Helping Families and Friends Honor Their Loved One

Wayne L. Marcotte, age 81,

On September 12th, 2021 Wayne L. Marcotte, age 81, ended an almost two-decade battle with cancer.  Wayne was born in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota January 26, 1940 to Harry and Marie Marcott as one of eight children.  He attended public schools in Red Lake Falls where he was active in football, basketball and hockey which led to his life-long love of sports.  Even though his beloved Razorbacks often disappointed him, he cheered for them through the good and the bad never giving up on them.  He was also a devout outdoorsman and preferred anything outdoors to being inside.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting especially deer hunting with his grandsons.  Wayne was an avid gardener and spent many hours every summer growing vegetables to feed his family and friends. He never met a vegetable that he couldn’t grow. To all who met him they could quickly tell that he was a master wood-worker.  If you could make it from wood, he could make it.  Over the decades he built everything from toys to buildings using the skills he honed through-out the years. Wayne also had a permanent oval track in his head for only left turns as he was a die-hard NASCAR fan and had followed Mark Martin’s entire career.

After graduating high school, he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in Shreveport, LA, Newfoundland, and Salina KS. Before he reported to Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, he returned back home to marry his high school sweetheart Arlene Thode on June 17th 1961.  They were blessed with three children, Cheryl, Ronald and Julie but suffered a heart-breaking loss when their son passed shortly after birth. 

Once his active-duty service ended, Wayne then worked as a contractor in Wichita Falls, Texas and at Little Rock Air Force Base working with vehicle maintenance units.  After working as a contractor, he transitioned through several other jobs until he achieved his dream of starting his own axle company. He founded ARMO axle company in Beebe in 1991.  He led the company for many successful years until he sold the company to retire.  Not a man to sit at home, shortly after retirement he took a job at North Point Ford delivering and ordering parts at their body shop.

He was known by many nick names over the years including. The Cranky Yankee and the rain maker which was a nickname he picked up after having knee surgery because of a motorcycle accident.  He could predict the weather better than most local weather forecasters. 

His family is so grateful that we got to celebrate the milestones of his 80th birthday, their 60th wedding anniversary and wife’s 80thbirthday with him.

Wayne was an active and long-time member of Hope Lutheran Church in Jacksonville and spent many days mowing the grass and helping with other projects.  Wayne was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Marie Marcott, sister Mae and Brother-in-Law Walter Morgan, Brother-in-Law Albert Erdmann, Sister-in-Law Betty Marcott, son Ronald Wayne Marcotte and granddaughter Lauren Reeves.  Wayne is survived by his wife Arlene, daughters Cheryl Bajorek (Rob), Julie Reeves (David), grandsons Michael, Chris and Matthew as well as his sisters and brothers.

Services will be held Thursday September 16, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Hope Lutheran Church, 1904 McArthur Drive, Jacksonville, AR 72076. Burial to follow at Mt Carmel Cemetery in Cabot.

Arrangements entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service, 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, AR 72076. 501-982-3400 online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com

12 Comments

  • Kelli Sawyer Posted September 14, 2021 1:39 PM

    I will keep you all in my prayers. Your father sounds like a wonderful man Cheryl. You must be alot like him.

  • Lisa Talarico Posted September 14, 2021 1:57 PM

    With much love and prayers Cheryl, you and your family are in our hearts. Love, Lisa Talarico and Focus Foodservice

  • John and Gina Wilkins Posted September 14, 2021 2:12 PM

    We were so blessed to know him. Our love and sympathy to Arlene and the rest of the family.

  • Sherri Mattocks Posted September 14, 2021 2:14 PM

    I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you.

  • Juanita Reyna Posted September 14, 2021 3:58 PM

    RIP our friend of many years You fought a good fight you will be missed by many friends and family

  • Curtis and haylie poe Posted September 14, 2021 9:12 PM

    Really good friend to me and my daughter, will miss him alot.

  • Elvie Mills McKinney Posted September 14, 2021 10:53 PM

    Arlene & girls, I’m so sorry to hear of Wayne’s passing. I can’t remember a time when I haven’t known him. He was at dad’s shop a lot when I was growing up. Then I started babysitting the girls, saw him at the races, saw him in town…he was just always around. Even though he always pestered me, I still thought the world of him. RIP my sweet
    friend !! I will keep all of you in my prayers. Love to
    all.

  • Annette Delgado Posted September 15, 2021 8:24 AM

    My sympathy to Arlene and the family. I met Wayne when I worked at Citizens National Bank with Arlene. May you find peace in God’s love. Annette

  • Ronald and Karen Tucker Posted September 15, 2021 9:50 AM

    Wayne was a wonderful person, and will be greatly missed. Our love and prayers go out to each and everyone of you.

  • Amanda Hagood Posted September 15, 2021 10:50 AM

    I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Wayne. I worked with him at North Point Body Shop he was a great man that would always have a story to tell that made us all laugh. He will be missed dearly. will pray for the family.

  • Vernon Blocker Posted September 15, 2021 3:40 PM

    So sorry to hear about Wayne praying for you and your family
    Wayne you’ll be missed I enjoyed the time we spent together till we meet again

  • Ken and Jean Payne Posted September 16, 2021 10:26 AM

    Prayers for Arlene and the family. We were fortunate to have been one of his many friends. He is going to be missed.

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