June Hornor

Alma June (nee Ray) (Smith) Hornor, 80, of Springdale, and formerly of El Dorado, Arkansas, died on May 17, 2011, at the Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale from complications following a stroke. June was born on August 15, 1930 in Horatio, Arkansas. All who knew June recognized her indomitable spirit, determination and passion to reach the highest pinnacle of success in each of the many and diverse pursuits of her life, while most oft improving the lot of others, both through her tireless efforts and by providing inspiration to strive for the achievement of their full potential. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and while family and faith were foremost, no doubt her love of learning was the next dominant influence of her life. After graduating as the 1948 Valedictorian of Horatio High and with the prime goal of becoming a teacher of children, June enrolled at Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia. There she met and married her first husband Harold E. Smith, Sr., an upper classman who shared her love of education. Prior to graduating from Henderson, June commenced her professional career as Harold and she accepted teaching positions with the public schools of Prescott, then Texarkana, and finally in 1958, El Dorado. She spent her entire 31 year tenure in El Dorado at her beloved Yocum Elementary School, the first seven as a teacher and the last 24 as Principal. In addition to working full time as an educator and rearing her young family, June completed her BSE Degree from Henderson and also earned a Master's Degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. During her career at Yocum Elementary, June was recognized both locally and nationally as an educator and community leader. She served as President of the Association of Elementary School Principals, as a member of the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators, and was a long serving member, and officer at various times, for the teachers' organization, Delta Kappa Gamma. In 1978, she received the professional Outstanding Woman of the Year award for the City of El Dorado, and in 1986, she was named Arkansas Principal of the Year, recognized by the Secretary of Education as a National Distinguished Principal, and cited as SCA Outstanding Administrator for 1985-86. Facing recovery from cancer and the death of Harold in late 1989, June decided to retire from Yocum and allot more time to her family and other interests. Upon her retirement on May 22, 1990, Proclamations were issued by the Mayor of El Dorado and the Governor of Arkansas denoting "June Smith Day" and "June Smith Appreciation Day", respectively. While always an educator at heart, June loved the new free time and used a goodly portion of it to spend time with each of her grandchildren. In 1994, June moved from El Dorado to Springdale to be closer to her mother and brother (and grandchildren who were planning to attend the U of A). At the First United Methodist Church she met Curtis C. Hornor, Jr., a recently retired, long time Springdale resident. They discovered many shared interests and that they better enjoyed them together. They wed on May 4, 1995. Curtis and June enjoyed traveling and exploring new places, even becoming Gulf Coast "snow birds" for several years. Their home in Springdale was always open for friends and family, and their yard was something to behold with trees, plants and flowers to rival any arborist. Both enjoyed entertaining and adopted "the more the merrier" as their motto for parties and other get-togethers. Facing advancing years and associated ailments, Curtis and June moved from their home to Culpepper Assisted Living Center, also in Springdale. Even there, June's spirit and determination was evident as she sought to create a little corner filled with nature and beauty, although to do so, she had to usurp one of the facility's common areas. June was predeceased by her parents, Hugh Norman Ray and Abby Bell Ray; her first husband, Harold E. Smith, Sr.; a daughter, Donna Nell Smith Winzer; grandson, Thomas Patrick Smith; a sister, Melba Nell Merchant; and her brother-in-law, Joseph M. Stephens, (retired Cmdr. USNR). She is survived by her husband Curtis C. Hornor, Jr. of Springdale; one son, Harold E. Smith, Jr., M.D. and wife Glen of Winter Park, Florida; one daughter, Kay Smith Rowe and husband Bayless of Saint Joe, Arkansas; a sister, Martha Lou Stephens of Canyon Lake, Texas; brother, Kenneth Hugh Ray and wife Beth of Springdale; brother -in-law, Raymond Curtiss Merchant of Lewisville, Texas; stepchildren, Nancy Hornor Dugwyler and husband Steve of Siloam Springs, and Curtis C. Hornor, III of Fayetteville; grandsons, Michael Bayless Rowe and his wife Abi of Little Rock; Benjamin Alan Rowe and his wife Elizabeth of Fayetteville, and Nicholas Drew Lonigro and wife Edith of Tulsa, Oklahoma; granddaughters, Gina Lonigro Smith and husband Chris of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Mattie Dugwyler Jones and husband Jeremiah of Springdale, and Sophia Dugwyler of Siloam Springs; son-in-law, Stan Winzer of Bentonville, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and five very special great grandchildren, Garrett, Nicole, Luke, Ella and Skyler. A celebration of June's life will be led by the Reverend Judy Van Hoose at the First United Methodist Church, Springdale on Saturday, May 21, at 10 am. Burial will follow at Bluff Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 pm on Friday, May 20, at Sisco Funeral Chapel in Springdale. The void left by her passing can never be filled, but is mitigated by the knowledge of her positive influence on the lives of thousands of children that passed through the halls of her school. She will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Circle of Life Hospice, Springdale, the June Smith Library, Yocum Elementary School, El Dorado, or to the organization or charity of the donor's choosing.

June Hornor

August 15, 1930 - May 17, 2011