Odessa Annetta Ellis

Mrs. Odessa Annetta Ellis, age 85 of Rector, Arkansas, joined her husband Mr. V.A. Ellis and her daughter Lela Sue Ellis, in heaven on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at the Arkansas Methodist Hospital in Paragould, Arkansas. Born August 29, 1928 in Boydsville, Arkansas, she was the daughter of the late Orville Bryan and Ruth Marie Watson Stone. She was united in marriage to V.A. “Cooncy” Ellis on October 22, 1946 and to this union six children were born. Mrs. Ellis was a housewife and enjoyed cooking, playing poker games, sewing, collecting cans, angels and knick-knacks. She is survived by three daughters: Frances Burdin of Kennett, Missouri, Mae Williams and husband Joel of Morton Grove, Illinois and Mamie Benson and husband Mike of Kennett, Missouri; two sons: Gene Ellis, Sr. of Rector, Arkansas and Donald Ellis, Sr. and wife Tina of Hardin, Kentucky; grandson that she raised, Donald Ellis, Jr.; two brothers: Rudy Stone of Paragould, Arkansas and Ural Stone of French Village, Missouri; a special friend: John Himmelheber. Mrs. Ellis also leaves sixteen grandchildren, forty great-grandchildren and eighteen great-great-grandchildren. Mrs. Ellis also leaves a host of other family and friends. In addition to her parents, her husband, and daughter, she was preceded in death by two brothers: Ralph Stone and Raymond Arnold Stone. Funeral services will be Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 10:00am at the First General Baptist Church in Rector, Arkansas with Rev. Albert Johnson and Rev. Brad Gilbert officiating. Burial will follow in the Woodland Heights Cemetery in Rector under the direction of Faith Funeral Service of Manila, Arkansas. The family will receive visitors Friday evening January 31, 2014 from 6 until 8:00pm at the church. Pallbearers will be: Gene Ellis, Jr., Hunter Ellis, Joel Williams, Jr., Michael Benson, Jr., Mark Benson and Larry Ellis. Honorary pallbearers will be J.T. Williams, Ed Ellis, Jack Burdin, Jr., Stacey Burdin and Alan Burdin.