He planned his life around their extracurricular schedules in order to cheer them on in activities such as band, musicals, plays, baseball, softball, basketball, track and field, cheerleading, and homecoming princess/queen. In our family love is an action. Jackie loved. We, his family, love Jackie immeasurably. We are devastated he is physically away from us. We have hearts full of memories and will forever feel his presence as we interact with the things that gave him joy. As practicing Christians we know Jackie did not die… he has just begun to live eternally. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Jackie's church BRBC in HSV or his hometown church First Baptist in England, Ark., where he, Robert, and Beci were baptized, dad was a deacon, and mom was the church secretary. If Jackie touched your life you are invited to join in any of the following: Visitation is 9/11/17 from 5-7 p.m. at Caruth Village Funeral Home, 4623 North Highway 7 just north of the HSV West Gate. Celebration of Life Service will be located at Barcelona Road Baptist Church, 390 Barcelona Road HSV at 1 p.m. on 9/12/17, immediately followed by the Graveside Service at Mulberry Cemetery, England, Ark. Following Graveside Service, First Baptist Church of England is hosting a visitation for family and friends. Online condolences at www.caruth-hale.com.

Published September 3, 2017

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