Jonesboro - Michael David Shields., 72, departed this life on Friday, May 1, 2020. He was born May 3, 1947, to Georgia Marie Frazier Shields and Francis George Shields, in Paragould.

His accomplishments include enlisting in the Army and serving from 1966 to 1969 in the Army Corp of Engineers stationed in Germany for the duration of his enlistment where he was trained to operate heavy equipment and semi-trucks. He built bridges and airstrips among many other duties. After being honorably discharged he worked for General Motors Company for a time and then went back to operating heavy equipment for a company involved in open pit mining. During this time, he along with his wife became the first licensed foster home in Flint, MI and received the Key of the City of Flint for his work with foster children. He then took a job with the Gladwin County Sheriff Office as a dispatcher, and then in the Marine Patrol. After retiring to Arkansas, he became active in the Civil Air Patrol flying a number of missions to check for damage after major storms and in Search and Rescue.

His lifetimes work included working with his hands in farming, carpentry, and mechanics, throughout his youth and well into retirement age he planted and harvested a variety of products, picked cotton as a boy and pickles with his wife and children. He enjoyed being outside working. He has overhauled both cars and tractors, and built such things as cabinets and bookcases. He also fulfilled a lifelong dream by learning to fly an airplane and had obtained enough student hours to become a licensed pilot.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Brenda Shields; his mother, G. Marie Shields; his father, Frank Shields; a brother, Bruce Shields; two granddaughters, Elizabeth M. Shields-Wade and Alicia M. Bolles Graves; and several cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and nephews.

He is survived by his daughters, Jennifer M. Hook of Jonesboro, Jessalee M. Shields (Gary) of Manila, and Christal M. Barba (Daniel) of Tulsa, OK; two sons, David F. Shields of Gladwin, MI, and Joseph M. Shields (Sarah) of Cedar Springs, MI; a brother, Jim Shields (Cathy) of Hollywood FL; a sister, Pamela Rose of Davidson, MI; six granddaughters, Amanda M. Bolles (Sean) of Vancouver, WA, Kathleen F. Hook of Jonesboro, Chelsea Schreurs (Isaac) of Brandon, SD, Brianne Saul (Kyle) of Collinsville, OK, Megan Shields of Mount Pleasant, MI, and Michelle Shields of Gladwin, MI; three grandsons, Matthew Shields of Mount Pleasant, MI, Michael Forcelle of Collinsville, OK, and Andrew Shields of Cedar Springs, MI; three great-granddaughters, Jaydence Shields of Glawin, MI, Danica Graves of Arkadelphia, and Chloe Tomlinson of Owasso; two great-grandsons, Devon Shields of Gladwin, MI and Archer Hamilton of Collinsville, OK, along with nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.

His final wishes were to not have a funeral, instead a simple ceremony will be held for immediate family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mr. Shields' favorite charities of St. Jude's or St. Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain, SD which he continued to support after the passing of his wife in her memory.

Arrangements were entrusted to Gregg Funeral Home