Cover photo for "Faye" Willa O'Neal's Obituary
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"Faye" Willa O'Neal

August 18, 1933 — January 8, 2021

"Faye" Willa O'Neal

Willa Faye O’Neal entered this life on Friday, August 18, 1933. She entered into eternal life at midnight on Friday, January 8, 2021.  "Faye", as she was known to friends and coworkers, retired in 1997 from the State of Arkansas Revenue Department where she managed numerous offices at different times during her extensive career. She always enjoyed working and loved being in a position that allowed her to serve the public, where she could meet new people every day. She was highly regarded by her peers and acquired awards throughout her career. She was a member of Tyndall Park Baptist Church of Benton.

Once she retired she became a full time "nanny" to her grandkids, always teaching them kindness, care, and love. As they grew older she became nanny to everyone she met and loved to attend their ballgames and school programs. Nanny taught us all the love of crafting and became an artist at 64, leaving behind several gorgeous paintings.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Lother and Goldie Beatrice Soden of Washington state, her younger brother, Dub (Lois) Soden and baby sister, Carol Taylor, who was also her best friend. She was also preceded in death by 3 of her 5 children, a set of twins, Deborah who died at birth and Terry who died at 5 years old on an operating table during one of the first open heart surgeries on children, and her oldest daughter, Judy Michelle "Hopkins" O'Neal who left this world at age 56 in 2013 and her Great-Garndson, Newborn Wyatt Jace Hopkins.

She is survived in death by her son, Thomas (Samantha) O'Neal and baby daughter, Tamela (Mark) Howard; her grandchildren, Miranda Howard, Caitlin (RJ) Hardesty, Connor O'Neal, Niven Quinn O'Neal, Daun O'Neal, Taylor O'Neal, Justin Hopkins and Nicholas (Abby) Hopkins; her great grandchildren, Brayden Christopher Howard, Laela Jolene Howard, Lilly May Hardesty, Octavia Rayne Hardesty, Jade Nicole Hopkins, Kyle Allen Hopkins, Presley Grace Hopkins and Ryder Cash Hopkins; and several more nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends whom she loved dearly.

Faye left this world while at home with her daughter, Tame by her side and is now resting in Heaven waiting to see us all again.

Funeral services will be Friday, January 15th at 10 am at the funeral home, with burial following at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Brother Mark Sikes will be officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 14th at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., (501)224-2200.  Faye’s online guestbook may be signed at www.smithfamilycares.com.

Covid-19 guidelines for wearing masks and social distancing will be followed.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of "Faye" Willa O'Neal, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Thursday, January 14, 2021

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Smith - Little Rock Funeral Home

8801 Knoedl Ct, Little Rock, AR 72205

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Funeral Service

Friday, January 15, 2021

Starts at 10:00 am

Smith - Little Rock Funeral Home

8801 Knoedl Ct, Little Rock, AR 72205

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

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