William "Bill" Thomas Meredith Jr.

He was born on May 15, 1949 in Manila, Arkansas, to William Thomas Meredith, Sr. and Muriel Marie Blair. He graduated from Lake Providence High School in Lake Providence, Louisiana, in 1969, where he excelled as an athlete in both football and track and field.

Following high school, he served two years in the United States Army. He was stationed in Korea, where he served as a teletype operator. Upon returning to the United States, he attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana and completed vocational training as an industrial instrumentation technician.

He married the love of his life and soul mate, Elizabeth (Libby) Miller on August 11, 1973. The couple renewed their wedding vows in a ceremony in Rogers, Arkansas on August 11, 2008.

Bill’s work led him to many places around the country, and he gained many friends wherever he went. The bulk of his career was spent in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, where he worked for ARCO and later BP Exploration. He took early retirement in 2001 so he could enjoy spending time with his family. A master at fixing just about anything, Bill put his skills to work by forming B&L Handyman Services. He enjoyed meeting new people through his business; he never met a stranger. However his many friends and colleagues in Alaska missed him dearly and convinced him to return to the North Slope as a contractor for Udelhoven.

In 2005, Bill was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. He received treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. His strong faith, sense of humor and will to live helped him to beat the survival odds for this very rare cancer.

Bill’s first priority in life was his wife, Libby, and his two daughters, Mandy McGee Meredith Clopper of Austin, Texas and Sarah Kathleen Meredith of Bella Vista, Arkansas. He loved his girls more than life itself. He was proud of their every accomplishment and was always there to support them. He loved the men in his daughters’ lives as well, Mike Clopper and Steve Morris. He was especially proud of his two grandchildren, Meredith Caroline Clopper and Alexander William Clopper, both of whom were named for him.

He will be remembered for his sense of humor, his unfailing optimism, and his love for his family and friends.

Bill is survived by his wife, his two daughters and his two grandchildren. He is also survived by his father, William Thomas Meredith, Sr. of Lake Providence, Louisiana, one sister and brother-in-law Joan and Sammy Bullard of Lake Providence, one brother and sister-in-law, Ray and Cathy Meredith of Prairieville, Louisiana, and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be held at 5-7pm, Monday, February 22, 2010 at Central United Methodist Church in Rogers, Arkansas. A memorial service will be held at 10am, Tuesday, February 23, 2010, also at Central United Methodist Church in Rogers. Casual dress is preferred, as Bill was not a suit man and would not expect that of others.

Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Rogers Humane Society, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or the Central United Methodist Church Weekday Children’s Ministries.

Arrangements are under the direction of Callison-Lough Funeral Home in downtown Rogers. Online condolences may be made at www.callisonloughfuneralhome.com, or www.mem.com.