Alison Lynea VanRoekel, 51, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, January 17, 2026. She was born on November 5, 1974, and lived a life defined by compassion, creativity, and deep love for her family.
Alison graduated from Cabot High School and went on to earn her nursing degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Nursing was not just her profession but her calling. She had a natural gift for caring for others and approached her work with empathy, patience, and a genuine desire to help people through some of their hardest moments.
Above all else, Alison was a devoted mother. Her son, Chayse, was her whole world, and she was endlessly proud of the young man he is becoming. Her love for him was fierce, joyful, and unwavering, and it shaped every part of her life.
Alison had a creative spirit and a gentle heart. She loved decorating and painting, finding beauty in small details, and creating spaces that felt like home. Music was another constant in her life, especially rock music, which she loved and often turned to. She cherished time spent with her family, whether gathered together or simply enjoying everyday moments, and she adored her dog, who brought her comfort and companionship.
She is survived by her husband, Richard VanRoekel; her son, Chayse VanRoekel; her father, Michael Hare; her sisters, Michelle Atchison and Courtney Newell (Brandon); her niece, Tiffanee Miller-Stroud (Matt); and her nephew, Blake Samples (Bri). She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members and friends who loved her dearly.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Jeanette Hare; her nephew, Austin Samples; her aunt, Charlotte Murphy; and her uncle, Allen Cordell, all of whom were deeply loved and greatly missed.
Alison will be remembered for her kindness, her creativity, her dedication to others, and the deep love she poured into her family. Her absence leaves an immeasurable space, but her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the people she cared for, and the son she loved so fiercely.
A service celebrating Alison’s life will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at A Natural State Funeral Service in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance, to honor her life, and to support one another during this time of loss.
Flowers may be sent to A Natural State Funeral Service. Memorial gifts may be made to the family of Alison VanRoekel.
Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com