Garret William Hackworth, Jr.

Garret William Hackworth, Jr., 83, of Crossett, died Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at his residence in Crossett surrounded by his family.  Mr. Hackworth was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He was a resident of Crossett since 1972, and a former resident of Decatur, Arkansas.  He was a 1958 graduate of Decatur High School and a 1960 graduate of the Baptist Radiology School. Mr. Hackworth was a member of the Arkansas United States Army Reserves, the Crossett Lions Club, and the First Baptist Church of Crossett, where he was a member of the Claude Spainhour Sunday School class. He entered the Shainberg Department Store management training program which introduced him to the world of retail sales. He moved to Crossett and opened a men’s clothing store, The Hack Shop.  After its closing, he became a Wholesale Jewelry Salesman, traveling all over Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and parts of Texas selling to over 300 jewelry stores.  He then became a Manufactured Home Salesman for Don Killins Country Village Manufactured Homes in Monroe, Louisiana and El Dorado Manufactured Homes in El Dorado, Arkansas. After that, he began his career as an Automobile Salesman at Ashley Motors, now known as Holt Auto Group in Crossett, where he was awarded a Mark of Excellence from General Motors.  He had received other awards, such as a Distinguished Merit Award in 1985, Salesman of the Year in 1980, and Little Rock Accessory Man. Mr. Hackworth retired from his career as a salesman in December 2013. He enjoyed knowing what everyone was doing and why, meeting and talking with others, and making people smile. He loved to catch and release squirrels, or relocating them off Cedar Street as he called it, that were eating Renee’s birdseed.  He was a master of the BBQ grill and frying turkeys.  If you saw him outside, he was probably on his mower working on the next yard of the month yard sign. He loved his church and church family, but more than anything he loved his wife and his family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Garret William, Sr. and Luella Dowdy Hackworth.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Renee Courson Hackworth of Crossett; two sons, Dr. John Harris and wife, Nichole, of White Hall and Jason Hackworth and wife, Nicole, of Miami, Florida; a daughter, Melissa Toon and husband, Jim, of Crossett; a sister, Betty Gammell of Exmore, Virginia; 14 grandchildren, Madison Dykes and husband, Jeremy, Hannah Harris, Morgan Shandy, Kadeem Smith, Braden Shandy, Alex Hackworth, Morgan Bucko and husband, Brendan, Jordanne Hackworth, Brendan Swanson, Cade Swanson, Bailey Toon, Ila Lane and husband, Hunter, and Katy Streeter; four great-grandchildren, Aspen Dykes, Rhylin Swanson, T.J. Swanson and Weylyn Adair and his granddogs.

Funeral services are at 10 a.m., Friday, May 10, 2024, at the First Baptist Church of Crossett with Rev. Jamie Staley officiating. Burial will be in the Promise Land Cemetery. Pallbearers are Jim Kirkley, Josh Hartley, Colton High, Brian Holt, Ronnie Dillion, and Dr. Ben Walsh. Honorary pallbearers are members of the First Baptist Church of Crossett Spainhour Sunday School Class. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Crossett, 701 Main Street, Crossett, AR 71635. 

Visitation will be 6 - 8 p.m., Thursday, at the First Baptist Church of Crossett.