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Doyne Elder

March 30, 1934 — January 21, 2020

Doyne Elder

Doyne Luther Elder was born on March 30, 1934, and spent the first 18 years of his life in Jacksonville, Arkansas. After graduating from high school, magna cum laud, he briefly moved to Flint, Michigan, before coming back to Arkansas and settling in Little Rock as his permanent home. For approximately 20 years he managed the Heights Variety and Hardware in the Heights, which some will remember as a quaint, charming variety store with everything from toys to children's clothing to pins and needles. When the store closed, Doyne moved to Kaufman lumber where he worked until his retirement. His retirement enabled him to do something he had always wanted to do - be in the classroom with students. He volunteered at Bale Elementary school for approximately 10 years, where he served as a classroom assistant 40 hours a week until his health would no longer permit him to walk up and down the halls, connecting with teachers and students as he went. There he happily tutored many children - helping them learn to read and understand basic math principles. Many of them will remember him always.

Doyne was always deeply involved in church life, serving for many years as Deacon of Lakeshore Drive Baptist Church, which merged with the New Millennium Church in August 2018. At Lakeshore Drive Baptist Church he wrote and directed the much anticipated annual Valentine Banquets, as well as the music. He was Trustee Emeritus of New Millennium Church when the two churches merged. Throughout his adult life, Doyne taught Sunday school, and was a scholar of the New Testament. For many years, Doyne also managed, through the church, a food pantry that provides free food to homeless and financially strapped persons and families. For his combined volunteer work for his church and Bale Elementary School he was given a VIP Community School Volunteer Award in 2011 by the Little Rock School District (having been nominated by his church and school colleagues).

Throughout his life he was an enthusiastic and thoroughly dedicated fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks, and rarely missed a Razorback football game played in Little Rock (and was always among the last very few persons to leave the stands, sleet or snow). Doyne was keenly interested in genealogy, tracing his ancestors back to at least one stowaway from Ireland in the 1600s.

Doyne passed away peacefully on January 21, 2020 from complications due to type-1 diabetes, which he had battled valiantly for 60 years.Left to cherish his memory are his daughters: Sandy Burks and husband John of Benton, Arkansas and Linda Elder-Paul of Santa Barbara, California; grandchildren: Jason Burks and wife Rebecca, Stephen Burks and wife Lisa, Rush Cosgrove, Anna Cosgrove, Elizabeth Brown and husband Josh, Laurie McLeod and husband Raymond, Hannah Burks, Jacob "J.J." Burks, Tyler Massey and wife Victoria, Kalie Scarbrough, Chase Prickett, and Alexus Prickett; great-grandchildren: Brooklyn Burks, Bennett Burks, Blake Brown, Taylor Brown, and Remy McLeod; and many more family members and friends who love Doyne and will miss him always.

Preceding Doyne in death are daughter, Vickie Elder; parents; and brother, Thomas Elder.

Visitation will be held from 12:00 - 1:00 PM, Monday, January 27 at Smith-Benton Funeral Home with funeral service following at 1:00 PM. Burial following at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander, Arkansas.

Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.

Visitation

JAN 27. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (CST)

Smith - Benton Funeral Home
322 N. Market St.
Benton, AR, 72015

Funeral Service

JAN 27. 1:00 PM (CST)

Smith - Benton Funeral Home
322 N. Market St.
Benton, AR, 72015
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