Jerald Howard Hensley, 84, a longtime resident of Gravette, passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 19, 2024, finally succumbing to a relentless series of health challenges that took his mobility but never broke his spirit. He was born April 30, 1939, in Marshall, Arkansas, to Howard and Alva Hensley. He graduated from Marshall High School in 1957 and immediately turned his attention to pursuing a career as a lab technologist. He graduated from Gradwohl School of Laboratory Technique in St. Louis before embarking on a long and successful tenure in health care, overseeing laboratory and X-ray departments at rural hospitals in Missouri, Arkansas, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma during his career.

Jerald was a retired laboratory and X-ray technologist who moved back to Gravette in 2001 and worked part time in several health care facilities until fully retiring in 2006. He had previously lived in the community in the late 1960s, working in the lab and eventually meeting his wife, Billie Lou. The two were married January 24, 1969, and devoted their life together to raising their five children.

He was also known for his strong work ethic as he sometimes worked two and three jobs to support his young family. Jerald was no stranger to hard work, handling duties as varied as after-hours janitorial work and taxicab driver. He worked hard to be a provider and instilled a similar work ethic in all of his children, who have since grown up with their own families and built careers of their own.

Jerald supplemented his education by earning an associate degree from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico, in 1981, commuting more than 100 miles each way to classes several times per week over a span of several years. A longtime member of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, he was a medical technologist and certified radiographer.

He was a member of the Bentonville Masons and was raised to Master Mason in 1964.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by one sister, Jo Ruth Barnes.

He is survived by his wife, one sister, Nancy Hensley of Marshall, Arkansas; and five children, Doug Hensley and his wife, Tammy of Lubbock, Texas; Becky Hickey and her husband, Joe of Mount Vernon, Missouri; Julie Peer and her husband, Alan of Aubrey, Texas; Nancy Wallace and her husband, Mike of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; and Dorian Leonard and her husband, Dr. Kent Leonard of Gravette; 10 grandchildren, Kendra McDonnold, Joey Lann, Jennifer Ash, Nicole Peer, Eric Peer, Hayden Hensley, Lauren Leonard, Cole Leonard, Kerrigan Hensley and Andrew Hickey and 12 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 25, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the Bella Vista Funeral Home, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, AR 72715.

The family requests memorials be made to the Salvation Army of Northwest Arkansas, 219 W 15th Street, Fayetteville, AR 72701,  or the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, 1378 June Self Drive, Springdale, AR 72764.

Arrangements are made by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory where on-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.