Verna Lee Hinegardner, Arkansas Poet Laureate, Emeritus, 93, died Oct. 4, 2012, in Conway.

She was born Jan. 2, 1919, at Morrisonville, Ill., to Fred and Retta Linxwiler. She graduated in 1936 from Litchfield High School and attended Lincoln College in Lincoln, Ill. She was predeceased by her husband, Marshall Andrew “Pete” Hinegardner, and one daughter, Marsha Lee Walters.

She moved to Hot Springs in 1953. She retired from the United States Forest Service in 1981.

Hinegardner, the author of 13 books of poetry, had her first poem published when she was 9. She is a charter member and past president of Roundtable Poets of Hot Springs; honorary member and past president of Poets’ Roundtable of Arkansas; member and past president of The Arkansas Pioneer Branch of National League of American Pen Women; member and Secretary, Chancellor and Treasurer of National Federation of State Poetry Societies; past board member and contest chairman of Arkansas Writers Conference; member of Conway Creative Writers; member and Secretary of Faulkner County Poets; member of Christway Unity Church in Hot Springs; and a member of Arkansas Historical Society.

Hinegardner edited the Kaleidoscope Poetry Column in The Sentinel-Record for 22 years, and was active in Garland County Student Contests for 29 years. She won many poetry contests and awards and won the Sybil Nash Abrams Award four times, was inducted in The Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame in 1991; and was appointed Poet Laureate of Arkansas in October, 1991 by Governor Bill Clinton. The MINUTE Poetry Pattern, which she originated, is published in text books both here and abroad.

Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Taylor, of Happy, Texas, and Cindy Corhn, of Conway; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Donations to any of the listed organizations would be appreciated. Her body was cremated and, in accordance with her wishes, there will be no memorial service.

Published: 10/11/2012