Winnifred Mary Littlejohn

Winnifred ("Winnie") Littlejohn, 91, of Bella Vista, Ark., passed away Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at her home surrounded by loved ones. Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, Winnie was the only child of Sandy and Mary Nevins. Her parents nicknamed her "Little Sandy" as she was always at her father's side. A child of farmers, she was accustomed to working and living off the land. Summers were spent picking wild blue berries, hunting rabbits and squirrels, and doing chores, her least favorite being gathering eggs as she was terrified of the hens. She milked cows, tended to the large family garden, and learned the art of canning food from her mother which she sold to the logging camps. Skiing and snow sledding were her favorite winter activities. Her family home was a two-room log cabin. Her school was a one room schoolhouse which she rode her Clydesdale horse to daily. In 1953 she married George Littlejohn, Jr. They had four children: Gary, Linda, Sandra and Michael. The family lived in South America, England and Oklahoma before she settled in Bella Vista in 1969. She opened "The Flying W Dude Ranch" offering a place for friends and families to enjoy horseback trail rides. She also owned a "honky-tonk" bar where live bands and Monday night bingo were the rage, a used car business, gas station and grocery store. Winnie will be remembered by all her knew her as the "donkey lady", a testament to her love of the donkeys she raised at her home. She loved riding her lawn mower, clearing her land, thumbing through cookbooks looking for the "perfect" recipe, watching Western shows on TV, and enjoying the end of each day with a beer. Her motto, "It's 5:00 somewhere". She is preceded in death by her parents; her ex-husband, George; and her two sons, Gary and Michael. Her memory lives on with her constant companion of thirty years, Danny Cross; her daughters, Linda Terry and Sandra Vandiver; Sandra's daughters, Jennifer and Lindsay; Michael's daughter, Jaclyn; and seven great grandchildren. Interment will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being made by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences can be left at www.funeralmation.com.