Rick Monroe Pinion

It is with the most heart- wrenching and deepest sadness to inform you that our Rick Monroe Pinion has passed away. Our lives will never be the same. Rick passed peacefully and in love with his wife that he left to mourn right there with him, on Monday May, the 20th, 2024 with his loving wife by his side holding on to his hand. He was born Thursday, July the 5th, 1962 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to the late Larry and Joan Long Pinion, but was raised in Arkansas. Rick was a salesman for Arkansas Beverage Sales out of Morrilton, Arkansas. Rick had a career nearing 40 years with the beer industry which he loved. Rick had a (Mistress) The Arkansas Beverage Sales, which he lived and breathed for until his illness. Prior to Arkansas Beverage Sales, Rick worked for Twin City Beverage, then later Harbor Distributors and Glazer’s Beer and Beverage. Rick took his job seriously and made many, many friends along this journey that we both consider family. Rick was the heartbeat of Arkansas Beverage Sales in so many ways. The world is definitely a much darker place without the love and light of Rick. His generosity and greatness will never be forgotten. His passion ran deep for building decks, fences and landscaping. If you know him, his home was his sanctuary. He was incredibly hardworking and could do about anything, from plumbing to electrical to flooring to painting to mechanics. But the most important treasures in his life was his wife and fuuurr babies along with the strong love he had for his mama, his two older sisters and his three nephews that he had the pleasure of watching them grow up. Along with his great nieces and nephews. He was a soft spoken kind soul, and a very humble man. He was a protector for those he held close. He was loyal, selfless, and was always willing to lend a hand. He was loved by so many and he knew Jesus as his Savior. We can find comfort in knowing he is reunited with his mama and daddy in heaven and he is watching over us. Left to cherish his memory is his caring, loving, and nurturing wife of 30 years Gloria May Pinion. Gloria nurtured Rick for seven long months by herself, it was what Rick wanted, she kept her promise to Rick. Over the past seven months he approached his diagnosis with a characteristic grace and dignity. Even though a life threatening illness may have taken his last breath, Jesus was right there to catch him. My bobby, my heart continues to look for you, it doesn’t understand the physical sensation and it wasn’t ready for you to go, my soul knows that you are at peace and assures me that we will be together again! I’m still not ready to accept that you are gone … I mean GONE. I’m working on it, but I have to admit, that day has not arrived yet. Maybe it never will. I know I made you that promise I would be strong, I love you. I will always carry you with me, as I told you, every step of the way. I simply have no words but … I miss you desperately! This is a time of unimaginable sorrow for me, GRIEF is much too small a word. I’ve heard it said that with great love comes great sorrow’ I had no idea what that meant until the passing of your mama and you. Nothing compares to the feeling of finding a love that you prayed for, and has been given back to our Father in heaven, but I’m so grateful that God gave me you for over 30 long years I didn’t choose this loss. I didn’t choose this pain. I can’t just choose to move on. I will move forward the best I can, carrying both the love and the pain with me wherever I go. Rick, there will be a piece missing from me for the rest of my life … And although I may try and fill it with people or things I know I will always feel that void. And maybe that’s what they mean when they say, I’ll hold space for you, Because that space will always be yours! Rick leaves behind two older sisters that he dearly loved, and to cherish in his memory, Dee (David) Houchin. Debbie (David) Copeland along with three nephews that he adored and had the pleasure of watching them grow up, Quincy Houchin, Justin (Victoria) Houchin, and Chris Houchin (Nikkie Hughes). Rick also leaves behind the most precious great nieces and nephews, (Justin) Brayden Houchin and Hannah Whitaker. along with (Chris & Nikkie) Sweet Emily Grace Houchin and Sam Cepeda. Rick leaves behind our most precious jewel for his mommy to nurture, his 17 year old Maltese, Saer Monroe Pinion, which we call Monroe, or as Rick refers to as titty baby. Monroe is also mourning the passing of his daddy, and sleeps with one of his T Shirts! I didn’t have to take this journey alone, while caring for my bobby, God sent me angels, They are, “The Wind Beneath My Wings”. Amy Berger, thank you, thank you for being there with Rick and I these past seven months, for your unwavering support, and for being the kind of friend that makes all the difference. Thank you for being my sounding board and helping me navigate life’s challenges. When I came to a fork in the road, you did the navigation for me. Your guidance and support have been a true gift, and I’m so grateful for your presence in our lives. You were there when we needed that someone to help lessen the heavy load, God bless you Amy. My heartfelt deepest gratitude goes out to the guys, Rick’s brothers, he called family, people he cared about and enjoyed working with, Tyler Doss, Zach Evins, Kenneth Baker, Rex Johnson, (You were his favorite) Johnny Belk, Ted Riffell, Shane Caldwell, Kevin Dowell, George Haynes, Cameron Greer, and last but not least, Cody Greer. Rick truly loved you boys. Rick knew y’all were there he saw the tears and felt your pain for the love y’all had for him. P.S. don’t mess up his accounts, he’s looking down at y’all. Rick left you boys with some “Big Shoes To Fill”. Make him proud and carry on his work ethic Him and I both love each one of you, always! Kim Howard, Rick and I love you and (Herb) 18 years of friendship, what good times we’ve had, oh boy, we all met in another country, it was like we have always known one another, no one would have known any better. We have laughed together, cried together and been there for one another through the miles. What an incredible journey we been on all these years! I miss all the laughter we shared with my bobby on those islands. Friends forever, oh, you can bet Herb and my bobby are already living it up. One day we will both join them, and what a joyous day that will be. Thank you for all the love you’ve shown us throughout this journey. Our sweet, sweet neighbors I call my mama and daddy, Martha and Tommy Charton, I just don’t know what I would have done without you two, you both walked this hard road with me, never leaving me alone to carry the heavy burdens, giving me the strength, grace and wisdom to keep me going when my body and mind was telling me to slow down, but you both knew I had to keep going, no matter what, I made my bobby a promise and I kept them all, God saw to it. I love you both dearly, your daughter,Gloria (cowgirl) . Mallory Coates, my kiddo, girl we have a mountain to climb together, I promised Rick you would walk this next journey right beside me, we both love you and the young strong mama you are, out there kicking butt raising a kick butt 15 year old, that one day will be famous all because that’s what mama’s do. Damon got blessed with a mama like you. I will love you forever, aunt Gloria. Thank you all, for the countless cards, calls, and messages that you have sent our way, it truly touched my soul and it’s helping me get through the darkest time in my life, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. With respect for Rick’s wishes there will be no service, his wishes were to have a private cremation! In lieu of flowers, we ask that you send flowers today to that special nurse that was there for you and your family when you needed an angel, in remembrance of Rick Monroe Pinion. There were three young angels that God knew I needed with me when my bobby took his last breath. CHI Morrilton Nursing Staff, Nancy, Angie, and Mater. God bless you three. Nurses are the heartbeat of healthcare! Jay Castillo, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Rick Monroe Pinion

July 5, 1962 - May 20, 2024