Robert Howard Hudgens, Jr.

Robert Howard (Hal) Hudgens Jr., age 57 of Berryville, Arkansas, died June 23, 2025. He was the son of Robert Howard Hudgens Sr. and Patricia Hudgens. He is survived by his wife, Laura Catherine Hanby Hudgens; his four children with their spouses, Robert Jackson (Jack) Hudgens and Allison Hudgens, Mary Michael Christopherson and Joseph Christopherson, Catherine Carter Hudgens, and John Chester (Chet) Hudgens; his grandchildren, Robert Cassidy Hudgens, John Carter Christopherson, and one who is on the way; his mother, Patty; his sisters, Holly Williams Friar and Heather Hudgens; and numerous other family members, all of whom loved Hal greatly and looked to him as the rock of the family.

Though raised in Little Rock, Hal quickly took to life in Berryville after he married Laura in 1992. A fast learner, Hal became a lumberman, a farmer, and a pillar of the community where he made his home. But he was, above all, a loving husband and a devoted father. He taught his children to love God and to know the difference between right and wrong. He taught them how to work and prepared them to take up their place in the family and the community when their time came. He was so proud of them and took endless delight in them. Often when the family would gather around the pool or down by the river, Hal would pop open a beer, kick back, and exclaim, “Man, does it get any better than this?

Look at these kids, they’re all great.” Hal loved to cook. He loved to eat. He loved spending time with his friends at deer camp or at the cabin on the river. He loved being generous to his nephews, treating them like his own sons. He was lovingly devoted to his father as he cared for him during his battle with Alzheimer’s. He loved taking his mother out for ice cream. He loved fishing with his sister. He loved his in-laws, Butch and Beverly, and constantly looked after them. Hal loved to surprise his children with gifts. He loved his young grandchildren. And, of course, he loved Laura with all his heart and was eagerly looking forward to growing old with her and glorying in their grandchildren together. This is just what Hal did, always and everywhere: he loved us with everything that he had and “he loved them till the end” (Jn 13:1). We are devastated by his loss and will love and miss him for the rest of our lives.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at Saint Anne Catholic Church with Father Joseph Archibong officiating. Memorial donations may be made to Mennonite Disaster Services, 1063 CR 708, Berryville, AR 72616, Berryville City Library, 104 Spring Street, Berryville, AR 72616, or St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 614 S Main Street, Berryville, AR 72616. Online condolences may be sent to nelsonfuneral.com.