Blaine Matthew Steiling

Blaine Matthew Steiling, 91, of St. Bernard's Village, Jonesboro, Ark. (formerly of West Memphis, Ark.), died at 4:45 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, at the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice Hospital, Jonesboro, Ark. A graveside, military, service will be at 1 p.m., Oct. 8, at Evergreen Cemetery, Waynesville, Ill. He is survived by his wife, Tressie B. Steiling; a daughter, Kathy Bafundo of West Memphis, Ark.; two sons, Stephen Blaine, Jonesboro, Ark., and Kevin Gene of Franklin, Tenn.; two sisters, Joyce Shaffer of Atlanta, Ill., and Marilyn Calame of Alton, Ill.; two grandchildren, Jeffrey Blaine, Jonesboro, Ark., and Jennifer White, Little Rock, Ark.; two great grandchildren, Ashley and Allison Steiling, Jonesboro, Ark. Mr. Steiling was born Sept. 16, 1920, in Waynesville, Ill., son of Earl and Opal Steiling. He married Tressie Booker Steiling on Feb. 3, 1941. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Opal Steiling; one brother, Harold Steiling; and two sisters, Dorothy Fletcher and Ferne Fox. He was a past member of the Waynesville Methodist Church and a graduate of Waynesville High School and a lifetime founding member of the Waynesville American Legion Post 1189. Mr. Steiling served in the Navy during World War II for three years. While serving in the Pacific Arena, he earned the designation of deep sea diver while serving on the Wachapraeague PT Tender. He was the manager of a trucking service business in West Memphis, Ark., for 30 years. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or to a charity of your choice. To sign online guess book go to www.emersonfuneralhome.com.