Jerry Wallace Williams' Obituary
Jerry Wallace Williams, age 80, of Bella Vista, AR passed away peacefully on November 15, 2025, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale, AR with his wife and daughter by his side.
Born January 20, 1945, in Helena, AR, he was raised surrounded by cotton fields on the University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station in Clarkedale, AR by his parents, Wallace and Eloise Williams, who preceded him in death.
He graduated from Marion High School in 1963 before earning a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1967 and a Master of Science in entomology in 1969 from the University of Arkansas, where he was proud to have his name etched in Senior Walk with numerous family members.
During graduate school, a freshman work-study student in the entomology department named Christine Cox caught his eye, but the U.S. Army called him away before their first date. They did connect later and despite him being four hours late for their first date as he drove from San Antonio, she later agreed to marry him on July 11, 1970. They shared their lives together for the next 55 years.
In addition to San Antonio, his Army career took him to St. Louis and overseas to Seoul, South Korea. He obtained the rank of major and received two Army Commendation Medals for Meritorious Service. He was proud of his military service and never missed a chance to tell stories about his Army days.
Following the Army, Jerry worked as a county extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service for 35 years. Throughout his extension career, he spent many summers from sunrise to sundown cruising the farm roads with his arm hanging out the truck window, often with his daughter, Tammy, in the passenger seat. He walked thousands of miles in the fields of Phillips, Arkansas, Mississippi and Lincoln counties helping farmers take care of their crops.
During his second stint in Helena as Cooperative Extension Service staff chairman, Jerry was active in the Helena Rotary Club, serving as president and named a Paul Harris Fellow. He also served as president of the Phillips County Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Tri-County Fair Association and was a member of the Boll Weevil Eradication Committee. He received a Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents and was elected the 58th president of the Arkansas County Agricultural Agents Association.
Jerry hung up his dusty work boots in summer 2004 before he and Christine moved across the state to Bella Vista in 2006 to live closer to their daughter and the Razorbacks. He became active in the Bentonville Rotary Club, serving as treasurer, and the Bella Vista Baptist Church. He also served as president of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Arkansas Alumni Association, was a member of the Razorback Foundation and enjoyed working on his stamp collection.
Growing up, Jerry was given no choice but to cheer on the Arkansas Razorbacks football team, a passion handed down from his father and then passed on to his daughter. Fridays in the fall were always reserved for driving up the mountain to attend football games with no ifs, and or buts. He continued going to games until a few years ago when his health no longer allowed him to sit in the stands.
Jerry and Christine enjoyed traveling the United States with adventures taking them to almost all 50 states. They spent their early retirement years road tripping to every Southeastern Conference school and numerous bowl games to watch Razorback football. They could also be spotted Calling the Hogs inside Bud Walton Arena for both men’s and women’s basketball games.
He is survived by his wife, Christine Williams; his daughter, Tammy Tucker of Fayetteville, AR; his brother, Kenneth Williams and his wife, Mary, of Hamburg, AR; his brothers in-law, David Cox and his wife, Marietta, of House Springs, MO; Charles Cox and his wife, Cathy, of Muskogee, OK; Bill Cox and his wife, Mary Ann, of Farmington, MO; sisters in-law, Bonnie Cox of Bentonville, AR and Carol Wood and her husband, LaMont Fisher, of Rio Rancho, NM; many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and cousins.
Visitation will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m. followed by a celebration of life on Thursday, November 20 at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Rogers. A military honors service will follow at the Fayetteville National Cemetery. In keeping with Jerry’s love for the Arkansas Razorbacks, the family requests that guests wear something red. Memorials may be made to the Bella Vista Baptist Church, the Bella Vista Animal Shelter or Circle of Life Hospice.
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