He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Flora Mae (Buckner) Bennett; two brothers, Carl and Joe Bennett, and three grandchildren, Michael Bennett, Heather Bennett and Mindy Wolfenbarger.

He was a riverboat captain, a member of Marmaduke First Baptist Church, Grand Master Mason, Scottish Rites, volunteer fireman, Most Illustrious Grand Master of York Rites of Arkansas, Past Worthy Patron of the Order of Eastern Star, Past Patron of Grand Royal Order of Aramanth of Arkansas and past President of Shriners Club of Northeast Arkansas.

Survivors include his wife, Mary, of the home; children, Gene and Brenda Bennett of Marmaduke, Eddie and Vonda Bennett of Paragould and Janet and Tim Stone of Marmaduke; grandchildren, Kimberly Long of Nashville, Lori James of Searcy, Bryan Bennett of Paragould, Tammy Bennett of Marmaduke, Eddie Lee Bennett of Iraq, Nathan Stone of Newman, Ga., Nicholas Stone of Marmaduke and Steve and Kimberly Maynard; great-grandchildren, Jordan and Jackson Long, Molly and Gracie James, Max Bennett, Jayden Wolfenbarger, Hailey Maynard, Lauren Glass and Brien Maynard; brothers, Gene Bennett of Brosley, Mo., Jesse Bennett of Michigan, Bobby Bennett of Texas and Billy Bennett of House Springs, Mo.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, at Marmaduke First Baptist Church with Bro. Kim Bridges and Bro. Royce Schanda officiating. Interment was in Hartsoe Cemetery with Irby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers were Jerry Don McIntosh, Steven Wolfenbarger, Chuck Long, Barry James, John Hood, Henry Massey, Dan Stone and Bert Lee. Honorary pallbearers were the men of his Sunday School class and Dale Smith.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Marmaduke Building Fund or to the Jayden Wolfenbarger Scholarship Fund.