Constance "Connie" Elaine Tinker

Constance Elaine “Connie” Tinker, 81, of Springdale, Arkansas, passed away on July 8, 2026, in Springdale. Connie was born Constance Elaine Smith on July 31, 1944, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to the late Ruby “Maxine” Smith and Alfred Isam Smith. Connie lived with her parents and little sister Jeanie in Ft. Smith before moving back to Fayetteville. She always had fond memories of this time with her family. Her sister was always very important to her. She graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1962, where she formed many lifelong friendships. Connie was first married to Chaim Siegel. During their marriage, they lived in Tulsa and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and in 1973 welcomed their daughter, Holly Hanna Siegel. In 1988, Connie married William Henry “Bill” Tinker and returned to Arkansas. They shared 10 wonderful years together before Bill passed away from cancer. Many of those years were spent at their cabin on Grand Lake in Dripping Springs, Oklahoma, where they maintained an open-door policy. The cabin was always filled with family, friends, laughter, and good times. Throughout her career, Connie worked as a receptionist and in administrative positions. She retired from J.V. Manufacturing in Springdale in her 60s. While family and lifelong friends mostly knew her as Connie, she went by “CJ” for a time in the 1980s and later preferred to simply be called Tink or Tinker. Connie’s true passion was gardening. She had a remarkable eye for beauty and treated every outdoor (and indoor) space as a work of art. She found great joy in spending time in her backyard, creating gardens that reflected her creativity and love of nature. She was known for her bubbly personality and loved gathering with friends and cousins for themed dinners and celebrations. Her warmth, enthusiasm, and love of being surrounded by people made lasting memories for those who knew her. She always had a dog as a companion, and in later years, her beloved dog Charlie brought her great comfort and joy. The isolation of the COVID years was especially hard on her, and Charlie was a constant source of companionship. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Henry “Bill” Tinker. She is survived by her daughter, Holly Waddle and husband Michael Waddle of Bentonville; her stepdaughter, Tami Tinker of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; step grandson Tyler Tinker of Dallas, Texas; her grandchildren, Logan Waddle and wife Sarah Waddle of Bentonville, and Liam Waddle; her sister, Jeanie Clinehens and husband Charles Clinehens of Fayetteville; nephew Chad Clinehens and his family of Fayetteville, nieces Olivia (Clinehens) Witherspoon and her family of Ft. Worth, and Kim Clinehens of Fayetteville. Visitation will be held Monday, July 20, at 1:00 p.m. at Sisco Funeral Chapel, 705 W. Meadow Avenue, Springdale, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Sonora Cemetery.

Constance "Connie" Elaine Tinker

July 31, 1944 - July 8, 2026