Lester Vern Gilmartin

,Lester "Vern" Gilmartin, 79, of Arkansas and formerly of Barton County, passed away on December 5, 2025.

He was  born in Pittsburg, Kansas, and raised in Liberal, Missouri, where he attended school before continuing his education at Pittsburg University. He dedicated much of his life to the lumber industry, living and working in Connecticut, Virginia, and Arkansas before finally settling in Paragould, Arkansas.

After a short illness, Vern passed away on December 5, 2025. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Judith, and his parents, Delbert and Helen.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Susan; his son, Cade; his brother, Larry (Caroline); stepchildren, Adam and Elizabeth Nelson; and cherished grandchildren, Sienna and Rebecca Nelson, Ashton Brown, and Cody Smith.

The family will have a graveside service, to inter his ashes, at 2:00 PM on Saturday March 29, 2025 at Iantha Cemetery.