Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Emma Sue Ellis
Emma Sue Smith Ellis, age 71, of Little Rock, died 
Wednesday, April 7, 2004. She was born
in Plainview, Arkansas, later graduating from Hot Springs High School before receiving her degree in Education from Henderson State University. She taught elementary level school in Fayetteville, Arkansas for several years where she was also very active in community affairs, and in her church, Central United Methodist Church. Moving to Little Rock, in 1974, Emma Sue worked for Union National Bank for 12 years as a Union Securities Officer. She was member of P.E.O., and St. James United Methodist Church. Emma was considered a people person who never met a stranger.
She is survived by one daughter Gail O'Donnell and husband John of Little Rock, one son, Drew Davis and wife Susan of Fayetteville, one brother, B.J. Smith and wife Jo Ann of Hot Springs, and 6 grandchildren, Jenny, Parker, and John Michael Davis, and Emma, Elizabeth and Katie O'Donnell.
There will be a funeral service Saturday at 11am at the Ruebel Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Chaplain Kathy Kaczmarek. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to St. James United Methodist Church.
Jessie Ehlers
Jessie Ehlers, of Little Rock, a former secretary of Union Life Insurance, passed away Thursday, September 2, 2004. She was the daughter of Harry and Alice Ehlers of England, AR.
She is survived by one sister, Alice Ann Tuley; three nephews, Jim (Skip) Tuley, and Chris and Crawford Ehlers, and one niece, Deborah LaCroix.
A private family burial will be held Saturday at Roselawn Memorial Park. A memorial service will be held at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Ave., Little Rock, AR 72205
Carlita Marguerite Eckhardt
Carlita Marguerite Eckhardt, age 83 of Little Rock, departed this life Friday, January 30, 2004. She was born
December 24, 1920 in DeValls Bluff, AR, to Grace (Byram) Hall and William Carroll Hall. Mrs. Eckhardt was retired from University of Arkansas Medical Center where she was an accountant.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Sethel E. Eckhardt and two sisters, Lorraine Stinnett of Fayetteville, and Wanda Hunt of North Little Rock. She is survived by one son, Larry G. Eckhardt of Little Rock; one daughter, Cynthia K. Sullivan and husband Gerald V. Sullivan of Little Rock; one sister, Rosemary DelGiorno of DeValls Bluff; her sister-in-law, Ruth Eckhardt of Little Rock; and her nieces and nephews. She will also be greatly missed by her little black poodle "Peek-A-Boo".
Remembrance of Mrs. Eckhardt will be held 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at Ruebel Funeral Home Chapel on West Markham, with Rev. Floyd R. Whatley officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park, 2801 Asher Ave., Little Rock. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Hospice Home Care of Little Rock, or Humane Society or your favorite charity.
Letitia Inez Shanks Downs
Letitia Inez Shanks Downs, age 80, of Little Rock, died February 16, 2004. She was born
on March 20th, 1923 to the late John and Mittie Shanks. She was a member of the Pulaski Heights Methodist Church.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Dr. Don Downs, her three children, Donna Nielsen and husband Ray of Conway, Gregory Downs and his wife Patricia of Little Rock, and Jennifer Downs of Maumelle. She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Christopher Nielson of Conway, Lauren Downs of Little Rock, and David Downs of Little Rock. One brother, John Shanks of Hot Springs also survives her.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 19 evening at Ruebel Funeral Home with Funeral Services following on Friday at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Ruebel Funeral Home. Interment
will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park.
Ina Lucille Henry Anthony Downing
Ina Lucille Henry Anthony Downing, age 85, of Little Rock, died Monday, December 13, 2004. She was born
in Bearden, Arkansas. She was a life long member of the Methodist church having memberships in Bearden, Hope, Benton and Little Rock, Arkansas. A lover of God's music, she played the piano and was involved with the musical worship of many services. Lucille was first married
to Robert Howard Anthony. After his death she later married
Reverend Guy Downing. She devoted her life to the Methodist church her 3 children and her family.
Ina is survived by one son, Robert Henry Anthony and wife Melissa of Little Rock, one daughter Susan "Susie" Anthony Rice of Little Rock, and grandchildren Howard Laster, Allison Calderera, Jennifer Holmes, Heather Collins, Hollie Wolfe, and 7 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by both husbands, a daughter Georgia Lou Laster, and grandson Robert Daniel Anthony.
There will be a memorial service at 10am Thursday at the Good Shepherd Chapel in Little Rock. Private burial will follow the memorial service. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials should be made to the United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas, 5300 Evergreen Drive, Little Rock 72205.
Virginia Downie
Virginia Pattillo Downie, age 80, of Little Rock, died Sunday, September 19, 2004. She was born
December 8, 1923 in Fordyce, Arkansas, daughter of the late James A. and Annette Stilwell Pattillo. She attended Little Rock Public Schools graduating from Little Rock High School before graduating from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she served as President of Psi Chapter of Chi Omega Sorority. Virginia was a longtime member of Westover Hills Presbyterian Church, where she served as an Elder. She was also a past member of the board of Ferncliff Camp.
Virginia is survived by her son Robert C. Downie, Jr. of Little Rock, her daughter Margaret H. Downie of Phoenix, Arizona, a brother James A. Pattillo of Dallas, 2 sisters Ann Spradling of St. Louis, Sue Brothers of Tulsa, and many loving nieces and nephews.
There will be a memorial service Thursday at 10am at Westover Hills Presbyterian Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials in lieu of flowers should be made to Heifer Project International, 1015 Louisiana Street, Little Rock, AR 72202.
Martha Moore Marks Dewey
Martha Moore Marks Dewey, 94, of Little Rock, widow of Lyman Henry Dewey, died Thursday, July 29, 2004 at Parkway Health Center.
A native of Warren, Arkansas, Martha moved to North Little Rock, during the war to manager her family's lumber business. A graduate of the University of Arkansas and a member of the Chi Omega Sorority, she was active in both business and civic affairs. Martha met Henry Dewey during World War II when he was stationed at Camp Robinson and after their marriage, Henry worked for Alcoa and Martha continued the family business.
They were both very active in their beloved Winfield Methodist Church, which is now Quapaw Methodist, and enjoyed their mutual love of travel, golf, and antiques. Martha and Henry were authorities on early American silver, and their collection of Paul Revere silver and other pieces was displayed at both the Arkansas Arts Center and the Decorative Arts Museum, where both volunteered their time. To the neighbors and friends on North Monroe Street, Henry and Martha were well known for their hospitality and generosity.
Martha is survived by numerous great nieces and nephews. A special note of gratitude to the wonderful staff of Parkway Health Center who provided loving care to Martha.
Graveside memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 2, 2004 at Roselawn Memorial Park. Cremation arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Hazel Alice Gray Dennis
Hazel Alice Gray Dennis, of Little Rock, born
December 5, 1915 in Flint, Michigan, to the late Carl McDonald and Julia Etta Broughton Gray. She moved on to a greater life April 6, 2004.
Hazel lived her early life in Flint until she met and married
Melvin "Dutch" Dennis in 1938. In 1946, they moved to Northeast Arkansas where they lived in Milligan Ridge, Caraway, Osceola, McCrory and Little Rock. Her ambition was to be a schoolteacher and writer of children's books but was not able to attend college. Nevertheless, she became a storyteller to her children, a substitute teacher in public schools and a dedicated Sunday school teacher. She was an active worker in the Laubach Literacy Program teaching adults to read. She was a member of various Methodist church choirs for 74 years. Wherever she lived, she took care of anyone who needed help, especially children and older people, reading the Bible and writing letters for them.
Hazel was preceded in death by a daughter, Judy Rhodes who died in 1984, and is survived by her husband M. D. "Dutch" Dennis of Little Rock, a daughter Sally Carter of Edmond, Oklahoma, a son Randy and wife Joyce Dennis of Little Rock, a brother Dave and wife Carol Gray, a sister-in-law Barbara Gray all of Flint, Michigan, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
There will a visitation Thursday from 5 to 7pm at Ruebel Funeral Home followed by a funeral service Friday at 1pm at Faith United Methodist Church on West Markham in Little Rock officiated by Dr. James H. Robnolt. Burial will be at Pine Crest Cemetery
under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held Saturday, 10am, at First United Methodist Church of McCrory.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Caraway United Methodist Church, or the McCrory United Methodist Church.
