Dana Louise Roberts of Newport departed this life on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at Sherwood, just 69 days short of her 50th birthday. She was born Tuesday, July 25, 1972, at Newport the second child of Donald Roberts, Sr. and Maude Drennin Roberts.
Dana grew up with her sister and brother in the Jacksonport Community, where they were taught a love of farming, hunting, fishing, friends, family, and the Lord both at home and at church. Dana was a 1990 graduate of Newport High School. Her Senior quote read, “Look into tomorrow’s future and leave yesterday’s failures behind.” Dana was a member of the Future Farmers of America and participated in the FFA’s Parliamentary Procedure, Judging Team, and the Barnyard. She also joined R.O.T.C., ran track, and was a member of the Library Club, Students Against Drunk Drivers, and the Future Homemakers of America.
Dana accepted the Lord, Jesus Christ into her heart and was baptized in the White River by Bro. Ray Fultner.
Dana currently worked at the Newport Wal-Mart Delicatessen. She had previously worked 6 years for the Grimes-McPherson Arkansas Department of Corrections as a Transportation Sergeant for the Grimes Unit. Dana also worked for 41/2 years for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, where she attained the rank of Sergeant.
Dana’s bigger-than-life personality made life fun. She never met a stranger and never missed an opportunity to call someone by name or her own version of their nickname from across the room. Dana’s favorite holiday was Christmas and she began her official countdown on December 26th.
Dana enjoyed cooking out, having crawdad boils, swimming and hanging out with friends and family. She loved her friends, who affectionately called her, “Gooch” and they loved her dearly in return. Dana’s most loyal, loving friend was her dog, K-Jun, she was definitely his most loved human.
Anyone who met Dana knew within a matter of minutes that the most important people in her life were her parents. Dana learned to hunt and fish from her Dad. Together, they spent many hours hunting, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors. Dana always described her Mama as the most beautiful woman in the world and she loved talking about all of the special things her Mama did for her. Dana often referred to her parents as “her world” and never failed to be grateful and loved telling everyone how blessed she was to be their daughter. Dana shared a deep and unconditional love for her brother, Donald, and sister, Donna, and their families. She delighted in her nieces and nephews and her great-niece and was especially excited for her soon to arrive great-nephew.
Dana will forever be remembered as a bright light in the lives of her friends and family, with her big smile and immense and genuine loving spirit. Dana will be forever missed for the beautiful difference she made in the world.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Erin Dow and Helen Theo (Barker) Drennin, her paternal grandparents, Juna and Lela (Adams) Roberts; and several aunts and uncles.
Dana is survived by her parents, Donald Roberts, Sr., and Maude (Drennin) Roberts of Newport; one sister, Donna Roberts Williams and husband, Gene, of Judsonia; one brother, Donald Roberts, Jr., and wife, Jill of Beebe; her nephews and niece, Tyler Williams (Jaclynn), Tate Roberts, and Ainsley Roberts; her great-niece, Kylynn Williams; a great-nephew on the way; a host of other relatives, and a lifetime of friends.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501, St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, The Jackson County Humane Society, P.O. Box 154, Newport, AR 72112, or Jacksonport Baptist Church, 300 Dillard Street, Jacksonport, AR 72075.
Friends may visit at the funeral home Thursday, 5:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services are 2:00 p.m. Friday at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Bridget Hendrix, Leigh Seymore, Terri Gillette, David Gates, Ronnie Dale Jackson, and Carl Schlotzhauer, Jr. Honorary pallbearers are Becky Walker, Stephanie Moss, Amber Davis, Deana Meeks, Terry Hatch, Melissa Harp, Dinah Newby, Pam Pry, Kathy Gates, Kristi and Seth Henderson, Kim Poskey, Kristi Dugan, Heather Allen, Laura Pry, Lori Walker, Bo Hutchinson, Angel McGinnis, Sherry Landrum, Jennifer Raby, Angie Lawson, and Suzy and Tim Jones.
