William Carroll Bird Sr.

William Carroll Bird, Sr. ("Bill"), 82, of Cabot, peacefully passed from this life and into Heaven on February 7, 2015. Born in Paris, Arkansas on March 13, 1932 to Leslie and Irene (Carroll) Bird, Bill was a beloved husband, father and friend. A class favorite at North Little Rock High School, Bill was a multi-sport letterman and served as president of the Class of 1951. His greatest achievement as a young man, however, surely was winning the hand of Frances Bartlett, whom he married in rather dramatic fashion following their high school graduation. Not yet 21 and fearful their parents would not approve of the union, they secretly married in Saline County in December but continued to live apart under their respective parents' roofs for several months until Bill's next birthday. Only then did they reveal their newlywed status to family and friends. Bill and Frances raised their three sons in North Little Rock, and in those early years, he was an avid horseman--showing and riding horses at the Remount Saddle Club. A veteran of the United States Navy, Bill worked for 40 years as a buyer and salesman for the well-known M.M. Cohn's Department Store. In his later years, one of his hobbies was raising cattle with his son on the family farm in El Paso, Arkansas. A bout of heart troubles in the early 1980s led Bill to a deepened commitment to his faith which would remain unwavering for the remainder of his life. He was a faithful member of Central Baptist Church in North Little Rock for more than 30 years. Bill loved his church family--especially his senior men's Sunday school class. Bill is preceded in death by his father, Leslie Bird, his mother, Irene Ellington, and sister, Bobbye Kay Ellington. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Frances; three sons, William C. Bird, Jr. (Becky) of Sherwood; Robert C. Bird (Elizabeth) of Cabot, and Thomas L. Bird, of Cabot; a brother, Richard ("Dick") Bird; four grandchildren, William C. Bird, III (Julie), Ashley Bird, Robert C. Bird, Jr., and Sarah Standridge (Dustin); five great-grandchildren; and a host of other extended family and friends. The family offers a special thanks to John Sammons and the Seniors Serving Seniors organization, Faye Thompson, Sandee Linick, and the excellent care of Arkansas Hospice. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10 at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home, 700 N. 2nd St., Cabot, Arkansas. A second visitation will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, at Central Baptist Church, 5200 Fairway Ave., North Little Rock, Arkansas, with the funeral services immediately following. Online condolences www.moorescabotfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central Baptist Church, 5200 Fairway Ave., North Little Rock, 72116.