Staci Lynn Saulsbury

The Saulsbury Family is saddened to report the death of our precious Staci Lynn Saulsbury, 48, on Friday, May 3, 2013 in San Bernardino, California. She was born on November 2, 1964 in El Dorado, Arkansas. Her father says that she was so beautiful, he could hardly believe it.

Anyone who knows our family story knows that Staci spent a lifetime in great sadness and confusion and eventually, alcoholism. Though our family and many of her friends loved her deeply, Staci was never capable of believing and feeling she was truly loved and wanted. Countless family members and friends tried to rescue her from this disbelief and to provide stability, but to no avail.

Although these weaknesses plagued her throughout her lifetime, Staci managed to bring joy and laughter to those around her. Her keen sense of wit was unmatched. She would get on a roll and make her sister laugh uncontrollably for hours. Her laugh alone was infectious and we will miss it.

While Staci never had anything of value in worldly possessions, we have seen her give sacrificially to those who had even less, which was many times inconceivable. She had an undeniably fierce passion for the underdogs in life which we believe was a reflection of her own self-appointed station in life. She was the underdog fighting to stay alive.

Staci had a very temporal worldview - she lived for the moment. But somehow she also managed to hold onto the everyday hope that tomorrow might be a better day. We believe this hope and her cat-like ability to always land on her feet kept her going for 48 years.

We cannot believe we are writing her obituary today. We cannot believe she is gone and that we'll not have another opportunity to hug and express our love to her in this life. Our hearts are broken. Please pray for us that God would strengthen us with his power.

Staci is survived by two wonderful sons, Trent Bedwell and his wife, Haleigh of El Dorado, Arkansas and Blake Bedwell of Magnolia, Arkansas; her father, Bill Saulsbury, of El Dorado, Arkansas and her mother, Julie Pickering of Dallas, Texas; her sister, Stephanie Usrey, of Gainesville, Georgia and her brother, Jon Saulsbury of Northridge, California; her grandmother, Mary Pickering of El Dorado, Arkansas; two grandchildren, Landon Bedwell and Haleigh Bedwell of El Dorado, Arkansas.

Staci will lie in state at the Saulsbury Family residence at 4904 Moro Bay Highway, El Dorado, Arkansas on Saturday, May 11, 2013. The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday evening. On Sunday, May 12, 2013 there will be a graveside service under the direction of Youngs Funeral Directors at 2:00 p.m. at Union Baptist Church Cemetery, 144 Crain City Road, El Dorado, Arkansas. Everyone is welcome to attend.