Ann Ellis Gray was born on April 8, 1943, to C.G. and Delila Ellis. She went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Ann graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1961. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Ouachita Baptist University and a Master of Education degree from the University of Arkansas.
Her career with the University of Arkansas started in White County as a home economist in training, where she met her husband-to-be in January of 1966. They were married six months later and moved to Stone County. Following a year and a half of teaching fifth grade she became the U of A County Extension Agent in Home Economics for Stone County; she kept that position for almost 25 years.
She enjoyed working with families throughout the county, especially the EHC clubs. Her love though was with 4-H’ers watching them grow into productive adults and leaders. She kept up with many as they became parents and grandparents. She was a member of the Arkansas and National Home Economist Association and served as president of the state association and received several awards.
She attended national meetings across the country serving on committees.
On March 30, 1995, Ann took early retirement and went to work at the Ozark Folk Center the next day. The first year she worked in the County Kitchen making biscuits, cornbread, and cookies on a wood stove. She had not used a wood stove before. She next apprenticed to learn corn shuck dolls and worked in the doll shop for the next 9 years. She demonstrated that craft at craft shows in Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Missouri. She loved the atmosphere and friends she made at shows. Ann always said she would work until it wasn’t fun anymore, and she left the Folk Center in July of 2006.
Her very most favorite times were traveling with Don where he showed or judged Quarter Horse Shows. In later years they raised Beefmaster Cattle and loved to attend sales; both were members of Beefmaster Breeders Universal and served on state and national committees.
Don, her husband and best friend died in 2006.
Ann belonged and loved her church, Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist.
She is preceded in death by her husband; parents; sister, Helen Farris; brother, Ralph Ellis; three nephews; two grand nephews, and one grand-niece.
She leaves her nieces, Julia Ellis McElarth (Roy); niece Barbara Ellis Boyd (Mark); nephew, Nathan Ellis (Karen) and nephew, Bob Farris; 13 grand-nieces and nephews and several great-grand nieces and nephews. She also leaves very special friends, the Doug Fry family and sister-in-law, Karen Gray Dotson (Randy).
The memorial service will be at the Pleasant Grove Missionary Church, on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 1:00 PM with Brother Gary Don Fletcher and Brother Douglas Fry conducting the service.
Roller Crouch Funeral Home in Mountain View, Arkansas is in charge of the arrangements.
