Arline Collatt

Elva Arline Cooper Collatt, age 101, of Haskell, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2014. Arline was Mt. Harmony Missionary Baptist Church's oldest member. Born October 4, 1912, she was the firstborn of seven children of Dock Washington Cooper and Adelia Delena Phillips Cooper. On October 12, 1930, she married Dave Collatt, who preceded her in death in 1990. Arline is survived by her children: Evelyn Callahan and husband Larry, Marilyn Murrow, and Kenneth Collatt and wife Judy. Other survivors include five granddaughters: Dana Compton (Kevin), Cheryl Jones (Eddie), Paula Bean (Danny), Tamara Lunsford (Charles), and Amity Farr (C.J.); several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. After raising a family and being a housewife for many years, Arline worked in retail clothing sales in Benton until retirement. Across the years she created many beautiful quilt tops and finished quilts of various patterns. Whether talking on the phone with the countless friends for whom she served as a sort of anchorwoman, or traveling, or camping out, she was never without a quilting bag filled with pattern pieces, cut and ready for sewing. For years she was a dependable participant in local quilting circles, at which meetings the other ladies always looked forward to her homemade custard pie. Arline attended many gospel singings in and around Saline County. She was also a faithful alto singer for gatherings around the family piano. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Heartland Rehab in Benton, to the team from Saline Memorial Hospice, to the late Dr. Brian Sudderth and to Dr. Evelyn Cathcart for the care and support they provided during the last few years. A special "thank you" also goes to Geraldine King and Rita Scoggins, from Mt. Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, who visited Arline weekly. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Arline's favorite causes, Texarkana Baptist Orphanage, 5401 E. 9th St., Texarkana, Ark. 71854 or Mt. Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, 245 Mt. Harmony Drive-Haskell, Benton, Ark. 72015. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, February 13 at Ashby Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, February 14 at Ashby Funeral Home with burial at Fairplay Cemetery, 8516 Fairplay Rd. On-line guest book at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.