Mary Powell Ellis

Mary Powell Ellis, born December 25, 1912 left this world on January 28, 2014. Her 101 years were lived well until pneumonia got the best of her. The day before she entered the hospital, she and her beloved caregiver, Alice Woods, made a trip to have her nails done anticipating a dentist appointment the following day. She was married to Leonard Fred Ellis for 62 years, who preceded her in death in 1994. Both Mary and Leonard graduated from Hope High School where they met after Leonard moved to Hope from Clarendon to play football for the Bobcats and to live with his sister and brother in law who ran the local newspaper. Mary worked at the Proving Ground Arsenal photographing tested ammunition during the Second World War while Leonard was away. Mary and Leonard were active in the First Baptist Church. Mary started the Wednesday night meals after services and cooked all the food. She was responsible for the church purchasing its first refrigerator so she could add congealed salads and pies to the menu. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Leonard Ellis, her sisters, Lois Coones, Ruby Daniels, Margaret Lewis and their husbands, and her beloved niece Mary Margaret Daniels Carter. She is survived by her daughter, Diane Barksdale and son-in-law, Hubert Barksdale, her grandchildren, Scott Barksdale and wife Sophie, Leslie Barksdale Godwin and husband James Godwin, great-grandchildren, Parker and Peyton Godwin, her dedicated caregiver Alice Woods, her beloved niece Becky Hart and husband Joe Hart, and other nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren, another beloved cousin Joy Ann Crosnoe Sanisi and husband Nelson Sanasi, and faithful friend and former husband to Mary Margaret Carter, Jay Carter. A memorial service will be held, Thursday, January 30, 2014 at the Chapel at Parkway Village, 14300 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Arkansas, at 10 a.m., with Rev James Munns officiating. A burial will be held in Hope Arkansas at 2 p.m. in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Rev. Phil McLarty officiating. If lieu of flowers contributions to the Children's Tumor Foundation, P.O. Box 7262, Little Rock, Ark. 72217, ctfarkansas@gmail.org in memory of Mary and honor of granddaughter Leslie would be appreciated. Sign our online register book at ***www.pharrfuneralhomes.com***.