Obituaries

Lea Ellen Hodges Witt

Lea Ellen Hodges Witt went home to her Savior, Jesus Christ on September 9, 2013 Lea Ellen Hodges Witt went home to her Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, September 9 after a five year battle with LeioMyoSarcoma (LMS). She participated in several clinical trials to help research this very rare form of cancer. She was 70. The family was grateful by the incredible loving care of her medical team including Rebecca Stone, M.D. Mrs. Witt passed away in her hometown of Dardanelle, Arkansas on Monday said her husband former FEMA Director James Lee Witt, surrounded by all she loved, and who loved her. Mrs. Witt was born on July 1, 1943, in Dardanelle, Arkansas to Lloyd and Gladys Hodges Sawire. She graduated from Dardanelle High School in 1961. She married James Lee Witt in 1961 upon their high school graduation. She attended Arkansas Tech University and worked as a medical secretary, a Circuit Court Clerk and Municipal Court Clerk all in Dardanelle and Yell County. She was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church in Dardanelle. Dardanelle was home for Mrs. Witt even during a brief residence in Washington, D.C. suburbs while her husband of 51 years, James Lee Witt served as the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency from 1993-2001. She enjoyed bringing back to life the Meers Farm in Dardanelle which she and James Lee bought several years ago and riding every Saturday morning in one of the restored antique cars that they enjoyed taking long rides in on weekends. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, James Lee Witt; sons and daughters in Law Michael and Kim Witt (Dardanelle, Arkansas) and Jimmy and Anita Witt (Dardanelle, Arkansas); grandsons, Carter, Parker and Jesse (Dardanelle, Arkansas); brother Donnie Hodges (Dardanelle, Arkansas); nephew, Brad Hodges (Bentonville, Arkansas) and niece Candace Hodges Riner (Mena, Arkansas) and numerous other loving nephews, nieces and cousins. Mrs. Witt was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Gladys Hodges Sawire and sister in law Sandy Hodges. Cornwell Funeral Home in Dardanelle, Arkansas is making the arrangements. Visitation on Wednesday, September 11, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Services will be held at Dardanelle First Baptist Church at 118 South 2nd Street, Dardanelle, Arkansas at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 12. Private Burial at Durvin Cemetery because of limited parking. Officiating will be Rev. Jim Huffman, Rev. Mike Smith and Rev. Tony Berry. The family requests that memorials may made to the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Center Cancer, Institute 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.

Published September 12, 2013

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