Buddy Gentry

On August 24, 2025, Buddy Gentry received his reward and entered the gates of Heaven, where he was met by his wife, Jean, who left us a little over a year ago. James Eli (Buddy) Gentry was born to Joe Ivan and Mary Gentry on May 17, 1934 in Brownstown, AR. If the story is right, Buddy moved from the farm to Ashdown around 1938. After graduating high school, buddy joined the US Army and proudly served from 1958 to 1962, when he was honorable discharged. He married Errol Jean Simmons in 1963, a marriage which lasted 61 years, until her passing. As a result of this union, Marceia Lynn was born in 1967 and Buddy was ruined for life. Buddy spent his working years employed in the maintenance division of Coke Cola Bottling Company in Texarkana. This partnership lasted 37 years before his retirement. Buddy and Jean were faithful members of Central Baptist Church in Ashdown. When Buddy was not working, you could find him and Jean on a local golf course. If Jean was not around, Buddy could always be found with a group of men that included Jerry Burnett, Howard Stinnett, Bink Spigner, Fred Wright and many others. Most have gone on before Buddy and are waiting at the 19th tee for him. Not that he will have any reason to get mad in Heaven, cause all the tee shots will be straight, but we hope that they have a good supply of straw hats and baseball caps. More than a few have witnessed what Buddy could do to a hat with a 5-iron after a wayward shot. Buddy was a verry meticulous man. Whether it was about his golf game, grass cutting around the house or his tray at the hospital, he wanted everything a certain way. This included having the hospital TV on channel 30 in order to watch every episode of Gunsmoke or The Rifleman. A quality that he has most definitely passed on to his daughter. Besides his parents and wife, Buddy was also preceded in death by his brother, Joe Gentry, sister and brother-in-law, Clyde and Mary Jo Green and brother-in-law, Herman Brown. He is survived by his daughter, Marcy Shelley and her husband, Steve, along with their children, Colin and Eli, sister Pearl Brown along with several cousins, nieces and nephews and extended family. Funeral services will by Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at 2:00 at Madden Funeral Home with Bro. Don Embry officiating. A visitation will begin at 1:00 prior to the service. Interment to follow at Ashdown Cemetery. Donations in remembrance of Buddy may be made to Central Baptist Church 261 Commerce Street Ashdown AR 71822.

Buddy Gentry

May 17, 1934 - August 24, 2025