David McEntire

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Mr. David Brian McEntire, 56, of Stella, Missouri, departed this life suddenly on Sunday morning, April 2, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Berryville, Arkansas.

David entered this life on March 31, 1967, in Santa Maria, California, born to the union of Doran and Dorothy (Caywood) McEntire. He was raised in Stella, Missouri and was a graduate of McDonald County Christian School.

David was a larger than life person who had lived a fantastical life, one that many people would find hard to believe. He lived in Tehran Pars, Iran as a child and attended Woodstock Boarding School in India, at the foothills of the Himalaya’s. He joined the US Navy when he was 18 years old; serving as a Sub-Mariner on the US Sam Houston (Slamming Sammy) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He later transferred to the US Florikan. 

After discharging from the Navy, David returned home working briefly at Wal-Mart where he met the love of his life Holly Robb. Soon after meeting Holly and becoming engaged, he followed his dream of being a police officer, serving at the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office for twelve years. He found a passion for working with Children’s Services.

David later moved onto Wal-Mart working for fourteen years as a Construction Remodeling Manager. He was also a Naval Reservist during that time. He was activated by the military in 2002. He was stationed in Misawa, Japan, but served most of his time in Afghanistan. He was wounded there with an injury that followed him until his passing. He was later sent to Andros Island, Bahamas to serve his remaining time at the Atlantic Underwater Test and Evaluation Center. Being a wounded combat veteran, he worked to advocate for and encourage other combat veterans. He was proud of his service and loved his country.

Following his discharge from the Naval Reserves, he returned to Wal-Mart and worked there until 2014. He worked briefly at the McDonald County Prosecutor’s office until his retirement. He lived his final years with his wife and beloved dogs in a little cabin on the Big Sugar. He found much happiness there. He loved to read the Bible, watch sermons by his favorite pastors, encourage other Christ followers, kayak, fish, play guitar, and take his dogs for daily rides in his Honda side by side. He was generous to his neighbors, loved his family passionately, and was a great friend of many.

He was preceded in death by his father, Doran McEntire; and a brother-in-law, Clay Hart.

David is survived by his wife of thirty-two years, Holly McEntire of the home; his mother, Dorothy McEntire of Honey Grove, Texas; three brothers, Ray McEntire of Jacksboro, Texas, Elzie McEntire and wife, Deborah, of Wichita Falls, Texas and Malcolm Dwain McEntire and wife, Joyce, of Monett, Missouri; three sisters, Lisa McEntire-Hart of Honey Grove, Texas, Tricia McEntire-Whitsell and husband, Rowland, of Centerton, Arkansas and Soraya McEntire-Hitt and husband, Ryan, of Stella, Missouri; his beloved dogs, Sophie, Gracie and Lima; as well as a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services with full military honors are 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 10, 2023, in the Anderson Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes with his brother, Malcolm Dwain McEntire officiating. Private burial will take place at Union Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers memorials are being directed to the Wounded Warrior Project c/o the funeral home. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website, www.ozarkfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.