Ella Almeda Elliott

Ella Almeda Elliott, age 89, of Rogers, Ark., went home to be with her Heavenly Father on the 19th day of September 2020. She was born at the Heelstring Farm in Clay County, Ark., on May 4,1931, to John A. Park and Mary E. Park. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don R. Elliott, Sr.; brother, Printes Park and sister, Paula Stout. Almeda was baptized in the Black River and grew up in the Hopewell Baptist Church in Clay County, Ark. She completed her education at Corning High School at the age of 16. The following August, she boarded a train to Arkadelphia with all of her worldly possessions in a wooden trunk. Almeda attended Ouachita Baptist University where she met her sweetheart and on August 6, 1950, married Don Richard Elliott Sr. In addition to being a talented singer, she was a majorette and played the clarinet in the OBU band. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in education in 1951 and later obtained her Master's degree from University of Central Arkansas in special education. Don Richard Elliott, Sr. was in the Army and was stationed in Germany. They traveled to Europe during this stay where she had her first son, Don, Jr. After returning home they lived in Bentonville until 1959, where she was a homemaker and had two more sons, Steve and Wyley. Then the Elliotts moved to Morrilton where she had her fourth son, Mark. In 1963, the Elliotts moved to Cabot. Almeda later became the director of the Special Education department for the Cabot School District. In 1986, Don Sr. and Almeda traveled to Zhengzhou, China, and Yantai, China, as lay missionaries and taught conversational English to medical students. They also served in Hong Kong for one year. Almeda previously sang in the choir at First Baptist Church of Cabot where she sang numerous solos and Don, Sr. nicknamed her the "Cabot Canary". She is a member of Cross Church of Rogers, Ark. She is survived by four sons and their wives, Don Richard Elliott, Jr. and Mona of Fayetteville; Steven John Elliott and Debbie of Little Rock; Wyley Alan Elliott and Stephanie of Bentonville; and Mark Edward Elliott and Erica of Melbourne, Fla.; along with her brother, Aubrey Park of Rolla, Mo.; her sister-in-law, Laura Elliott Threet and husband, Ed Threet, of Albuquerque, N.M.; 14 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren. A private family service will be held with the interment at Pinnacle Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers the family has requested for donations to be made to Cross Church Missions 1709 Johnson Road, Springdale, Ark. 72762, or the Bentonville Garden Club, 2 Canterbury Park, Bentonville, Ark. 72712. To leave an online condolence please visit www.stockdalemoody.com.