Obituaries

Ella Perrene Crawley Vail

Photo of Ella Perrene Crawley Vail
Ella Perrene Crawley Vail passed away peacefully on January 28, 2018, at the age of 94. She is survived by her daughter, Janice Vail Walther (Larry), of Little Rock; daughters-in-law, Tammy Vail of Chattanooga, Tennessee and Tiny Vail of Eudora, Arkansas; grandchildren, George W. "Bill" Walther (Tammy) of Little Rock; Don C. Vail of Austin, Texas; Amanda Walther Carswell (Justin) of Branson, Missouri; and Joy Vail Guilford (Brad), of Knoxville, Tennessee; great-grandchildren, Will and Luke Walther; Evie, Jack, John, Scott and James Carswell; and Charis and Cai Guilford; siblings, Jennisteen Washam of Bastrop, Louisiana; Avis Harrelson of Warren, Arkansas; Robert Crawley of Little Rock; Carolyn Sue Breazeal Warrington (Joe) of Clifton, Tennessee; Elizabeth Sharp of Arkadelphia, Arkansas; Alex Crawley (Dixie) of Fairfield Bay, Arkansas; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Ella was preceded in death by her parents, Alex and Velma Turner Crawley; her husband of 52 years, William Arnold Vail, Sr.; sons, William Arnold "Bill" Vail, Jr. and Otis Don Vail; granddaughter, Vivian Vail; sisters, Earlene Jackson and Clyda Faye Crawley; sister-in-law, Nell Crawley; and brothers-in-law, John Jackson, Hudie Harrelson, George Sharp, James Breazeal and Ben Washam. Ella was born January 21, 1924 in Wilmot, Arkansas, the oldest of nine children. She and her siblings loved and cared deeply for one another, and the generations after have remained close. Ella rolled up her sleeves during WWII and joined the war effort as a telegraph operator for Missouri Pacific Railroad while her husband, Arnold, was serving with the U.S. Army in the Pacific Campaign. She worked over 25 years at Superior Uniform Group. Her kitchen was always warm with the smell of her famous biscuits and homemade jelly and preserves, and she served them graciously to countless visitors and houseguests who found themselves in need of a place to feel at home. She was an expert listener and made each one of her children and grandchildren feel like her favorite. Ella committed her life to Christ as a child and faithfully served the Lord throughout, devoting 75 years to teaching Sunday School at her home churches of First Baptist of Parkdale, Arkansas, then later, Geyer Springs Baptist in Little Rock. She was a farmer's wife, a devoted mother and a treasured friend. Please join the family for a celebration of her life, Saturday, February 3 at 2 p.m. in the chapel at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.). Visitation will precede the service, beginning at 1 p.m. The Graveside service will be Sunday, February 4 at 1 p.m. at Parkdale Cemetery in Parkdale, Arkansas (Ashley County). In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Ella's name to the Senior Ministries at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 31510, Little Rock, Ark. 72260. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200. Ella's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.

Published January 31, 2018

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