Barbara Simons Ellenburg Wisdom

Barbara Simons Ellenburg Wisdom was taken by angels to meet the Lord Thursday, January 11, 2018 at Greystone Nursing in Cabot. She was born July 24, 1932 in El Paso, Texas, the 5th child to Charles Adelbert and Nina Sid (Price) Simons. At age 5 the family returned to Beebe, Arkansas, and at age 12 they moved to DeWitt, Arkansas where her mother managed the telephone office and the DeWitt Hotel on the Court Square, where the family lived. Her first job was as a telephone operator at age 14. In 1949 she married Earl "Little Son" Ellenburg and they raised four children. For over 35 years she was a bookkeeper for agri farm equipment companies in DeWitt, where she retired from Whitmore Fertilizer Co in 1995. The same year she married SF Wisdom and returned to Beebe. Barbara loved to travel and had been to every state in the lower 48, plus Hawaii. After retiring, she enjoyed working in her yard and watching flowers grow. She loved to play games and always enjoyed a group of ladies playing cards, laughing and having fun. She loved to shop and enjoyed Christmas and decorating for the holidays. She also loved politics, or at least a good hot debate about politics. She loved animals and enjoyed watching Cardinals and Hummingbirds in her yard. Those who knew her best will remember her laugh. At family gatherings, you could hear Mom laughing a block away. Other loves were her Union Valley Baptist Church family in Beebe. The folks there loved her. She was active for 23 years. Mom loved Jesus, Family and the Razorbacks. Especially Football and Basketball. She looked forward to gameday with her friend Vanita Hill, and always dressed in her team colors. Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, husbands Earl (Son) Ellenburg and SF Wisdom, two sisters, Charlotte Simons Perry and Lorena Simons Wisdom, and her brother, Jack Simons. Mom loved her family and is survived by two daughters, Kathy Ellenburg Hawks and Amy Ellenburg both of Little Rock, two sons, Mitch Ellenburg Kaubisch (Robbie) of Salem and John Ellenburg (Brook Strickland) of Conway. Her sister Jeannie Simons Stone of Almyra, and sister-in-law Barbara Jean Simons of Searcy. She had seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren. She has many nieces and nephews whom she loved and kept close to her heart. And a special Caregiver, Patricia Taylor. We want to say a special thank you to Greystone Nursing and Rehab in Cabot. Your care for our Mom has been impeccable and compassionate. Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and will be missed beyond measure. Her presence in the many lives she touched will be deeply missed even as we celebrate her life and mourn her passing. Funeral Services will be Saturday, January 13, at 10:30 a.m. at Union Valley Baptist Church on Hwy 64 West, Beebe. Her dear friend and Pastor, Tommy Miller will officiate. Pallbearers are Ron Wisdom, Steve Wisdom, Gary Stone, Keith Perry, Sid Simons, Stuart Simons, Perry Carpenter. Honorary Pallbearers: her Sunday School The JOY Class (Just Old Youngfolks). Graveside service will be at 2 p.m in Cedarcrest Memorial Gardens in DeWitt. Arrangements are by Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe. www.SmithFamilyCares.com.