Obituaries

Elsie Marie Speer Peterson

Elsie Marie Speer Peterson, age 101, of Camden, Ark., passed peacefully Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, at the home of her daughter, Helen Sitterlee, of Mobile, Ala. Elsie was born April 18, 1915, in the Hopeville Community, Calhoun County, Ark. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Daniel Speer and Zadie Frances Anthony Speer; her husband, Hermon Peterson; five siblings, Everett Speer, James Speer, Mildred Smith, Naomi Shaddock, and Lois Nance. Elsie is survived by her sister, Frances Williams of Little Rock; three children, Harold Peterson and wife Janet of Hot Springs Village, Helen Sitterlee and husband Julius of Mobile, Ala., and John Peterson and wife Linda of Camden; five grandchildren; Scott Peterson, Donna Sitterlee Whittington, Julius Sitterlee III, Jeffrey Peterson, and Melinda Peterson Garrison; eleven great-grandchildren; Alexandra Peterson, Katherine Peterson, Paul Whittington, Luke Whittington, Madison Sitterlee, Grant Garrison, Sarah Benton Garrison, Brooks Garrison, Jaylynn Peterson, Jake Peterson, and Drake Peterson; and numerous nieces and nephews. Elsie and her husband owned and operated Peterson Grocery and Market in Cullendale for many years. She was blessed with a fantastic memory for names and relations; thus providing a tremendous repository for our family history. An avid reader, she kept her mind sharp by working crossword and Crypto quote puzzles. Elsie was a member of the Cullendale Baptist Church. She was a woman of faith and a wonderful prayer warrior. For many years after retiring from the grocery business, she was a volunteer at the Ouachita County Medical Center Auxiliary. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, at Bethel Cemetery near Bearden, Arkansas, with Reverend Wade Totty officiating. Arrangements are made by Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.net. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Cullendale Baptist Church, 1850 Cash Road, Camden, Ark. 71701.

Published January 22, 2017

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