Jack Ellis Sandlin

Jack Sandlin, 82, passed away March 22 in Bentonville, Arkansas. He was born July 18, 1939 to Edward and Daisy Sandlin in Hiwasse, Arkansas. He was the second born of nine children. He was raised and attended school in Hiwasse. He then joined the National Guard and served in that branch for two years, and then joined the United States Navy and served with them for four years. He took pride in his service in both branches and shared many stories of his experiences with them. While in the Navy, not only did he sail to many ports around the world, he met a young lady, Shirley Laverne Elmore, while stationed in San Diego, California and he somehow convinced her to marry him, and they remained married for 61(+) years.

Jack and Shirley had four children: Sherry Lynne Treat, Brian Douglas Sandlin, Gregory Dean Sandlin, and Allen Dale Sandlin.

Jack was a member of the Bentonville Church of Christ since 1964.

Jack worked many places throughout the years from Bear Brand in Bentonville, CTS of Bentonville, a short time with WalMart, and then finally retiring from First Brands in Rogers, Arkansas.

Jack was not one to sit idle. He was passionate about his birds from his roller pigeons he raised, the Martin colony he cultivated year after year, his cockatiel, his Quaker parrot and the various birds brought to him by friends and family over the years to be cared for and then eventually released back to their natural habitats.

He also spent years cultivating his garden, the many flowers and trees that continued to grow and prosper under his care. It was rare for him not to be outside tinkering with something that would soon be blooming or producing something good to be eaten.

Another passion that drove Jack was music. He loved to sing and he loved to play the guitar. His family and friends all loved to watch and listen to him play and sing. He spent many late Friday nights playing on the square with a variety of people. He would play at just about every opportunity he was given. He loved his music and he loved to share that passion with anyone that he could.

So much more could be said about Jack and his life and his many contributions to his family, friends, and community, but to do that a book would have to be written. He was a man that touched and made impacts on countless people. He was a man who believed strongly in God and did the best he could to be a man that showed what God’s love was all about. If you look at the content of his life, he was successful.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Daisy, son Allen, sister Rhonda Mitchell, brother Charles, sister in law Lorene (Lee) Sandlin, brother in law Ron Lowe, sister Connie Rial, sister in law Stephanie Sandlin.

Jack is survived by wife Shirley Sandlin, daughter Sherry Treat and son in law Shawn, son Brian Sandlin, and son Greg Sandlin. He is also survived by grandchildren Donovan Shayne Sandlin (Heather), Kasia Hall, Saber Treat, Saxon Treat. Great grandchildren surviving Jack are Neveah and Camden Sandlin, and Lilysette Johnson.

He is also survived by his brother Edward Jr., sister Joann Lowe, sister Brenda Whiteside and brother in law Rudy Whiteside, brother Johnny Wayne Sandlin and sister in law Judy Sandlin, brother in law Larry Mitchell, sister Vicki Stern and brother in law Roger Stern, and brother in law WT Rial. Jack is also survived by many extended family members and a host of friends and loved ones.