Arrilla May O'Leary Zimbleman

Arrilla May O'Leary Zimbleman, 93, of Farmington, Ark., passed away Thursday, April 5, 2012, in Fayetteville. She was born July 12, 1918, in LuVerne, Iowa, to parents Albert Dally and Lucinda (Will) Dally. She is survived by a daughter, Cathy Rigby of Farmington, Ark.; a son, Michael O'Leary and wife, Kathy, of Lenexa, Kan.; stepdaughters, Val Jean Schultz of St. Francis, Kan., Loretta Sidman and husband, Von, of The Dallas, Ore.; stepson, Marvin Zimbleman and wife, Donna, of St. Francis, Kan.; stepson, Kenneth Zimbleman and wife, Susie, of Ozark, Mo.; sister, Charlotte Wickwar and husband, Bus, of San Antonio, Texas; brother, Donald Dally and wife, Evelyn, of Albany, Ga.; and brother-in-law, Dale Redding of Ashford, Ore.; granddaughters, Brooke Rigby of Springdale, Ark., Casey Fant and husband, Shannon, of Fayetteville, Ark., Erin Piper and husband, Robert, of Point Arena, Calif.; and grandson, Patrick O'Leary and fiancee, Amanda Herrington, of Olathe, Kan. She also had four great-grandchildren, Payton Fant, Lucas Fant, Hattie Piper and Billy Lynn Piper. She had 11 step-grandchildren, numerous step-great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves many cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrilla was preceded in death by her parents; two infant siblings; husbands, Edwin O'Leary and Emil Zimbleman; sisters, Lucille Kanel and Dorothy Redding; a son, Eugene O'Leary; granddaughter, Jan Schultz; and a son-in-law, Pat Rigby. Arrilla grew up in Iowa, and at the age of 13 moved to Northwest Kansas with her family. She finished high school there and married Edwin O'Leary in 1942. This union produced three children and they remained on the farm until 1960 when they sold the farm and bought the Hilltop Motel and grocery in St. Francis, Kan. Edwin passed away that summer and she and her children ran the business. She sold the motel in several years and moved with her 13-year-old son to Hays, Kan., to be a housemother for a fraternity at Hays State College. She was courted by a former neighbor in St. Francis and moved back to St. Francis and married Emil Zimbleman. They were married for many years and after his death, she remained in St. Francis until 2008 when she moved closer to her daughter in Fayetteville, Ark. She lived at Peachtree Village in Farmington, Ark., and enjoyed her life of cards, Bingo, music groups, Bible study and activities with her church, Central United Methodist in Fayetteville with all of the friends she made. Arrilla was very active in her community of nearly 75 years as a scout leader, UMW member, South Fork Circle member, Deputy Sheriff for a while, 4-H leader, song leader at the local nursing home, loyal member of the Methodist Church where she helped start the Thrift Store, and a 17-year seasonal employee of the local Dairy King where she became friends of many, many young children. She also worked at the local grocery in St. Francis after her first husband passed, prior to going to Hays, Kan.. Arrilla was a wonderful seamstress and made many pretty quilts, every baby born up until this last August received a baby quilt from Grandma Zimbleman and every grandchild who got married received a quilt that she had made. She made dolls from heirloom handkerchiefs, many wooden crafts, jewelry, and also was a good artist and painter. She loved to sing and play the guitar and was in a dance band in the late 1930's and early 40's. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later time. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery, Cheyenne County, Kan. Memorials may be sent to ALS Association of Northwest Arkansas or Willard Walker Hospice Home. Please visit www.nelsonberna.com to sign the online guestbook. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home, Fayetteville, Ark.