Frances Misenhimer Pettit

Frances Misenhimer Pettit, age 97, departed this life on June 6, 2018, as gracefully as she lived. The second of five children, she was born in Carlisle, Ark., to Denver N. Misenhimer and Anna McCain Misenhimer. Frances graduated from DeVall's Bluff High School in 1938 where her father was Prairie County school superintendent, and she attended College of the Ozarks for two years in Clarksville before transferring and graduating from the University of Arkansas in 1942. She married Kenneth W. Pettit, whom she met at the University, in 1943 and moved to Corning where Kenneth was office manager for L.G. Black at Clay County Cotton Company. Frances then taught two years at Corning High School where she set up the Home Economics Department. In the late 1940s, Kenneth and Frances bought a small insurance agency that had been part of the Corning Bank at the suggestion and guidance of Mr. Ewell Vandover; a friend, mentor, and then president of the bank. After being a homemaker until her children were grown, Frances became office manager at Pettit Insurance Agency for nearly 40 years, until the agency was sold in 2008. Frances was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Kenneth, in 1996. Besides her parents, Frances survived her four siblings: Denver Jr. and Richard who died during WWII, Bill Misenhimer of Paragould, and Anne Crofoot Queen of Morrilton and then Conway. Survivors include her brother-in-law, Ben Queen of Conway; son, Bill (Annette) Pettit of Cotter; daughter, Sara Pettit Turner of Spokane, Washington; grandchildren, McKinley Turner and Mary Frances Turner, both of Spokane, Washington; Ashley (John) Hurst, and Amy Pettit Merriman of Little Rock, and Beth (Landon) Leach of Bryant. Frances leaves 12 adoring great-grandchildren. She also leaves loving nephews and nieces: Richard (June) Misenhimer of Rogers; Beth Misenhimer (John) Wisner of North Little Rock; Mary Anne Misenhimer (Ben) Pickard of Searcy; Carol Misenhimer Evans of Little Rock; John Crofoot of Atlanta, Georgia; and Martha Crofoot Bumpers of Conway, and many great-nieces and nephews. Charitable even in death, Frances leaves her body to medical research, so the family will hold a Celebration of Life service at a later date in the Corning United Methodist Church where she was a member for 75 years. Memorials may be donated there at P.O. Box 25, Corning, Ark. 72422.