Birth date: Sep 27, 1946 Death date: Aug 25, 2022
John Earl Jennings passed away on August 25, 2022. He was born September 27, 1946 in Fayetteville, Arkansas to Dr. William Earl Jennings and Jean Thompson Jennings. He lived in Rogers all his life and graduated from Rogers High Sc Read Obituary
John was one of the really good people I’ve known. Even though I rarely, to say the least, was able to see him, he was always in my heart. I will miss him so.
Jerry and I have great memories of those Judicial Council gatherings across the state. He was always so fun to be around as we visited about many things other than Court issues. He knew I did not want to listen. The hospitality room was for sharing life activities away from judicial discussions. We have missed seeing all those friends from those days. Our thoughts are with John’s family and friends who will all miss his humor, intelligence, civic pride and love of the law.
I first met John Earl when we were both Phi Delt pledges. From there, we became fraternity brothers, roommates, and late-night bridge partners. Graduation separated us. Then, in 1975, when Sally and I got married, we moved to a house in Rogers that was only a block and a half from him and Rosemary. Once a week, usually uninvited, we’d drop by, which always led to memorable visits, punctuated with loads of laughter and perhaps a beer or two. It couldn’t have been a better way for Sally and me to begin our lives together. John Earl was a voracious reader, an accomplished cook, a tournament-winning pool player, a formidable bridge player, an avid fisherman and a quick witted, razor-sharp conversationalist. But, most of all – for me, anyway – he was a great, great friend.
Rosemary, please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you, Jackson, Franklin, and your grandchildren. John Earl leaves a great legacy and will be missed by many.
Janie Darr
Judge Jennings taught me how to mediate a case. I noticed a few of his methods that were different from others I'd shadowed - he fed them well, smiled a genuine smile at them, and gave them plenty of time to sit there unhurriedly. They could think, talk or stew in their own juices - regardless, he'd wait, this constant source of calm in the calamity. In his chambers, he'd say what he thought with more zeal, but to them, he quietly lit a path, a way out of life's problem. I thought him a good and remarkable man. My deepest sympathies to his family.
John Earl’s mother was my dad’s sister so we were first cousins. I have such great memories of getting to go visit them in Rogers and when they would come to Conway to visit our grandparents. Our side of the Thompson family so hoped that the Jennings, Allisons, and Thompson cousins could get together again like we did at Tippy’s place in 1998. My thoughts and prayers are with all the family. If possible, some of us would like to come to the Kings River when his service is. Mary Lynn I think has my telephone number.
I first met John in about 1958 probably in Sunday School at what is now First United Methodist Church. (We went to different grade schools–there were only two in Rogers back then.) We became good friends right off the bat. I was fairly new in town and met a lot of new friends through John.
Looking back on those early days, it seems like almost every weekend year round all of us fellas played “army” in the open fields west of my house or at Lee Bloomfield’s dad’s trout farm, or in the fall we had pick-up games of touch football in a vacant lot near John’s house. Throughout Junior and Senior High School, we palled around with a zany group of guys. We were all kinda goofy, but harmless. John and I were dormitory roommates for our freshman year at the U of A in Fayetteville. I must say that my “roomie” hardly studied, played a lot of cards, and still aced all his courses.
After that first year of college we went our separate ways. Eventually I Ieft Rogers, and we saw each other only occasionally when I would return to visit family. It wasn’t until my wife and I moved back to Rogers in 2006 that John and I reconnected. But those happy occasions were few and far between to my deep regret.
From the very start of our friendship I admired John. He was an agreeable guy who seemed at ease around all sorts of folks. John was very smart–really exceptional. He must have had a searching, even restless intellect; the wheels of his brain seemed always to be turning and turning.
A few years ago John spoke to the Rogers Historical Society about growing up in small town Rogers. His extemporaneous remarks to a packed hall were marvelously entertaining and insightful. There was a lot of love in the room that memorable evening.
It was a joy and privilege to have known John Jennings.
Joe Pelphrey
John Earl was a great friend and fraternity brother in the Phi Delt house long time ago. He loved poker and we had a game in the house basement most weekends. One night I had I built up the pot tween just him and me cause I had a full boat. At reveal time, I was enamored with my Kings over, when JE announced he only had 3 pair: "Queens & Queens" which I can still hear echoing in my head in that kinda squeaky voice he had
Another time he had played another frat in intermural pool, which he was really good at. When he came back to the house, I asked him if he beat the other guy. He said: "I not only beat him, I humiliated him." John (JE) was not a braggart, just had a way of making his point.
I cherish those times 50+ years ago like they were yesterday.
We crossed paths and had a brew a few times when he was a Court of Appeals judge traveling from home in Rogers to LR every week (for years he did that) and I'll always remember those few evenings. He had a wisdom and humor only a judge and really smart guy could have. My wisdom here is remember it all goes real fast, dear ones.
Steve
I served with Judge Jennings on the AR Court of Appeals in the late 80's. His office was across the hall from mine. He was the nicest soul. Very kind, sometimes funny, and a brilliant judge. So sorry for your loss..
Beth Coulson
