Solan Howard Lott Sr.

Solan Howard Lott Sr., 87, of Jonesboro, formerly of Blytheville, died Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, in Jonesboro.

Born near Gosnell to William Ervin and Lillian McCormack Lott, he was born on the family farm, which was later acquired by the War Department in 1942 for the installation of Blytheville Air Force Base. His family then moved to Missouri, where they cleared land, and later to the 40 & 8 and Tomato communities, where the Lott family farmed near the Mississippi River, and he attended school in nearby Armorel. He resided in St. Louis for a short time before joining the Army in 1954, serving in Korea.

From 1957 until his retirement in 1995, he worked for Ark-Mo Power Company and Arkansas Power & Light (AP&L). A master electrician and longtime member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW 1439), he was the owner of Lott Electric Company in Blytheville and in Jonesboro. He was a longtime member of Trinity Baptist Church in Blytheville and joined Walnut Street Baptist Church after moving to Jonesboro in 1996 to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing and deer hunting trips with friends and family, was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan, former Blytheville Y.M.C.A. baseball coach, and longtime blood donor to the American Red Cross.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mildred Lott of Jonesboro; his son, Solan Lott Jr. (Leslie) and daughter, Audrey Lott Poff (Rodney), all of Jonesboro; a sister, Linda Carolyn “Dollie” Black of Gallatin, Tenn.; three grandsons, Austin Lott of Nashville, Tenn., Adam Watkins (Morgan) of Little Rock and Eric Poff (Samantha) of Midwest City, Okla.; four granddaughters, Becca Bess Sutton (Tony) of Gaithersburg, Md., Leah Bess Myers (Ross) of Hampstead, N.C., Emma Watkins Nix (Ryan) of Little Rock, and Sophie Watkins of Jonesboro; five great-grandsons, Riley and Zack Sutton and Mason, Ashton and Jackson Poff; and two great-granddaughters, Stella and Charlotte Myers. He is also survived by his son-in-law, Greg Bess of Hardy; a longtime family friend and sister-in-law, Mary Lott Battles of Blytheville; and a host of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, JaNoel Lott Bess; six brothers, James Ervin Lott, Everett Lott, Arlen Lott, Carnell Lott, Utah Lott and Frank Lott; three sisters, Geneva Cooper, Juanita Clifton and Penetha Stevens; and several half-brothers and sisters including Tinger, Jess, Dessie, Nina, Margaret and William Ervin “W.E.” Lott Jr.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 2:30 p.m. in the Cobb Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mike Welch officiating. Burial will follow in Dogwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. until service time at Cobb Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank Dr. Scott Hoke of Jonesboro and the staff of Liberty Park Senior Living Center for their devoted care and service. The family requests that anyone wishing to leave a lasting memorial consider Trinity Baptist Church, 918 E. Main St., Blytheville, AR, 72315, or the American Red Cross. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.

Pallbearers will be Austin Lott, Adam Watkins, Greg Bess, Zan Zangerl, Freddy Foreman and Joe Little.