BeLinda Jean Hamlett

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

BeLinda Jean Hamlett passed away Jan. 3, 2022, after a courageous six-year battle with cancer. She was born in Blytheville to B.F. and Wilma Elder on Aug. 25,1953. She was preceded in death by both parents, and her eldest brother, Bennie Elder. 

She is survived by her little sister and best friend, Beverly Kemp (Charles).

BeLinda was united in holy matrimony to Earl J. Yeager of Clearfield, Penn., in 1969. The couple resided in Clearfield, Penn., for many years before they returned to Blytheville.  Her union was blessed with three daughters, Christie Wright (Jiles) of Pocahontas, Tamera Myers (Trace) of Hernando, Miss., and Holly Gurien (Matthew) of Paragould.  She was blessed to know the joy of being a grandmother and was survived by her grandchildren, Joseph Wright, Dalton Wright, Kali Harrison (Ben), Kyler and Alyssa Gurien. BeLinda also had three great- grandsons and one on the way.  Earl preceded BeLinda in death after 31 years of marriage.

She was blessed to find love again when she married Joey Hamlett of Kennett, Mo. The two enjoyed life together for 15 years. At this time, she also gained more children and grandchildren to love, Jeremy Hamlett (Katrina), Keisha Pattillo (Marcus), and Shannon Hill (Corbin) and nine additional grandchildren. The couple moved to Kennett from Blytheville recently where they have gained friends and family that are invaluable.

BeLinda spent most of her working years at Kurtz Brothers School Supply company where she could work and be home during the school year to be a full-time mom. Later she dabbled in house cleaning, painting, and was an administrative assistant at Harsco. The jobs she loved most were that of a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She put others first and was always willing to go out of her way to help. The simplest pleasures in life brought joy to her. As a young mother she kept busy attending every school and church event her girls were a part of. She was a dedicated mother who put her children first. As an empty nester, when she wasn’t spending time with her grandchildren, she could be found on a riverbank enjoying fishing and sunshine, or in her yard tending to her flower gardens. Her favorite place to be was walking along the ocean with the sand between her toes.

In lieu of flowers the family requested donations be made to St. Jude in honor of Belinda Hamlett.

A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held Friday, Jan. 7, at 11 a.m. and family will receive visitors from 10-11 a.m. at McDaniel Funeral Service in Kennett, Mo.

Arrangements are under the care of Delancey Funeral Home in Lepanto.

Burial will be private.

Pallbearers are Torey Tice, Marc Ross, David Ross, Jerry Laster Jr., Anthony Miller, and Chris Lewis. Honorary pallbearers are Steve Coffer and Greg Harris.