Sandra Thorpe

Sandra Thorpe, 77, of Quitman, Arkansas passed away December 21, 2021.

Sandra attended First Baptist Church of Searcy and attended Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia.  She spent her life around horse shows, rodeos and horses.  She competed for and won the Miss Rodeo Arkansas contest at the Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock in 1964.  As Miss Rodeo Arkansas, she competed in the Miss Rodeo America contest in Las Vegas in 1965 with 24 other contestants from around the country.  Sandra won Miss Congeniality and fourth runner up.

In the early history of the Arkansas Rodeo Association, she served as Secretary/Treasurer for nine years.  She played an important role in the association’s early mission of advancing the Arkansas Cowboy by recognizing individual achievement of cowboys and cowgirls and the growth of Arkansas Rodeo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lois Jean and J. B. Moore of Searcy. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Todd Thorpe of Quitman; daughters Melissa Pool and husband Ronnie of Lonoke, and Heather Whillock of Springdale; grandchildren, Todd Pool and Maddie Pool of Lonoke; and Houston Whillock of Springdale; sisters Sara Mercer of Winfield, LA and Susan Cook and husband Donnie of North Little Rock; as well as assorted nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe.  Graveside service will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 23, 2021 at Antioch Cemetery.  Please visit www.smithfamilycares.com/westbrook for guest registry.