Barbara Stanfill, 98, of Fort Smith, Arkansas passed away on Monday, February 7, 2022 after a short stay at Chapel Ridge nursing facility where she was treated with love and compassion. Barbara was born on May 23, 1923 in Arkhole, Arkansas, a small community in south Sebastian County. She was a coal miner’s daughter along with her five siblings. She was very special, to know her was to love her, with a great loving and caring personality she always had time to take care of her family whatever their needs may have been, and always tried to do the right thing. Barbara had a great memory, remembering everything from childhood to present until she had a stroke that put her in the nursing home. In her younger years she owned a blue Ford dump truck and hauled coal around the Stigler, Oklahoma area along with her husband Fred, they made a good team. She was little but mighty and never backed down from anything. Barbara enjoyed camping, fishing, being outdoors and cooking and being with her family. She will be truly missed and never forgotten for the awesome person she was. We all loved her dearly and she will remain in our hearts forever, it was a blessing to have her for the 98 plus years. She was preceded in death by her husband Fred and a son-in-law, David Wray.
She is survived by a daughter, Nelda Wray of Fort Smith; a son and daughter in -law, Alton and Novena (Roberts) Stanfill of Mt Ida, AR; four grandchildren, Ricky Stanfill (Jamie) of Hot Springs, Michelle Bright (Tony) of Glenwood, AR, Barbara Wray-Esch (Larry) of Fayetteville, AR and Brandi Wray Creamer (Scott) of Fort Smith; six great grandchildren, Alexandra Stanfill of Fayetteville, Heather Stanfill of Mt. Ida, AR, Alyssa Stanfill of Fayetteville, Colton and Shelby Bright of Glenwood and Orion Creamer of Fort Smith and three great- great grandchildren.
Cremation and internment in the U.S. National Cemetery are under the direction of Ocker-Putman Funeral Home of Fort Smith, AR.