Helen Maxine Connelley

Helen Maxine Connelley, 95, who resided in Paris, passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at North Logan Mercy Hospital in Paris. She was born July 14, 1916 in Ratcliff, to Pharmacist Clarence Omar "C.O." Parker and mother John Berrie (Pendergrass Smith) Parker. Maxine went to school at Ratcliff and then on to Central Baptist College in Conway. In 1929, she joined the First Christian Church in Paris where she has maintained her active membership continuously. After graduation from college, she taught school at Ratcliff. She married Larry Connelley of Paris June 2nd 1936. They first lived in a small apartment on Church Street in Paris. They built a house at 605 East Walnut Street in Paris where she lived until her death. She was preceded in death by her husband Larry who died in 1973; all her Parker brothers and Connelley in-laws: her brothers, Clarence Solon Parker and Chandos Aaron Parker, her in-laws, Jessie Charles "J.C." Connelley, Army Major Earnest Clyde Connelley Sr., Margaret Addie Connelley Lowder, Theodore Jordan Connelley, Nancy Maude Connelley Smith, Captain Harold Haskell Connelley USN and Neil Humphrey Connelley; her in-law parents were Elizabeth Nancy Voisie Humphrey and Theodore Jordan Connelley; her maternal grandparents were Mary E. "Mollie" Pendergrass Smith and husband W.J. Smith; paternal grandparents were Dr. Thomas Jefferson Parker and Mary Canvesta Wallis Parker of Ratcliff; paternal aunt Ama Belle Parker Johns; maternal uncles Austin Smith and Thomas Rufus Smith Sr. and maternal aunt Daisy Sheffield Smith. She is survived by her two sons Dr. Laurence K. (Larry) Connelley of Little Rock and James P. "Jim" Connelley of Spring, Texas, two grandsons, Larry Connelley, III and Rodney Connelley both of Little Rock, three nieces, Margaret Parker Norris, Brenda Parker Collier, Mary Lou Parker Gilbert and one nephew Captain Earnest Clyde Connelley Jr. USN (ret). She is survived by all members of the PEO Sisterhood in Paris where she was a life member. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at Roller Funeral Home Chapel in Paris. Funeral Service will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, November 18, 2011 at the First Christian Church in Paris with Rev. H.C. Varnadore officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Paris under the direction of Roller Funeral Home. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com. Pallbearers will be Harvey Johns, Mark Huber, Ken McCubbin, Tom Marks, Gene Davis and Fred Johnson. She will be remembered by her loving and happy disposition for life. She loved her family, friends and her church. She maintained a lifetime friendship with childhood friends from Ratcliff, Kathleen Keck, Marguerite Hall Berretta, Idell Willoughby and Datheryn Harris. Also old friends Data Johns, Lucille Smith, Marie Koch, Marie Kennon, Polly Kennon, Jettie Tucker, Novi Webb, Pearl Crenshaw, Evelyn Crow, Aimee Guenette and many, many others. She is loved and will be missed by all. Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, P.O. Box 369, Paris, Ark. 72855.