Ida Mae Gillis

Ida Mae Gillis, age 93, of Fordyce, passed away on Tuesday, August 9, 2011. While celebrating her life of 93 years, family and friends will greatly miss her zest for life and unconditional love. She spent her last years at Presbyterian Village Nursing Home and Pleasant Hills Assisted Living in Little Rock . The family wants to thank all staff members at both places as well as Odyssey Hospice Care and UAMS for providing our mother with the best of care. Ida Mae was born November 4, 1917 in Ramsey, Arkansas to Robert and Laura Nutt Smith. Ida Mae was blessed to be part of a loving family with 13 siblings. At the age of 18, she married Graham Gillis and moved to Fordyce where she quickly made a host of friends and began a long career in retail sales, retiring with the Kroger Company. Ida Mae never knew a stranger, and her beautiful smile made everyone around her feel special. She had many interests: gardening, cooking, singing, arts and crafts, and pointing others to Jesus. Although self-taught, she became remarkably adept with financial investments. Displaying a gift for hospitality, she loved to serve family and friends, especially those in Fordyce Methodist Church . Ida Mae truly had a "gift for gab", striking up a relationship with almost everyone she met, even small children. Her favorite pastime was preparing meals for family, friends, or anyone who needed help. Ida Mae believed there was nothing she wanted that she couldn't make and excelled at sewing, especially quilt making. She became expert at most anything she tried: ceramics, jewelry making, hair styling. Her favorite hobby was growing and taking care of her flowers. Nothing pleased her more than rooting a flower and nurturing it as it grew into a beautiful bloom. Ida Mae loved her church and was active in women's Guild and contributed to almost anything going on a Fordyce Methodist Church . She loved to display her talents in gardening and quilt making, especially at the Dallas County Fairs. Ida Mae is survived by her children: Graham Gillis Jr. and wife Laura of Conway, Ginger Ritchie and husband Malcolm of Little Rock; grandchildren: Drew, Jenny, and Kelley Gillis, Ryan Ritchie, Dawne Rissinger, Jill Thacker; great-grandchildren: Daniel and Dalton Rissinger, Finley Ritchie, Jackson and Caroline Thacker. She is also survived by cherished surviving siblings; a sister, Bertha Barker of Lewiston, Idaho and a brother, Ralph (Ted) Smith of Fremont, California along with many nieces and nephews. Ida Mae is also survived by nieces and nephews of her husband's family whom she loved very much. Visitation will be 12 noon until 2 p.m., Friday at First United Methodist Church in Fordyce with the funeral service beginning at 2 p.m. with Dusty Rhodes officiating. Burial at Tulip Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 104 East Third Street Fordyce, Ark. 71742. Arrangements by Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhom.com.