John Elbert Pool, 85, of Des Arc, met his precious Savior face to face after 67 years of faithful service, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.
Elbert was born Sept. 5, 1937 to Johnnie and Erma Pool. He was raised in Spearman, TX and as an 18-year-old young man, he decided to dedicate his life to Jesus and humbly serve Him all his days. This one decision would change the course of Elbert's life forever and the course of countless others who were affected by his decision. Elbert soon decided to attend a Bible college in Baxter Springs, Kansas to pursue the Lord's will for his life. The very first day there, a beautiful young woman named Carole Felts caught his eye and stole his heart, and they were married the following year.

After Bible school, Elbert and his new bride Carole, moved to her hometown, Des Arc, AR, where Elbert accepted the position of Pastor of Gospel Mission Church at only 20 years of age. Elbert, with Carole by his side, would go on to pastor Gospel Mission Church for the next 50 years and continued to serve together until Carole's death in 2019. During those years, Pastor Pool, along with Carole, raised six godly children and discipled countless members of their church and community, many of whom went on to be pastors, lay ministers, and evangelists. Pastor Pool humbly, yet boldly, shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone he encountered. He had a beautiful way of looking beyond individuals' faults to see their needs. Pastor Pool was a faithful prayer warrior and a missionary. He journeyed to many foreign countries but had a special heart for the persecuted church, to which he and Carole traveled, taking bibles and visiting the "underground" church.

Pastor Pool was a very hard worker and a talented self-taught carpenter, dry wall layer, and finisher. This allowed the extra income needed to raise a large family, but so often he would offer his services for free, especially to family and friends.

Elbert's large family was his pride, and his greatest joy in life would be to have them around his dinner table or visiting together in his living room. Elbert had a beautiful high tenor voice and singing was his passion. His greatest pleasure was to sing and harmonize with his children and grandchildren and to worship in song. In his later years, he loved to sing and serve at the nursing home with his friends, "The Disciples."

Anyone who knew Pastor Pool knew him as one of the most giving, loving, humble, faithful, Godly men they had ever met. His genuine humility, unending faithfulness, and integrity elevated him to a place of honor and high esteem. Pastor Pool will be deeply missed by his family, church, and community, but because of his decision to accept Jesus, his life will continue to reap a harvest for many generations to come.

Elbert was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Carole; his daughter, Linda; his granddaughter, Elly Jane; and his parents and siblings.
Elbert is survived by his children, Angela (Toby) Wills, Carla (David) Smith, Pat Skarda, Brenda (Allen) Childress, Deborah (Scott) Skarda, John (Jamie) Pool; grandchildren, Micah (Candace) Smith, Casey (Leah) Skarda, Caleb (Amanda) Smith, Corey (Candace) Skarda, Lucas (Carrie) Childress, Hannah (Noah) Williams, Kelcie (Tyler) Huffstickler, Abram (Courtney) Skarda, Adam (Katelyn) Skarda, Levi (Carrie) Childress, Jordan (Amanda) Smith, Audrey (Drew) Mitchell, Heidi (Jordan) Pierce, Lauren (Harrison) Cush, Andrew Pool, Alyssa Dohm, and Matthew Pool; and 39 great-grandchildren and counting.