Joe McElroy of Sheridan, Arkansas was born August 17, 1952 at Sheridan, the son of the late Wilbur and Beatrice Maxine Hurst McElroy.  He was a loving husband to Dianne for 47 years. His greatest joy in life was being a dad to his 3 children and a Poppy to his 9 grandchildren.  He was a lifetime, faithful member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church where he served as aa Deacon, Assistant Moderator, Sunday School Superintendent, Adult Sunday School Teacher, and Vacation Bible School Teacher.  He was a dedicated worker of 45 years at Kohler as a plating technician.

Joe McElroy had a love for sports.  He was a standout athlete for Sheridan Yellowjackets and American Legion.  He played 1 year of basketball and baseball at OBU along with receiving a letter from the New York Mets organization inviting him to tryout.  Joe played on numerous adult volleyball, softball, and basketball  leagues until the age of 50.  He started coaching local girls' softball in 1973 and finished his coaching career with his grandchildren in 2013.  He was a part of starting the Sheridan youth, adult, and church softball leagues.  He was also a part of starting the softball fields across from the Rec Center.  He served as president of the Sheridan Little League program in 1987.  In 1993 and 1994, Joe was a part of the coaching staff of the American Legion team that were back-to-back state champs.  In December of 2002, he received a plaque of service for 9 years from the Sheridan softball Association.  Joe coached all three of his kids and 4 of his 9 grandchildren.  He also coached and mentored hundreds of local Sheridan kids. Joe Mcelroy was presented with the Babe Ruth 50 ^th Anniversary Plaque  on May 24, 2012.

Mr. McElroy died Monday, March 29, 2021 at his home, after a courageous battle with cancer.  He was victorious over cancer, and the Lord rewarded him, and took him home to Heaven, at the age of 68.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Brent McElroy; a sister, Janis Davis; father-in-law, Monroe Freeman;  brother-in-law, Jimmy Freeman.

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, and best friend, Dianne Freeman McElroy; son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Cathy McElroy; daughters and sons-in-law, Mandy and Trent Chadick and Lindsey and Wayne Harris; mother-in-law, Ruth Freeman; brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Ann McElroy; sisters and brothers-in-law, Kaye and Jimmie Myers and Joanne and Dennis Allen; sister-in-law, Susan Keeling; all of Sheridan; grandchildren, Brianna, Kylie, Brodie, Brent, Lauryn, Hailee, Mark, Gabe, and Sebastian. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other family members, a loving and supportive Shiloh Church family, and many, many, friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday., April 2, 2021 at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel in Sheridan, with Bro. Danny Hill, Bro. Doyle Caldwell, and Bro. Brent Williams officiating.  Burial will be in Grapevine Cemetery.  Visitation is Thursday, 5:00-8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund, C/O Keith Williams, 1112 W. Gum St., Sheridan, Arkansas 72150.

Pallbearers: Neal Hollinger, Matt Jimerson, Eric petty, Josh Webb, Steve Ward, Jeremy Hill

Honorary Pallbearers: Robbie O'Neal, Frank Lee Young, Raymond J. Crouse, Jim Webb, Keith Williams, Bill Cassity, Donnie Wilkerson, J.K. Goins