Zachary Thicksten

Zachary Edward Thicksten, 38, of Little Rock, Arkansas went to be with the Lord on June 18, 2021, following a tragic plane crash in Conway, Ark.

He was born Jan. 5th, 1983, in Pine Bluff, Ark., the son of Debbie and Mark Thicksten. He was the oldest of three siblings. On July 6, 2013, he married the love of his life, Helen Ruth (Ruthie) Leggett, who survives, along with their three children, Emery Ruth Thicksten (6), Luke Edward Thicksten (4), and Shepherd Zachary Thicksten (15 months) of Little Rock, Ark.

Zach graduated from Pulaski Academy in 2002 and attended the University of Arkansas. Zach was the successful owner of Pine Bluff Crating & Pallet, a 64 year old family-owned business.

Zach was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend, an accomplished pilot, and an avid fisherman who loved the outdoors. He was a committed Christian, who loved Jesus and was a faithful husband and father.

Mr. Thicksten was a member of the Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association and New Life Church. He was an active supporter of the Dream Center as well as numerous other professional and charitable organizations.

Zach’s greatest joys were his three children, Emery, Luke, and Shepherd. He is also survived by his parents, Debbie and Mark Thicksten of Pine Bluff, Ark., brother, Nicholas Thicksten and wife Caroline of Dallas, TX, sister Molly Ellen Thicksten of Little Rock, Ark., nephews Charles and Finley Thicksten of Dallas, TX., and grandmother Erma Thicksten of Searcy, Ark.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Sybil and Leonard Brazil of Pine Bluff, Ark., and his grandfather Edward Burl Thicksten of Searcy, Ark.

A visitation will be held at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home at 8801 Knoedl Ct, Little Rock, Ark., 72205 on Friday, June 25 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and a service will follow on Saturday, June 26 at 10:00 a.m., officiated by pastor Harry Bates, at New Life Church of Greater Little Rock, located at 8000 Crystal Hill Rd, North Little Rock, Ark., 72118. (Live stream link is below for those who can't attend in person.)  A private burial will follow the service.

His service will be live streamed at this link (copy and paste into browser):

https://control.resi.io/webplayer/video.html?id=771be401-9a28-4ae2-b762-392f798cc9bc

In lieu of flowers, the Thicksten family asks that all gifts be made to the scholarship fund for the Thicksten Children at Little Rock Christian Academy. Gifts can be mailed to Little Rock Christian at 19010 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, Ark. 72223, with “Thicksten Family” in the memo.