Mr. Joel Harris Saddler, Jr. of Trumann, formerly of Harrisburg, departed this life Friday night, November 8, 2024, at the St. Bernard’s Hospital in Jonesboro, at the age of 61.
Joel was born July 18, 1963 in West Memphis, AR, the son of the late Joel Saddler and Mary Carolyn Isbell Saddler.
Joel was a 1981 graduate of Harrisburg High School, where he played football and played saxophone in the band. Following High School, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Germany. After returning home from the army, he started driving trucks and that became his lifelong occupation. He liked to fish when able and loved music and playing with his grandkids. He was an avid weather watcher. Joel attended Calvary Baptist Church in Harrisburg. He married Marilyn Long in February of 1992 and they have enjoyed 32 years together. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joel and Mary Saddler.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn Saddler of the home, three daughters, Leslie Weatherford and her husband Grant of Hunter, AR, Shannon Mooney and her husband Taylor of Fayetteville, AR and Sarah Sumner and her husband David of Sherwood, AR, two sons, Tony Cox and his wife Kristy of Benton, AR and Chris Cox and his wife Lauren of Alto, GA, one sister, Pam Traynom of Harrisburg, thirteen grandchildren, Kade Weatherford and his wife Morgan, Ella Weatherford, Ava Weatherford, Joey Weatherford, Atlas Mooney, Harrison Mooney, Beau Mooney, Chloe Saddler, Emma Sumner, Rylee Cox, Jackson Jernigan, Hattie Cox, and Rayland Cox, one nephew, Hunter Traynom and his wife Kami, one niece, Alex Turner and her husband Justin, and five great nieces and nephews, Araleigh, Dawson, Jep, Riley and Rhett.
Funeral services are set for Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., at the Gregg-Weston Funeral Home Chapel in Harrisburg, with Rev. Rick Kimery officiating, assisted by Rev. Shannon Tribble. Burial will follow in Harrisburg Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. till service time. Pallbearers will be Grant Weatherford, Taylor Mooney, David Sumner, Tony Cox, Chris Cox, Hunter Taynom and Justin Turner.