Earl Cleophus Dossett of Springdale, Arkansas, went to be with the Lord on July 24,

2026. He was 89. Earl was born in La Follette, Tennessee, on April 9, 1937, to Ethel

Williamson. He was raised by his maternal grandmother and step-grandfather, Belle and Mark

Ridenour, whom he revered. Earl regaled his family often with stories of his childhood growing

up with “Grandpa Ridenour,” who instilled in Earl a strong work ethic and loving spirit.

Grandpa Ridenour was Earl’s father-figure in formative years, and, when Grandpa Ridenour

passed in 1960, his obituary listed Earl Dossett as his “foster-son.” The names of Earl’s oldest

son Ted Skylar, youngest son John Ridenour, and son Mark, testify to the impact Mark Skylar

Ridenour had on Earl’s life.

From humble beginnings to patriarch and bulwark for a large and loving family, Earl

Dossett embodied the American Dream. While hard work on the farm was expected, Grandpa

Ridenour insisted Earl attend school. He received his GED after completing the 11 th grade. He

was patriotic to the core and loved his country and its flag. On September 1, 1955, at the age of

18, he enlisted in the United States Army. There he discovered a knack for all things mechanical

and was assigned to Battery C 21 st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Self-

Propelled) where he became a mechanic for tanks and other tracked weapons. He was rated

“marksman” with the .45 caliber pistol and “sharpshooter” with the M1 carbine. He loved

serving in the Army and, on November 6, 1957, he re-enlisted.

The Army took him from the Cumberland Plateau of Eastern Tennessee to all sorts of

interesting places around the world and, eventually, to the Mojave Desert of Barstow, California.

It was there, in 1961, at the local A&W Root Beer, that he met 16-year-old (Margret) Irene

Weible, whose family had moved to Barstow from Washington County, Arkansas, for work. On

October 8, 1961, three days shy of Irene’s 17 th birthday, they were married at the Missionary

Baptist Church in Barstow. From that day forward, they were inseparable. Rarely did anyone

speak of “Earl” or “Irene;” instead, it was always “Earl and Irene.” While living in Barstow,

they had 5 children, one daughter (Jennifer) and four sons (Ted, Walter, Mark, and John). Over

the years, it was always a special treat for the family to make a trip to A&W. To the children, it

was about frosty mugs and root beer floats. To Earl and Irene, it was about much more. To

Earl, his military service was important, but his family was everything. So, on May 2, 1962,

after serving 6 years, 8 months, and 2 days in the United States Army, and having achieved the

rank of E-5 (Sergeant), Earl was granted a family “Hardship” due to the demands of his growing

family and honorably discharged to civilian life. In 1973, Earl and Irene followed her parents

back to Washington County, Arkansas, where they bought a small house at the edge of town, on

Daline Street in Springdale, and raised their children and built their life.

Earl took the gift of mechanics he discovered in the Army and worked the next 50 years

as an automobile mechanic. He was a savant of all things mechanical. He could diagnose,

repair, or build, just about anything with an engine. He even built a go cart and a mini-dirt bike

from the ground up for his children, much to the chagrin of his wife who made sure such

contraptions were not long around. As each child became old enough to drive, he somehow

scrounged old semi-functional automobiles and brought them back to life so that each of his

children had a dependable vehicle. Working with Dad to get “your” vehicle road ready as your

16 th birthday approached was a particularly special time in each child’s life.

He was devoted to his family. He carried on the work ethic instilled in him by Grandpa

Ridenour and worked relentlessly to provide for his family. Although Earl had no earthly father

of his own to emulate, he raised and provided for 5 children and a wife through unbending faith,

hard work, sacrifice, and love. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ changed his life, and

the example of his faith echoes through the family to this day. He personified having his family

at church “every time the doors were open.” Long before the days of GPS or tracking apps, he

somehow always knew when one of his children was somewhere they weren’t supposed to be. It

was uncanny and, frankly, his children still wonder “how’d he do that?” Earl was tough as nails,

strict but loving with his children, and always seemed to know when to bring judgment and when

to show mercy. As they became grandparents, he and Irene showed a special gift for welcoming

and including the stepchildren and blended family members, Earl’s own life experience no doubt

the reason.

Earl Dossett is survived by son Walter (Dawn) Dossett of Springdale, Mark (Denise)

Dossett of Fayetteville, son John (Rhonda) Dossett of Springdale, sister Brenda Marlow of La

Follette, TN, sister Florine Boshears of Roselle, IL, 20 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Margret Irene (Weible) Dossett, son Ted Skylar Dossett,

daughter Jennifer Lynn Grimsley, grandson Johnathon Earl Dossett, Grandmother Belle

Ridenour, Grandfather Mark Skylar Ridenour, Mother Ethel Williamson-White, sister Tressia

Barnes, sister Barbara (Bobbie Ann) Boetcher, and brother Elmer Junior White.

Earl Dossett knew unspeakable joy, you can see it on his face in the family photographs.

He also knew loss. He buried his two oldest children and his wife after 63 years of marriage.

However, through it all, he soldiered on and never lost his faith, love of family, or determination

to move forward. He worked and toiled to his dying day and has now entered into rest and

received his reward. Earl’s example, steady presence, calmness in the storm, and straight-

shooting approach to all the twists of life will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

Visitation will be held at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Rogers, Arkansas, beginning

10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, with services to follow at 11:00 a.m. Earl will be laid to rest

next to his wife at Spring Creek Cemetery. Graveside services will be held at a later date.