Obituaries

Taryn Raquel Claassen

Photo of Taryn  Raquel Claassen
Taryn Raquel Claassen of Bryant was called home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Oct. 20, 2017. She died peacefully at home loved and comforted by family. Taryn was born on June 26, 1993 in Conway, Ark., and loved by so many people. She was preceded in death by her beloved granny Judith Claassen and Edward Odell Fryar of Little Rock. She is survived by her adoring parents Sherri (Brad) Fryar of Bryant; Mark (Tammie) Claassen of Vilonia; loving grandparents Jim and Phyllis Hagood of Maumelle, Harold Claassen of Conway and grandmother Peggy Fryar of Little Rock; brothers Bradley (Lydia) Claassen of Taylors, S.C., Cody Fryar of Bryant and Dylan Right of Rogers; sisters Amy (Cory) Smith and niece Ileybeth of Conway and Courtney (Taylor) Licause and niece Harper of Pea Ridge; her uncles Darrell (Jo) Hagood of Vilonia, Murray (Kim) Claassen of Hot Springs Village, Myron (Ramona) Claassen of Conway, Ed (Michelle) Fryar of Rogers; and many other great-aunts, uncles and cousins. Her aunt Kim Claassen and her great-aunt Dottie (Jim) Hughes spent countless hours visiting Taryn over the past four years, always making sure she was able to participate in family gatherings which were so important to her, and keeping her in an endless supply of Chik-Fila and Sonic blasts. Also of great importance to her was her best friend Alexandra (Bradley) Leslie of Fenton, Mo. Taryn was just beginning her Junior year as a Theater major at the University of Arkansas when she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. She had a passion for music and theater since she was just a little girl. She began singing in audition school choirs when she was in 6th grade and made All-Region Choir several times during her years at Vilonia Junior High and High School. She had a beautiful soprano voice that resulted in her receiving a music scholarship from the U of A even though she wasn't a music major. Taryn loved to travel, go for rides with her dad and his Harley Davidson group, read, go to concerts, movies, theme parks, zoos and aquariums. She collected anything that was related to her self-proclaimed status as a "Fangirl", loving all things Dr. Who, Harry Potter, Criminal Minds, X-Men and Avengers. Her favorite pastime was attending Broadway musicals throughout the country with her Mom, her favorites being Hamilton and Wicked. Taryn was a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Conway, having accepted Christ and following in believer's baptism when she was eight. After moving to Bryant in 2013, she became active in the Geyer Springs First Baptist Church Choir. Taryn was also involved with the Arkansas Ovarian Cancer Coalition striving to educate and raise awareness through public service campaigns and other activities. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the many friends and families that have supported Taryn and especially her medical teams at UAMS Gynocology/Oncology, MD Anderson, Home I.V. Specialist, Bryant Family Pharmacy and Arkansas Hospice. Funeral Service will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home Chapel, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. Burial to follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, 850 Highway 36, Vilonia, Ark. Family will receive friends from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to the Arkansas Ovarian Cancer Coalition, P.O. Box 7796, Little Rock, Ark., 72217. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.

Published October 22, 2017

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