William Wayne “Zack” Zachary

William Wayne “Zack” Zachary age 80, of Mena, Arkansas, passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2020 in the Yuma Regional Medical Center at Yuma, Arizona, with his wife by his side and other family members with him through a video chat session. Zack was born November 6, 1939 in Cherry Valley, Arkansas, the son of William Elton “Buddy” Zachary and Ethel Mae Powell Zachary Kellum.

As a child he moved from Arkansas to Wisconsin then to Spokane, Washington, where he made his home for most of his life. He was a bus driver for over 30 years and retired from Greyhound Bus lines. In 2003 on an extended visit to Mena, Arkansas, he met and later married his wife Mary Ann and made Mena his home for the rest of his life.

Zack never met anyone who was a stranger for long. He loved to talk but he also listened and had a knack for getting people to talk to him. He always had a smile and loved to get others to smile. He was a member of Mena First Assembly of God Church where he was a volunteer in the church food pantry. He had served as a volunteer for Mena Regional Health System and helped his wife with her booths at craft fairs and flea markets. He was a member of the CMA

Home Front Warriors and past president of the local chapter. He loved to ride his Honda 1150 motorcycle until health concerns forced him to trade it for a CanAm Spyder Roadster three-wheel motorcycle.

Zack and Mary Ann had a blended family of 14 children which included Zack’s 5 biological children, 3 stepchildren he adopted and raised as his own, 2 other stepchildren, and Mary Ann’s 3 children and 1 stepson. They loved to travel and with family scattered from coast to coast they made many long trips. They had started spending the winter months in Arizona where they had a 5th wheel travel trailer which they left in Arizona year-round.

Zack was diagnosed with lung cancer just before they left for Arizona last fall. He fought hard to defeat cancer but his weakened body could not fight off pneumonia. He was preceded in death by his parents, third wife June Nicklin Zachary, 2 half-brothers Bobby Wesley Zachary, Sr. and Don Carlos Zachary, half-sister Sonora Diane Zachary Farmer-Wallis, sister “Little Ethel” who died at birth; step grandson Drake Hahn, step son-in-law Steve Cole, and stepson Michael French.

Survivors include his wife Mary Ann Mills Zachary and their blended family of children and stepchildren: Steve Zachary of Yuma, Arizona; Don Zachary (Wynona) of Washougal, Washington; Gina Zachary Andres (George) of Missoula, Montana; Lisa Zachary Skellenger (Robert), Stacey Zachary Lobdell (Troy), and Adam Zachary (Leha) of Spokane Valley, Washington; Lori Bailey of Deer Park, Washington; Dave Griggs of Seattle, Washington; Ty Hahn (Debbie) and Tyla Hahn of Redmond, Oregon; Michelle French Cole of Mena, Arkansas; Melynda French Buchanan Williams of Greer, South Carolina; and Ken Buchanan (Kathy) of Jonesboro, Arkansas; daughter-in-law Heather French of Louisville, Kentucky; 26 grandchildren; and 9 great grandchildren. Other survivors who will miss him include his sister-in-law Lynda Langley (Travis) of Dalark, Arkansas; his uncle Richard Morales of Waupaca, Wisconsin; special cousins Brenda Jeffress (William), Billie Allen Johnson (Diane), Jerry Johnson (Bernice), Erick Johnson (Connie), and Gary Johnson (Nancy), nieces, nephews, extended family, and many friends.

Due to the recommendations of the Arkansas Health Department and the CDC there will be a memorial service at Mena First Assembly of God Church at a later date with a private burial.

Memorials may be sent to: First Assembly of God “Acts of Love” food pantry – First Assembly of God Church, 2111 Sutherland Avenue, Mena, AR 71953 or CMA Run for the Son, Home Front Warriors, P O Box 7, Hatfield, Arkansas 71945, with notation in memory of William “Zack”

Zachary member no. 112186.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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