Ricky George Lovern

Ricky George Lovern of Little Rock, AR passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at the age of 71 following a brief, yet intense battle with acute respiratory illness.

Rick was born the youngest child of George Lovern and Edith (Brewer) Lovern on August 25, 1951 in DeQueen, AR. As a boy, he was interested in airplanes and occasionally accompanied his father, a local policeman, on his nighttime security patrol. Later, in his teens, Rick worked as a projectionist at a local movie theatre, cultivating an enjoyment for movies that lasted a lifetime. In his early 20s, Rick joined the U.S. Navy, serving as a machinist’s mate before being honorably discharged in 1975. As a young man, Rick was an avid cyclist with a craving for adventure, biking to the western U.S. before a cycling accident in Colorado brought him back to the central Arkansas area. It was here, in his late 30s, that he met and married Connie (Carey) Lovern. Their daughters, Sara and Cara, were born in 1989 and 1993, respectively. Although they divorced several years later, Rick and Connie remained close, lifelong friends, bonded over love for their daughters. Around 1999, Rick settled in Kensett, AR. He would call this small town home as he continued raising his family. Here, he worked as a skilled, talented carpenter for many years. His craftsmanship lives on in many beautiful homes in the Searcy, AR area. He occasionally remarked that these were the best years of his life, devoted to his growing kids and finding his carpentry work fulfilling. After seeing his girls off to college and beyond, he moved to Little Rock, AR where he ultimately spent his remaining years. Rick watched with pride as his daughters entered adulthood, beginning their own journeys and pursuing professional careers.

Overall, Rick lived a relatively quiet, simple life. He enjoyed the outdoors and always tried to stay physically active. He had a natural curiosity and loved to learn. One of his favorite research topics was space, and he liked to gaze at the night sky looking for constellations. Also, he was creative. When his girls were young, he often drew them funny pictures, signing them as, “Doodle Dad.” Sometimes, he wrote heartfelt poems to express himself. Ever crafty, he enjoyed assembling model airplanes and woodworking. He made practical pieces, like shelves and benches, that he placed in his home. Good music made him noticeably happy, and he had an amazing sense of humor. He enjoyed watching movies from various genres, especially comedy and action, and always liked documentaries. He loved taking drives in the car with his family. He was fascinated by the landscape of the western U.S. and the desert. Many of his interests were passed down to his girls who will remember him fondly for all he shared with them. His final days were spent with his daughters at his bedside, holding his hands, exchanging “I love you’s” and remembering fun times. Shortly before his death, he reflected on his life by simply saying he’d “been a lucky man.”

Rick was preceded in death by his father, George Lovern, mother, Edith (Brewer) Lovern, and brother, Donald Lovern. Rick is survived by his daughters Sara (Lovern) Harvey of Little Rock, AR and Cara (Lovern) Jones of Oklahoma City, OK, his son-in-law, Luke Jones, a sister, Bettye (Lovern) Finley of Searcy, AR, and his daughters’ mother and his dear friend, Connie (Carey) Lovern of Bald Knob, AR.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m., until 4:00 p.m., Monday, April 24, 2023 at Sullivan Funeral Care in Kensett.

Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at Arkansas State Veteran Cemetery in North Little Rock, Ar.