SMSgt (ret) Henry A. Shiell, 90, of Jacksonville, Ark., passed away peacefully on 1 July, 2020 surrounded by his loving family. Hank was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Hazel; as well as his parents and kin in the Florida and Arkansas area.  He is survived by his four adoring children, Lt Col (ret) Steve Shiell (Barb), Debbie Shiell, Lt Col (ret) Paul Shiell (Jeanetta) and Donna Lentz (Dan); six grandchildren, David, Andrea, Shannon, Mark, Brandon and Emily; as well as four great-grandchildren.

Hank spent his life in service to others.  He was born in Jacksonville, Florida on Dec 22, 1929 to Henry and Selma Shiell.  His very early adult life included working at his grandfather's grocery store and fishing in order to help his family make ends meet.  He left school early at the age of 17 to continue to help his family by joining the Army just following WWII and was stationed at several remote Alaskan sites as the sole medical corpsman.  He was encouraged to transfer to the newly independent United States Air Force in 1948 and was offered another stripe with the transition.  It was during an early Air Force tour of duty he met the love of his life, Hazel, a member of the ground-breaking WAF who was also stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base.  Hank's other tours during his 26+ years of military service included bases in France, Newfoundland, California and Kansas.  It was during several tours of assignment to the base hospital at the newly created Little Rock AFB when Hank and Hazel decided to make Jacksonville, Arkansas their permanent home.  A day after SMSgt Shiell's military career came to an end he joined the Blue Cross Blue Shield team in Little Rock as a medical assistance expert.  In this capacity, spanning 20+ years, he helped people state-wide get the medical assistance and equipment they needed.  He followed that career, over the next 15 years helping his son build quality and affordable housing in the Cabot area.

Hank was a 60+ year member and long-time deacon of the 2nd Baptist Church in Jacksonville. However, it was Hank's love of family for which he will forever be remembered.  While he was very proud to have ensured all his children graduate college, it was his role of raising his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in his and Hazel's home that serve as his and the family's most fond memories.   His unconditional love will be missed by family and friends alike.

A visitation and funeral service will be 9:00 a.m., Friday, July 3, 2020 at Second Baptist Church in Jacksonville, AR.  Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park.  T he family would like to thank Arkansas Hospice for the loving care they provided him. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations are encouraged to be made to the caring people at Arkansas Hospice Foundation in Memory of Henry Shiell at 14 Parkstone Circle, NLR AR 72116. Funeral arrangements by Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home.