Sheila Mary Meeham

Sheila Mary Tinsley, age 79, of Natural Dam, Arkansas, died peacefully on October 9, 2012. She was born in May 1933 in New York City to James Patrick Meehan and Julia Farnham Meehan.

Sheila grew up riding the bridle paths of Central Park in New York City, where her lifelong love for horses began. While raising her five children there were always horseshows, Pony Club, foxhunting, checking cattle on horseback, and the annual fall trail ride that Sheila hosted with her husband Eldon. She extended her enjoyment of horses by teaching her children and grandchildren and students to ride.

Sheila was a painter and illustrator. She used her talents to create personalized cards and portraits for friends and family, as well as chronicling the events of the community she loved in the years she wrote and illustrated the newsletter, “Water Over the Dam”.

She surrounded her home with gardens that grew an abundance of flowers and produce, which she generously shared. A favorite from her garden and kitchen was her strawberry freezer jam.

Sheila had a gift for singing with her lovely voice. She never missed an opportunity to sing with the church choir, to sing Irish ballads and dance a jig, or to lead in Christmas caroling along Cove Creek.

Sheila is survived by her sons from her marriage to James S. McMahon: Tim McMahon and wife Jennifer of Fayetteville, AR, and sons James McMahon and Brandon Looper; James McMahon and wife Margaret of San Antonio, TX, and children Corrie Mauldin, Bowman McMahon, Shaw McMahon; John McMahon and wife Erika of Fayetteville, AR, and daughter Sallie McMahon; Clancy McMahon and wife Jennifer of Natural Dam, and children Liam McMahon and Grace McMahon.

Sheila is also survived through her marriage to Eldon G. Tinsley by his children: Jerry Tinsley and wife Becky of Lee’s Summit, MO, and children Sara Tinsley and Clayton Timmons; Brenda Arndt and husband David of Dallas, TX, and daughter Nikki Elliot; and Anita VanZant of Farmington, AR, and children Landon VanZant, Ryan VanZant, Mandy Polley, Jenifer VanZant, and Lindsay Jester.

Sheila was preceded in death by daughter Julia Farnham McMahon and husband Eldon Tinsley.

The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6:00-7:00 P.M. at Luginbuel Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 4:00 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, with burial to follow in the Prairie Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers family ask that donations be made to the Coffee Creek Riding Center for the Handicapped in Edmond, Oklahoma, 17 E. Coffee Creek Rd. Edmond, Oklahoma 73034 - www.coffeecreek.org or Horses for Healing 14673 Daniels Rd. Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 - www.horsesforhealingnwa.org

Online guest book, www.luginbuel.com