Frank J. Chudy

Frank J. Chudy born Jan. 18, 1921 in Hazen, Ark. to Vendeline and Julia Oslica Chudy, who immigrated from Czechoslovicia, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. He was the oldest of six siblings. His parents both died when he was in his early 20's, at which time he assumed care of his younger siblings as well as the family farm which his grandparents established in 1908. In 1942, he married his childhood sweetheart, Cecile Holmes. They were married 57 years prior to her death in 1999. He was a quiet man of few words and dry wit. He was most comfortable in his church, St. Rose of Lima in Carlisle, Ark. and on the farm. He loved his family, son Frankie and daughter, Nancy as well as all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The noise and laughter was music to his ears. In his early years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing on his farm. After retirement from farming, he became skilled in wood working. In 1994 his first grandchild, Taihlor, was born with a disability. He used his wood working skills to build devices which he had hoped would help mobilize her and give her some independence. He and Mamaw were probably two of the few who had a child's car seat in their car to transport Taihlor back and forth for therapy. He continued his wood working until just months before his death enjoying each and every minute of it. He was instrumental in establishing St. Rose Catholic Church from a little white frame building up to the modern brick building, hall, and rectory that it currently is. He was preceded in death by his wife as well as his two brothers, Ed and Wendell, and sister, Evelyn Kempson. He is survived by a brother, Connie and wife, Rook Chudy, and sister Adelaide Drotar. Frank is also survived by his son lovingly called Frankie and wife, Nancy of Carlisle, and daughter, Nancy and husband, Teddy Burnett of Maumelle, Ark. Grandchildren include: Allison Chudy Robets (Mark) of Denver, Colo., Michael Chudy (Karla) of Woodland, Calif., Amy Skelton (Matt) and Erin Simpson (Drew) all of Conway, Katy Ferguson of Hot Springs, Mike Shalmy (Kathy) of Las Vegas, Nev., Amanda Liberatore (Marcos) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Elizabeth Meyer (Damon) of Little Rock, and Ben Burnett of North Little Rock. His great-grandchildren, the loves of his life, include: Taihlor, Sarah, Alex, Avery, Caroline, Anna Kate, Lauren, Kaley, Emma, Kyle, Kory, Hannah, Megan, Sarah, Christian and Myles. Frank is also survived by a most special niece, Patricia Kempson Hagar of Nashville, Tenn., as well as numerous other nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, February 23, 2015 at the Westbrook Funeral Home Chapel in Hazen. Visitation will be followed by Rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at St. Rose Catholic Church in Carlisle. Interment will be in the Hazen Cemetery. Online obituary at www.westbrookfuneralhomehazen.com.