Kathlyn LaNell Blundell Haney

Kathlyn LaNell Blundell Haney, age 92, of Little Rock passed away Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 at Hospice Home Care. She was born July 1, 1922 in Little Rock to Joseph Bernard Blundell and Bernice LaNell Huggins Blundell. LaNell grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where she graduated from Breckenridge High School at age 16. She moved back to Little Rock to attend Little Rock College where she renewed a friendship with Chesney Haney. In 1944, she graduated from St. Vincent's School of Nursing as a registered nurse. On May 17, 1945, LaNell and Chesney were married in San Antonio where he was stationed with the Army Air Corp. After Chesney was discharged they moved to UofA at Fayetteville. Later she returned to college and in 1978, LaNell graduated from South Arkansas University with a major in Sociology and a minor in Chemistry. During her years in the nursing profession, LaNell held a variety of jobs including ER work and hospital nursing. She worked in Little Rock, Houston, Abilene, El Dorado and Camden. In ElDorado, she was the Assistant Director of Nursing and a clinical instructor for Warner Brown Hospital and later became the visiting nurse for Monsanto Chemical. Upon moving to Camden she became the Director of South Arkansas Family Planning Agency and ultimately retired after many years as the Camden School District nurse. In addition to her chosen profession, LaNell served her community and her church. She attended 1st Methodist Church of El Dorado, 1st Methodist Church of Camden and Asbury Methodist in Little Rock. She was an active member of United Methodist Women and served as both a local and regional officer. She was a member of PEO Chapter BX and served a term as their president. LaNell was a member of the Camden Business and Professional Women's Club where she served as the President and a representative to the National Convention. She was elected by her peers as the Woman of the Year in 1987. LaNell had many talents. She was an excellent seamstress, an accomplished quilter and an avid gardener. LaNell was a member of the Camden Garden Club and competed in numerous flower shows. However, the best "flower show" could always be found in her own front yard. LaNell was a woman of integrity and a role model for her children and grandchildren. She highly valued and love her family and was steadfast her faith. She also knew the importance of a good education and worked hard to provide those opportunities for her children. She set high expectations for her self and others. She was always honest, outspoken and an advocate for social justice. These traits served her well in her life and her career. She will be missed by her family and her friends. LaNell was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 60 years, Harry Chesney Haney; and her brother, Joseph Bernard Blundell II. She is survived by her three daughters, Linda (Lee) Muldrow and Leesa (Don) Renshaw of Little Rock and Jerri (Kevin) Gillespie of Bentonville, Ark. She was grandmother to six grandchildren: Brian Muldrow (Mary), Kelly Muldrow Gunter (John), Aubrey Gillespie and Price Shankle of Little Rock; Grant Gillespie of Fayetteville and Brittany Gillespie of Chicago. She also had three great-grandchildren: Murphy, Benson and Kathlyn Grace. The family would like to thank her loving caregivers at Hospice Health Care. Services will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home in Little Rock on Friday, January 23, 2015 at 2 p.m. Visitation will be from 4:00pm until 6:00pm Thursday, January 22, 2015 at the funeral home. Memorials may be sent to First Methodist Church of Camden or Asbury Methodist Church in Little Rock. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.