Marty James Campbell

Marty James Campbell passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, after a lengthy illness. He was born July 8, 1956 in Batesville and lived in Cushman until 1991, when he married Kristy Hicks Wolford and moved to Bethesda.

He was employed by the State of Arkansas as a livestock inspector and retired in 2021 after 36 years of service to Arkansas cattle owners, sale barn organizations and county and state fairs, improving the health of livestock in Arkansas. He loved his job, took great pride in it and was well known as a dependable and skilled cattleman and horseman. He enjoyed and excelled as a basketball player for the Cushman Bulldogs during his high school years; rodeoing in his younger adult years, trail riding in his more “settled” years, coaching his sons' baseball teams and working the chains during Batesville Pioneer football games during his son, Cody's football years. Marty was a member of Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church of Bethesda.

He was as intense an Arkansas Razorback fan as you will ever find basketball or football. He said he “would have crawled to Fayetteville on his hands and knees to have even been considered to play football for the Razorbacks.” He attended just a few games in person, preferring his recliner and did not really care for noisy crowds or even company at the time. He knew the calls before they were announced, celebrated or pouted quietly depending on the final score and was always ready and optimistic for the next game. He was also a St. Louis Cardinals fan, every time the National Anthem was ever played, he stood, hand on his heart and, at the end clapped twice and sat down,  audience or not.

He was preceded in death by the heart-breaking loss of his 18-year-old son, Cody James Campbell, in 2013. Also preceding Marty to Heaven were his parents, Millon and Norma “Pete” (Pearson) Campbell of Cushman; his beloved grandparents, Mina James “Hooker” and Oda (Winkle) Campbell of Cushman and Roy and Ruth Floyd (Pearson) of Batesville.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kristy Campbell of the home; a son, Michael Joe Campbell of Southside; a sister, Sue Turner and husband Bill Ray Turner of Mountain View; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Thursday, February 16, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Qualls Batesville Funeral Service Chapel in Batesville.

Memorial services will be Friday, February 17, 2023 at the Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church near Bethesda beginning at 10:00 a.m. with lunch to follow.

Memorials may be made to the Independence County Fair Association c/o 4885 North Central Avenue Batesville, AR 72501 or to the Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church 2915 Bethesda Rd Batesville, AR 72501.

There will be cremation and cemetery services at another time.