Clifton G. Tankersley

Obituaries

by Talk Business Staff ([email protected]) ago 0 views 

Clifton G. Tankersley, 88, of Fort Smith, passed away on Sunday, December 21, 2025. He was born on October 17, 1937, to the late Robert Clifton Tankersley and Lydia Evelyn Clark Tankersley. He is remembered as a patriot, kind, caring, loving, pet lover and an extremely nice person that was friendly to all. He was a pioneer in the early decades of the 188FW at Ebbing ANG Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas where he enlisted in January 1955 at the age of 17 in the Arkansas Air National Guard retiring after 41-years of military service as the rank of Senior Master Sergeant as the Air Field Management Superintendent in support of flight operations. He was a national leader for enlisted service members to include serving as the 1971 President of the Arkansas Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States. He embodied the historical image of the Minuteman, where he was ready to answer his nation’s call with nothing more than a moment’s notice to defend our liberty. He worked another 22 years at American Airlines before retiring from there in 2017. He loved golf, where he spent a decade volunteering to support the Fort Smith Classic golf tournament as well as spending free time playing rounds of golf for his own pleasure. He loved to travel spending time on international trips and spending his retirement years sharing his recreational travel with his wife and family. He was extremely proud of his children and excited by the tales of their accomplishments and successes. He was of the Baptist faith.

He loved his family and is survived by his daughter, Heather Schrader and her husband Steven, of Fayetteville, AR; two sons, Chris Tankersley of Puyallup, WA and Scott Tankersley and his wife Kerrie Ann of Cross Roads, TX. He is also survived by his three grandchildren: Faith Schrader and her husband Corey Slaughter of Rockwall, TX, Matthew Schrader of Fayetteville, AR, and Andrew Schrader of Fayetteville, AR.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Marsha Kaye (Crane) Tankersley; his parents Robert and Lydia (Clark) Tankersley; his brothers, Bobby, Jim, Kenneth Tankersley; his sisters Mary McDowell, Evelyn Stevenson, and Judy McKinney. His grandson, Christopher Tankersley, son of Scott and Kerrie A. Tankersley.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, December 29, 2025, at Edwards Funeral Home, 201 N. 12th Street in Fort Smith.

Funeral service will be 12:00 PM Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel, with interment to follow at the Fort Smith National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, 239 Turpentine Creek Lane, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, or go to www.turpentinecreek.org.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, 239 Turpentine Creek Lane, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, 72632.