Byron Luster McSpadden

Byron Luster McSpadden, 94, was born September 6, 1917, at Bethesda, Arkansas. His parents were George W. McSpadden and Hattie Love McSpadden. He died December 23, 2011, at a nursing home in Batesville. Byron attended public school at Bethesda, Arkansas. During his young adult life he worked on the railroad and as a farmer and woodsman. After hearing the call to preach the Gospel and affirming it, he studied at Arkansas College (now Lyon College) and graduated from Hendrix College. He completed the Course of Study School and was ordained an elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Byron served as pastor to many churches throughout the North Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church including: Elmo and Oil Trough, Charlotte Circuit, Greenbrier, Ola, Mountain Home Parish, Truman, Corning, Jacksonville, Marked Tree, Forrest City, North Little Rock Gardner, Heber Springs, Moorefield and Cushman. After he retired, he and his wife Irene Brightwell McSpaddden lived in Batesville in a house he had built (one of several he constructed over the years). They worshiped faithfully at Central Avenue United Methodist Church in Batesville. In 2001 they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with a reception at that church. In addition to serving as a pastor, Byron's great love was gardening. He grew corn, turnip greens, okra, purple peas, squash, cucumbers and tomatoes. While he was living at Wildewood Independent Living, he put in many hours of labor to keep that garden going. He also enjoyed woodworking. In the shop at his home on Sun Valley Drive he used a lathe to turn vases (called 'weed Pots') from many varieties of wood Those weed pots are now treasured by people in Arkansas, around the U.S. and even in some countries overseas. When he had to give up his lathe, Byron began to create walking staffs from wood, especially cedar. He donated hundreds of them to be sold at Mount Eagle Camp, at Wayland Springs Camp, and the Old Independence Museum as fund-raisers for those organizations. Byron loved serving his Lord and rests now in His presence. Byron and Irene were the parents of two sons, Lynn and Larry McSpadden. Byron was predeceased by his parents, his wife Irene, his brothers and sisters: Walter McSpadden, Bertha McSpadden, Bertie McSpadden Shaw, Harvey, Ferrel, Carl, Alvin, Maurine, Jasper, and Shelby McSpadden, and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by Larry McSpadden and hiswife Ginny; Lynn McSpadden and his wife Mary Catherine, all of Mountain View; one grandson, Brad McSpadden and his wife Tasha; two step-grandchildren, Katie and Jim Hurley; four great grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Gayailia Story of Batesville and Phyllis Watters of Kansas; a brother-in-law, Vernon Brightwell of Missouri; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The family offers deep gratitude to those who cared for Byron at Wildewood, at Eagle Mountain Assisted Living, and especially at Woodlawn Nursing Home. Graveside services will begin Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at the Bethesda Campground Cemetery located at Bethesda with Rev. Steve Wingo officiating. Arrangements by Qualls Batesville Funeral Service of Batesville. Memorial services will be Monday, January 2, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Central Avenue United Methodist Church with pastor Reverend Paul Seay officiating, assisted by Reverend Ed Matthews and Reverend Steve Wingo. The family will receive friends after the service at the Church. The family requests no flowers and that memorial donations be made instead to Methodist Family Health System, 1600 Aldersgate Rd., # 200, Little Rock, AR 72205; Mount Eagle Christian Center, 935 Beal Rd., Clinton, AR 72031 or Old Independence Regional Museum, 380 S. 9th St., Batesville, AR 72501