Mackye Lee Colvin

Celebration of Life Services for Mackye L. Colvin, 89, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, will be held 9:00 AM on Friday, January 24, 2025, at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will follow from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Smith Family Funeral Home, 7700 Hwy 107 in Sherwood, AR. He died on January 10, 2025, in Little Rock, AR. 

Mackye Colvin was born October 18, 1935, to Curtis and Fannie Chleo Colvin of North Little Rock, Arkansas. Mackye was a lifelong resident of North Little Rock and a 1953 graduate of North Little Rock High School. Following high school graduation, he worked as a display window decorator at JC Penney on Main Street in downtown North Little Rock. In May of 1955, he enlisted in the United States Army and was ultimately assigned to occupation forces in Germany with the 2nd Armored Division. After 2 years of service, he returned home in May of 1957 and was honorably discharged. On June 2, 1957, he married Pamela Sue Duncan. Following a recommendation from his discharge officer, he sought employment with Southwestern Bell, beginning his career as a lineman. Over the subsequent course of his four-decade career, he held various technical positions within Southwestern Bell, AT&T, and Lucent Technologies before retiring in 1998. During his time within those companies, he was a member of the Communications Workers of America Locals 6508 & 6350, serving at various times as a Secretary-Treasurer, President of Local 6508, and Vice President of Local 6350, in which capacity he continued to serve long after he had retired. 

Following Mackye’s marriage to Pamela, their first son, Michael, was born in 1958, followed by their second son, Mitchell, in 1959 and their third son, Mark, in 1960. While raising their sons, he was involved in coaching some of their early baseball and football teams. During their high school years, he operated the team’s game camera, filming football games for Sylvan Hills High School for several years. 

Mackye was always ready to lend a hand for friends and family and he took great pride in his three sons and their families, with which he enjoyed many visits over the years, both before and after his retirement. 

Mackye and Pamala enjoyed traveling together, embarking on memorable cruises with lifelong friends to Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, along with a vacation to Europe. 

Mackye enjoyed playing golf and was an active member of the Telephone Pioneers organization. He cherished his weekly coffee meetups with retired colleagues for many years following his retirement. He also enjoyed watching football, baseball and old classic movies. His hobbies included photography and coin collecting, which reflected his curiosity about world history and culture.

Mackye is survived by his sons, Michael L. Colvin and wife Kaye of Bend, OR, Mitchell D. Colvin of Kingman, AZ, and Mark A. Colvin of Modesto, CA. Grandsons, Brian Mannelly and husband, Bradley Huson of Tacoma, WA, Michael Mannelly and wife Gretchen of Phoenix, AZ, Alexander D. Colvin and wife Nicole of Rye, CO. Andrew Z. Colvin of Phoenix, AZ. and Elijah G. Colvin of Modesto, CA. Nieces, Constance L. Smith of NLR, AR, Phillis L. Westerfield of Little Rock, AR, and Carol Ann Moore of Jonesboro, AR. Great-grandchildren Megan and Colin Mannelly of Phoenix, AZ, Tigist Mannelly of Tacoma, WA, Avery, Lilliana Colvin of Rye, CO, and Zayvier and Kaydin Colvin of Harker Heights, TX. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Pamela D. Colvin; his brother, Carroll P. Colvin; his parents, Curtis Lee and Fannie Chleo Colvin; and his In-Laws, Warren and Willie Mae Duncan.

The family would like to express our sincere thanks to Willow Grove Assisted Living organizations in Sherwood and Maumelle, House of Three in Little Rock and Arkansas Hospice for the love and care they provided for our father over the course of the last few years of his life. We will be forever grateful for their service.