George Snell McCown
Obituary NoticeGeorge Snell McCown, Sr., 95, of Little Rock, died on Friday, November 14, 2003. Mr. McCown was born March 6, 1908 in Quitman, LA to the late George Malcolm and Myrtle June Snell McCown. On December 22, 1929, he took Gladys Merle Edington, of Dumas, AR as his life-long mate. Mr. McCown was a successful merchant and general store manager in the southeastern Arkansas farming communities of Dumas and Pickens until 1968. During that period, he was a pioneer in the agriculture industry and became a central figure in the large-scale procurement and distribution of seed, herbicides, and fertilizer. At the peak of this involvement, he was elected to and served as President of the Arkansas Seed Growers Association. He also faithfully served his community and church when and where there was a need. He was a Desha County Justice of the Peace for 35 years; and, he served as a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Dumas for over 20 years. An avid fisherman, he loved the great outdoors; and, he assisted the late R. A. Pickens, in the mid 1940s, in surveying and planning what is known today as Walnut Lake Golf and Country Club at Pickens. In retirement, however, he and Gladys moved to the rolling mountains and blue waters of the Greers Ferry Lake area in Heber Springs. He often said that it resembled the landscape of Scotland from which his ancestors had immigrated in the mid 1700s. There, he continued his active pace of community service. His most visible profile came when he was appointed to a commission that developed and successfully constructed a citywide sewer system for Heber Springs. He was a member of the community's Thunderbird Country Club and he assisted in the planning and development of their golf course. He also continued his support of the church. He was a deacon in the Heber Springs First Baptist Church; and, he devoted countless hours to the development and enhancement of the church's buildings and grounds. In 1994, he and Gladys left Heber Springs and moved to Woodland Heights, a retirement home in the western part of Little Rock. Upon his departure from the First Baptist Church of Heber Springs, he was named Deacon Emeritus. In Little Rock, they became members of Immanuel Baptist Church. In life, he was a Christian; a devoted husband; and a proud Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather. In death, he is with our Lord and survived here on Earth by three children, Jeanne McCown Dellrie of Phoenix, AZ, George Snell McCown, Jr. of Ukiah, CA, and LTC John Edington McCown, Sr. (US Army, Ret.) of Newport News, VA; 14 grandchildren; and numerous great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Gladys Merle Edington McCown; a daughter, Janis McCown McCaw formerly of Heber Springs, AR; and two younger brothers, Winston Bernard McCown of Wheelwright, KY and MG Hal D. McCown (US Army, Ret.) of North Little Rock, AR. A family visitation period is planned for 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 West Markham Street, in Little Rock on Tuesday, November 18, 2003. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 at Olmstead Funeral Home in Heber Springs with Rev. L. B. Jordan of Arkadelphia officiating. Grave side services will follow at Cleburne County Memorial Gardens, Heber Springs. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home of Little Rock. Register Book
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