Derek Alan Rolland

Derek Alan Rolland, 36, of Jonesboro, passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones.

Derek was born Dec. 2, 1987, in Jonesboro to Matt and Angie Rolland. He started dating Kara in high school when they were 15 and 16 and were married for 10 years. Together they have two children, Mya and Rafe, and Derek loved to participate in Mya’s fashion shows and makeovers and bond with Rafe over Minecraft and Legos. They were members of Southwest Church of Christ and foster care parents for several years. Derek had a love for sports starting at an early age whether he was playing or watching. He played baseball and basketball throughout all of school including baseball at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He played football as a kid and enjoyed playing golf with his friends as an adult. He enjoyed spending time with his family taking vacation trips to Florida, Colorado, Mountain View and family weekends at the lake.

He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Kara Rolland; children, Mya and Rafe; his parents, Matt and Angie Rolland of Monette; sister, Amber Rolland (Laken) of Monette; aunts and uncles, Chris and Terrie Rolland, Faith Rolland, Mark and Janet Rolland all of Monette, Philip and Jordan Lawrence and Tommy Powell, all of Paragould; parents-in-law, Tommy and Leah Soffray of Jonesboro; sister-in-law, Kaitlyn Simmons (Brent); brother-in-law, Garrett Soffray (Emily) of Rogers; niece, Eloise; nephew, Parks; and many cousins and other family members.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Donna and Glen Rolland and Norma Lawrence, and an aunt, Cindy Powell.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 17, at Gregg-Langford Bookout Funeral Homes in Jonesboro.

A graveside service will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Pine Log Cemetery in Brookland.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Hunter Smith, Garrett Soffray, Brent Simmons, Cord Rose, Brooks Taylor, Tyler Warhurst, Jake Love, Joseph Poe and Mark Razer and as honorary pallbearers, BIC boys basketball and baseball state tournament teams of 2004-2005 and 2005-2006; BIC Class of 2006 and the Finishing A Crew at Nucor-Yamato Steel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Together We Foster, P.O. Box 93 Walcott, AR 72474 with donations specified for their First Embrace program. Online donation is also possible.

Online:www.greggfh.com