John Rison Fordyce III

John Rison Fordyce, III, 92, died December 27, 2023. 

Born in Little Rock March 25, 1931, to Helen Thompson Fordyce and John “Jack” Rison Fordyce Jr., John was 2 when Helen died in 1934. February 1, 1936, Jack married Mary Downs Lander and she became John’s loving stepmother. His older sister was Lillian* (Jack Blackwell) and he became big brother to two more siblings with the birth of Mary (Chappie Allsopp) and Ross* (Danna). When John was 12, Jack was killed when his plane crashed in WWII. 

John's children with Patsy Cathcart Fordyce are Anne,* Jack,* William (Karen) and Elizabeth, with five grandchildren David, Kenneth, Carly, Emily and J.R.* and three great-grandchildren Ollie, Millie and R.J.

John's memory lives on in the hearts of his wife of 35 years, Linda Hall Fordyce, and their large extended family. John was a second father and grandfather to her and Dean Garrett's children Bob,* Diane, Mindy (Thom Gipson), Leslie and Deno* plus five grandchildren Lainey, Garrett, Shannon, Brooke and Matt.

John's loving bunch including nieces, nephews, cousins and both exes all gathered as a family--remarkable! Devoted to family, John lovingly led by example, always thankful of blessings, he dedicated time for family, friends, associates, and clients. 

His faith in God was central to his life. He served and supported his church and met with his prayer group weekly for decades.

Educated in Little Rock public schools, prep school at Exeter, then Middlesex Class of ‘50 where this good-natured “Arkie” made lifetime friends, John was class president and made All New England in Lacrosse. At Vanderbilt Class of '54 he lettered in swimming and wrestling and joined the SAE fraternity. Two courses shy of an MBA at the University of Chicago, he quit, saying he already took those courses at Vandy, confidently accepting a satisfying and successful account executive position with Merrill Lynch in Little Rock. He enjoyed over 40 years there, saying, “It’s a fun business.” 

After three years active duty in the Marine Corps, he served in the USMC Reserves 31 years, was their CO, retiring as a fourth-generation colonel following his great grandfather, grandfather, and father. 

Even after losing both parents so young, John learned not to let hardships rule him. He felt deeply, loved and cared deeply, while his gifts of resilience and tenacity kept him going. 

Helpful always, he had a knack for seeing what was needed. Completely trustworthy, he had a healthy way of doing the right things. Even the things he did to stay in shape were things he loved like playing handball for 40 years, hiking and backpacking until after 85. He was seen chinning himself three times when he was 91. John and Linda’s backpacking trip to Norway was cancelled when he went into hospice care. Even there, he maintained his joy and gratitude in having family and friends close. 

John was a Boy Scout and became a highly honored scout leader, the epitome of the Boy Scout Law, which he enjoyed reciting.

Before he retired, he wrote: 

“I hope to remain involved…involved with people, organizations, and community. I want to go around the world and north and south in this hemisphere.” He did all that and more.

He and Linda have traveled the globe, self-guided, backpacking, traveling military Space-A when possible. They stayed in over 50 hostels here and abroad because they were the most engaging and educational. The experiences were so good, they wanted Little Rock to have a hostel. By 1999 they began to gather support. The Old LRFD Station Two, in MacArthur Park, was the perfect place. The new nonprofit negotiated a creative partnership for use of the building. The Firehouse Museum and Hostel of Arkansas opened in 2016. 

Other contributions to his community include Board Chairman for the Red Cross, building and maintaining the Ozark Highland Trail, OHTA Man of the Year, President of the Arkansas Trails Council, co-founder and Board member of the Firehouse Museum and Hostel of Arkansas for 20 years after retirement.

Respected and respectful, bright, wise, playful, humorous, wonderful friend and companion.

He was so loved. He will be so missed.

 * Deceased 

Military Honors and Interment will be Friday, September 20 at 10:00 AM at Mount Holly Cemetery. A Memorial Service followed by a reception and visitation will be Saturday, September 21 at 10:00 AM at First United Methodist Church, 723 Center St., Little Rock, AR 72201.

 Memorial gifts to your choice: First United Methodist Church, Boy Scouts of America, Little Rock Firehouse Museum and Hostel of Arkansas, P.O. Box 2753, Little Rock, AR 72203.

 Arrangements by Smith Family Funeral Home www.smithfamilycares.com.