Bill F. Hefley, Sr. M.D.

Obituary of Bill F. Hefley, Sr. MD

Billy Frank (Bill) Hefley, Sr. departed this life on December 12, 2025, surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. Nearing ninety-three years old, Bill was known by many as a wise and dedicated doctor, a pillar in the Windsong Church of Christ, a devoted husband and father, and a grandfather without equal to his nine grandchildren.

Bill was born at the peak of the Great Depression in Harrison, Arkansas, on January 30, 1933, to Lowell Jefferson Hefley and Ruby Bell Criner Hefley. He entered this world in a hotel in which the doctor used a suite as delivery rooms. Bill lived in Mt. Judea, Newton County, Arkansas, until he was two years old, where his earliest memory was watching his father milk the cow. When Bill was two, his father’s job with the Corp of Engineers took him to the Mississippi River where he worked on the large levees on the Mississippi River as part of the New Deal project to get Americans back to work. The family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and Bill’s mother, with Bill and his baby sister in tow, traveled from town to town along the river so they could see Bill’s father at every opportunity.

When Bill was four years old, his family moved to Little Rock, where he lived the rest of his life. Though living in Little Rock, Bill considered Mt. Judea his home, spending holidays and summers there with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and many cousins. These times made up some of his fondest memories.

Bill played the piano and in high school was in the band, playing the clarinet and the oboe. He was extremely musical, and by the time he married was very accomplished at the piano, guitar, and harmonica. He later added the accordion and the violin to his collection of instruments. Family gatherings included singing around the piano while Bill played; vacations were road trips filled with singing until we were hoarse.

From his earliest memory, Bill and his father planned for him to attend medical school. His family being on a tight budget, Bill felt compelled to complete his education as quickly as possible. He attended Little Rock Junior College (now UALR) for one school year and one summer. He then spent one school year and one summer at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and took one additional class by correspondence course. While at Fayetteville, he regularly hitch-hiked back and forth to Little Rock using his typewriter case, on which he had stuck a large university “A”, as his suitcase. He figured when drivers saw the “A” they would know he was a student and feel safe giving him a lift. He figured right.

Having ninety-three hours of college credit and the proper prerequisite courses under his belt, Bill was accepted to the University of Arkansas Medical School at age nineteen. He graduated from medical school with honors in 1956 at the age of twenty-three.

While in his final year of medical school, Bill met the love of his life, Elizabeth “Jane” Sutherlin, at Sixth and Izard Church of Christ. They went on their first date in November 1955, and married immediately upon Bill’s graduation from medical school. June 1956 was a busy month for Bill as he graduated on June 10, attended baccalaureate on June 11, took the Arkansas State Board Medical exam on June 13, and married Jane on June 15.

After honeymooning in New Orleans, Bill and Jane settled in Little Rock where he began his residency, and Jane taught school. Jane quickly became pregnant and was required by district policy to stop teaching when it became necessary for her to wear maternity clothes. Hence, they brought their oldest child, Laura, home from the hospital to the housing project. Bill and Jane recalled fondly their time in the projects and were in a rental home by the time they welcomed their son, Bill, Jr., twenty-one months later.

Bill, Jr., was quickly followed by Sarah. Bill, Sr. finished his residency in July 1960 and joined Drs. Alan Cazort and Purcell Smith, Jr. at the Arkansas Allergy Clinic. Shortly after he joined the Allergy Clinic, Bill’s National Guard Unit was activated in October 1961during the Berlin Wall Crisis. Bill and Jane moved Jane and the kids to Searcy near Jane’s parents, and Dad to Ft. Chaffee. When the crisis abated, Jane and the kids joined Bill in Ft. Smith where he finished his military service.

Following his honorable discharge from the army, Bill and Jane returned to Little Rock, and Bill took up his practice at the Allergy Clinic. Bill was dedicated to his practice and deeply cared for his patients. He was reputed to be a great listener and often stated that if a doctor would just listen to the patient, the patient would tell him or her what was wrong. Thus it comes as no surprise that Bill was a great diagnostician. Throughout his career, Bill was an active member in the Pulaski County Medical Society, the Arkansas Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and a member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. He retired from the practice of medicine in 2002.

Bill and Jane were lifelong members of the Windsong Church of Christ (previously called the Sixth and Izard Church of Christ and previous to that the Fourth and State Church of Christ). In addition to teaching a junior high Sunday school class for many years, Bill served first as a deacon and then as an elder. He was a dedicated elder for fifty years. At the time of his death, Bill was the longest attending member of the church, having been a member for almost eighty-nine years.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-seven years, Jane; his parents; his sister, Rita Paschal and her husband, Vail Paschal; his sister-in-law, Pat McRee and her husband, Col. (Retired) Marshall McRee; and his niece, Rita Wooley. He is survived by his children Laura Krupka; Bill F. Hefley, Jr., and his wife, Lisa; and Sarah Heffley and her husband, Kyle. Bill is also survived by his nine grandchildren, whom he adored and who adored him right back: Bailey Hefley, Marshall Krupka, Silas Heffley, Hannah Hefley Raiford (Derek), Claire Heffley, Will Hefley, Harrison Heffley, Michael Krupka (Meredith), and Ren Hefley; a great granddaughter, Adeline Jane Krupka; and two great grandsons expected in the spring of 2026. Bill leaves three beloved nieces and their families: Ronda Paschal, Tracy Wellington (Jim), and Stephanie Williams (Brandon), as well as many other cherished relatives and friends.

The family has entrusted Smith Family Funeral Homes, Little Rock, with the arrangements. Visitation is planned for Saturday, December 20, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Windsong Church of Christ in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The funeral service will be held immediately following at 11:00. The burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Oak Grove Cemetery in Searcy Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either Windsong Church of Christ Silver City Ministries, 3 Windsong Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72113 or Harding University Bill and Jane Hefley Endowment Fund, 915 E. Market, HU 12238, Searcy, AR 72149.