Mike Lambert

Mike Lambert, age 74, of Pine Bluff, passed away Saturday, February 26, 2022. Born Dan Michael Lambert in Georgetown, South Carolina, on December 28, 1947, he was the son of the late Dan Lambert and Marjorie Claire Parsons Lambert. He moved to Pine Bluff in 1958 and graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1966. Mike worked as a switchman and brakeman for the Cotton Belt and Southern Pacific Railroads for over 25 years. Mike devoted many years coaching football, little league baseball, girl's basketball and softball. He was fortunate to coach not only his children, but his grandchildren as well. Coach Mike was an extraordinary coach and mentor to so many. He is loved and respected by countless former players and has made a lasting impact on their lives. Mike was a very passionate hunter and loved duck hunting the flooded timbers of Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area. He was also a major advocate of maintaining the quality of hunting on those grounds for future generations. Mike attended numerous meetings held by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission that pertained to managing the flood waters on Bayou Meto. He offered ideas and suggestions of improvements to the commissioners at each meeting of which they were always willing to listen and take every idea he had into consideration. With the help of the commissioners, Mike was able to make progress in improving the drainage system of the WMA and to maintain it for future hunters. Mike was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, of which he was a Third Degree Grand Knight as well as Fourth Degree Knight. He was an altar server and member of the Parish Council. He served as Chairman for the Annual Spaghetti Suppers for many years and was heavily involved in the Lenten Fish Fries. He was always willing to volunteer his time and up to helping in any and all projects of the church. He loved being involved in everything he could for the parish. Mike made many friends throughout his life. He never met a stranger and drew people in with his stories he loved to tell. Mike had an infectious personality and smile that was undeniable. He was known as "Poppy" to his greatest joys, his four grandchildren. Anyone who knows them, knows each of their nicknames he so fondly gave them. Christopher "Willis", Chase "Wills Jr.", Susan Caroline "Willeen" and Jett "Willis The Third" (but Poppy would say "Willis Da Terd"). He was always up to any challenge, faced them head on, and never complained. He handled every obstacle and challenge thrown at him with so much dignity, positivity, and grace. He was humble to the core. Mike's greatest loves and passions were the love of his life, Susan, his daughters, and grandchildren, his incredible faith, and St. Joseph Parish. He was predeceased by his brothers, Greg Lambert and Tim Lambert. Survivors include his wife, Susan Gunter Lambert, who he married on September 2, 1966, two daughters, Robin Lambert Bryan (Chris) and Meredith Lambert Rice (Joe); and four grandchildren, Christopher Bryan (Karie), Chase Bryan, Susan Caroline Rice, and Jett Rice. There will be a rosary service Thursday, March 3, 2022, at 5:30 p.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pine Bluff. Visitation will follow at 6 p.m. Mike's funeral mass will be Friday, March 4, 2022, 10:30 a.m., at the church with Father Joseph Marconi and Deacon Noel F. "Bud" Bryant officiating. Private interment will be by Fuller Hale-South Funeral Services. The family wishes to thank UAMS, JRMC, M.D. Anderson, and the countless doctors, nurses, and medical staff who so graciously took care of Mike and his family over the years. The family requests that COVID-19 practices still be respected by wearing masks during the rosary, visitation, and funeral mass. Masks will be provided at church entrances. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 412 West 6th Avenue, Pine Bluff, Ark., 71601, or the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, "In Memory of Mike Lambert for Bayou Meto Fund", Attn: Fiscal, 2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, Ark., 72205. For online condolences, please visit: FullerFunerals.com