Herbert Dale Reagan

Herbert Dale Reagan, 89, of Sherwood, AR, died at the Robinson Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in North Little Rock, AR on July 3, 2023. He was the husband of Mary “Polly” Reagan with whom he shared his life for close to 7 decades.

Herbert, known most of his life as “Dale”, was born in Shirley, Arkansas to Thomas & Ida Reagan on June 30, 1934. His father died when Dale was an infant. Ida later married James Emmett Hooten who adopted and raised Dale as his son. In 1953, Dale graduated as salutatorian from Shirley High School where he was a varsity player for both the baseball and basketball teams. He met Polly at the Blue Bonnet Drive-In in Clinton, AR, where she happened to take his order one night. They were married on September 25, 1954. Together they had 3 children: two sons, Tom and Tim, and a daughter Terry, who died in infancy.

Dale worked for 30 years as a diesel mechanic and later as a supervisor for Arkansas Best Freight (ABF). He was an avid hunter and fisherman and an extraordinary gardener.

Dale was a dedicated husband, father and provider. In the early years, he often worked two jobs to make sure the family needs were covered. He spent countless hours teaching sports to his boys and in their teen years he would often take them hunting, fishing and to other recreational activities. In the later years, when Polly was at Robinson nursing home, he would visit her every day even during the pandemic when he could only see her through a window. Eventually, it became necessary for Dale to join Polly at the nursing home, and they were often seen having meals together or just holding hands. Dale was devoted to his faith. Polly and Dale were members of First Baptist Church Sherwood, AR for 40+ years and both served the church in multiple ways. In later years, he loved to visit with his three grandchildren and his two great-grandchildren.

Dale is survived by his son Tom Reagan and his wife Linda, of Covington, LA; son Tim Reagan and his wife Donna, of N Richland Hills, TX; grandchildren Michelle Reagan and her husband Charlie Deskins; Kathryn Esau and her husband Joe Esau; and Marc Reagan; great-grandchildren Quora and Oliver Deskins; niece Connie Bonds and nephew Ronnie Isom. He is preceded in death by his daughter Terry Reagan and wife Mary "Polly" Reagan; parents Thomas Reagan, Ida and James Emmett Hooten; and sister Anna Belle and her husband A D Isom.

Visitation will be at 9 am on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the First Baptist Church of Sherwood, 701 Country Club Rd, Sherwood, AR, followed by the funeral service at 10 am. Burial will follow at 12:30 pm and will take place at the Bradford Cemetery, 12357 Hwy 16, Shirley, AR. Serving as pallbearers are Clyde Files, Ronnie Isom, Marc Reagan, C W Reems, Wayne Smith, Dan Russell.