Francis Coy Henley

He graduated from Norphlet High School in May of 1952 after which he enrolled in Eaton Barber College in Little Rock. Once receiving his apprentice license he returned to Norphlet and began working at a local barber shop. While working he received his master barber license and opened his own barber shop there in Norphlet.

During the Korean Conflict he joined the United States Air Force in January of 1954. Basic training was at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX. Upon completion of basic he was sent to Scott AFB in Illinois as a personnel trainee. Once his training was finished he was sent to Guam for 18 months. When he returned to the states, he was stationed at Bossier AFB, which was a special weapons base and located behind Barksdale AFB.

While at Bossier AFB he met Alyce Edmondson who was attending nursing school. After only 3 months they were married and this past September celebrated 64 years of marriage. Together they returned to El Dorado where Coy began college on the GI bill, majoring in Elementary Education.

His first teaching job was at Northwest Elementary. At the beginning of his third year of teaching he was moved to the all 6th grade school, Watson, in the principal position. In 1976 he graduated from Northeast Louisiana University with his masters in administration. Coy retired in 1992 after many years as Principal of Retta Brown Elementary School in El Dorado.

If you didn't know Coy through the school system then maybe you knew him through his favorite pastime, Arts and Crafts. He began traveling to Arts and Crafts shows in 1974. This hobby allowed him and Alyce to travel and make many friends along the way. His last craft show was in Old Washington in March of 2008.

Going before Francis Coy were his parents, Rex C. and Pearl Henley; his siblings and in-laws, Dorris Mae and Jimmy Flynn, Imogene and Beau Birchfield, Floyd and Dorothy V. Henley, Frank David Henley, Allen Henley, Joann and Frank Mauney, Frank and Opal Edmondson, Jerry and Patsy Edmondson, Ned and Merle Edmondson.

Left to cherish the memories are his wife, Alyce Edmondson Henley; his son, Doug (Samantha) Henley of El Dorado; his daughters, Alyson (Dwight) Landry of West Monroe, LA, Anja (Lew) Lyles also of West Monroe and Rexayn (Kurt) Tribble of El Dorado; his brother, Buddy (Patsy) Henley, sister-in-law, Dorothy Henley; and Kenny and Shirley Crump, Gene and Jo Edmondson. Also holding tight to those memories are his pride and joy, his grandchildren, Ryan (Haley) Taylor, Alex (Alexia) Taylor, Spencer Rinehart, Seth Rinehart, Sydney Rinehart and Logan, Sawyer Passman, Lauren (Clayton) Cline, Grant Brumley and Jordan, Ali Brumley and Gage, Ayden Howe, Skylon Lyles and Brennan and Coy Lyles.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Ryan, Alex, Spencer, Seth, Sawyer, Grant, Coy, Ayden, Clayton, Gage, Logan and Brennan. Honorary Pallbearers: Richard and Linda Bates, James and Betty Parker, Bill and Teresa Davis, Steve and Shelia Mason, and John Barker.

The family wishes to express special thanks to our caretakers, especially those in his final days, Peggy Williams, Shannon Dominguez and Alexia Taylor, and also a heartfelt thank you to Life Touch Hospice.

Flowers are welcome, and other contributions can be sent to Life Touch Hospice or Rehobeth Cemetery Fund – c/o Rexayn Tribble, 106 East Elm, El Dorado, AR 71730.

Visitation will be at Young’s Funeral Home 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.

The celebration of life will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday February 2, 2022 at First Baptist Church Norphlet with Rev. Larry Hudson and Rev. Luther Harris officiating. There will be a private family burial at Rehoboth Cemetery officiated by his grandson, Spencer Rinehart.

Condolences can be expressed at www.youngsfuneralhome.com for the Henley family.