HEBER SPRINGS — Fay Pearce Olmstead, age 86, of Heber Springs, Ark., passed away Saturday, February 11, 2012, at the Southridge Village Retirement Center in Heber Springs. Born in Pearson, Ark., on July 29, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Charles B. Pearce and Elsie Bittle Pearce.
Fay attended Central College in Conway and received her B.S. at State Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas, in Conway. She began her teaching career in Heber Springs and continued to teach in Rison after she and her husband Ed moved there. Fay had a love of teaching, especially third graders. She most enjoyed going outside at night and pointing out the summer and winter constellations. Everything was a teaching opportunity for her. In retirement, volunteering was a big part of her life. She was involved in tutoring students in the Heber Springs Schools, working with the Humane Society and Haven House. She was also involved in NARFE and was a member of the Retired Teachers Association. Fay was a world traveler and enjoyed every minute of it, but she was always ready to return home to her family. Some of her favorite activities were swimming, hiking Sugarloaf Mountain, playing golf, and bridge. Fay was a member of the First Baptist Church of Heber Springs. She loved her Rison friends as well as her beloved friends in Heber Springs, and her church and Sunday School class – the Faith Class -were very important to her.
Family members who preceded her in death include her husband, William Edward Olmstead; her parents; and one brother, Gerald Pearce, M. D.
Mrs. Olmstead is survived by one son, Charles Ed Olmstead and his wife, Kathy, of White Hall; two daughters, Cindy Yokem and her husband, Mackey, of Heber Springs and Laura Durmon and her husband, John, of Warren; her sister-in-law, Jennifer Pearce; six grandchildren, Erin Weber, Jenny Kyle, Grace Ann Depper, Taylor Pearce Yokem, John William Durmon, and Mark Olmstead Durmon; and four great grandchildren, Abbott Kyle, Bennett Kyle, John Mackey Weber, and Mattie Weber.
Mrs. Olmstead is also survived by other relatives and her many friends.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2012 beginning at 1:00 p.m. with funeral services following at 2:00 p.m. in the First Baptist Church in Heber Springs with Dr. J.R. DeBusk officiating. Pallbearers will be Taylor Yokem, John William Durmon, Mark Durmon, John Durmon and Mackey Yokem. Honorary Pallbearers will be Carl D. Huson, Gray Turney, Marise Palladino, Jane Manney and members of the Faith Sunday School Class. Interment will follow in the Pearson Cemetery. Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home. www.olmstead.cc