Horace Mitchell "Mickey" Launius

Mr. Horace Mitchell "Mickey" Launius, 81, of Hot Springs, Arkansas passed from this life on September 19, 2015 at the Veteran's Administration Community Living Center in Temple, Texas. Mickey was born July 17, 1934 in Bearden, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Judge Robert Wilson Launius and Margaret Gammill Launius of Bearden, Arkansas; his first wife, Beverly Blewster Launius, of Pine Bluff, Ark. and his second wife, Deloris Gable Launius, of Hot Springs, Ark. Mickey was born and raised in Arkansas. He spent his youth in his hometown of Bearden and was a gifted athlete that excelled in just about every sport he tried. While a youth, he discovered a true love for golf and would hitchhike to Camden, Ark. to caddy and play the golf course there. He was a running back for the Bearden Bears in High School and after graduation he began College at Henderson State University. During college, in January 1955, he decided to join the U.S. Army and received accolades as a rifle marksman. After serving in the Army, he returned to Henderson to graduate in May of 1959, with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Education. He continued his education and completed his Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas. He was a lifelong educator. Upon graduation from college, he taught high school history and coached football in Sparkman, Ark. He then moved to Pine Bluff in 1963, where he had a successful career in Public School Textbook sales. Mickey worked for several textbook publishers, including the McGraw Hill and McMillan Publishing Companies. While in Pine Bluff, he was a long-time member of Lakeside United Methodist Church, a beloved Boy Scout Leader and Scout Master of the Lakeside Troop 93. After his children went to college, he and his first wife, Beverly, moved to Southern Arkansas and then on to New Braunfels, Texas, where he served as a School Administrator, Coach and Teacher. In 1998, he retired and moved back to Arkansas to pursue his passions for fishing, golf, and helping others improve their golf game. He moved to Hot Springs, Ark. in 1998 and was a member of First United Methodist Church in Hot Springs. He met his second wife, Delores Gable, in Hot Springs and lived on Lake Hamilton until December 2014. Mr. Launius was a United States Army Veteran and served during the Korean War. He is survived by his daughter, Sallie (Charles) Harper of Meridian, Mississippi; son, Bob (Wendy) of Austin, Texas; four grandchildren, Dillon Mitchell Launius, Robert Barrett Launius, Megan Jae Launius, and Sallie Emery Launius of Austin, Texas. Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 26, at 10 a.m. at Lakeside United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff with the Reverend Pamela Jean Estes officiating. Interment will follow at Graceland cemetery. Family visitation will follow in the Fellowship Hall at Lakeside United Methodist Church. The family asks that donations be made in Mickey's memory to the Beverly Blewster Education Trust Fund, c/o Lakeside United Methodist Church of Pine Bluff; the Lakeside United Methodist Church of Pine Bluff; the Boy Scouts of America; or any charity of choice.