Darrel McKinley Teeter

Darrel McKinley Teeter died peacefully on Jan. 29, 2016. Born to Burl and Atha Teeter on March 20, 1931 on Crow Mountain in Pope County, Ark.; he was 84 years old. Mr. Teeter was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert Teeter; and sister, Arletta Anderson. He is survived by his wife, Huberta Jones Teeter; sons, Darry (Molly) of Little Rock, Denny (fiancée, Andrea) of Hot Springs; sister, Bobbie McCoy of Houston, Texas; five grandchildren: Courtney, Halle, Zach, Everett and Will; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of friends. As a boy on Crow Mountain, Teeter accepted the call to become a minister and was ordained by the Assemblies of God in 1954. He graduated from South Central Bible College in Hot Springs and after college, sold shoes at Sears where he met Hugh Beasley, owner of Beasley Dodge, who hired him as a salesman. He moved to Murfreesboro, Ark., where he pastored a church for over five years. In 1959, because of his growing family and his desire to increase his support for missions, he sold cars to subsidize his income, and that was the beginning of Teeter Motors. From humble beginnings in Murfreesboro, Teeter's ministry led him to pastor Faith Assembly of God in Little Rock for five years during which time he owned two car lots, one at 4th and Broadway and one at East Broadway in North Little Rock. Teeter became the Chrysler dealer in Malvern in 1967 and moved his family there in 1969, closing the Little Rock lots in 1972. His car business evolved into the Malvern Chevrolet dealership in 1993 and expanded with additional dealerships in Camden, El Dorado and used car lots in Sheridan and Hot Springs. His folksy advertisements were always from his heart and un-rehearsed. He loved to say, "I'm gonna sell cars ‘till the good Lord takes me home." In the car business for 60 years, Teeter always gave God credit for his success. Other churches Teeter pastored were Rose Bud Assembly of God, Earle Assembly of God, and Lambert Assembly of God. In Malvern, he taught the Adult Bible Class at First Assembly of God for 15 years. Teeter felt compelled to share the Lord's blessings. God placed compassion within him to understand the needs of those who were struggling and less fortunate. Throughout the years, his faith led him to sponsor over 35 religious organizations, including missionaries and benevolent charities; missions to Iraq; Teen Challenge of which he is a Charter Board Member; Hillcrest Children's Home; Global University; and Russian Radio. He has provided hot meals for more than 20,000 children in India daily since 1996; supported 10 children in a Calcutta orphanage monthly; supported Fellowship of Christians and Jews; gave numerous vans, buses, and other vehicles to churches, missionaries, and ministers; and he supported ball teams and other worthy causes in the state, nation, and throughout the world. He purchased score boards for area schools, sponsored pageant contestants, supported Malvern Brickfest, and gave generously whenever youth were involved. Teeter said, "Kids can't play without a sponsor, and the more we spend on our children now, the less we will spend on prisons later". Teeter supported every community project presented to him. He will be sorely missed by his family, his church and his community. Visitation will be Tuesday, Feb. 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at First Assembly of God Church in Malvern, 1421 S. Main. A Celebration of Life Service will be Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Assembly of God, Malvern. Burial will be Thursday, Feb. 4, at 1 p.m. at Bowden Cemetery on Crow Mountain near Pottsville, Ark. Pallbearers are Steve Michael, Donnie Baker, Don Donihue, Larry Mann, Mike Fite, Tony Puckett, Byron Efird, Jimmy Lea, Rodney Smith, and Tony Norwood. Honorary pallbearers are Bill Stillwell, Larry Stinson, Pete Paladino, and Gary Burroughs. Arrangements by Regency Funeral Home. Sign the guestbook at regencyfuneralhome.com.