One of Newport’s most beloved friends, Gene Sweat, departed this life on Friday, February 16th, 2024, at the age of 80. He was born June 3rd, 1943, near Weldon, Arkansas, the middle child of Lloyd Dale Sweat, Sr. and Ethel Geneva (Hardin) Sweat.
With the exception of a few years in which the family lived in McCrory and Cotton Plant, Arkansas, he was a dedicated and lifelong resident of Jackson County. He was the class Salutatorian and President of the Newport High School Class of 1961.
During his high school years, Gene was actively involved in the Future Farmers of America. He was elected as the local FFA chapter Vice President and President and was ultimately elected as the FFA State Treasurer. After high school, he attended Arkansas Tech University for 2 years.
In the summers of 1962 and 1963, he began what would ultimately become a long and storied career at Farmers Electric Cooperative. In those early years, he worked at the utility’s right-of-way department. Beginning in 1964, he started full-time as a lineman. He was promoted in 1966 to Power Use Representative. By 1970, he was named Assistant Operations Manager, and was eventually promoted to the General Manager position in 1976. He would ultimately retire from this position after serving the Co-op members for over 47 years.
In 1966, Gene married the love of his life, Cindy (Johnston) Sweat, and they settled in Newport, where they raised one son, Daren. Their marriage was of the storybook kind, having dated for 8 months before marrying and continuing for over 58 years until his passing. They’ve resided in their home on Mimosa Drive since 1976.
Gene was a very active member of the Newport and Jackson County communities. He was recognized for over 55 years of service as a member of the Newport Lion’s Club and received one of their highest national recognitions as a “Melvin Jones Fellow”. He was recognized in 1999 as “Jackson County Outstanding Citizen”, and the “Friend of Tourism for Newport/Jackson County” in 2010. Other organizations include the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce, Local Emergency Planning Committee, the Northeast Arkansas Higher Education Charitable Foundation with Arkansas State University – Newport, founding member of the High Voltage Lineman Technology Advisory Committee, and on the Board of Directors at Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation. He also served on the Christmas on the Lake, Depot Days, and PortFest committees.
Gene served as Chairman of several organizations, such as the Arkansas Municipal Power Association (AMPA), Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI), and the Electric Research and Manufacturing Cooperative (ERMCO) in Dyersburg, TN.
In his spare time over the years, Gene was an active hunter and fisherman. He spent many weekends over the last 30 plus years at he and Cindy’s favorite getaway, their cabin in Mt. Olive, Arkansas. It’s here that they became an active part of a small Ozarks community where they made some of their “newest” old friends. At Mt. Olive, Gene and Cindy became active members of the Mt. Olive Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder.
On weekdays and weekends when he wasn’t at Mt. Olive, Gene enjoyed traveling to watch his grandson, Harrison, playing league, All-Star, travel, and high school baseball, while Daren coached, as well as junior high/high school basketball in Maumelle. He was a proud “PawPaw” in the stands and rarely missed a game up until his last year. On many occasions, he and Cindy made multiple trips per week just to watch and cheer. He was a favorite among people in the stands, and was loved and recognized by everyone as “Mr. Gene”.
Almost everywhere he went, people knew “Mr. Gene”, and they described him with words such as humble, proud, loving, caring, and giving. He lived his life as an example of how the Lord desires, putting others above himself.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd Dale (Sr.) and Geneva Sweat, and brother, Lloyd Dale Sweat, Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Cindy Sweat; son, Daren Gene Sweat and grandson, Harrison Lane Sweat, both of Maumelle, AR; one sister, Gail Sweat Menkemeller of Denton, TX; several nieces and nephews; and a lifetime of friends.
Visitation for Gene will be from 5:00-7:00 pm, Monday, February 19, 2024, at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home. Services will be at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at Jackson’s Newport Chapel. Interment will follow at Sandhill Cemetery.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are: Harrison Sweat, Kade Faircloth, Mitch Bowen, Rick Proctor, Todd Shaw, Dwayne Lawrence, Don Darling, and David Hare.
Honorary pallbearers are Jim Heatherly, John Conner Jr., Dale Eaves, David Stewart, Jerry Hicks, and Newport Lions Club Members.
The family has established the “Gene Sweat Memorial High Voltage Lineman Scholarship Fund” in his memory, benefitting students attending the Program at ASU-Newport. Memorials/donations may be mailed to: Northeast Arkansas Charitable Foundation, PO Box 189, Newport, AR 72112.
