Billie Jean Garris Holzhauer

Billie Jean Garris Holzhauer, 81, died March 28, 2014. She was born in Moro, Ark., on Jan. 17, 1933, to Thomas Henry Garris Sr., and Anna Mae Wofford Garris. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and the Dorcas Circle. She loved to entertain in her kitchen and spend time gardening. Preceding her in death were her parents; three brothers, Bobby, James, and Doyle Garris,; and one sister, Josephine Nichols. Billie is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 59 1/2 years, Harvey Holzhauer; five children, Sharon Gruber, of Fort Smith, Tommy Holzhauer (Margaret) of Gillett, Mitzi Dixon (Dennis) of Gillett, Ray Holzhauer of Gillett, and Fred Holzhauer (Melissa) of Evening Shade; eight grandchildren, Shane Holzhauer (Samantha), Sloan Beverburg, Lyndsey Dilks, Collin Holzhauer (Sloane), Baylor Dixon, Chandler Holzhauer, Peyton Holzhauer, and Maggie Holzhauer; four great-grandchildren Lacey and Colby Holzhauer, Brunner Wood, and Holden Holzhauer; and one brother, Sonny Garris of Brinkley. To know her was to love her. Visitation will be Sunday, March 30 from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will be Monday, March 31 at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Gillett with burial in the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery by Essex Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, P.O. Box 419, Gillett, Ark. 72055, or the donor's choice. The family wishes to give special thanks to the staff of the DeWitt City Hospital and Arkansas Hospice for their love and compassion shown to our mother and to us during her stay there. www.essexfuneralhome.com.