Curtis Ray Seymore

Curtis Ray Seymore, 80, of Jonesboro passed away Sept. 4, 2022, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, surrounded by his loving family. Curt was born in the Cothern community outside of Lake City on Nov. 2, 1941, to Melvin and Lorene Seymore.

In addition to his parents, Curt was preceded in death by his in-laws, Frank Sr. and Nettie Oldham; brothers-in-law, Frank Oldham, Jr. and Mark Oldham; and his beloved dog Winky.

Curt grew up in Trumann and graduated from Trumann High School in 1959. He attended a few different colleges on baseball scholarships before moving back to attend Arkansas State College (now University), where he played for the Indian baseball team. Curt graduated from Arkansas State in 1964 with a degree in math and moved to St. Louis to work for McDonnell Aircraft Corporation as a programmer in their data processing department. He then returned to Jonesboro a few years later to work for Arkansas State, where he was a part of the team that installed their first computer system, an IBM System/360 Model 30.

It was at Arkansas State that Curt met the love of his life, Diane Oldham. They worked in the same building on campus, and she instantly caught his eye. As the story goes, Diane didn’t really like him after the first date, but he kept asking her to go out again and she finally gave in...and the rest is history. Curt later went to work for Advanced Data in Jonesboro as a systems analyst, where he spent most of his remaining career.

Curt enjoyed the outdoors and had a lifelong passion for fishing (especially crappie) anywhere the fish were biting and for duck hunting with his friends at “Raft Opening” on the St. Francis River. He hunted the same spot for almost 55 years, almost all of it in a duck blind. He also made it a point to make sure others enjoyed hunting and especially welcomed children to share in the experience. He gave away many a duck band over the years so that those who hunted with him would have a keepsake for their own duck call lanyard. In his later years, Curt still duck hunted but didn’t take a gun with him. He would rather call in the ducks so the younger hunters with him could enjoy shooting. He was a talented duck caller and still used the same P.S. OLT D-2 “duck caller” he bought for a few dollars back in the 1970s.

Curt spent countless hours at the river and also at the family ranch in northern Craighead county, where he loved to drive the tractor, feed the fish, and work on all kinds of projects. He loved classic country music and continued to listen to it through the years. According to Curt, most of today’s country music was not country. Curt was known for his ability to tell great stories (and he had many of them) and make people laugh. He had a personality that drew people to him, and he had many wonderful friends over the years, many of whom have gone on before him. Curt was a hard-working provider for his family and a man of true character. The world was a better place with him in it.

Curt shared a special love and bond with his daughter, Daya, and his twin granddaughters, Morgan and Bailey, who were his absolute pride and joy. He traveled to almost every soccer, tennis, and volleyball game they ever played and visited many states along the way. Curt gained the son and grandson he never had when Daya married David 14 years ago. David quickly became one of Curt’s best friends, and he and Austin completed the family. Curt was proud that Austin also played high school and college baseball just as he had done.

Curt is survived by his wife of 54 years, Diane Oldham Seymore of the home; daughter, Daya Seymore Shipman (David); granddaughters, Morgan McAlexander (Kade Weatherford, fiance) and Bailey McAlexander; grandson, Austin Shipman; sister-in-law, Donna Oldham; nieces, Whitney Oldham Miller and Meridith Oldham; nephew, Chad Oldham (Tiffany); great-nephews, Wyatt Oldham and Jayden Miller; great-nieces, Nikki Oldham and Ava Oldham; and his beloved cat, Kayce.

A memorial service will be Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2:30 p.m. in Emerson Memorial Chapel with Chad Oldham officiating. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. prior to the service. In accordance with Curt’s wishes, which he expressed on several occasions to his close friends and family, he will be cremated, with his ashes placed in locations that he loved the most.

Honorary pallbearers are Brannon Qualls, Shelby Phillips, Danny Qualls, Roger Steele, Mitchell Caldwell, Mike Hook, Blake Barber, Bart Barber, Marl Carter, Rick Carter, Ryan Brown, Jimmy Strickland, Daniel Strickland, Elvis Poe, Tim Pillows, Fred Qualls, Terry Short, Matt Short, Matt Baker, Joe Ashcraft, Wayne Brumley, Jay Clevenger, Melvin Brown, John Gregson, Bonnie Valentine, Barry Vincent, Charles Adams, and the Trumann High School Class of 1959.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Curt’s memory to: Northeast Arkansas Humane Society (6111 E. Highland Drive, Jonesboro, AR 72401), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105), or St. Bernards Development Foundation (400 East Street, Jonesboro, AR 72401 for the benefit of the St. Bernards ICU).

The greatest way to honor Curt’s memory would be to take a child hunting or fishing.

Online registry: www.emersonfuneralhome.com