Ellen Mae Jefferson

Ellen Mae Jefferson, 92, of Bentonville passed away Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. She was born March 15, 1921, in Gravette, Ark., to Robbie Allsbury and Ova Bryan Sooter. Ellen graduated with the Gravette High School class of 1939. She married Joe Jefferson March 23, 1941. She worked for the Bank of Bentonville, Arvest, for 34 years, and was an assistant vice president and manager of the Centerton Branch bank when she retired. Ellen has been an active member of the Bentonville Church of the Nazarene since 1940. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Joe C. Jefferson; a grandson, James Steven Jefferson; her parents; three brothers, John B. Sooter, Kenneth Sooter and Charles W. Sooter. Ellen is survived by her son, James B. "Jim" Jefferson and wife, Deborah, of Bentonville; four grandchildren, Jeffrey Bryan Jefferson and wife, Dawn, of Minneapolis, Minn., Stephanie "Missy" Mayhall of Bentonville, Justin Burke and wife, Amanda, of Morris, Okla., Ashley Fox and husband, Ben, of Bentonville; 11 great-grandchildren, Nicole and Lora Jefferson, Hayden Mayhall, Paige, Joseph, Jared and Jorden Burke, Landon Hufford, and Hyatt, Payne and Arisson Fox; two sisters, Helen Miller, and Beulah Brown and husband, Lynn, all of Bella Vista; two sisters-in-law, Ozell Sooter of Bentonville, Ruth Ann Back of Tennessee; a brother-in-law, Ray Jefferson of Bentonville; and many nieces and nephews who will always cherish the memory of their "Aunt Mae." Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 30, 2013, at Bentonville Church of the Nazarene, with Pastor Mark Snodgrass and Lynn Brown officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to service time. Burial will be at Benton County Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made in honor of Ellen Jefferson to the Bentonville Church of the Nazarene "Jefferson Scholarship Fund," 107 NW Third St., Bentonville, AR 72712; or Circle of Life, 900 NE Verdant, Bentonville, AR 72712. Jim and Deborah would like to thank Circle of Life Hospice, and express heartfelt gratitude to Uncle Lynn, Aunt Beulah and Aunt Helen for their unfailing love and care for our mother. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services of Rogers. Words of comfort may be expressed or memories shared at stockdalefuneral.com.