of Charlotte, NC

June 7, 1941 - April 1, 2025

Funeral services for Arlene Byrnes, formerly of Lakeview, AR, have been entrusted to Roller Funeral Home in Mountain Home, AR. Arlene passed away peacefully, in the company of her family on April 1, 2025.

Arlene was born June 7, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois to Edward and Eileen Bock. She was the 2nd oldest of 5 children, grew up in Bensenville, IL, and graduated from Fenton High School in 1959. In 1961, Arlene began the ride of her life when she met her partner for life, Bill Byrnes. Bill and Arlene were married in 1962 and were blessed with 3 children, Lisa, Bill, Jr., and Coleen.

As if raising their family wasn't exciting enough, Bill and Arlene left Chicago and moved to Arkansas in 1973. For the first few years, they partnered with family as proprietors of a fishing resort on Bull Shoals Lake. After several years, Arlene and Bill moved their family to Bull Shoals, where they lived until they retired and relocated to Lakeview.

As a mother, Arlene was always busy attending ball games, school plays, concerts, scouting ceremonies and fundraising events. Raising her kids was her priority, but she always held another job outside the home. Once she moved to Bull Shoals, Arlene went to work for Dr. Kelley at Bull Shoals Hospital. After several years, she moved on to Micro Plastics, where she spent more than 25 years in the office. She counted many of her coworkers at Micro amongst some of her closest friends.

Retiring from Micro Plastics gave Arlene the opportunity she had been waiting for to start a small business of her own centered around her talents for arts and crafts. She loved painting, sewing and embroidering and she shared these gifts with others through ceramics and countless hand-crafted treasures. Arlene could be found peddling her wares at several craft booths over the years from Flippin to Gassville to Mtn. Home. She shared this passion with her sisters, Sharon and Carol, and the girls were always expanding their product lines!

The part of her life that brought her the most joy was the arrival of her grandchildren. Over the past 30 years, Arlene traveled countless miles across multiple states (even countries!) to share in the various endeavors of all her grandkids from hockey games to dance recitals to volleyball tournaments to graduations to Christmas holidays she cherished every moment.

Arlene was a selfless, compassionate woman of faith, and she did her best to instill this faith in her family. She was a member of St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church in Mtn. Home for nearly 50 years. Throughout all the ups and downs she faced in her life, she always found strength and comfort in her faith and with the Blessed Mother, Mary.

Arlene is survived by her husband of 62 years, Bill, along with her children; Lisa Westberg (Dan), Bill Byrnes, Jr. (Elena) and Coleen Bukowinski (John). Additionally, she will forever be treasured by her grandchildren, Megan Westberg, Erin Westberg, Christian Byrnes, Renee Byrnes, Bill Byrnes, III, Katie Bukowinski and Eric Bukowinski. She will be missed by nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws too numerous to count.

Arlene is also survived by her brother, Raymond Bock. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Eileen Bock; sisters Sharon Hosick and Carol Nichols; and her brother Jim Bock.

The family will receive friends on Friday, June 6th from 5 pm to 7 pm at Roller Funeral Home in Mtn. Home. A funeral mass will be celebrated for Arlene at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church (also in Mtn. Home) on what would have been Arlene's 84th birthday, Saturday, June 7 at 10:00 am. Immediately following the funeral mass, Arlene's ashes will be interred in Baxter Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Arlene's memory to: St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital

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