Pauline Alligood Elder

Pauline Alligood Elder, 82, of Houston, Arkansas passed away on Sunday (June 11, 2017) at the Circle of Hope Hospice Center in Springdale, Arkansas after a valiant 15 year battle with ALS. Mrs. Elder was born October 4, 1934 in Washington, North Carolina, the daughter of Guy and Millie Alligood. She married Thomas Preston Elder on June 30, 1956 at Langley AFB in Virginia and they recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last summer. Surviving is her husband, daughters Missye Elder and Dee Elder Thomas; granddaughters Marina Thomas and Svetlana Wanzer; Great-grandchildren Gabriel, Arlington and Quincy Wanzer; her brothers, Danny Alligood and family in Washington, North Carolina and Lester "Murphy" Alligood and family of Ft. Wayne, Indiana and Alice Alligood (wife of Delmer Alligood) and family. She was preceded in death by her brother, Delmer Alligood. A life-force of creativity, encouragement and faith, Mrs. Elder was an inspiration to all who knew her. As an Air Force wife, she traveled and lived around the world and instilled in her family a ferocious curiosity to read and to learn. She was recognized by the US Air Force with a distinguished Homefront Award for the countless hours she gave to support the mission and her family during the twenty year military career of her husband. Mrs. Elder continued to support her husband in his second career working for Rowan Drilling Company, upholding the family and the "Farm", where many friends and family would gather through the years. Pauline was known for her contagious generosity, her talent for leaving every single person she met with a positive word of encouragement and her spirit of creating a feeling of home any place and for any one. Anyone who encountered Mrs. Elder could expect a warm smile, a wonderful story and if you were lucky, a homemade treat from her famous cheese biscuits to joyful dinner party. Her priorities always remained steady—her husband, her girls, and her faith. The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to everyone who have reached out to her and our family. Our Warrior-Queen did not let ALS dictate her life as she was a champion fighting to the end. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that you make a donation in her honor to the Arkansas ALS Chapter at www.als-arkansas.org. Their overwhelming support of our family and so many others across the state was and is an amazing outreach of genuine care. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. at the Martinville, Arkansas cemetery on Hwy. 124W. A celebratory breakfast honoring her life and love will be held at the Salem United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. The family welcomes everyone to share in the celebration and recognition of Pauline's remarkable life and impact on so many lives. Online guest book: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/conway.