Bruce Efird

Bruce Efird, age 64 of Mena, Arkansas died Sunday, March 13, 2016 at Mena Regional Health Systems in Mena.  He was born Saturday September 22, 1951, to Wendell & Pauline Buck Efird in Malvern Arkansas.

After graduating from Malvern High School, Bruce was a standout football player and was fortunate enough to play college football at Ouachita Baptist University, where he held several records as a kicker. Bruce also had the opportunity to play for the Dallas Cowboys as a “Walk On” but chose to raise his family instead. Before graduating from college with a Bachelor’s Degree, Bruce married the love of his life, Susan Lindsey in 1972. After college, Bruce worked as the manager of Ouachita Valley Dairy in Camden, Arkansas for about 5 years.  He and his family left the dairy and moved to Ashdown where he opened Efird Ford, Inc. which he operated for 15 years.  He then moved to Mena with his family where he opened Mena Ford, Inc. in 1994. He has operated it for the past 22 years.

Bruce was a loving husband, father, PopPop, brother, uncle, “Big Bad Bruce” and friend and will be missed by all who knew him.

Bruce is survived by, his loving wife of 43 years, Susan Lindsey Efird of Mena; one son and daughter in law, Anthony and Katie Efird of Mena; two daughters, Nelia Efird Schell and Emily Efird Heath and husband, Dean of Mena; one son – in – law, Chris; two sisters, Lou Ella Efird Gilchrist of Mountain Home and Sharon Efird Walters of Malvern; eight grandchildren, Jackson Efird, Sam Efird, Connor Efird, Thaddaeus Nance; Taylor Nance, Savanah Schell Perez, Chelsea Schell all of Mena and Alexes Schell of Florida; four great grandchildren, Genesis Fabian, Jeremiah Perez, Marley Schell all of Mena and Mason Schell of Florida; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by, his parents; his son, Wendell Bruce Efird Jr., and two sisters, Wendelene Efird Smith and Cricket Efird Owen.

Funeral services will be Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. at the First Baptist Church in Mena with Brother Butch Riddle, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Ashdown officiating.  Interment will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Camden, Arkansas at 4:00 P.M. under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena.  Visitation will be Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from 4-8 P.M. at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mena.

Pallbearers for Mena service will be, Bobby Freeze, Brent Gorden, Jamie Williams, E. Wayne McDaniel, Russell Gibbons, Mac Stroud, Jim O’Neal, Brian Erickson, Jim Fuller and Daryen Wiles

Pallbearers for the graveside service in Camden will be, L. E. Lindsey, Paul Lindsey, Pryor Lindsey, Judson Lindsey, Jay Dooley, Jim Golden, Jonathan Dooley and Bill Walters.

Honorary Pallbearers will be, the OBU Football Alumni, Colton Wiles, Brian Bowser, Matthew Bowser, Ray Allen, Jerry Smith, Michael Smith, Donnie Walters, Ben Owen, Kenny Gilchrist, Grant Dooley, John Harris Lindsey, Gene Lance, Andy Brown and Don Quigley.

In lieu of flower memorials can be made to the Mena Regional Support Foundation, P.O. Box 1526, Mena, Arkansas 71953, First Baptist Church Sound and Music Fund, 811 Port Arthur Mena, Arkansas 71953 or Ouachita Baptist University Athletic Department, 410 Ouachita Street, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71998.

Online Guestbook: www.bowserffh.com.

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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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