Obituaries

Denyse Stigler Killgore

Photo of Denyse Stigler Killgore
Denyse Stigler Killgore died Sunday, May 12, 2019, in Hot Springs, Ark. at the age of 90. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth J. Killgore; parents, U.S. Rep. William Grady Stigler and Ona Beller Stigler; and sister, Elaine Stigler Thomas. She is survived by her children, Lynne Crow and her husband, Carl, of Hot Springs, Ark.; Kenneth Jack Killgore, Jr. and his wife, Delane, of Vicksburg, Miss.; and Kay E. Killgore of Little Rock, Ark. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Adam H. Crow and his wife, Julia, of Little Rock, Ark.; J. William Crow and his wife, Kelly, of Memphis, Tenn.; Kristen L. Killgore of Little Rock, Ark.; and Kyle J. Killgore of Monroe, La.; and two great grandchildren, Davis H. Crow and Anna Katherine Crow of Little Rock, Ark. She was born on June 19, 1928, in Stigler, Okla., a city named after her grandfather J.W. Stigler. She attended Lindenwood College and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma where she was president of Delta Theta sorority. While students at the University of Oklahoma, she and Ken met on a blind date. They married in 1950 and moved multiple times as Ken was an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and then pursued his career as an oil and gas geologist. They settled in Fayetteville, Ark. in 1967 where she lived for 50 years before moving to Hot Springs, Ark. Denyse was an administrative assistant for the University of Arkansas History Department where she was instrumental in publishing the Arkansas Historical Quarterly. Denyse loved her church, Central United Methodist in Fayetteville, Ark., where she taught Sunday School, worked with the youth, volunteered in the church office, served as chair of the Rebekah Circle, and cooked for Community Meals, her special love for over 20 years. A great cook, Denyse accumulated more than 200 cookbooks that helped fuel her passion for feeding others. She volunteered at The Attic, a thrift store supporting City Hospital in Fayetteville, Ark., and was a member of Chapter K, P.E.O. Denyse was keenly interested in current events. Her charming personality, wit, and occasional moral guidance will be missed by many. A graveside service will be held at Mount Comfort Cemetery in Fayetteville, Ark. on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1106, Fayetteville, Ark. 72702. Guests may register at www.caruth-hale.com.

Published May 19, 2019

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