Louise Teague
Louise Teague, age 100, of Malvern, passed away Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, and was proud to be the oldest member of Ten Mile Missionary Baptist Church. She was born June 8, 1925, in a small town outside of San Antonio, Texas. Her father was Elijah Holmes, who married her mother, a widow with five young sons.
Her mother, Josephine Muldrew DeGarmo Holmes, was a forward-thinking woman for the times and was described as quite beautiful. As such, Louise was raised to be a strong-willed young girl catered to by five older brothers. All the DeGarmo brothers adored Louise and called her "Sis" till they all died.
The family moved to the Hot Springs area during the depression era. In 1937, her father built the Rock house below the Cutter Morning Star Methodist Church. The home still remains, and Louise and her husband, James Robert Teague, lived there with their three children until 1960, when they moved to the Ten Mile Community.
Louise met the one and only love of her life, James Robert Teague, in grade school at Cutter Morning Star School. They were married for 75 years until his death in May of 2019. They had three children, James Robert Teague Jr., who was the late state Senator who died while in office June of 1984, Gary Douglas Teague, who died in October of 2015, and Diana Gail Hughes, who remains and lives in the Saline County area.
She was a woman of many talents and interests. A gifted Sunday school teacher, seamstress and artist, Louise loved her career years as a salesperson at Gingles Department Store and liked to brag that she outfitted the best-dressed people in Benton. She did indeed have perspective taste for coordinating colors and wardrobe designs.
Above all else, her devotion was to God and ministry of music and teaching. Louise served as the church organist for many years and was one of the founders of a ukulele band which she named "The Ready Strummers." The band served as an outreach ministry to long-term care facilities and community events.
Louise took pride in caring for her family and cooked many meals for Sunday dinners and special events. She kept up with the careers of her children and grandchildren and maintained hundreds of newspaper clippings of their life events.
She was predeceased by a granddaughter, Stefany Teague; grandson, Paul Hughes; and great-grandsons, James Teague and Andreaus Teague.
Louise is survived by her grandchildren, Robert Dale Teague of Rogers; Michael Teague (Debbie) of Little Rock; John William Hughes (Niki) of Jonesboro; Jennifer Cuevas (Reuben) of Bryant; Steven Teague of Benton; and Tara Louise Hughes of Benton. In addition, there are many great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren left to acknowledge her memory.
Visitation will be 10 - 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Ten Mile Missionary Baptist Church with services beginning at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Ten Mile Cemetery. Brother William Diggs and Tony Phifer will be officiating.
The family would like to thank the staff at The Atrium at Serenity Point and the Hospice caregivers who treated Louise with the respect, dignity, and love she so deserved.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial donation be made to the charity of your choice.
Online guest book athttp://www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.
