Doris Hoofman Yarnell

Laura Doris Hoofman Yarnell passed away on May 4, 2018, in Searcy, Arkansas. She was born to Arthur West and Laura Lawson Hoofman on July 17, 1923, in the Plainview (White County) community. She graduated from Searcy High School in 1941 and attended Christian College for Women (now Columbia College), Ouachita Baptist College (now Ouachita Baptist University) earning a B.S. in business education, and Arkansas State College (now Arkansas State University) with an M.S.E. in counseling. For 14 years Mrs. Yarnell taught business education courses at Walnut Ridge High School and was the sponsor of the yearbook. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Walnut Ridge and was the minister of music. She also taught private piano lessons. On October 5, 1964, she married Albert R. Yarnell and moved back to her hometown of Searcy. She became active at First Baptist Church where she served as a member of the adult choir, was a nursery worker and cradle roll outreach director, and contributed greatly to the Women's Missionary Union. She would also substitute as the music director. Mr. and Mrs. Yarnell traveled extensively for business and pleasure including serving as lay missionaries in Switzerland and Russia. Mrs. Yarnell also served her community as a member of the Searcy Beethoven Club and was a board member for Newhope Specialized Industries and Ouachita Baptist University. Education was very close to her heart, and she helped provide educational opportunities for many young people. Predeceasing her was her husband of 54 years, her parents, a brother and sister, Vaughn and Faye Hoofman, who died in childhood, a step-son, Reagin Yarnell, and her beloved sister, Elwanda Hoofman Bell. Her survivors include two nephews, Robert Scott Bell Jr., his wife, Rosemary Langley Bell, their son, Robert Scott Bell, III, his wife Kara Allison Bell, their children, Allison Langley Bell, and Robert Connelly Bell, and Arthur Watson Bell, Sr., his wife, Jean Ann Langley Bell, and their children, Laura Elizabeth Bell Bailey, her husband Edward Lane Bailey, and their children, Gowen Lane Bailey, and BelleAnn Elizabeth Bailey, and Arthur Watson Bell, Jr. and his wife Michelle Lee Bridges-Bell. Also surviving her are three step-children, A. Rogers Yarnell, Camille Forte, and Melissa Yarnell, four step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren. Visitation with the family will be on Sunday, May 6 at 1:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Searcy, with a funeral service to follow at 2:30 p.m. under the direction of Powell Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery. Dr. Brian Whitney and Pastor Emeritus David D. Crouch will officiate. Serving as pallbearers will be Edward Lane Bailey, Arthur Watson Bell Jr., Robert Scott Bell III, Bob Covert, Danny Gibson, Jim House, Bob Norris, and Tom Thomas. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 105 South Spring Street, Searcy, Arkansas 72143 or Newhope Specialized Industries, 1223 Linden Street, Searcy, Arkansas 72143. The family wishes to express sincere appreciation to each staff of Providence Assisted Living, Unity Health, and Arkansas Hospice for the loving care and concern they extended to Mrs. Yarnell in the last several months. www.powellfuneralhome.net.