Esthel W Connelly

ESTHEL "E.W." CONNELLY, 93, died April 13, 2017. He was born to the late William Edward and Mary Bigler Connelly in Gillett, Ark., on May 18, 1923. He graduated from Gillett High School and entered the Army Jan. 3, 1943 and served in ETO & Korean Conflict. In 1953 he entered the United State Airforce from which he retired from in 1966. E.W. also retired from the Little Rock Municipal Water Works in 1986. He was known to many as E.W. but was better known as "Poppa" to his family who he loved dearly. He enjoyed all sports and especially duck hunting, fishing, the Arkansas Razorbacks, and watching his children and grandchildren participate in their various sports. E.W. also had a very strong love of gardening with his family and was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Ark. He is survived by his wife of 64 years. Dorothy Lewis Connelly; Son, Mark Connelly (Bonnie), Son-in-law, Wayne Coleman; grandchildren, Christopher Coleman (Amy), Melanie Goodson (Steve), Tish Stewart (Tracy), Amber Murphy (Matthew); great-grandchildren, Hunter Coleman, Kaitlynn and CJ Coleman, Spencer Stewart and Jordyn Lansdell, Tripp and Caroline Murphy and one great-great-grandchild, Aubree Lansdell. He is also survived by a special niece Dixie Turner and a host of other nieces, nephews and friends. E.W. is also preceded in death by four brothers, Floyd, Allen, Harold and Edward; two sisters, Blanche and Velma; his beloved daughter, Deborah "Debo" Coleman. In lieu of flowers his family requests donations be made to the First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville or the charity of your choice. A memorial service will be held on Monday, April 17, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville with a time for visitation from 10-11 a.m. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service in Jacksonville, Ark. Online guestbook, www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com.