Ellen Hillman West

Ellen Hillman West, 97, of DeWitt died Wednesday, May 16, 2018. She was born December 4, 1920 to Clinton and Gertrude Brigland Hillman in Stuttgart. She attended New Providence School, then graduated from Stuttgart High School. She joined Bayou Meto United Methodist Church as a youth. She and Tillmon West were married there in 1945. She was a teacher and school librarian, having degrees from Berea College (KY) and Peabody College (Tenn.). She was a member of state and national education associations. As a member of Grand Prairie Historical Society, she enjoyed writing articles for GPHS Bulletin. She belonged to United Methodist Women. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, sisters, Hope Luebke and Mary Sue Spurlock, brother, Howard Hillman, and daughter-in-law, Judy F. West. She is survived by children, Tim M. West (Joann) of Pine Bluff; Trudy W. Lynch (Jeff) of Houston, Texas; and Larry T. West of Mountain Home. Grandchildren are Stephanie Goodman (Ken) of Hot Springs; Cindy Newton (Jim) of Smackover; Allison Zimmer (Brice) of Grapevine, Texas; Cy Cox (Jo Ann) of DeWitt; Crissy Baker-Rion (Eric) of Atlanta, Ga.; Matthew Baker of Houston, Texas; and Jaclyn Lynch Daumerie (Jean-Benoit) of Austin, Texas. Great-grandchildren are Rachel Parker (Patrick) and Samantha and Graham Goodman; Weston, Micah, and Landon Smith and William and Charissa Newton; Brock and Braylee Zimmer; and Nate and John Paul Cox. Great-great-grandson is Avery Parker and Baby Parker (due November 2018). Her surviving siblings are Webster Hillman of Almyra; George Hillman (Jeanne) of Tulsa, Okla.; and sister-in-law, Sarah Hillman of Burleson, Texas. Visitation will be held at Essex Funeral Home, 1405 South Grandview Drive, DeWitt, Ark., Friday, May 18, 2018 from 6-8 p.m. A memorial service, officiated by Reverend Mary Welch, will be held at Bayou Meto United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, 2018. The family suggests memorials be made to Bayou Meto UMC (Janis Sollars, Treasurer, 1595 Hwy. 276, DeWitt, Ark. 72042) or to charity of the donor's choice. www.essexfuneralhome.com.