Obituary- Howard Lee Hattabaugh (1941-2020)

Howard Lee Hattabaugh, 78, of Mansfield passed away peacefully at home on Monday, April 20, 2020. Howard was born in Elm Park, Arkansas, and graduated from Mansfield High School. He was well respected in the timber industry and was featured in Southern Logging Times for being one of the first logging contractors in the area to use mechanized cutting equipment. More recently he was also known for owning and operating a local sawmill, Square Rock Lumber. Howard was a veteran of the United States Army and retired from the National Guard. He was a 32nd degree Mason and attended regular lodge meetings at the Lynch Prairie Lodge.

Howard will forever be known for his strong work ethic, his integrity, his generosity, his stubbornness, but most of all for his commitment to family. He came from humble beginnings and worked hard and built a better life for his family. He was always willing to give someone a helping hand and a second chance. Howard was also known for his storytelling abilities and although some of the tales may have been tall, they were always entertaining.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 57 years, Cleda Joyce Hattabaugh; his son, Mitchell Hattabaugh of Mansfield and his daughter, Rebecca Frueh and her husband Brent of Fort Smith; six grandchildren – Jeffery Hattabaugh and his wife Jennifer, Jonathan Hattabaugh and his wife Crystal, Cyrena Maxey and her husband, Jon, Erica Brothers and her husband Dillon, Emily Fincher and Nate Fincher; and six great grandchildren, Connor, Chloe, Tucker, Roque and Lainey Hattabaugh, Cal and Fletcher Maxey and Roselynn Brothers.

Howard was preceded in death by a son, Gary Hattabaugh.

Howard’s life celebration will be at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, April 23, 2020 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in the Freedom Cemetery near Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

During these trying and difficult times, we must limit public gatherings to 10 persons in our funeral home and do our part to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Family and friends are welcome to attend the service but must remain in their vehicles. Howard’s life celebration will be live streamed on the link by Services on his webpage and the graveside service can be heard from the comfort of your vehicle at radio station 87.9 FM.