David Charles Gregory [Click to enlarge]

Piggott businessman and civic leader David Charles Gregory , 74, died of heart complications as a result of rheumatoid arthritis on Friday, May 21, 2004.

He was born Oct. 31, 1929, in Detroit, Mich., where his parents, David and Nora Gregory, had moved to find work during the Great Depression, but lived most all of his life in Piggott.

Raised on a farm west of Piggott, his parents moved into town so he could attend Piggott High School, from which he graduated in 1946. At the age of 16, he entered college at Arkansas State College (now Arkansas State University) in Jonesboro where two momentous things occurred. He met his future wife, Alice Lee Cochran from Hoxie and he joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC).

Gregory graduated from Arkansas State in 1950, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve on May 26, 1950, and married Alice on Sept. 3 of that same year. They were happily married for over 53 years. At Arkansas State, Gregory was a charter founder of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and served as its first chaplain. Alice, incidentally, was the very first TKE Sweetheart.

Called to active duty in 1951, he served as a forward observer, executive officer and battery commander in the 955th Field Artillery in Korea from January to December 1952. Following the Korean War, he returned to Piggott but remained in the Arkansas National Guard, attaining the rank of Captain and serving as the Battery Commander of Piggott's National Guard unit, Battery C, 4th Howitzer Division, 142 Field Artillery. He was forever proud of his military service and of the men with whom he served. His military experience and discipline shaped his life, but he believed that a commander could only serve well if his men respected him, and he later commented that he never felt it was necessary to berate or belittle those he commanded.

He was active in his church and community throughout his life. A member of the Piggott First United Methodist Church, he loved the church and served in almost every lay capacity, including serving on the Board of Trustees, the Pastor Parish Relations Committee and ushering. He was among the first in Piggott to complete the Disciple Bible Study and he was a long-time member of the Newton Sunday School Class. Recently, he loved the Wednesday night fellowship supper, which he faithfully attended even as his health steadily declined.

In his community, he was a respected businessman. He owned Gregory Insurance Agency, which he joined in March 1957 when it was known as Clay County Abstract and Insurance. Eventually becoming sole owner of the agency, he grew it into one of the largest independent insurance agencies in Clay County and continued to participate in the agency after his retirement in January 1995. In fact, he was at the office Monday just before entering the hospital this past Tuesday.

Knowing he had been blessed with many things, he gave back to his community in many ways, including by being active in the Lions Club, serving on the Building Committee for the new Piggott Community Hospital completed in 1978, and serving as a board member of the Selective Service System. He was also sometimes known to be a vocal supporter of various Piggott Mohawk athletic teams, especially those on which his sons and grandchildren participated. His Mohawk loyalty was equated by his passion for the St. Louis Cardinals.

He was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 1965 and suffered from teh most crippling and disabling form of the disease. While enduring several levels of pain, he rarely missed a day of work until his retirement. His strength, courage and endurance was an inspiration to his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law, Lloyd Cochran.

He is survived by his wife, Alice, whom he loved dearly and who has cared for him for many years; his sister Ethella Ward and husband, Charles, of Heber Springs; a daughter, Sarah Davis and husband, William, of Walnut Ridge; two sons, David Gregory and wife, Kelly, of Piggott and Joseph and wife, Gena, of Little Rock; his mother-in-law, Isabel Cochran of Piggott; and seven grandchildren, Laura Madden and husband, Chris, of Bono, Erin Kennemer of Walnut Ridge, Brian Gregory of Piggott, Josh Gregory of Little Rock, Taylor Gregory of Piggott, Spencer Gregory of Little Rock and Noah Gregory of Piggott.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 24, at the Piggott First United Methodist Church. Burial followed in the Piggott Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Bill Hogue, Jerry Ward, Mike Ward, Charles Ward Jr., Danny Baldwin, Joe Mowery and David Benson. Honorary pallbearers were Jim Mowery, John R. Brown, Bob Martin, Denver Oxley, Charles Ward Sr., Bill Irby, Jim Winton, Donnie Blake, Leland Gibson, Clete Barlow, Gene Holland, Gary Dehls, Hillard Duckworth and Ronnie Dunlap. Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home of Piggott was in charge of the arrangements.