Michael Joseph Skarda, 77, passed away August 21, 2026, at St Vincent’s Infirmary in Little Rock, AR. Mike was the first-born child of Joe and Cannie Ruth (Childress) Skarda. As the firstborn son, Mike embraced his position in the pecking order and growing up, may have used it with a little too much enthusiasm and authority over his brothers.

Mike graduated from Des Arc High School. He worked on his history major at what is now UCA in Conway. Following school, Mike returned to Des Arc and began working on the family farm. As if farming didn’t keep him busy enough, he purchased Dondie’s White River Princess, a popular catfish restaurant, in the early nineties. As a restaurant owner, he relished picking on his young employees and giving them a hard time. They quickly learned Mike’s love language was teasing you, picking you up by your ears, or bringing you to your knees with his strong grip. These kids were more than employees; they became extended family – Mike’s motto was, “We will work hard but we will have a good time doing it!” Mike never shied away from hard work, and in the midst of all he had going on, he became the county judge. Because Mike’s greatest joy was in helping people, the office of county judge allowed him to do that with a greater audience. As Judge, he navigated the flood of 2011, completed many building projects, and perhaps his favorite achievement was saving the stained-glass windows in the old Presbyterian Church that were to be relocated to a church destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Mike worked with the Presbytery and the Des Arc High School to acquire the building which was converted to the Des Arc Public Library. Mike never sought recognition for the things he did for people, he simply believed taking care of people and the things you love were what life was about.

Mike is survived by his wife, Karan, who loved him fiercely, cared for him through countless surgeries, and stood beside him through every challenge they faced together, his two daughters, Shannon Skarda (Marc) and Ginger Whittaker (Chris), step-son Vince Tate (Ariel) and two beautiful granddaughters. Mike was the oldest of four boys, he is survived by his three brothers Britt (Karen) Skarda of Little Rock, Pat Skarda of Des Arc and Scott (Deborah) Skarda of Des Arc. with a host of nieces/nephews and their children. Mike had two foreign exchange students over the years whom he held dear to him, Karika Van Nieuwenhoven (Netherlands) and Elana Fuentes (Spain). His greatest joy was being My-Mike to Ashlyn Whittaker and Papa to Addison Tate. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Cannie Ruth Skarda, his sister in law Linda Skarda and grandbaby, Christian Whittaker.