Gerald Wayne Persons

Gerald Wayne Persons, 83, of Humphrey passed away Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Baptist Health-Little Rock surrounded by his family. He was born April 27, 1941, in DeWitt to William Ellis Persons and Bessie Harrison Persons.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 59 years, Sandra Persons; sisters, Marnell Houghton and Pauline Smith; brothers, Leon Persons, Billy Joe and Lester Persons; and son-in-law, Roy Baker.

He is survived by his three children, Terri Wells and her husband Kenny, Mike Persons and his wife Amanda and Nikki Persons, all of Humphrey; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, Heath Baker and his daughter Sadie Beth of Almyra, Heather Tyler and her husband Caleb and their sons, Lawson and Cayson of Humnoke, Jacob Persons and his wife Jovi and their children Sarah Faith and John Thomas of Humphrey, Hannah Gaines and her husband Nate from Walnut Ridge and Austin Hayes and his wife Erin and their children Allison, Emma and Riley of Lodges Corner; one brother, Donald Persons of Humphrey; and a host of other family and friends.

Gerald joined the U.S. Navy on Feb. 12, 1958. He spent Oct. 1958 to March of 1961 on the USS Boxer during the Cuban conflict at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, working in the boiler room of the ship. Soon after he was discharged from the Navy, he met Sandra Thomas from Morrilton on June 22, 1961, and they were wed on Sept. 2, 1961.

Gerald received his commercial pilots’ license in August 1969 and soon after that started crop-dusting and eventually became the sole owner of Humphrey Flying Service. Gerald was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt, turkey and squirrel being his favorite. He continued hunting both until about a year or two ago. Even though he could not walk far in the woods, he would hunt from his vehicle. He also loved to fish for crappie and catfish, and like hunting, he eventually was only able to fish from his vehicle.

He also loved music. He could play most any instrument, but he primarily played the bass guitar. He played with several bands throughout his lifetime, but the most well known in this area was the Bayou Meto Band. Anyone that knew Gerald knew he was a plain-spoken person, and you never had to wonder what he was thinking, at least not for very long. He never met a stranger.

The family would like to thank Cavalier Healthcare of England and Baptist Health Medical Center for the excellent care shown to their loved one.

Funeral services, officiated by Glen Persons, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 19, with visitation one hour prior to the service at Turpin Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Williams Cemetery.

The family requests memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905