June Hestand Laney Reagan

JUNE HESTAND LANEY REAGAN, 88, passed away July 3, 2019 at Avenir Memory Care in Little Rock, Ark. She was born December 22, 1930 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, daughter of the late H.R. "Happy" Hestand and Helen Stoner Hestand. At the age of five, Mrs. Reagan was chosen by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures in Hollywood, California to be the movie "stand-in" for child actress Shirley Temple. She was also a frequent guest on the popular Bob Burns radio show in California where she was presented as his "cousin" from Arkansas. When her parents decided that show business was no life for a child, she returned to Fort Smith, Arkansas where she attended Peabody Elementary, Darby Junior High, and Fort Smith High School (now Northside) and was a member of Delta Beta Sigma Sorority. She received her higher education at Sullins College (Bristol, Virginia), Arkansas State Teachers' College (now UCA), and Texas State University (San Marcos, Texas). Mrs. Reagan enjoyed several career paths including work as a dental assistant, social worker, recruitment and skills development for Job Corps, and many years as a real estate agent. She was also a veteran of the Women's Army Corps. Outside of work she spent time volunteering with the Girl Scouts and the Salvation Army, playing bridge, reading and participating in multiple community activities. She was past president of the Little Rock Women's City Club where she developed many treasured friendships. When she reached retirement age, she and her husband moved to Mexico where she sold real estate to North American clients, acted as chaplain for the local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and actively participated in American Legion Post #7 in Chapala, Mexico. Throughout her life, she loved animals and often rescued and adopted abused or abandoned dogs. She was a long-time member of St. Alban's Anglican Church in Little Rock, and later attended St. Andrews Anglican Church in Ajijic, Mexico. She was preceded in death by her parents, Happy and Helen Hestand; her husband, Roy Reagan; and her sister, Kay Hestand. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Laney Little (Newton) of Little Rock; sisters, Judy Steward of Charleston, S.C.; and Suzy Laird of Tulsa, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Courtney Little (Erika) of Little Rock, Christopher Little (Cristina) of Fayetteville and Lindsey Gray (Brandon) of Little Rock; and five great-grandchildren. The family wishes to thank the caregivers who offered our loved one kindness and compassion during her long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. A private Celebration of Life will be held for the family at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to the Humane Society of Pulaski County. Online guestbook at www.smithfamilycares.com.