Arthur Story

We read in the Psalms, ?Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints?. On Friday, April 13, 2007, Arthur R. Story Jr. finished his race in victory at the ripe old age of 88 and was called home to be with the Lord. He lived his life according to his favorite Bible passage, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12: ?Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.? We rejoice that his home going reunited him with his parents and his beloved wife, Mary. Arthur was an avid walker all his life, having explored every nook and cranny of Burns Park over a 50-year period. He was vigorous even into his old age and was walking eight miles in an outing as recently as two years ago. He was finally diagnosed with the onset of Alzheimer?s and the inevitable decline began. He joined the United States Army shortly before the US entered WWII and eventually served in Alaska and on Okinawa before being discharged in 1945. Arthur was a charter member of what?s rightly been called, The Greatest Generation. Returning to civilian life, he met and married the love of his life, the former Mary H. Gray. This marriage produced two girls and a boy. The oldest, Theresa K. Naasz (Howard) of Denver; the mistreated middle child, Vera L. Blevins (Charlie) of North Little Rock; and the youngest, A. Richard Story III, of Panama City, Florida. His three grandchildren are Christopher S. Persinger (Emory) of Benton; Darcy Gustafson (Alan) of Grand Island, Nebraska; and Sarah McClune of Montgomery, Alabama. His other survivors include a brother, C. Paul Story (Georgia) of Lincoln, Nebraska, and 12 great-grandchildren. A bookkeeper by trade, Arthur Story was a simple man of simple pleasures and a true Christian gentleman. He always put the welfare of others before his own, putting most of us who name the name of Christ to shame. He loved his Lord, he loved his wife and children, he doted on his grandchildren, and he loved his neighbor as himself. Arthur could be a procrastinator, but how many of us would be eternally grateful if that could be called our greatest fault. Some of us who truly knew him, and understand how we?re called to live this life, were in awe of this man. In a word, selfless perhaps best describes his character. To say that he leaves a void in the lives of those of us privileged to know him is a gross understatement. But if we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we know that this separation is only temporary and we will see him again in glory. What a joyful reunion that will be! Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m., Tuesday at First Baptist Church North Little Rock, 4500 North Hills Boulevard, with burial at Edgewood Memorial Park. Family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Monday at North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main Street, 758-1170. Online obituary and guest register at www.northlittlerockfuneralhome.com

Arthur Story

November 26, 1918 - April 13, 2007