Luster (Les/Lester) Don Irons, age 70, a long- time McGehee resident, died Friday, May 8, 2015. He was born December 20, 1944 in Dumas Arkansas, son of Otto and Cora Leona Carr Irons. He spent his early school years in Tillar and later the family moved to McGehee where he finished his schooling. He was a long time business man in McGehee. He was owner and operator of the Citgo Service Station on 2nd Street in McGehee and later with his brother Bob, operated Irons Arkansas Best Freight Business. Les returned to the service station business owning and operating the Texaco Station on 1st street then later the Texaco Station on Hwy 65 in McGehee until his retirement in 1994.
Les enlisted in the Army in 1968. He trained at Fort Polk, LA & Fort Benning, GA. His training included Basic, Infantry and Non-Commission Officer Course & Scout Dog School. He was very proud to have served his country in combat duty in the Vietnam War 1969-1970 as a Point Man – Scout Dog Handler; whose responsibility was to proceed ahead of troops to scout out booby traps and the enemy with his dog. He was involved in 52 combat assaults. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division and received the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal and twice the Air Medal. He left the army as a Sergeant in 1974.
Les was an avid bass fisherman. He loved the sport and loved to compete. He was a member of the McGehee Bass Club and the Dumas Bass Club. Fishing for bass was the love of his life. He loved his family and friends and hosted the Irons Family Reunion each year since 1998. He was a past member of Chickasaw Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Kimberly Renee Irons Schwartz, two brothers, Harold Nelson Irons and Kenneth Joe Irons. Survivors include his wife, Polly Anne Gilbert Irons, whom he married May 30, 1981; four sisters, Hazel Irons Dilday of Tanneyville, MO; Virginia (Jean) Irons Morris of McGehee; Mildred Ruth Irons Snow (Obie) of Stanton, TN; Linda Irons Powell of Lake Village; two brothers, Bob Roy Irons of McGehee, Stanley Albert Irons of Magnolia (Sharon Moore) and one grandchild, William Morgan Schwartz; one great grandchild, Kohen Kemp Schwartz, his loving pet dog Sabrina and a host of nieces and nephews and friends.
Funeral services for Les will be at 2:00 pm Tuesday, May 12, 2015 in the chapel of Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Service in McGehee, AR with Rev. Steve Fleming officiating. Burial will follow in Walnut Lake Cemetery at Pickens, AR. The family will receive friends from 5-7pm on Monday, May 11, 2015 at Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Home in McGehee, AR. Pallbearers are Ronnie Kozubski, Burt Ellis, Jerald Wayne Birchfield, Jimmy Birchfield, Keith Creek, Jimmy Mitchell, Richard Tindall. Honorary Pallbearers: Dr. Jim Lewis, George Bowman, Ricky Patterson. Memorials may take the form of contributions to CARTI Foundation P O Box 55011, Little Rock, AR 72215 or Hospice in Monticello, 455 W. Gaines Street, Monticello, AR 71655 or Drew Memorial Hospital, 778 Scogin Drive, Monticello, AR 71655. Online guestbook may be signed at www.griffinculpepper.com

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