EDWARD LISLE HOUSE

Edward Lisle House, 93, of Batesville, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, died peacefully on Saturday, August 10, 2024.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Verlene Hinson House; his daughter, Pamela House Lovett; and daughter-in-law Lesa House Dame.

Seven grandchildren survive him: Edward Andrew House, Michael Steven House and wife Kayla Stevens House, Julia Marjorie Lovett and husband Andrew Kennedy Dolan, Edgar Odell Lovett III, and Katie Elizabeth House Mitchell.

He is survived by nine great-grandchildren: Cannon Mark House, Talon Randall House, Rowan Michael House, Haven Rachel House, Eden Faith House, Lovett Adelaide Dolan, Bates Kennedy Dolan, Jax Bradley Carpenter, and Asher James Fulp. He is also survived by many adored nieces and nephews.

Edward was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Lisle and Katie Matlock House; his brother Howard House and sister-in-law Mary Corbin House; his sisters, Hilda Warford and Dorothy Snyder; and brothers-in-law Charles Warford and Gilbert Snyder; his two sons Mark Edward House and Steven Bradley House; and his son-in-law Edgar Odell Lovett II.

Born and raised in Kevil, Kentucky, Eddie left home and served as a member of the Army of the United States in Colorado before following his brother Howard to the "Land of Opportunity" in Arkansas. Together in 1956, they founded House and House Construction. Twelve years later, armed with expertise and identifying the state's need for more infrastructure, White River Bituminous was formed and they entered the highway road and construction business paving the roads to success for themselves and generations of Arkansans. The entrepreneurial spirit did not stop there and Eddie continued to make meaningful contributions to the economic development of Independence County through farming, commercial real estate, and First Community Bank.

Eddie was an avid outdoorsman and spent a lifetime in pursuit of fish and game. He enjoyed the thrill of the hunt on land and water, but loved nothing more than the companionship and camaraderie developed with family and friends throughout the chase for anything that flew or swam in the Ozark foothills. He often remarked about the "misery factor" required for many of his passions, and those who loved him know he forged cherished, lifelong friendships, freezing his tail off in boats and blinds across the world and across seemingly every inch of Arkansas. He was a patient and generous teacher eager to share his respect and love of the outdoors with his family and those he embraced as family.

He lived life at full speed – riding motorcycles, piloting airplanes, helming bass boats, and testing the speed limits behind the wheel of any car he drove. He was competitive – equally at home around a card table or a board game with his family. He was quick witted with an incredible sense of humor and an infectious laugh. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a world class storyteller and his signature sayings and expressions will live on for generations.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, August 15, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church in Batesville with a private family burial at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Children's Advocacy Center, 510 Boswell St., Batesville, AR 72501; White River Medical Center, 1710 Harrison Street, Batesville, AR 72501; or First United Methodist Church, 615 Main Street, Batesville, AR 72501.