Jonesboro- Robert Lee "Skip" Covington, 89, passed away Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House.

He was born December 1, 1932 in Jonesboro to the late Walter and Helen Rees Covington.  Skip served his country proudly in the United States Navy. He attended Arkansas State University and graduated University of Arkansas with an Agri Business Degree. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He was a retired rice and soybean farmer. He was a former Chairman and Board member of the Jonesboro Riceland Foods and former President and member of the Jonesboro Country Club. He was also a member of the Big Island Hunting Club. He was an active member and elder of the First Christian Church. Skip was an active bird and deer hunter and enjoyed playing golf. He was a father and grandfather figure to many people and he loved his family dearly.

Skip valued his faith and family above all else. The two were very much intertwined as he was a father, friend, and mentor to many that knew him. Skip believed that the answers to life's questions could always be found in scripture. This belief shaped the way he loved, encouraged, and provided for his family, friends, and community. He will be fondly remembered for his words of wisdom and encouragement to all that knew him.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Anita Covington; a daughter, Kathleen Copenhaver (Harold); grandchildren, Lauren Nunnally (Michael), Austin Copenhaver (Hannah Beth) and Myles Copenhaver all of Jonesboro;  great-grandchildren, Landry Nunnally, Taytem Nunnally, Ada Copenhaver and Benjamin Copenhaver and several cousins and other family members.

He was also preceded in death by a son, Robert Lee Covington Jr. and a brother, Steve Covington.

A celebration of his life will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, December 3, 2021 at First Christian Church with Rev. Don Martin officiating. Interment will follow at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Gregg-Langford Bookout Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the church, Friday.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Myles Copenhaver, Austin Copenhaver, Michael Nunnally, Tim Covington, Kyle Covington and Clay Covington and as honorary pallbearers, Landry Nunnally and the Big Island Hunting Club.

Lasting memorials may be sent to the First Christian Church or Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House.