Dereld Belk

Dereld Lloyd Belk, Cordova Tennessee, passed from this life on December 18, 2021, at the age of 72. Dereld was born December 4, 1949, in Ellsworth, Kansas, to the late Lloyd and Wilma (Steinle) Belk.

Dereld is survived by his wife, Sandra “Sandy” (Hardin) Belk of the home, two sisters, Shiela (Gary) Brawner and Jolana (Rick) Collins, four children, Angela (Ricky) Fontenot of Ville Platte, Louisiana, Nicole (Carey) Montz of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, Lisa (Jim) Yarber of Barnsdall, Oklahoma, and Greg (Taryn) Donley of Bartlett, Tennessee. Dereld was “P-Pa” grandfather to, Kirsten (Noah) Maslak, Briggs Fontenot, Houston (Hanah) Montz, Carly Montz, Ashley (Dalton) Shipley, Wesley Yarber, Savannah Donley, Dalton Donley, and Sophie Donley. Dereld is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces and cousins whom he adored.

Dereld graduated from West Memphis High School and attended the University of Memphis.
He was united in marriage to Sandy Hardin on April 12, 1986, at the Capleville United Methodist Church in Capleville, Tennessee.

Dereld was a member of the Covenant United Methodist Church and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Dereld served his country in the Army during the Vietnam War from May 19, 1969 - March 20, 1971 at Camp Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. He earned the National Defense Services Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Overseas Service Bar.

Dereld was employed for 35 years as the Facility Manager for Elite Lamp Company in West Memphis, Arkansas, and later retired from Waste Solutions, Inc. of Memphis, Tennessee.

Dereld was an avid runner. He ran everything from 5k races to full marathons. He also participated in triathlons (swim, bike, run). He played the guitar in his younger years and was a member of the band “The Bits Of Wisdom” when he was in high school. The band had the opportunity to play on a televised talent show on a local TV station. Dereld also enjoyed reading, and specifically enjoyed John Grisham novels. He had an extensive collection of signed first editions.

The most important thing in Dereld’s life was his family. Being the best husband, father and step-father, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle and P-pa was his greatest desire. A desire that, as his loved ones know, he fulfilled more than words could ever express.

Dereld loved the trips the family made to Destin, Florida, when the grandkids were young. He was able to teach all of them to swim. He would watch the sunrise while on a morning run.

After the children had all left the home to go out on their own, Dereld and Sandy began to check places off of their “bucket list”, traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains, Savannah, Georgia, Charleston, North Carolina, the Grand Tetons, Durango, Colorado, Yellowstone National Park, Las Vegas, Nevada, Golden, Colorado, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Atlanta, Georgia, Zion National Park and Puerta Villarta, Mexico.

Dereld also loved going to the Hardin farm and the house in Mountain Grove, Missouri, nicknamed the “Little House”. The “Little House” became a center for gatherings and celebrations and helped the family grow closer. It also allowed more time to be around Sandy’s father, Ura Hardin. Ura became a surrogate father to Dereld after his dad passed and a strong bond was formed.

One of the more recent of the great memories made in the “Little House” was with Dereld’s great-nephew, Weston. From the time Weston met Dereld, he seemed to have a connection which was extraordinary. If he was being fussy, he would calm down when laid on Dereld’s chest. Later, when he was beginning to walk, Weston loved to throw the “blue ball” to P-pa and Dereld would throw it back to the delight of both of them and everyone else in the room. This would continue until both were worn out.