Gerald Afton Bounds

 Gerald Afton Bounds

Gerald Afton Bounds, 88, of Heber Springs, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2026.

Gerald was born December 12, 1937, in Maynard, Arkansas, to Levi and Mae Bounds. He graduated from Pocahontas High School, Arkansas State University, and Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master of Divinity.

But the most important things Gerald accomplished in his 88 years were not found on a diploma, a résumé, or a list of accomplishments. They were found in the people he loved, the lives he touched, and the faith he shared.

In November of 1956, Gerald married the love of his life, Lucy Gray in Jonesboro, Arkansas. They were married for 69 years. Gerald could not resist Lucy’s dimples, and he made her a promise to love and care for her until the day he died. He kept that promise.

Gerald was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend. His family was one of the great joys of his life. He was the kind of man who wanted to know what everyone was doing, what they were interested in, and, naturally, what team they were pulling for.

He is survived by his wife, Lucy Bounds; daughter, Brenda Bounds Blankenship; son, David Bounds; daughter-in-law, Lani Bounds; grandchildren, Connor Bounds (Emily), Sydney Parsons (Chris), Frazier Blankenship (Kaitlyn), Brooke Blankenship, Hayden Blankenship (Harley), Brandon Blankenship, Brittany Paul, and Jennifer Bryant (Justin); nine great-grandchildren; sister, Elsie Williams; and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Levi and Mae Bounds; his son, Dennis Bounds; his brothers, Laymon, Lee, Shelby, and Sherrell Bounds, and his sisters, Marguerite Pulliam, Eleanor Land, and Louise McMillian.

His Faith and His Calling

Gerald was a longtime member and pastor of First Baptist Church in Thayer, Missouri. He also served as pastor at McKinley Avenue Baptist Church in Joplin, Missouri, First Baptist Church Walnut Ridge in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, and various other churches as pastor and interim pastor.

For Gerald, his church family truly was family.

He was there when babies were born. He baptized them. He married them. He counseled them, encouraged them, prayed with them, celebrated with them, and sometimes, sadly, buried them. He walked alongside generations of people through nearly every season of their lives.

Gerald was committed to sharing the love of Jesus Christ. He believed his responsibility was to plant the seed and trust God to take it from there.

He planted a lot of seeds.

Today, we rejoice in the assurance of the faith Gerald spent his life sharing. The shepherd has gone home, and we can imagine that he is already visiting with many of his former flock at the feet of Jesus.

Well done, Gerald.

A Patriot, Athlete, Sports Fan—and Professional Visitor

Gerald served in the United States Air Force and was a deeply patriotic man. He believed patriotism deserved respect, and he was not shy about reminding others of it.

Gerald was also an athlete and an avid sports fan. He remained firmly committed to the belief that Jim Thorpe was the greatest athlete of all time — a position he was unlikely to reconsider, regardless of whatever evidence anyone else might present.

When his own athletic prime passed, Gerald simply changed jobs. He became an avid fan.

He passionately followed the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Arkansas State Red Wolves, but his favorite athletes were always the ones wearing his family name. He cheered just as enthusiastically for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as he did for any team on television.

He loved to hunt, fish, play pool, and work with wood.

But perhaps Gerald’s greatest talent was visiting. He was, by all accounts, a professional visitor.

Gerald enjoyed meeting people. He treasured time with his “buddies.” He could sit down with someone and turn a short conversation into a long visit, which was just fine with Gerald because he was rarely in a hurry to leave people he enjoyed.

And Gerald loved to tell a good joke.

There was only one small problem: Gerald often found his own jokes so funny that he could barely get through them.

He would start telling a joke, then begin laughing so hard that his eyes would water. Sometimes he would laugh so much that he never even made it to the end of the joke. By then, everyone else was laughing too—not necessarily because the joke was funny, but because Gerald’s laughter was contagious.

And somehow, that made the joke better.

That was Gerald.

His life was measured not simply by the years he lived, but by the lives he influenced, the people he encouraged, the family he cherished, and the faith he faithfully shared.

Gerald kept his promises. Now his work here is finished.

And while those who loved him will miss his voice, his visits, his stories, his laughter, his opinions about sports, his faith, and simply having Gerald around, there is comfort in knowing that Gerald is exactly where he spent a lifetime telling others they could go.

Heaven.  

Flowers are welcome and may be sent in Gerald’s memory. For those who would like to make a memorial donation, contributions may also be made to First Baptist Church in Thayer, Missouri.

Services, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home in Thayer, Missouri, will be held at First Baptist Church in Thayer on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m., with the Funeral Service beginning at 2:00 p.m. Graveside services will follow immediately at Thayer Cemetery.