Iris June Loyd

June Loyd… Lived life with ‘Amazing Grace’ Iris June Moore Loyd lived her nearly 96 years with a light heart. June Loyd built a grand life through a multitude of loving gestures. So many of you mentioned when visiting her these recent days; her positive attitude, consistency, gorgeous white hair, beautiful handwork, love of games, her laugh and her radiant smile. On Tuesday, September 28th, June went to Heaven, while surrounded by loving family at the Circle of Life Hospice. We know there was rejoicing in Heaven as she reunited with her beloved Robert “Jack” Loyd, her parents, Leona and Frank Moore and her brothers and sisters, (Bill, Jack, Catherine “Sissy,” Bud, Jimmie, and Maxine) her daughter in law, Euna Loyd, nephew Harold Fisher, and a multitude of friends and family. Iris June was born in Skiatook, Oklahoma on October 15th, 1925 to Frank and Leona Moore. She grew up in Sperry and Burbank Oklahoma surrounded by her three brothers and three sisters. She loved playing basketball and playing the piano - especially holiday songs and hymns. In the year 1943, Jack Loyd and June Moore had a double date to the soda fountain and movie, Casablanca. They weren’t each other’s dates, but the two found themselves staring at each other in the soda fountain mirror. Shortly thereafter they would marry and live happily together for 64 loving years. Jack served honorably in World War II fighting in some of the heaviest battles of the Pacific as a Seaman and Fire Control Director on the S.S. Pittsburgh. Upon his return, they would start their lives together in Springdale Arkansas. Jack and June, a dynamic duo supported each other in building Springdale Farms, one of the first poultry processing plants in the 1950s. As the company grew, they built a new plant north of Springdale. They were very involved with their congregation First Baptist church, now Cross Church. The two of them taught Sunday School, Jack served as Deacon, and they both enjoyed Prayer and Bible study groups often attending 3 days a week. They raised and nurtured three loving, beautiful children Bob, Betty and Eddie. The family had so many good times on the like, the ski mountains, playing games and exploring America. All three of their children currently reside in Northwest Arkansas with their spouses. Bob and Dareen Loyd of Springdale, Eddie and Georga Loyd live in Siloam Springs and Betty and richard Rubish just returned to Siloam Springs. It was wonderful to see the care they took of June in her years at Butterfield with trips to the hair dresser and doctor, family dinners and field trips to sing-a-longs and museums. June was lucky to have a devoted tribe of kids and daughters-in laws who truly enjoyed her company. Jack and June loved and spoiled their 9 grandchildren, (Stacie, Suzanne, Brian, Jason, Julie, Mark, John, Grant, and Amanda) and 18 great grandchildren, all while building a vibrant circle of friends through myriad of loving gestures. June and RJ enjoyed candy making at the holidays, traveling by motorhome to 50 states, gardening, egg collecting with family at the farm, designing and building homes, Sunday School and devotionals. June loved being in the choir, the Singing Saints and volunteering for the Hospital Auxilary. The qualities June and RJ imparted to their kids have flowed to their families and their community in a benevolent circle. June and Robert J. Loyd loved with a capital L, they took their contribution to society and their legacy of love very seriously. Anonymously helping families in the First Baptist church and community, being good and Godly neighbors. Each new year June sent us Guideposts books which were she and Jack’s gentle way of witnessing to a life of devotion. In the grand scheme of God’s universe, “Nana” would be regarded as a hummingbird of a human; strong, vibrant and always in motion. Her talents are legendary and she is truly the last of the great generation who accomplished so much in so little time. Idle hands were never an option for Iris June Loyd. Playing golf with skill and dedication, making delicious food and candy, sharing handwritten recipes in her beautiful script, keeping in touch with thoughtful notes and cultivating connections constantly. Her handiwork included beautiful cross-stitched and embroidered decorative pieces we all enjoy in our homes today. Her crocheted hot pads are coveted! One of her most caring and enduring legacies are the 10 baby blankets she embroidered for each of her grandchildren before their births. These blankets are beautiful in the devotion, time and skill contained in each stitch. She completed nine of them and one more for a grandson who loved his until it fell into pieces after four years… Then, in a really Super Nana way, she went on to make them for her great grandkids as well! There is one more place June thrived; the game table! An accomplished and competitive bridge player, she remained engaged through almost 80 years of bridge circles and friends. The game table at her house was a way to cultivate laughter, connection and competition. Her love of friends and laughter was only trumped by her keen love of winning! Nana’s role as family time keeper was notable. For years she spent the months leading up to the new year accumulating calendars for each of us, she would inscribe the birthdays, anniversaries and even death dates of all our relatives. She recorded the passage of time for all of us to celebrate each other and witness the overlaps of arrivals and passings within our family. Often inscribing up to 15 separate calendars with identical information. It was no small endeavor, highlighting where Nana’s heart always was, honoring and cherishing her family. We were blessed to love her and be loved by her. There will be a visitation at Sisco Funeral Chapel at 705 Meadow in Springdale from 2-4pm on Sunday, October 3rd. Graveside service at Friendship Cemetery On Monday October 4th at 11am, luncheon for family at the Cemetery Pavillion after service. We welcome your attendance for a celebration of June’s life on what would have been her 96th birthday on Friday October 15th, 2021 at 10am at Butterfield in Fayetteville. Masks requested please. In remembrance of June please donate to Circle of Life Hospice or to the scholarship endowment set up in honor of June and Robert J.Loyd at John Brown University. https://www.jbu.edu/news/press-releases/athletics/?id=25291

Iris June Loyd

October 15, 1925 - September 28, 2021