Ernestine Keeling Hillis

Ernestine Keeling Hillis, 83, died February 27, 2022. She was born June 1938 in Tomahawk, Ark., a small community east of St. Joe near the Buffalo River. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Pearl Keeling and sister Betty Harris. Her esteemed brother Paul Ray Keeling, a frogman at Omaha Beach in WWII also precedes her in death. She is survived by her husband of 63 years John Hillis of Little Rock, daughters Kim Hillis (Dr. Jean Matchett) of Little Rock and Dr. Nancy Hillis (Dr. Bruce Sawhill) of Santa Cruz, Calif., and one beloved granddaughter Kimberly Pedersen, St. Andrews Scotland. Ernestine would want to recognize, Danny Harris, a nephew, who was like a son to her. Ernestine graduated from St. Joe High School in 1956 and attended Springfield Business College. Besides taking care of John and raising daughters she operated a marketing research company, owned/managed properties, and raised cattle on a farm in Nashville, Ark. She and John loved their retirement years on Lake Hamilton, which included lakeside sunrises, sunset boat rides and good neighbors. Ernestine had a green thumb, always caring for a bevy of African violets and the landscaping at the lake home. More recently they moved to the Heights in Little Rock, near family, and have continued making good friends. She was most successful at raising her daughters to be as fearless and aspiring as herself - one an executive in the pharmaceutical industry and the other an artist/physician. Her family will spend the rest of their lives loving her and telling Ernestine "fearless" stories. The Hillis family is grateful to the staff at Memory Care of Little Rock and Kindred Hospice for their incredible care of Ernestine at the end of her life. Graveside services for Ernestine will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at Stone/Keeling Cemetery near St. Joe, Arkansas with Bro. Bob Clanton officiating.