Alverne Stanfill, 99, of Springdale, Arkansas passed away Sunday, January 11, 2026 in Springdale. She was born June 18, 1926 in Excelsior, Arkansas to Albert and Minnie Belle (Been) Ulmer. She had three brothers, and as a child she helped with the chores on their farm by milking cows, collecting eggs from the chickens and tending to the gardens. Alverne attended Greenwood High School until her senior year when her family moved to Oakland, California. She graduated from Oakland Technical High School in 1943. After graduating, she worked at a Naval Supply Depot for two years until her family moved back to Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Alverne and Myren “Bud” Stanfill were married on September 15, 1946, after he was discharged from the Army after the end of World War II. They moved to Greenwood, where Bud worked with his father operating a trucking business. Bud and Alverne’s first son, Richard, was born in 1951 and Greg was born in 1954. Alverne was a stay at home mom until Richard started kindergarten. She then obtained a beauty license and opened a beauty shop in her home called Alverne’s. She ran her shop for 10 years and went back to school to earn her instructor’s license. She bought a beauty school in Poteau, Oklahoma and taught for eight years. She then sold the school so she could help care more for her mother and mother-in-law. She and Bud enlarged their home, and she began running her beauty shop in the home again.
Alverne retired in 1993 and when Bud also retired, they enjoyed traveling in their motor home with friends. They visited places such as Las Vegas, Yellowstone National Park, New York and Maine. They also took a trip to Europe. As a family, they always loved camping and water skiing every summer at Lake Quachita and Beaver Lake.
She is survived by one son, Greg Stanfill and wife, Annette; two grandchildren, Jessica Clarke and husband, Adam and Josh Stanfill and wife, Abby and three great grandchildren, Madelynn Clarke, Nora Clarke and Leighton Stanfill. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bud Stanfill; one son, Richard Stanfill; three brothers, Ray, Guy and Joe Ulmer and one great grandchild, Harper Clarke.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Thursday, January 15 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood with burial at Dawson Cemetery in Milltown. Viewing will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, the day of the service.
Pallbearers will be Charlie Miller, Larry Miller, Brent Goodwin, Mike Wight, Josh Stanfill and Adam Clarke. Honorary pallbearers will be Byron Ware and Cathy Goodwin.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to His Helping Hands, c/o First Methodist Church, 206 W. Johnson Ave., Springdale, AR 72764.
To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
