Irene Bertha Tweedy went home to be with Jesus and the love of her life, Paul, on Thursday, September 30, 2021.  She was born April 5, 1923 at home in the community of Buck Creek, Sumner, Iowa, to William Seehase and Sophia Zell Seehase.  Irenewas the fifth child of six. Brothers, William F., Edwin, and Raymond. Sisters, Esther and Norma, have already gone on to be with the Lord. Her parents, siblings and her dearest husband were all waiting with open arms to welcome Irene home.

      Irene and Paul were married July 21, 1946. He was a salesman for a Trailer Co. in Elkhart, IN. After their wedding they hit the road traveling the upper Midwest establishing sales for the company in Elkhart.

      Being tired of the cold and snow, Irene was heard to say, “There has to be something else out there besides cold, snowy weather.” So they set out towards the Gulf Coast in search of warmer weather and business opportunities.

      As Irene was pregnant with Phillip, they stopped in Arkansas, found leasable property on East Broadway in North Little Rock and decided that was where they wanted to put down roots.

      Phillip was born on September 13, 1948 and Velora Kay followed on October 22, 1950. When Phillip started kindergarten, Irene was forced to learn to drive in order to shuttle the children to First Lutheran Elementary School on 8th & Rock in Little Rock.

      Throughout the years, Irene was involved in the activities of the children. She served as a leader in Phillip’s Cub Scout Pack and in Velora’s Brownie Troop. All this while keeping books for their business.

      Irene was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church and was very active in the LWML for many years, as well as, many other acts of service for her Lord.

      Paul and Irene had a small piece of property north of Beebe where they dreamed of one day living permanently, raising some cattle and just living the good life down on the farm.

      In the summer of 1962, while traveling up to the farm property, Paul spotted a piece of land for sale on the road that was to become Highway 67/167. He stopped, pulled up the for sale sign and put it in the back of his truck until he could contact the Real Estate Agent to purchase it. Taking that sign was necessary to avoid anyone else beating him to it!

      In the winter of 1962/63, they began erecting buildings on the new property. During the Christmas break of 1962, they moved into a Mobile Home there on the property. The children finished their educations at Sylvan Hills where Phillip graduated in 1966 and Velora in 1968.

      In 1968 they moved permanently to the farm. Phillip went to work for the business and Velora went to college at Harding in Searcy.

      Velora married in 1971 and Phillip married in 1981 and started their own families.

      Paul and Irene officially retired from the business in 1985, bought a Motor Home and started traveling. They enjoyed life and each other until Paul passed away the last day of December, 2009. Her love of 63 years was gone and she grieved his loss until they were reunited at the feet of Jesus.

      Velora passed away on Thanksgiving Day, 2020. The evil dementia began to take over Irene’s life in a steady downward spiral that rapidly increased as 2021 progressed.

      After living with Phillip and Edie for 7 weeks, Irene was ready to live anywhere else! She moved into the Des Arc Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility on April 29, 2021 where she peacefully passed into her eternal glory.

      Irene is survived by her son, Phillip and his wife Edie of Cabot, her son-in-law, Steve Green of Russellville. Five grandchildren; Christiana (Clay) Toups of Conway, AR, Rebecca (Trent) Johnson of Mineola, TX, Jeffery (Erin) Green of Navarre, FL, William Tweedy of Jacksonville, AR, and Andrew Tweedy of Ft. Worth, TX. Four great grandchildren; Trace & Tristan Toups, Charla Johnson and Howie Green.

     Irene was loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed!!  The family would like to thank the staff at Des Arc Nursing for their wonderful, loving care of our sweet mom & grandma while she was a resident. May God richly Bless you all!

     In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Reynolds Institute On Aging UAMS-Alzheimer’s Division.

     A Celebration of Irene’s Life will be held 2:00 p.m., Thursday October 7th, 2021 at Our Shepard Lutheran Church in Searcy (2610 S. Main St.) with Pastor Jeff King officiating.  Visitation will be one-hour prior to service beginning at 1:00 p.m.  Burial will be in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Beebe (404 W. Dewitt Henry Dr.) following.  Please visit www.smithfamilycares.com/westbrook for guest register.