Jeffery Lynn Schuman

Jeffery Lynn Schuman, 62, of Bethesda, AR, died November 19, 2015, at White River Medical Center, Batesville. Jeff was born on June 1, 1953 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to John Joseph Schuman and Elenore Locker Schuman.

Jeff is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers John Joseph Schuman, Jr. and Jack Henry Schuman.

Jeff graduated from Portage High School, Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1971. He was a graduate of Western Michigan University and received his Master's degree in Rural Sociology from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Medical Corp, serving in the psychiatric wards in military hospitals in San Antonio, Texas and Augusta, Georgia. While obtaining his Master's degree, Jeff was employed by the Veterans Hospital in Fayetteville.

Jeff was a long-time Executive Director of Deep Fork Community Action Agency, Okmulgee, OK and recently was employed by the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, Little Rock, AR, as the state non-emergency medical vehicle inspector.

Jeff was a creative and brilliant man. He loved to create haunted houses, and while at Deep Fork CAF, raised several thousand dollars to help better the lives of the less fortunate in Okmulgee, Okfuskee, McIntosh and Seminole Counties.. His motto was "we don't do cute".

Jeff also was a playwright and wrote several murder mysteries as fund raisers. His plays were always hilarious and along with the "Neighbors Without Shame Players", raised over $100,000 to help the less fortunate.

Jeff was a member and an ordained elder in the Presbyterian USA church. He was a former member of First Presbyterian church in Okmulgee and a member of the First Presbyterian church in Batesville, AR.

Jeff was a long-time member of Lions International, in Okmulgee, OK. He was appropriately the “Tail Twister”. The Tail Twister told corny jokes at each meeting. He loved coming up with new “material” every week.

Jeff is survived by his wife Cheryl Gibney Schuman, his daughter Meg Smith and her husband Russell of Elkins, AR, his sons Joseph McDonald and wife Angue of Mountain View, AR and Connor Schuman of Melbourne, Australia. His grandchildren, Baylie Smith of Elkins, Brenden McDonald and Rose Blackwell, of Mountain View. He is survived by his brother Jerry Schuman and wife Paula of Paw Paw, Michigan and sister, Shelly Schuman Lefler and husband Bill of Garnett, Kansas his sisters-in-law Renate Schuman of Three Rivers, Michigan and Donna Gibney of Jenks, Oklahoma. He is also survived by Jacob Kaine, Hallie England Combs and Taylor England, many nieces, nephews and many dear friends. Jeff is survived by his beloved Skye Terrier "Jack".

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m., December 4, 2015 at the Luginbuel Funeral Home, Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Pastor Jennifer Grantham officiating. Jeff's wish was to be cremated and his ashes scattered in Lake Michigan. A place that held many special, happy memories.

Service may be viewed live at www.luginbuel.com