Emma "Gail" Tompkins

EMMA "GAIL" TOMPKINS was born in Plainview, Ark. on March 9, 1917. She went home to see Jesus on December 30, 2020, just a few months shy of her 104th birthday. Gail is preceded in death by her father, Fred C. Kirkpatrick Sr. and her stepmother, Nola Kirkpatrick, her husband Melvin M. Tompkins Sr., her son Mel Tompkins Jr., and her brothers, Fred Kirkpatrick and Kenneth Kirkpatrick. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, L. Kirk and Susie Tompkins, daughter-in-law Ann Tompkins, seven grandchildren: Laura Tompkins Gottstein (Andy), Karen White (Keith), Susan Tompkins, Merri Chandler, Lee Tompkins (Blair), Holly Singleton (Steven) and Kerry Davis (Devin), 20 great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews: Gail Martin (Mike), Kim Kirkpatrick (Donald Nicholson), Tori Kirkpatrick Bridges (Bruce), Beth Janes (Randy), Lyn Franquemont (Jim) and Fred Kirkpatrick III (Mary). Gail grew up in Fort Smith, Ark. and after graduation from high school, attended business college. She and her husband Mel also met in Fort Smith and were married for 67 years. Gail and Mel owned and operated Allied Arkansas Bearing company in Little Rock from 1947 to 1975. Gail was a youth Sunday school teacher at Second Baptist and Calvary Baptist and she enjoyed teaching about the Lord and life. She and her husband were benefactors for many young people, helping send them to college, seminary, medical school and the mission field. She was a gracious hostess, sharing her home as an extension of her service to Christ and always giving people a place of honor at her table. She was an avid reader, sharing books with friends and family whenever she completed a book. Over the past few years, when her eyesight was failing, she still listened daily to audiobooks. Gail, or G.G., as her grandchildren called her, was a mentor and a friend to many. She adapted to the changes in life over the past century and she was always ready with a wise answer from gardening, decorating, and cooking tips to a Biblical reference or history lesson. When asked about her secret to living a long life, she always answered that the Lord knows the number of days he has given us and my number is not up yet. She leaves behind a legacy of service and loyalty and we know that she is rejoicing that her number has been called and she is finally in the presence of her Lord and Savior. The Tompkins family would like to thank Visiting Angel Tosha Whitcher for being a wonderful caregiver and Baptist Health Hospice for their service. A private family graveside will be at Riverwood Memorial Gardens in Maumelle, Ark. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.