He was born on April 17, 1940 and raised in Bradley County in the home of Mr. Gold DeArmond. He attended Warren High School. He was preceded in death by his mother Mildred DeArmond Chenault O'Neal and her spouse Martin O'Neal and his father Mikael Chenault.
He married Judy Carol Wilson of Monticello in 1961 and joined the Army soon thereafter. He served in the U.S. Army for 24 years. His service included duty overseas in Vietnam where he flew attack helicopters in 1966-67 and commanded with the 101st Air Mobile Division in 1970-71. Amongst his many assignments, he served as a member of a team tasked with rewriting the Army Infantry Tactics at Fort Leavenworth, a troop command at Fort Campbell with the 101st Airborne Division and service with USAREUR in Heidelberg Germany.
After retirement, he finished his Master's Degree in History at Arkansas State University and moved to Harrison Arkansas with Judy. There they enjoyed their retirement doing exactly what he wanted to do when the mood struck him, whether raising cattle or building picture frames. In his later years, he took joy in feeding large herds of wild deer and birds and shooting the squirrels that robbed the bird feeder.
LTC. Chenault is survived by his wife of 55 years Judy Carol Chenault; 3 sons and 1 daughter, Michael Zane and his spouse Peggy Chenault, Davis Clark Chenault, Stephen Kent Chenault and his spouse Dr. Kathryn Chenault, Nicole Leigh McMurry and her spouse Anthony "Tony" McMurry, and 11 grandchildren: Margaret Clarice Chenault, Michael O'Neal Chenault, Sophia Chenault, Amelia Chenault, Henry Chenault, Wyatt Chenault, Rachel Chenault, Hayden "Pete" Chenault, Wilson Chenault, Dakota McMurry and Aiden McMurry.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at Stephenson-Dearman Chapel with burial in Green-Hill Cemetery with Full Military Honors. Visitation will be Tuesday night from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Online guestbook www.stephensondearman.com.
Condolences(12)
Dorothy McWhorter
Ft. Worth, TX Monday, April 10, 2017 This nation has once again lost one of our "best of the best", a United States military veteran who served his country so well.elizabeth clanton smith
warren, AR Thursday, April 6, 2017 ClassmateKay McClain Worbington
Monticello, AR Wednesday, April 5, 2017 Judy, I am so sorry for your great loss. You and your family have my prayers and sympathy. Steve was truly a hero.Christa Holsted
Harrison, AR Wednesday, April 5, 2017 Judy! I am so sorry for your loss! My prayers are with you and your family! If you need anything or just want to chat, email me and we will get together! I love you lots! You were a great inspiration to me and I enjoyed working with you!Janice Gladden Wiggam
Hot Springs Village, AR Wednesday, April 5, 2017 Judy, I am so sorry for your loss. I pray God will give you and your family peace and comfort.With much love & sympathy,
Janice
MIKE BERRY
WARREN, AR Wednesday, April 5, 2017 SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS---STEVE AND I WERE CLASSMATES IN THE WARREN SCHOOL SYSTEM.MIKE BERRY
WARREN, AR Wednesday, April 5, 2017 SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS---STEVE AND I WERE CLASSMATES IN THE WARREN SCHOOL SYSTEM.Bill and Marilyn Gober
El Dorado, AR Tuesday, April 4, 2017 We are so sorry to the family for your great loss, he was a man of great accomplishments...Bill and Marilyn Gober
El Dorado, AR Tuesday, April 4, 2017 We are so sorry to the family for your great loss, he was a man of great accomplishments...Michael Zane Chenault
Fayetteville, AR Tuesday, April 4, 2017 My father was his own man. The most important thing in life to him was his family, especially my mother, his wife.Sherry O'Neill-Rawls
Monticello, AR Tuesday, April 4, 2017 So sorry for your loss. May God comfort & bless you.James and Kathy Berry
Monticello, AR Tuesday, April 4, 2017 Judy and FamilyWe are so sorry for your loss. Love and prayers
Your long time school friend
Kathy