Warren Lee Dexter

Warren Lee Dexter, 81, passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville Arkansas following a sudden illness. The funeral service will be held at First Christian Church in Eureka Springs AR, 763 Passion Play Road on Saturday September 28th at 10am with a reception to follow. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1022 E. 39th St., in Davenport Iowa at a later date. Online condolences may be made to the family here at our website. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in Warren’s name, to the First Christian Church in Eureka Springs, 763 Passion Play Road, Eureka Springs, AR 72632.

Warren was born on January 12, 1938 in Grinnell Iowa, the son of Ralph Lloyd and Inez Marie Dexter. He graduated from Davenport High School in 1957. On June 15, 1958 Warren was united in marriage to Sallyann Hendershot in Davenport, Iowa. He served in The Iowa National Guard Reserves during the Vietnam War. Warren was employed with the University of Iowa serving as greenhouse caretaker and then supervisor for the Botany/Chemistry department for nearly 25 years. Warren was a member of West Branch United Methodist Church and served as a lay leader.

Warren and Sallyann raised their children in West Branch, Iowa from 1967 through 1989 after which they left West Branch for Eureka Springs Arkansas in 1990 to establish Covenant Gardens, a biblical garden from 1991 to 2007. Warren also served as a pastor at churches in the area and united many couples, some within Covenant Gardens.

Love was Warren’s theme. Warren loved his family and set a good example. He loved plants and telling others about the many roles plants played in the Bible. Warren loved God and served Him. He completed a 20 year journey of writing his book; “Christianity’s Simple Concept: LOVE” a week before his death.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sallyann; four children, Dale (G.G.) Dexter of Raleigh, NC., Susann (Ken) Smith of Fayette, Mo., Tim (Pat) Dexter of Cave Springs, AR and Sherylynn (Brian) Davis of Raymore, MO. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Leanna (Matthew Cowan), Elizabeth, Abigail, Peter, Ian, Lauren, Matthew and Hannah and 3 great grandchildren: Kathryn McBride, Vaida Davis and Annie Boggs

He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Sarah Smith.