Russell E. Langley

Visitation for Russell Langley will be held Monday, March 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church, Homer, LA, with the funeral immediately following at 11:00 AM. Interment will be held at 3:30 PM at Restland Memorial Park Cemetery, 1442 Mine Street, Nashville, AR.

Russell Eugene Langley was born on July 19, 1944 in El Dorado, Arkansas to Walter and Linnie Langley. He passed away on March 25, 2026, at home with his wife of 58 years and his two daughters by his side, listening to them sing.

Like his father, Russell worked in the Smackover oil fields. He started out working for his uncle JC and eventually managed oil fields for Gulf, Chevron, and Hyperion. His oilfield career took him and his wife Sandra to Taylorsville, MS, Ft. Stockton, TX, and finally to Homer, LA.

His life in Smackover was full of cousins and laughs. There is no shortage of stories about elaborate practical jokes and birthday gags, all told with Russell as the helper (but never the instigator). He loved to laugh and retell pranks from his younger days with his Langley cousins. Saturday nights were spent at James and Mary Langley’s house to play hours-long games of Rook that ended only when the wives would win (perhaps by a little cheating). Sunday mornings the family could be found at Maple Avenue where both daughters were baptized. Russell shared land with his father-in-law in Arkansas and spent his time off at the farm building barns, selling pipe, bushogging, and tending cattle.

While raising his family, Russell was most proud of his wife and two girls and their music. He sat through hours of gospel singings, piano concerts, and vocal recitals. Never missing a performance, but never singing along, he was the big man in the back with a proud smile on his face.

Russell was a tall, imposing man with a very soft heart. He found the most joy helping others by either showing up with food, a shovel or a welding torch. He always noticed “the least of these” even stopping once to knock on a stranger’s door to ask for their tied-up 3-legged dog (which he brought home).

Russell had a half-brother Glaston Henley, and enjoyed a good relationship with Glaston’s daughter Melanie Elkins. He maintained a deep relationship with his sister Judy Parrack and her husband Johnny. He loved and respected them both, and considered Johnny a brother.

Through every move, his and Sandra’s first priority was to become actively involved in a church. This added many dear, lifelong friends to their lives and kept up with his many out of state friends through phone calls and visits. He loved to swap a recipe, discuss the best way to grow a tomato, or talk about which stock or investment was about to hit.

A vicious Rook player, in his later life Russell centered his week around the card game with his friends. Through weekly shared meals and competitive hands, he and his playing partners built a bond that surpassed the typical friend group. He and Sandra also enjoyed annual trips to Branson with their friends and neighbors.

For Russell, life held no greater joy than the chaos of his grandchildren running around, conversations with his sons-in-law about a project he had around the house, and a big gathering for a family meal. For his 80th birthday his grown grandchildren showed up unannounced, all with their overnight bags. It was the highlight of his summer and he made them promise to make it an annual event.

His girls were most impacted by the sweet people who took time to stop by and remember how special this big, quiet man was to them. The members of First Baptist Homer and Bro. Brian Thurman are more than a community, they are family to Russell and Sandra. They enjoyed his famous turnip greens at church functions and listened to him tell about his latest recipe concoctions. When Russell was not patrolling on church security, he could be found on the front pew waiting on Sandra to finish playing at the organ.

Russell is survived by his wife Sandra née Cowling Langley, his daughter, Shelly Allen and husband Michael, his daughter Rebecca Frye and husband Charles, grandchildren and grandchildren’s spouses: Jolie Allen and fiancé David Simmons, Emily Allen Mandino and husband Haynes, Nathan Allen, Ellen Frye, Bayden Frye, and Garrett Frye. Pallbearers include Michael Allen, Charles Frye, Nathan Allen, Bayden Frye, Garrett Frye, Haynes Mandino, and David Simmons. Honorary pall bearers include James Dison, Phil Brand, Britt Synco, Don Taylor, Johnny Coffee, Tom DeNorman, Bob Nelson, and James Langley.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to I LOVE MY CHURCH First Baptist Homer, LA.

Rose-Neath Funeral Home

Homer Chapel (318) 927-6110