Herbert Southern

Herbert Haskell Southern

A wonderful husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather, Haskell Southern, 88, was called to his eternal home on October 1, 2025.

He was born on September 3, 1937 in Mena, AR, to Benjamin and Martha Southern.

Haskell was a Teamster for the Union Pacific Railroad. He retired from Union Pacific. While working for Union Pacific, he earned many awards and designed the Rail Jail. He also invented a device to help with safety at the railroad. He had a passion and love for trains.

Haskell loved life and loved his family. His nickname was Hack but was most known as Poppy.

His best times were spent sitting around a campfire in which he would call "Council Fires" just talking. He loved the outdoors and wildlife, animals also loved him. He even had a pet deer as a child. Each year he would have the biggest vegetable gardens and loved to grow tomatoes. He also enjoyed fishing and riding on his tractor.

Haskell enjoyed playing old country music songs. His favorite was of course "Wabash Cannonball."

He loved to have fun and play jokes, especially on his wife Helen Jo. Haskell is remembered as a kind, sweet, gentle man.

He is preceded in death by his parents Benjamin Harrison Southern and Martha Alice Southern, siblings Jake Southern, Vernon Southern, Vick Southern, Vestal Southern, Rachael Black, Henrietta Ford, and grandson Donnie Hill.

He is survived by his wife Helen Jo Southern, daughters Sharon Stitham and husband Chris, Kimberly Patterson and husband Charles, sister Revenna Keller, grandchildren Lori Hill, Teri Benson, Benjamin Southern, and McKenna Patterson. His wonderful legacy continues to live on in his great-grandchildren J.J. Armstrong, Chloe Yarbrough, Donovan Minshew, Emmerson Southern, Millie Southern, and Charlie Southern.

Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.