Marion O'Neal Bryan

Marion O’Neal Bryan, 85, of Jonesboro, Arkansas (formerly of Lepanto, Arkansas) passed peacefully in his home on March 21, 2026. He was the oldest of five sons born to Charles Marion Bryan and Frances Redell King Bryan. Born and raised in Lepanto, he graduated from Lepanto High School in 1959 and soon joined the United States Air Force, where he was stationed in Tripoli, Libya and trained in crash rescue. He married his high school sweetheart, Doris Ann Finchum Bryan on February 12, 1961. They spent fifty-eight interesting years together until her death in 2019. They raised two sons, Stephen Phillip Bryan (Kenneth Pulliam) of Jonesboro, Arkansas and Benjamin Michael Bryan (deceased on August 6, 1997.) Their lives weren’t always easy, but they were filled with love and laughter. O’Neal was a carpenter by trade, but he also “wore many hardhats” in the construction field. He most notably was a slip form contractor for Garvey Grain where he led the teams that built huge grain elevators, and he also worked on the team that built The Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee.

O’Neal is preceded in death by his parents: Charles Marion and Frances Redell King Bryan, his loving wife of fifty-eight years: Doris Ann Finchum Bryan, their youngest son: Benjamin Michael Bryan, as well as his brothers: Bobby Dean Bryan and Johnny Cecil Bryan.

He is survived by his eldest son: Stephen Phillip Bryan (Kenneth Pulliam) of Jonesboro, Arkansas, his brothers: Larry Bryan (Pam) of Pass Christian, Mississippi and Kenneth Bryan (Glenda) of Marion, Arkansas, along with many more friends and loved ones.

There will be no Memorial Service per the decedent’s wishes.

Arrangements are under the care of Delancey Funeral Home, Lepanto, Arkansas.