Gerald Meeks Etchieson

Gerald Meeks Etchieson, 69, of Malvern, passed away Monday, September 20, 2021.  He was born December 30, 1951, to the late Gerald D. Etchieson and Emma Ruth (Kelly) Etchieson in Arkadelphia.

Meeks, as he is known to friends, grew up in Arkadelphia and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis, in 1973 and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz., in 1980. He worked as a project archeologist in the Contract Archelogy program at West Texas State University from 1976-1979. He then became a staff archeologist within the Regional Office of the Southwest Region of the Bureau of Reclamation in Amarillo, Texas. He moved back to Arkansas in 1987 as forest archeologist for the Ouachita National Forest and retired as the Heritage Program manager for the ONF.

Meeks was a past President of the Clark County Historical Association.  He had a lifelong love for learning and teaching about archeology in Arkansas.

Meeks is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mary Beth (Turner) Etchieson; two sons, Charles Stephen Etchieson (Melanie) of Justin, TX, James Peter Etchieson (Jessica Rachel) of Hot Springs; five grandchildren: Brandon, Brody, Bryce, Odin, and Maisy Etchieson; brother, David Etchieson (Donna) of Conway; and sister, Martha Pam Doughty of Conway.

Graveside service will be 2:00 PM Friday, September 24, 2021, at Smyrna Cemetery near Okolona.

In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Clark County Historical Association , PO Box 516, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923.

Arrangements by Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home, 517 Clay St, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.