Roger Gale Tolleson was born in Nashville, AR on Nov. 6, 1957 and went to be with his Lord and Savior on Nov. 19, 2020.  He died at CHI St. Vincent Infimary in Little Rock, AR.  His parents were Gale Tolleson and Maxine Cornish Tolleson.  He was the foster son of Frank Sharp who owned Ozark Mountain Smokehouse, where Roger worked for many years after graduating from Fayetteville High School. As a student at Murfreesboro and Fayetteville High School, Roger was an exceptional football player and a pole vaulter.

 

Roger took many courses related to nursing at the University of Arkansas and he completed his EMT at Northwest Community College in Rogers, Arkansas.  He worked most of his adult life in health care as a certified nursing assistant, EMT, and ambulance driver at Springdale Memorial Hospital and at St. Mary’s (now Mercy) Hospital in Rogers.  Roger was a member of First Baptist Church in Nashville, AR.

 

Roger battled diabetes for many years and for the past year and a half, he was a resident at the Springs of Mine Creek Nursing Home on North Main in Nashville.  After contracting Covid-19 his health spiraled downward rapidly, and he died because of the pandemic.

 

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 14 years Ruth Aline (Watson) Tolleson, two step brothers: Dennis Joe and James Orr, and two first cousins: David (Buck) Rhodes and Mike Clark. 

 

He is survived by his first cousins: Tim Tolleson, Marsha Rhodes, Jim Rhodes, Mark Rhodes, and Cathy Hooker of Nashville, AR, Bill Tolleson and Cheryl McGoff of Memphis, TN, Russell Tolleson of Texas City, TX, and Johnny Tolleson of San Diego, CA.

 

Roger Tolleson will have a private family funeral at Academy Cemetery/Biggs Chapel in Nathan, Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 at 1:00 P.M., with Bro. Kevin Sartin officiating.  Roger will be remembered for overcoming many obstacles and hardships to achieve his goal of serving other by showing Christian love, compassion, competence, and integrity during their health crises.  His word was his bond and he was always willing to lend a helping hand.