of Denning, AR

December 5, 1930 - September 11, 2020

Herman (Shorty) Richard McCormick was born December 5th, 1930 in Coal Hill Arkansas and died September 11th, 2020 at age 89 in his home in Denning Arkansas. The son of Charley James McCormick and Bertha Ann Anderson, Herman married Lois Madgie Tollison on June 23rd, 1951. He became a Corporal in the United States Marine Corp during the Korean War. He was stationed at Bakersfield, California where he trained to become a heavy machinery operator. After the war, he and his cousin Ed McCormick utilized the construction experience gained in the armed services building roads throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. He and his cousin Ed lay the pavement for much of the original I-40 in Oklahoma. Both he and Ed became employees of Ben Hogan Construction where Herman became paving foreman and eventually a job site superintendent. Circa 1970, Herman took up local skilled-craft jobs including plumbing, remodeling, carpentry, stone masonry, painter and eventually started his own business as a roofing contractor. Herman worked countless hours, up to 20 hours/day, to feed his family, including some of his siblings after his father was murdered, working at jobs others found too difficult. Herman took over the roofing business of his wife's brother Eugene Dee Tollison and within a few years his wife, Lois, also became a roofer; as a husband and wife roofing team employing many individuals, including family and local workers over the years. After 2000, shortly after the death of his wife Lois, Herman began the process of retirement from the roofing business. Herman served as Honorable Mayor of the Town of Denning, Arkansas for 14 years. While Mayor and Water Commissioner he found ways to invest the town's funds to pay off the water system debt many years ahead of schedule. He was even known on multiple occasions to refuse his own pay for water commissioner and/or mayor when the town funds were strained. Herman had an affinity for children and those less fortunate. As a result, he and his wife frequently took into their home relatives, strangers, and community youths to give them a chance and the necessities of life. He was known by the community children as ''Pappaw'' and never refused to provide a meal to any in need. Herman was a philanthropist on a retiree's budget and a community-legend for gardening of okra, tomatoes, etc. and making pecan pies. He would constantly take the fruits of his labor and translate them into food and confections for others - sometimes driving miles to just give them away.

Herman was preceded in death by his wife, Lois, and granddaughter Carrie Carpenter. He is survived by 4 children KaDee Angel McCormick, Brenda Kay Penepent, both of Russellville AR., Donna Lynn Thomas of Denning AR. and Timmy Wayne McCormick of Elkins AR. Survivors include seven grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at 10:00 am at Houston Cemetery in Alix, Arkansas.
We are complying with the Arkansas Department of Health guidelines and limiting indoor funeral and visitation attendance to 100 people at one time. All attendees must provide and wear their own masks before entering.

Funeral arrangement is under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home. Online guestbook at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/clarksville

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