Joe Leamon Spradlin

Joe Leamon Spradlin, 85, of Pangburn, Arkansas, passed away on July 18, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

 Born on March 16, 1941, in Mount Vernon, Arkansas, Joe was the son of Leamon Spradlin and Nola Spradlin Ray. 

Joe is survived by his devoted wife, Shirley Bates Spradlin of Pangburn; his daughter, Regina Price of Wynne; his son-in-law, Dr. Rick Price of Wynne; his son, Greg Spradlin of Little Rock; his sister, Jessica Hawkins of Heber Springs; his granddaughter, Jordan Tuberville (Bo) of Jonesboro; his grandchildren, Stella Spradlin and Penn Spradlin of Little Rock; his great-granddaughters, Nola and Ella Ramm of Jonesboro; Hunter Tuberville of Paragould, along with many extended family members, lifelong friends, and neighbors whose lives he touched.

 Joe began working as a teenager at Safeway, launching a career that would span more than four decades in the grocery industry. He later managed Piggly Wiggly and other grocery stores throughout Arkansas, Missouri, and Mississippi before joining Ideal Bread Baking Company, where he retired as Regional Sales Manager. Before his management career in the grocery business, Joe and a business partner operated a small excavating and earth-moving company and constructed the original bridge to Rainbow Island in Pangburn, leaving behind a lasting piece of the community he loved. 

A lifelong outdoorsman, Joe found joy in hunting, fishing, caring for his land, and working with his hands. During retirement, he cared for Henderson Cemetery in Pangburn with the same quiet sense of duty that guided much of his life. Whether managing a grocery store, building a bridge, tending a cemetery, or caring for his family, Joe believed every job worth doing was worth doing well. 

Joe was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Pangburn. He was also a lifelong Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite. In recognition of his years of dedication to Freemasonry, he received the 33° of the Scottish Rite, one of the fraternity’s highest honors. 

Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, Joe was, in every sense, the mighty oak of his family. Deeply rooted in his faith, his family, and the land he loved, he spent a lifetime providing for, protecting, and serving those closest to him. Strong, dependable, and humble, he believed in hard work, keeping his word, and showing up when people expected him - not on time, but early. Those who knew him will remember not only his towering presence, but the strength of his character, the quiet confidence with which he lived, and the example he set for others that follow. His legacy lives on in the family he loved, the values he instilled, and the many lives he touched through a lifetime of steadiness and dedication.

 A private family graveside service will be held. A community memorial service celebrating Joe’s life will be announced at a later date.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House at St. Bernards in Jonesboro, whose compassionate care brought comfort, dignity, and peace during Joe’s final days.

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