Ruth Elizabeth Lindley Williams

Ruth Elizabeth Lindley Williams died on November 10, 2013 at the age of 103 at her home in Newport, Arkansas. She was born November 12, 1909 in Kenyon in Northwest Jackson County, Arkansas, to James Wesley Lindley and Willie May Gardner Lindley. Ruth graduated from Tuckerman High School in 1928, attended Galloway Women's College in Searcy, and completed her education in 1933 at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theory with a Minor in English and a Bachelor of Music in Voice. Returning to Jackson County, she married in 1934 to Dr. Joseph Madison Williams, a local dentist practicing in Newport. Their wedding was held in the First Methodist Church of Tuckerman, Arkansas. They celebrated 50 years of marriage. Each able to live out their lives in the home they built together in 1941. Having been blessed with an exceptional gift of an alto voice and with excellent training at Baylor, Ruth shared with Newport as choir director at her Methodist Church and as a soloist for many weddings. She was chosen to carry the alto part for the local "Messiah". Her church was important to her. She was President of the United Methodist Women, and served as a circle chairman. She hosted visiting preachers and missionaries in her home. Her ability to cook was known to all and she was always one of the first to appear at the door of a family in need with a casserole, a cake, or pie. Simply put, she always reached out to those in need. Ruth was known in the community as a kind and caring friend. She was always active in the community. She was a charter member of Chapter R. P.E.O. Sisterhood, and was a former President. She was an excellent bridge player and enjoyed regular duplicate bridge into her 90's. She also served as a P.T.A. President. Much of her life revolved around her family. She loved to spoil her husband of 50 years known to all as "Dr. Joe". Her mother, Willie May Gardner Lindley, lived next door and Ruth was a loving and caring daughter to the 100th year. She was preceded in death by three half-sisters, Lucy Penix (Forrest), Ada Dowell (Dan), and Carrie Smith (Ralph J.); her son-in-law, James Edward Doman, Sr., her husband, and her parents. She is survived by three daughters, Nancy Jo Clinton (James Russell, III) of West Memphis, Arkansas, Ruth Lindley Hodges (Kaneaster, Jr.) of Newport, Arkansas, and Carolyn Doman of Jonesboro, Arkansas. She has six grandchildren, Nancy Elizabeth Clinton of Germantown, Tennessee, Kaneaster Hodges, III, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, James Russell Clinton, IV (Shannon) of Germantown, Tennessee, Harryette Lindley Hodges (David Stefferud) of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Stephen Williams Clinton (Anne) of Franklin, Tennessee, and James Edward Doman, Jr., of Phoenix, Arizona. There are 10 great-grandchildren, Kaneaster Hodges, IV of Dallas, Texas, Harryette Lindley Stefferud of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Mary Nielson, Lindley Elizabeth, Cecelia Lee and Sarah Grace Clinton of Germantown, Tennessee; Joseph Alexander, Anne Holland, and Andrew Lee Clinton of Franklin, Tennessee. The family wishes to thank Arlene Hull, Doris Vance, and Lynda Young for their devoted care of Ruth in her last years. Friends may visit at Jackson's Newport Funeral Home on Tuesday evening November 12, 2013, from 5- 7 p.m. The funeral service will be on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Brad Elrod presiding. Interment will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery. Those honored to serve as pallbearers are, her grandsons, Kaneaster Hodges, III, James Russell Clinton, IV, Stephen Williams Clinton, James Edward Doman, Jr., grandson-in-law, David Stefferud and great-grandsons, Kaneaster Hodges, IV, and Joseph Alexander Clinton. Honorary pallbearers are nephews, Robert Lindley Penix and Ralph J. Smith, Jr., great-nephew, Robert Deen Penix, and her doctor, Dr. Matt Jackson. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 217 Laurel Street, Newport, Ark. 72112. Arrangements by Jackson's Newport Funeral Home, Newport, Arkansas. www.jacksonsfh.com.