Perry Loyegene Prewett

Perry Loyegene Prewett – Born December 13, 1933. United with the Lord on August 23, 2025.

He was born at the family home in Bexar, AR, and graduated from West Plains High School in West Plains, MO, in 1950.

He joined the Navy right out of high school and served in the Korean Conflict from 1950 – 1953 as a radioman on the USS Iowa. He also played baseball for the Navy baseball team in North Carolina and Virginia.

Married to Helen Joyce Garrett on Sept. 1, 1957, at First Baptist Church in West Plains, MO (married 67 years), and graduated with his accounting degree from Missouri State University, later adding his teaching certificate before starting as a coach and math teacher in West Plains.

Perry was the State Farm Insurance agent in Mountain Grove, MO, from 1970 – 1996. He continued to coach ball teams as his boys grew up. He and Joyce then moved to Bryant, AR, in 2001, where they lived until his death on August 23, 2025.

After retirement, he loved residing in and breathing the fresh air of his beloved Arkansas. He and Joyce traveled extensively, visiting his son Kevin’s family on the mission field… traversing nearly all of Western Europe and every corner of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Perry and Joyce greatly loved their church and especially their sweet and supportive Sunday School class.

He will be remembered mostly for his fun and jovial spirit, love for his beloved St. Louis Cardinals, and pride of his family… especially his grand and great-grandchildren. He was the only person we ever knew who could touch his nose with his tongue; and he also survived sleeping on a concrete floor for 36 hours due to a flight delay in the snow-bound Amsterdam airport.

Perry is survived by his wife Joyce, son Mark (Rene), and family in Bryant, AR, and son Kevin (Susan), and his family in Richmond, VA. They also had two daughters, Diane Jean and Reaca Dawn, who passed away shortly after their births. He was the son of John Wharton Prewett and Grace Emmalee Clinton Prewett of West Plains, MO. He was also preceded in death by his two brothers, Elmo and Doyle.

He greatly loved his grand and great grandchildren and delighted in their love, laughter, and stories.

Grandchildren: Jennifer Edwards (Dusty) and Greg Prewett (Marlene), Bryant, AR; Emily Pearson (Tom), Richmond, VA; Garrett Prewett (Becky), Black Mountain, N.C.; Addison Prewett, Richmond, VA; Sarah Kate Stark (Cole), Dana Point, CA; and Michael Prewett, Bryant, AR.

Great-grandchildren: Logan (Avanna), Olivia and Julie Grantham, Cheyenne Edwards, Bryant, AR; Felicity, Elsie and Kit Pearson, Richmond, VA; Andie Jo Prewett (with Sammie Rae on the way) in Black Mountain, NC; and Ainsley and Presley Prewett (and preceded by infant Chase Prewett) of Bryant, AR.

To honor Perry's life, a visitation will be held at Indian Springs Baptist Church, 23581 I-30, Bryant, AR, on Friday, August 29, 2025, starting at 8:00 a.m., with a funeral service immediately following at 9:00 a.m. Burial will take place at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, AR, at 11:00 a.m.

The family praises our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for granting us so many laughter-filled years with our beloved father and Patriarch, Perry L. Prewett.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the mission efforts of Prayer House Ministry – https://www.equipnet.org/missionaries/cstark