Victor Marion Cantrell

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Victor Myron Cantrell, 77, of Jonesboro passed from this life on December 10, 2022 at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Memphis. He was born to the late Eli and Jessie Cantrell in Marked Tree on May 8, 1945. Victor was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Vietnam War.

After his time in the service, he moved to Alaska, working in fisheries. He moved down to California working odd jobs briefly before becoming involved in the pool industry after the San Fernando earthquake of 1971 left a friend needing more help to handle an unprecedented influx of repair work. He bought his own pool service route and grew it into more of a success. When he moved to Arkansas in the late ‘80s, he continued working on pools doing service work. He worked his way up to repairs and then installations. The following decade he began subcontracting work, always delivering quality work that may have helped avoid a speeding ticket or two. He had a love for fast cars, anything on wheels. He was an aficionado of classic muscle cars, knowing when companies swapped parts and why. He spent many weekends on any nearby body of water bass fishing. If he wasn’t fixing a pool of water, he was on a body of water. He placed in tournaments all over California and was a top angler in his club for several years before moving east. If he was not fishing, he was still having a good time on a lake or river. He was taking people water skiing. Anyone who knew Vic knew he would never turn away a stray dog. He loved having one around, but sometimes, he’d have a couple other stragglers. There was always a gravity feeder full for any dog needing a meal. He was the type of person you could always count on to lend a hand, a car, a job, a room, whatever one needed to get back on their feet. He was there.

Victor is survived by his sons, Vance Cantrell of San Diego, Andrew Cantrell (Amber) of Memphis, and Brian Smith (Crissy) of Bozeman, Montana; daughter, Sandi Hunt (Chris) of Southern Pines, North Carolina; brother, Al Wilcox of Harrisburg; sisters, Deborah Long and Kathy Dahlke; and grandson, Kieran Hunt.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 16, 2022 at Emerson Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the Arkansas State Cemetery at Birdeye.