Rex Lanier Grimsley, of Bentonville, Ark., passed away on August 31, 2016 in a plane crash at the Bentonville Municipal Airport.
He was a committed husband, loving father and grandfather, and Christian. He will be greatly missed by his devoted family, Carolyn Boling Grimsley, his wife of 49 years; son, James Paul Grimsley of Bentonville and his fiancé, Heather Holland; daughter, Jill Grimsley Drewyor of Bentonville and her husband Pine Drewyor; also by his grandchildren, Harper Grimsley (19), a student at the University of Arkansas, Macy Grimsley (18), a student at Texas Christian University, and Margot Drewyor (10), Beatrix Drewyor (6), and James Truman Drewyor (4) of Bentonville.
A cattle broker, avid quail hunter, and pilot, Grimsley was a lifelong resident of Vaughn, just west of Bentonville. He frequently made trips to Texas in his Beechcraft Bonanza to entertain family and friends on bird hunting trips. He spent the evening preceding his death with his family celebrating his grandson's birthday. He died the following morning piloting his aircraft after evading an incoming aircraft at the local airport.
The older of two children, Grimsley was born in 1946 and raised in Vaughn. His parents, James Knox Grimsley and Wanda Lou Rodgers Grimsley, preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister, Ruthann Grimsley Strickland, and her husband Steve Strickland, of Little Rock.
Grimsley graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Business degree in 1968, following which he taught distributive education classes in Pine Bluff and later at Bentonville High School. He later attended the U of A and obtained a Masters of Business Administration. He was an ardent Razorbacks fan. Grimsley was an entrepreneur at heart and owned several successful businesses throughout his career, including F&G Feed Store, where he was partners first with Bob Fuqua and later with George Huber, and Brookside Seed Company and Bentonville Lube 'N Go, where he was also partners with Huber, and a prosperous cattle broker business. He was a shareholder and director at Grand Savings Bank.
He was a longtime cattleman, he grew up on a dairy farm in Bentonville, and began running his own beef cattle in 1970. He maintained many interests in agriculture, primarily in the cattle market and was a fixture at several area cattle auctions. Grimsley raised commercial cattle, registered Charolais, and registered Brangus in the Bentonville area and also at Arkoma Land and Cattle Company in Delaware County, Oklahoma. He was joined in the cattle operation by his son, Paul, who will continue to carry on the family tradition.
Grimsley valued work ethic and was known for his entrepreneurship and love for deal making. He loved finance and greatly enjoyed his participation with First National Bank (formerly Citizens Bank) in Bentonville, and later with Grand Savings Bank. His keen mind, quick wit and love of fun made him good company. He was a well-known prankster. Grimsley was a friend to many and enjoyed entertaining family and friends at his Rooster Ridge hunting lodge and had a great affection for his hunting dogs and household pets. He adored his grandchildren. He was a longstanding church member at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He will be fondly remembered and missed dearly.
Visitation will be 5 to 7pm on Tuesday, September 6 at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Rogers. Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Wednesday, September 7, also at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Life Ranch, 160 New Life Ranch Dr. Colcord, OK 74338, www.newliferanch.com. Grimsley was a supporter of the mission of NLR.
Arrangements are by Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Bentonville. Online condolences may be made at www.callisonlough.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
September 9, 2016
Rick & Renee Fausett
Carolyn, Paul & Jill, we want to extend our sincere condolences to you & your entire family. We thought the funeral service was an excellent tribute to Rex's life! (We learned some new things about him!) We are thankful to have had the opportunity to get to know him while we worked at Arkoma & was glad that he would look Rick up at Harps when he was in Grove for GSB business. Know that our prayers will continue for you ...
September 8, 2016
Carolyn, we are praying for you and your family in this sudden loss as only God can bring comforts into your lives now. May He bring some of that comfort to you through people and memories. My favorite memory is of a high school age Rex giving out what appeared to be Chiclets gum to his friends, but was actually ExLax. It was good to read in his obituary mentioning that Rex was a real prankster. Jerry and Janice Peters Noland (Rogers, AR)
September 8, 2016
Gary and Marcia Black
A very unselfish and humble man. May God fill you and your family with memories of love, laughter and joy.
September 6, 2016
Larry Cosand
Carolyn, so sorry to hear about Rex. You and your family have my sympathy.
September 6, 2016
Janet Feagin
Doc and I are so blessed to have known Rex, we have lost a very good friend and Heaven has gained a special angel. He will be missed
September 5, 2016
Patty Pearce Payne
Carolyn, my deepest sympathy in your loss of Rex. I remember him from high school, what a nice, sweet & funny guy he was. I will keep you & your family in my prayers. Patty Pearce Payne, Fort Smith AR
September 5, 2016
Scott Shaw
We are sorry for your loss. We will miss Rex so much. Thoughts and prayers for all of you from the staff of New Life Ranch. Love and appreciate your family so much.
September 5, 2016
Charles Kincade
We are so sorry for your loss . Rex was a good man and a good friend and will truly be missed. Charles & Debra Kincade
September 5, 2016
Della Ivy-Levan
Love and prayers to the Grimsley family. He will be missed. Della Ivy-Levan Los Angeles, Ca.
September 5, 2016
Carolyn,Paul and Jill
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.So sorry for your loss. Celesta Skelton
September 4, 2016
Jan Dorothy
We have been and will continue to pray as you all begin this new season of life. Rex was a favorite and will truly be missed by his Aviation family as well.
Doug and Jan Dorothy
September 4, 2016
Carolyn and family,
I had the pleasure of working with Rex at Bentonville High School in the early 70's, my first few years of teaching. What a good guy! He was always helpful to me in keeping things in perspective. I am so sorry that his life was cut short. Wishing you God's peace.
Trudy Karnes
September 3, 2016
Margaret Curry
Started praying for you as soon as I heard about Rex. Terrible loss, and I'm so very sorry for all of you.
September 3, 2016
Linda McGee Nehrbas
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
September 3, 2016
LeRoy and Norma Bolinger
Carolyn, Jill and Paul: This is so surreal. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with all of you through this devastating period of unimaginable pain. As we share in your grief we cannot think of him as "gone" as he will live forever in our favorite memories.
September 3, 2016
Ashley Kennan Einolf
Carolyn, Paul, and Jill
I'm so terribly sorry for your loss! Prayers and love for peace and comfort
September 3, 2016
Jan Gregory Osborn
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. I know the pain of Rex's loss is indescribable, and I pray that God will give you the strength to get through the days ahead. We will all miss him, but I pray you find peace and comfort in your memories of him.
September 2, 2016
Brenda Evans Brown
So sorry for your loss. Rex was my distributive education teacher at Dollarway High School in 1969. We all loved him as a teacher. I have thought of him often and wondered where and how he was. Again my deepest sympathy.
September 2, 2016
Pat & Steve Boling
Oh, so many memories and a great guy.... His passing is leaving a hole in our hearts. We will surely miss him.
September 2, 2016
No words, no words we can say to ease your pain in the loss of Rex. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May you find peace and comfort and strength in the days ahead. Joe and Carol Featherston
September 2, 2016
Pat and Steve Boling
Oh, so many memories and what a great guy.... His passing is leaving a hole in our hearts. He was an exceptional person in all respects. Pat & Steve Boling
September 2, 2016
Dorothy Sturm Trittipo
God be with you and your family during this difficult time, so sorry for your loss.
September 2, 2016
Scott Fredin
To the Grimsley Family, our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. We at Fredin Brothers have done business with Rex for about 10 years, it has been very enjoyable and will be missed. Myself, would have conversations half cattle and half plane talk, which we both loved. What I regret most is never meeting Rex personally to shake his hand that would have been a pleasure.
Scott Fredin & Fredin Brothers
September 2, 2016
Gary & Barbara Mahan
Carolyn, Paul & Jill -
We are so sorry for you loss. We will all miss him. May God comfort you in this difficult time
Showing 1 - 24 of 24 results
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read moreWhat kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read moreWe'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read moreLegacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreThey're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read more