Jewell Mae Bresnahan (Bolivar)'s Obituary
It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the passing of a lady whose smile would light up the room, whose laughter was contagious and whom we will miss terribly. Jewell Henderson Bresnahan was born January 11, 1947, in Parkin, Arkansas, to the late Reed “Bill” Henderson and the late Willie Frances Minton Henderson. She went home to be with our Lord at her home in Bolivar, Missouri on January 23, 2024.
Jewell is fondly remembered by her loving husband of 22 years, Brian Bresnahan of the home; a son, Jon (Kristin) Sumpter of Garfield, Arkansas; a daughter, Audra (Dennis) Messick of Mountain Home, Arkansas; her grandson, Douglas Messick of Mountain Home; step grandson, Justin (Bailey) Hall of Camden, Arkansas; and step grandson, Nicholas Hall of Sheridan, Arkansas. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Bruce Bresnahan of the home, a host of her church family at The Heights Church in Bolivar and many other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her brother, Sammy Henderson of West Memphis, Arkansas.
Jewell graduated in 1965 from Parkin High School and went on to work as a real estate agent and at TCBY in Mountain Home before relocating to Missouri. She worked for the Bolivar School District and as a Volunteer Grandma at Mashburn Residential Learning Center in Bolivar.
Anyone who met Jewell knew that she was appropriately named. Jewell loved to have fun, and was the life of the party wherever she went (whether there was a party or not). She was adventurous. She was humble. She loved her family feverishly and was so proud of her children and grands. Jewell was a “giver.” You never left her home without taking something with you, whether it was something to eat or some little gift she’d gotten you because she simply remembered. If you were a part of her life, you became part of her family. She loved to garden, and she loved Bible study with her church women’s group. She loved to travel (and loved reminiscing about Disney World, the Sequoia National Forest, and the Rocky Mountains). She loved to garden and loved her women’s group and her church. Most of all, she loved Jesus!
Her family and friends will celebrate her 77 years of life on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 2 p.m. at the Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. prior to service. Burial will be on at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at Thacker Cemetery in Clark Ridge (Mountain Home), Arkansas. Memorials may be made to The Heights Church, P.O. Box 847, Bolivar, MO 65613.
What’s your fondest memory of Jewell?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jewell?
Share a story where Jewell's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jewell you’ll never forget.
How did Jewell make you smile?

