Bert Newell Hornaday

Bert Newell Hornaday of Fordyce was born February 21, 1951, and departed this life on Monday, May 6, 2013, when he met Jesus face to face! He was preceded in death by his parents, Bart N. Hornaday and Rachel Hudson Hornaday Adams, and one sister, Mary Gail Hornaday Crowder.

Survivors include Nancy Rogers Hornaday, his wife of 38 years, whom he married on August 8, 1974; one daughter, Shelley Hornaday Young and her husband, Jack, of Fordyce; one son, Kevin Hornaday and his wife, Amber, of Kingsland; five grandchildren, Shelby Young, Aubrey Hornaday, Hudson Young, Ansley Hornaday, and Adalyn Hornaday; two brothers, Bill Jarrett and his wife, Quita, of New Edinburg, and Tom Jarrett and his wife, Sandy, of Fort Smith; one brother-in-law, Delton Crowder, of Warren.

Other than living in Elmo, MO for a few years, Bert lived in Fordyce most of his life where he worked, and he and Nancy raised their children. Bert joined the work force when he began working at Lee's Gulf Station in Fordyce as a teenager. He tried his hand at several jobs including Barnes Lumber Company, Coca-Cola, and Borden Milk Company, before establishing a career as a salesman for Frito-Lay. For 26 years he was known as the "Chip Man" in Fordyce and the surrounding area. As much as he enjoyed being called the "Chip Man," he was even prouder when he was called Daddy or Pop-Pop by his children and grandchildren.

In June, 1974, Bert became a member of Fordyce First Assembly of God Church. This is where he met his true calling from God when he began serving the Lord there as a leader of Children's Church in 1976. For 35 years he was known as their beloved "Brother Bert," and felt this was the greatest title he was ever given. Brother Bert loved all kids and taught them many lessons with a child perched on his hip! Not only did he teach them God's Word, he shared it as he visited door-to-door on Saturday mornings, inviting all to join him at Church on Sundays. He also drove the church bus, picked up kids, and took them home. If they were hungry – he fed them. If they needed clothes – he provided them. He was even known to change a diaper if necessary!

Bert believed if children are shown God's love unconditionally when they are young and tender, they will grow in that love to become loving, caring, and sharing adults themselves. Bert was a living testimony of his Faith as he served God through serving others, but children were his heart! He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on, as his daughter, Shelley, leads Children's Church at First Baptist in Thornton, and his son, Kevin, is following in his dad's footsteps as the leader of Children's Church at First Assembly in Fordyce. Not only will his legacy live on through his own children, but also through the love he showed so faithfully to his family, his church family, and the many children he cared for and loved so dearly.

The family will receive visitors Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce. Funeral services will be conducted by Brother B.L. Blann at First Assembly of God Church in Fordyce on Thursday at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Ebenezer Cemetery in Fordyce. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Assembly of God in Fordyce, Children's Church. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.net .