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Frank Henry, Jr. died April 21, 2025, at Arkansas Hospice Hospital in Little Rock.
He was born June 25, 1925, into a farm family in Relfs Bluff, the youngest of the five children of Frank Henry, Sr. and Hattie Mae McKeown Henry.
He began school in a one room schoolhouse filled with neighbors and relatives. He was a good student and enjoyed baseball.
Frank’s mother, a schoolteacher, died when he was eight years old. During these depression years, the family moved to his father’s parents’ farm on Plantersville Road. This farm work shaped him into a resourceful worker at a young age.
He attended Drew Central schools and graduated as salutatorian of his class. He joined the navy (1944-1946) and participated in World War II on floating command ships. He was on one of these when it passed the USS Missouri as Douglas MacArthur signed the Victory treaty in Tokyo Bay.
After the war, he lived with his uncle and aunt, Lloyd and Merle McKeown on School Street in Dermott, and lived on this same city block for 79 years.
He took a job as teller in 1946 at the Dermott State Bank. In 1953, he was promoted in part, he said, due to his wearing a dress coat, shirt, and tie regardless the weather. He received college level training in business and commercial law.
Frank met his future wife, Bertha, while she was secretary in the office next door. Bertha and Frank began dating, and on November 6, 1955, were married. The pair raised two daughters. Bertha joined the Dermott Presbyterian Church, across School Street from the Henry home. Bertha used her secretarial and social skills to help Frank in all his endeavors.
Devoted to the Dermott Presbyterian Church, Frank was a member from 1948 until it closed in 2021. He served as deacon and elder for many years.
He loved Dermott and Delta people. Each year, he observed the people with small farms in the flatlands bravely gambling in row crop farming, hoping the weather, the seeds, and the commodities market would pay off.
Frank Henry worked 80 years full time. He became a community servant in Dermott and surrounding area. He worked to attract business, develop grants, fundraise, and encourage volunteerism. He strongly supported healthcare and education.
Frank was mayor of Dermott from 1990 to 1994. He was manager of Dermott Insurance Agency from 1954 to 1990. He was Executive Director of the Dermott Chamber of Commerce from 2000 to 2024 and a chamber member since 1946. He volunteered with the Dermott Crawfish Festival committee each year from 1982-2012. He was a real estate salesman for 18 years.
He was involved in the American Legion (78 years), Dermott Rotary Club (70 years), Mainline Health Systems Board Member (27 years), Dermott Industrial Development Corporation (22 years).
Frank Henry’s family is grateful to him for a lifetime of guidance. They wish to thank the many friends and relatives who continue his work.
He is survived by daughters Rita Henry of Little Rock and Dr. Beth Henry (husband Chris Scott) of Overland Park, Kan.; granddaughter Shelby Scott of Alexandria, Va.; and beloved nieces and nephews, Anita Osgood Bennett, Ronald Kersh, Dennis Kersh, Kenneth Kersh, Patricia Ryan, Deborah Ryan Hajek, Angie Bowden Sowell, Amy Bowden, Roger Tipton, David Tipton and Roland Tipton. Frank was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Bertha Mae Joiner Henry; sisters Eunice Osgood, Fern Ryan and Faye Kersh; a brother, Neely Henry; and his parents.
Visitation is planned in Hoffman Hall at the Dermott United Methodist Church, Saturday, May 3 from 10-11:30 a.m. A memorial service will be held at Griffin Culpepper Funeral Services in McGehee, Saturday, May 3 at 1 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Griffin Culpepper Funeral Services ((https://griffinculpepper.com/). No graveside service will be held. Burial will be in Dermott City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dermott Historical Museum (c/o Dermott Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 147, Dermott AR, 71638), the Dermott City Cemetery Association Operating Fund (P.O. Box 324, Dermott AR 71638) or the Dermott United Methodist Church (P.O. Box 156, Dermott, AR 71638).
