Mrs. Olive Huckaba

Olive Cobbold Taylor Huckaba of Forrest City died peacefully on Tuesday, October 24. Olive was born February 12, 1930 in the village of Terrington St. Clement in Norfolk County, England to Henry George and Hilda Harriet Watson Cobbold. She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Barbara Baker of Kings Lynn, England. She was also preceded in death by her husband Ernest Taylor in 1979, her second husband Wayne Huckaba in 2012 and her son in law Tommy Dodson in 2013. Olive grew up on the east coast of England and experienced the difficult years of World War II from 1939 to 1945. Following World War II, she met Ernest Taylor, a handsome young airman with the United States Air Force stationed at Marham Royal Air Force Base near Kings Lynn. They fell in love and became engaged. After Ernest was discharged from the service in 1949, he returned to the US, sent for Olive and made arrangements for her journey to the US. Olive came by ship to the US in July of 1949. They were married upon her arrival. She became a naturalized US citizen soon after her marriage. Ernest and Olive had three children all of whom survive her; two daughters, Bonnie Dodson of Forrest City, Christie (Brent) Howton of Palestine; one son Jim (Carol) Taylor of Bentonville. She also leaves two step sons, Mark and Dwayne Huckaba. Mrs Huckaba is also survived by one brother, Max Cobbold of Clenchworten, Norfolk, England; two sisters, Norma “Gay” Biagotti of Mountville, Maine and Primrose Johnson of Terrington St. Clement. She leaves six cherished grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Olive was an enthusiastic gardener. She prided herself in cultivating unusual plants and was always eager to share with fellow gardeners. Olive’s efforts were recognized twice by the Times-Herald Yard of the Month Award. She provided altar flowers for many years to Second Baptist Church, her church home. She enjoyed traveling, especially the opportunities she had to return to her homeland of England. Olive was an avid reader and loved sharing books with her family and friends. Olive was a generous and caring individual. Mrs. Huckaba trained at a business school in Kings Lynn following high school. She worked at DeMange Lumber Company in Madison for 27 years as a bookkeeper. After it closed, she worked for several businesses in Forrest City including McPhail-Collins Clinic and Forrest View Clinic until her retirement. Graveside services will be held Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in Forrest Park Cemetery with James Fryer officiating . The family requests memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Cara McCollum Birthday Book Project, or the charity of your choice. Visit online registry at stevensfuneralhome.net.

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Mrs. Olive Huckaba

February 12, 1930 - October 24, 2023