Michael Richey Cordell, 68, of Hot Springs, Ark., passed away May 5, 2021. He was born Oct. 31, 1952, in Little Rock, Ark., to Carl Richey "Cotton" Cordell, Jr. and Erma Lee (Rothenberger) Cordell. He married the love of his life, Becky (Baswell) Cordell, in 1972.
Born on Halloween and going to his eternal home in heaven on Cinco de Mayo, you just never knew what you were going to get with Mikie (as he was often called by close friends and family.) Being outnumbered four to one, he had it "rough" with his wife and three daughters. (He actually would say beautiful wife, amazing daughters, and that his vote counted for five.) Then he was blessed with two more incredible granddaughters that wrapped Papa around their little fingers. His favorite things to do always included his girls.
The other loves of his life ... fishing and hunting. As an avid fisherman and hunter, he spent many days looking for unlucky fish and ducks. He loved fishing and family so much he spent his life in the family business.
First, he worked alongside his father, Cotton Cordell, in the fishing lure manufacturing business. From the time he could drive a truck and hook up a boat, he did it all -- sales, marketing, catalog layout, sports shows, and of course, fishing tournaments and A LOT of lure testing! Then, with his grandfather, he helped run a successful minnow farm. Some of his daughters' favorite memories were spent on that farm "helping" with all the cute little fish. He even managed to get Becky to haul minnows in those big trucks between Malvern and Louisiana.
Following his hard work on the farm, he returned to work with, and ultimately continued, the legacy of his father's business in the fishing tackle industry. In all his experience, when he wasn't working with fish and tackle, he was enjoying the sport. Fishing is a Cordell way of life, meant to be enjoyed even if you're doing more fishing than catching. He passed his love of fishing to his girls. Two of the most recent highlights were a special Daddy/daughter trip to Venice, La., where they caught their limit every day (and laughed just as much) and a trip with two of his girls and Becky to Greg's in Louisiana, where they did more fishing than catching, but have a ton of priceless memories.
If Mike wasn't on a lake, you might find him in Destin, Fla., on an annual family vacation building sandcastles, reading a book, watching the sunset, "tootling" around, or taking his girls fishing. Those weeks were spent with all of his girls, baby sister Tracie, brother-in-law John, and niece/nephew Jonica and Ryan and their families. Mike, John, and Ryan enjoyed many fishing trips, too. The stories and memories are endless, but just for the record, Mike was the best sandcastle builder and beach equipment carrier -- affectionately known as the family pack-mule -- in the world. This family trip won't ever be the same, but the joy will never be lost.
He was a member of the Godfrey Landing Hunting Club, aka the Crooked Stick Lodge. If you need a good story about Mikie, these are the guys to ask. He was surrounded by a great group of friends, inside and outside of the club, that share the same passion and humor as he did. The Cordell family is very grateful for their love and support through the years and especially during this time ... wives and kids, too!
Mike was a charter member of Hot Springs Baptist Church and a faithful follower of Jesus. He was a devoted husband, loving and handy -- he could fix anything -- father, greatest Papa ever, incredible and dependable big brother, funniest Uncle Mikie, reliable and trustworthy friend with the biggest, most generous heart. He will be missed by all who knew him ... except a few of the guys he glared at when they came to pick up his daughters.
Mike is survived by his wife, Becky Cordell; daughters, Kristin Autumn Cordell, Cari Lee Cordell (Matthew Everhart) and Stacie Lynn Cordell; sister and brother-in-law, Tracie Lee and John Morrow; niece, Jonica Lee Morrow; nephew, Ryan Cordell Morrow (Rachel); grandchildren, Madelynn Richey Hollenbach and Meredith Reece Hollenbach; and many nieces; nephews; cousins; and friends. He was predeceased by his parents.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. Monday at Caruth-Hale Life Celebration Center, 2529 Airport Road, with a celebration of Mike's life beginning at 10 a.m. with Brother Manley Beasley officiating. We respectfully ask that you wear a mask for all indoor services.
Papa (as known by his granddaughters) will be laid to rest in Memorial Gardens Cemetery following the service. We'll be driving fast at his request, so keep up! Pallbearers will be John Morrow, Ryan Cordell Morrow, Randy McDonald, Rick Milholen, Chris Walthall, Joe Williams, Joe Wilson and Bobby Dennis. Honorary Pallbearers will be Bobby Higgins and Chris McDonald.
The Cordell family would like to say a special thank you to Dr. Greg Whorton, MD, and Linda at the CHI St. Vincent Primary Care, Dr. James Arthur, MD, at CHI St. Vincent Neurosurgery Clinic, Dr. John Webb, MD, at CHI St. Vincent Surgery Clinic, Dr. Seth Hollenbach, MD, at CHI St. Vincent Urology Clinic, Dr. Michael Hickman, MD, at Hot Springs Radiology, and all the wonderful care at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs. We extend special appreciation and gratitude to the many nurses and doctors at UAMS H-409 ICU who lovingly cared for Mike and his family. We also want to say a huge thank you to family and friends who have swooped in to make sure we're fed and have taken care of us and things we never would have thought of since Mike closed his eyes on this earth and opened them to Jesus. We are well-loved and grateful.
Online condolences at https://www.caruth-hale.com.
Memorials may be made in his honor to the Cordell Chapel Endowment at Ouachita Baptist University, 410 Ouachita St., Arkadelphia, AR 71998, and Hot Springs Baptist Church, 144 Weston Road, Hot Springs, AR 71913.