Lydia Geraldine

Horton

Lydia “Geraldine” Horton, age 92, of Russellville, passed peacefully from this earthly life on Sunday, November 8, 2026, on Crow Mountain, with her family at her side watching the Razorback basketball game. She was born on November 5, 1934, in Marsena, to Marshall and Emily “Oaty” Blair Sarratt.

She grew up with humble beginnings in the farming hills of Marsena. Being the third daughter, she was her daddy’s little tomboy. Her daddy taught her that she could do anything she set her mind to and she lived with that encouragement her whole life. She was a hard worker and took pride in a good day of honest work. Some of her most memorable jobs that she enjoyed sharing stories about were the shirt factory in Marshall, where she and one of her best friends, Ruenelle McElroy, were always up to some kind of mischief, the Area Vo-Tech Center in Russellville and one of her favorites, Cagle Rock Grocery Store. She had many cherished friends and memories from her working days.

She enjoyed being outside mowing her lawn (which she did until she was 89 years old), working in her flower or vegetable garden, and fishing. She also enjoyed being busy inside with cooking, cleaning, embroidering and sewing. She liked to cook “homemade from scratch” which according to her was without using a recipe, “just add a little of this and a little of that and NEVER use a timer!” Some of her favorite things to cook and share with those she loved were cocoa and biscuits, butter biscuits, fried pies, pies, cobblers, cinnamon rolls, and the one she was most famous for at potlucks and reunions was her sourdough bread. She was a very talented seamstress and quilter. She made clothes for herself and family and sewed some of the most beautiful quilts, with hand embroidery details, ever made. These last couple of years when she was not able to get outside, she enjoyed watching the hummingbirds from her window.

She wed John T. Horton, of Marsena, on June 26, 1953. From that union came Johnny Dean Horton and Rita Gail Horton Warren. Her most loved title was Momma. She loved her children dearly and they loved her.

Some of her other favorite titles were Granny, Double G Geraldine, and GiGi. She was blessed to have the opportunity to babysit and happy to tell you stories about taking care of her grandkids and great-grandchildren and she was one of their biggest cheerleaders at their ball games.

She was baptized into Christ on September 30, 1997, and was a member of Fifth and Greenwich Church of Christ, which changed locations to Shiloh Road Church of Christ in 2021. She loved attending church service, and she attended faithfully until her physical health did not allow it. She cherished many friendships from church throughout the years, one of the dearest to her was Bonnie Butts.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband John T. Horton; her sisters and their husbands, Henry and Pauline Lenhart and Coy and Dorma Lea Duncan; and her infant brother.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Johnny and Rhonda Horton of Russellville and Rita and Steven Warren of Russellville; her grandchildren and their spouses, Amanda and Chris Besterfeldt of Dover and Aaron and Charli Horton of Russellville; her great- grandchildren, Josh and his wife, Madison Besterfeldt, of Dover, Amelia and her husband, Connor Gross, of Dover, Jaxson Horton and Ellie Horton of Russellville; her great-great-granddaughter, Clara Besterfeldt; and great-great-grandson to be born in January, Wyatt Besterfeldt, of Dover; a dear cousin, Elberta Jones, who she called “Peachy”; and numerous nephews and nieces who were very special to her.

We would like to thank her hospice nurse, Faith, and nurse aide, Allie, who helped us tremendously in caring for her at home these last couple of years. She adored and appreciated them both.

The funeral service will be Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Shiloh Road Church of Christ in Russellville, with Richard Kirkland officiating and Paul Goode and Connor Gross assisting. A graveside service will follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Marsena, with Shane Horton officiating at 2:00 p.m.

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 10, 2026, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at Shinn Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Aaron and Jaxson Horton, Chris and Josh Besterfeldt, Connor Gross and Robert Lee Hensley. Honorary pallbearers will be her nephews.

Online guestbook and condolences available at www.shinnfuneral.com.