William Thomas Shanlever

Dr. William T. (Bill) Shanlever, 83, of Jonesboro, passed from this life Monday, July 12, 2021 at St. Bernards Medical Center after a brief bout with cancer. Bill was born April 19, 1938 to the late Dr. RC Shanlever and Dorothy Thomas Shanlever. In addition to his parents, Bill is preceded in death by his step-mother, Mary Jane Nisbett Shanlever who raised him after his mother passed while giving birth.

Bill was born and raised in Jonesboro until he attended and graduated high school from Battle Ground Academy in Franklin Tennessee.  After graduating from the University of Alabama and attending the University of Arkansas Medical School, he served in the Navy for three years before moving to Houston, Texas to complete his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Baylor University.  He returned to Jonesboro in 1971 where he opened his private practice of 32 years.

Bill loved his family, friends, along with hunting and fishing.  After retirement he enjoyed his lake home, playing senior softball, beanbag baseball, cornhole along with cheering on his Alabama Crimson Tide teams.  Most importantly, Bill loved spending time with his family.

Bill was a life-long member of the First United Methodist Church and served on many boards including the Church Administrative Board, member of the Arkansas Medical Society for fifty plus years, Advisory Board ASU School of Nursing and Catfish Club.  He was a Board member of the John T. Gray School.

Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years, Gayle, of the home; daughters, Carolyn Hammons (Favorite Son-in-Law Matt), of Harvest, Alabama, Susan Shanlever (Kim Hester); brothers, Charles Shanlever (Jane), of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Dr. Sam Shanlever (Judy), Fayetteville Arkansas; grandchildren, Whitney Hammons (Mike O’Sullivan), Jordan Hammons (Kalae Harden) and beloved cat Elvira.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Craighead-Poinsett County Medical Society and Alliance and Catfish Club.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, July 16, 2021 at First United Methodist Church with Pastor John Miles officiating. A visitation will precede the service from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Burial will follow the service at Jonesboro Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to his church, First United Methodist Church 801 South Main, Jonesboro AR 72401.

Online-registry: www.emersonfuneralhome.com