Howard Bagby Jr.

1957 - 2013

Howard Bagby Jr., 55, passed away Thursday, May 30, 2013. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Monday at Central Christian Church, 400 North Waldron Road, Fort Smith, Ark. 72903. Services and cremation are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. There will be a reception with food and beverage, following the service from 3 to 4 p.m. at Central Christian Church. Public viewing: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. to noon Monday at Edwards Funeral Home, 201 N. 12th St., Fort Smith, Ark. 72901. Memorials: The First Tee of Fort Smith, 5800 Geren Road, Fort Smith, Ark. 72916, or The Fort Smith Boys Shelter, 5904 South Zero St., Fort Smith, Ark. 72916. Howard was born Sept. 29, 1957, in Fort Worth to Alma and Harold Bagby. He graduated from Arlington Heights High School and the University of Texas in Austin with a degree in petroleum land management. While at UT he was a member of The Silver Spurs and Phi Gamma Delta-Fiji fraternity. He married Cindy Geels after moving to Fort Smith and going to work for Texas Oil & Gas. They were married for 20 years and were co-owners of Providence Exploration & Production, Inc. He also was the owner of Bagby Energy in Dallas. He and his late wife Cindy were avid community supporters affording their time and resources to The First Tee of Fort Smith. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Cindy, and his parents, Harold and Alma Bagby. Survivors: Howard is survived by his son, Benjamin H. Bagby; his sisters, Becky Peninger and her husband, Mike, of Aledo, and Linda Bagby Freer of Fort Worth; his mother and father-in-law, Josephine and Harold Geels of Fort Smith; his brothers-in-law, Jim Geels and his wife, Angel, of Fort Smith, and Mike Geels and his wife, Annette of Jackson, Tenn. Howard had several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins who will share in his loss.