Donald Dale "Don" Stemple

Donald "Don" Dale Stemple, age 91, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas, passed away on Monday, August 4, 2025, at Little River Nursing and Rehab in Ashdown, Arkansas.
Mr. Stemple was born on April 18, 1934, in Wickes, Arkansas. He was an agriculture teacher, farmer, and a member of the De Queen Church of Christ. He served on the Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative Board of Directors for over 50 years, many years on the Arkansas Electric Co-op Board, and was a charter member of First State Bank. Southern Arkansas University Board of Regents, Arkansas Cattlemen's Association, Sevier County Fair Board, PCA Board, and numerous others. He was also instrumental in starting the Sevier County Rural Water Association.
He began his teaching career in Empire, Oklahoma, starting the Empire FFA Chapter before moving home to Gillham to continue teaching and pursue his lifelong love of agriculture.
He was a proud graduate of Gillham High School, Southern Arkansas University, and Oklahoma A&M (1955), now known as Oklahoma State University.
Some of his favorite things were attending livestock shows, supporting his grandkids and other youth in the community, watching rodeos on the Cowboy Channel, old westerns, and Oklahoma State sports. You could always spot him in a crowd with his cowboy hat and OSU orange.
Mr. Stemple was preceded in death by his parents, Coe and Cora Sybil Sheppard Stemple.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Patsy Harris Stemple of De Queen; one son, Donald Dale Stemple, II of Amarillo, Texas; one daughter and son-in-law, Shanna and Scott Standridge of De Queen; four grandchildren and their spouses, Allie and Zach Vigil of De Queen, Martin Coe Stemple of Colorado, Rex and Josie Standridge of Finley, Oklahoma, Ryan Standridge of De Queen; three great grandchildren, Palmer Vigil, Essie Vigil and Jack Standridge, who is due in December.
A special thank you to Becky Smith Craig, who quickly became one of his grandkids, Little River Nursing and Rehab, and Hospice of Texarkana for their tremendous care.
Funeral services for Mr. Stemple will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 8, 2025, at the De Queen Church of Christ, with Toney Stowers officiating. Burial will follow in Daniel Cemetery in Wickes, Arkansas, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel in De Queen.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local FFA chapter/Ag Booster Club in memory of Don Stemple.
You may leave a condolence online at www.wilkersonfuneralhomes.com